EVS 495 Syllabus
Seminar in Environmental Studies – Fall 2001
________________________________________________________________________
Instructor: Dr. Marvin K. Moss
Class Hours Lecture -- Tuesday 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. in 252 Friday
Hall
Laboratory
-- Thursday 12:45 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. in 251 Friday Hall
Office: 238 Friday
Hall on T, Th, Otherwise Room 2338, Center for Marine Science
Phone: (910)
962-2379 or 343-5794 (H) after August 29
e-mail: mmoss@uncwil.edu
Office Hours: Tuesday – 11:00 a.m. to 11:45 p.m.; Thursday -
11:00to 11:45p.m.
(please email or call for appointment at any time)
Course Description
The course is designed to encourage thought and discussion concerning environmental issues. Emphasis will be placed on understanding different perspectives and development of more than one possible solution to a given issue. After the initial meeting on August 23, the next 14 weeks of the course will have either a guest speaker/topical discussion or field trip each week. The remaining four sessions (including the exam period) will be devoted to presentation of term papers.
Objectives
1. to be aware of the range of environmental issues from local, national and global standpoints;
2. to become familiar with cause and effect relationships;
3. to discuss and evaluate the various perspectives that are represented within each environmental issue; and
4. to develop a problem-solving approach to a given topic through a position paper developed from personal research.
EVALUATION OF STUDENT PERFORMANCE
Assignment
Percent of Grade
1. Research Paper
Proposal/Defense 15%
2. Research Paper
Presentation 20%
3. Research
Paper
35%
4. Discussion
Facilitation 10%
5. Discussion
Participation 20%
RESEARCH PAPER (including proposal and presentation)
I. PROPOSAL: Each student shall prepare three draft term paper proposals (each with a different topic) and meet with your laboratory instructor to discuss them by Thursday, September 27. At this meeting you, together with your instructor, will choose one of the three topics for the final proposal. During the October 2, 4 or 9 sessions, each student will provide a 10-minute defense (i.e., justifying the topic and describing how it will be presented according to the outline below) to the class. The final proposal for your research paper will be submitted by October 9.
In the narrative portion of your proposal (one page, double-spaced), you will briefly describe the environmental topic you wish to investigate during the semester. Following the narrative, you will provide a detailed outline and list of references for your paper using the following format:
A. Introduction
1. What is the environmental
problem?
2. What factors caused the problem?
3. Who is affected by the problem?
4. Which governmental agencies (if
any) regulate the problem?
5. How is regulation undertaken?
B. Three Issues (that help describe the problem)
1. Issue one and an example
2. Issue two and an example
3. Issue three and an example
C. Conclusion
1. Three possible solutions to the
environmental problem
2. Which solution has the greatest
likelihood of success?
3. What will happen if it is not
implemented? What are the consequences to the
environment, both short and long term, if the changes are not implemented?
D. Ten citations related to the topic: Must be
in APA (American Psychological
Association) format – no more
than four Internet and/or newspaper sources.
Information concerning APA citation
is listed under the on-line references for this
course maintained on the electronic
reserve by the UNCW library. Failure to use
the proper format will lower your
proposal and/or research paper grade by one
letter grade.
E. Your proposal for the research paper, including the one-page narrative, should not
be more than five (5) pages in length.
II. PRESENTATION: Each student shall make a professional 15-minute, power point presentation on their research paper topic during one of the last four class sessions. Students must practice their presentation and be familiar with the computer technology.
III. RESEARCH PAPER: The research paper is due at the end of class on Tuesday, December 18.
Format for the research paper:
Penalties
DISCUSSION AND FACILITATION
Six of the semester weeks will have assigned readings related to the guest speaker’s topic for a given week. The assignments have been carefully chosen after significant topical reviews over this past summer. Their reading/study is mandatory. Two students will be chosen in advance to serve as facilitators for each of the six Thursday discussions during the laboratory times. This discussion will involve not only being knowledgeable about the assigned readings, but presenting a preliminary overview on the topic from outside sources. How the discussion will be run is strictly up to the two students. They may, for example, ask anyone at random to give a several minute overview of the particular assigned article or, for example, compare several articles from a stated perspective. In addition, the facilitators will grade classmates on their participation while the each student in the audience will grade the facilitators.
FIELD TRIPS
Two weeks will have a three-hour (including travel time) field trip instead of the guest lecture/discussion format. The first trip will be a tour and presentations by faculty at the UNCW Center for Marine Science on. Thursday, September 6 from 2-5 pm. On Tuesday, October 16 there will be a tour/presentation at the Sutton Power Plant operated by Progress Energy from 1:30-4:30 pm. Though these times were not included in the original course schedule, students attending the field trips will not have other work due for that week. Students who do not attend will have an additional reading and writing assignment: selection and review (two to three page typewritten paper) of a substantive article concerning that week’s topic .
CLASS PARTICIPATION AND ATTENDANCE
Class participation adds to the interest level and learning environment of the course. As such, it constitutes 20% of the final grade. Students are expected to actively participate in the weekly discussion session.
Class attendance is essential for understanding the course material and for participation in discussions. Each absence from either lecture or discussion beyond one will result in three points being deducted from your final grade. Being late for class or leaving early constitutes half an absence. In rare cases, an excused absence will be allowed. A written, documented (e.g., note from a medical doctor) reason for such an absence must be submitted to the instructor within one week of returning to class for the absence to be considered excused.
READINGS
All readings are available on the Internet. No required text needs to be purchased. Readings may be accessed at http://library.uncwil.edu. Click on Reserve materials and then enter “EVS 495” for the course.
POLICY ON ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Dishonesty in this course and any other cannot be tolerated or accepted. Specific policies are described in the Student Handbook and Code of Student Life.
LETTER GRADE EQUIVALENTS
Percent Letter Percent Letter
93 –
100……………….
A
73 –- 76.9…………..….. C
90 --
92.9……………..
A-
70 -- 72.9 ……………… C-
87 --
89.9……………..
B+
67 -- 69.9 …………….. D+
83 – 86.9
……………..
B
63 -- 66.9………..…….. D
80 – 82.9
……………..
B-
60 -- 62.0 …………….. D-
77 – 79.9
……………..
C+
Below 60 ……………… F
EVS 495 COURSE AGENDA – Fall 2001
______________________________________________________________________
August 23 Introduction/Course Overview
28 Communications Presentation
30 Weekly Discussion Format
September 6 Center for Marine Science Tour (2-5pm)
11 Guest Speaker: Mr. Matt Allen
13
Career Services Presentation
18 Guest Speaker: Dr. Richard Bilsborrow
20 Discussion Topic: Population
25 Guest Speaker: Mr. Roger Shew
27 Discussion Topic: Energy
October 2
Proposal Defenses
4
“ “
9 Proposal Defenses
11 No Class: Fall Break
16 Field Trip to Sutton Power Plant (1:30-4:30pm)
23 Guest Speaker: Dr. Doug Gamble
25 Discussion Topic: Global Warming
30 Guest Speaker: Mr. Ray Church
1 Discussion Topic: Solid Waste Management
November 6 Guest Speaker: Mr. John
Mariner
8 Discussion Topic: Fisheries Management
13 Guest Speaker: Mr. Ted Wilgis
14 Videos: Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., speech at the CMS;
Dr. James Leutze, Coastal Development
20 Guest Speaker: Dr. Larry Cahoon (Agriculture)
22 No Class: Thanksgiving
27 Guest Speaker: Dr. Chris Dumas
29 Discussion Topic: Environmental Economics
December 4 Student Presentations
6
“ “
11
“ “
18
“ “