For the more scientifically inclined first-year, a required writing seminar may seem a little daunting. Luckily, Brandeis’ diversity of seminars includes classes that stray from a typical literature course—-classes like “Darwinian Dating: The Evolution of Human Attraction.”

Professor Elissa Jacobs has a Ph.D. in biological anthropology, focusing on primatology and evolutionary biology. She has taught in the Harvard Writing Program for eight years before coming to Brandeis as a lecturer in the UWS program.

“Everybody writes, in every discipline. Scientists publish their findings, they write grant proposals and they also have to communicate their research to the general public. Good writing facilitates all of this. No matter what you do in the future—-science, medicine, business, etc.—you need to be able to clearly communicate with others,” Jacobs wrote to The Brandeis Hoot.

The course syllabus reads, “Among animals, individuals choose mates based on biologically informative features such as long colorful tail feathers, large canines or a red, swollen posterior. We typically assume that human attraction (and love) is much more nuanced and complex… but is it?” This UWS course explores stereotypes of beauty through an evolutionary perspective.

“I’m interested in the sciences, so it’s the perfect class for me. I’m not as English oriented, but it’s more science oriented with English tied in,” said Ethan Knapp ’21. “Our teacher is teaching us how to write scientifically, as opposed to how we did in high school.”

While some students may find scientific work and writing practice at odds with one another, Jacobs wrote that she finds the fusion to be not just natural, but necessary.

“By offering science-themed classes, I hope to appeal to a wide variety of students who are curious about the world and eager to learn about writing in an interdisciplinary context,” said Jacobs. “While my courses focus on scientific topics, I still engage with the critical elements of academic writing, such as evidence, analysis, argument, organization and citation use, in the same manner as humanities or social science-based courses.”

The class revolves around three units: applying evolutionary theories of attraction to human behavior, principles of female attraction and principles of male attraction. Like all UWS courses, students must write a close reading essay, a lens essay and a research paper over the course of the semester. Jacobs grades first-draft assignments based on completion and gives students an opportunity to revise their work after they have seen her feedback.

“It’s really nice of her and it’s a way for her to genuinely help us instead of just giving us grades,” said biochemistry major Pallavi Goel ’21.

Now that the class is in its second unit, the students are analyzing data papers on what governs human attraction. The second essay of the semester requires students to critically assess contradictory theories and answer the question of whether women want a nurturing “nice guy” or an alpha “bad boy.”

“I’m an currently a biochemistry major so I guess it makes sense that I’m interested in a scientific type of UWS,” Goel said. “The material is very interesting, but I’m not too much of a fan of some of the stuff that we read because I like reading what flows nicely, and with this material it’s hard to be absorbed.”

While many first-year students come to Brandeis with knowledge of academic writing, the course specifically focuses on a scientific form of writing, including proper scientific citation.

“I really enjoyed learning about how biology and anthropology mix together in a new way and learning how to write about scientific data papers rather than novels like I’m used to,” Hannah Borgida ’21 wrote to The Hoot.

In the syllabus, Jacobs implemented a policy for an inclusive learning environment, encouraging students to come to her if they ever feel uncomfortable. She then continued to highlight the bias of the subject matter.

“Ideally, science works to be objective. However, like many topics in academia, science can be subjective and is often built on privileged voices. I recognize that many of the ideas and readings for this course come from white, straight, cisgender men,” said Jacobs. “More specifically, historically biological discussions of attraction and reproduction have focused on heterocentric and male oriented perspectives. We will discuss these biases throughout the semester and challenges to these approaches are welcomed.”

Although many students taking “Darwinian Dating” are interested in pursuing a more science-based area of study, Borgida signed up for the class as a way of getting out of her comfort zone.

“I took the UWS course because it looked like a really interesting way to learn about human nature as well as writing, and because I’ve never been really interested in science,” Borgida wrote. “I knew it would be a good way to challenge myself to take a science-based UWS rather than stay in my comfort zone.”

Knapp already feels that the class has made a difference in his writing and analytical skills, specifically in how he approaches scientific writing.

“I feel like I’m already a better writer,” Knapp said. “It’s preparing me for a different writing style that I really will use.”