SC223--Environmental Issues--Fall 2013
Tuesday, Thursday, Period Q (2:00-3:15 PM), Room 123





The Textbook


Course Description


Course Objectives


Course Policies


Grading System


Course Schedule
         

Prof. Thomas A. Easton


Photo of Professor Easton 		        
OFFICE: Rm. 108

OFFICE HOURS: 12-3 PM MW, 9:30-10:30 AM TTh 

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THE TEXTBOOK

Thomas A. Easton,
Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Environmental Issues,
McGraw Hill, 2012, 14th Edition Expanded, ISBN: 978-0-07-351448-2


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COURSE DESCRIPTION


This course surveys current issues related to the environment, focusing on the debates over the issues and considering where solutions may lie.

See "Course policies" below for details on testing and grading.

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COURSE OBJECTIVES


Upon completion of this course students will be able to explain how people disagree on environmental issues, to evaluate the evidence for both sides, and to summarize the opposing arguments. Issues covered include:
  1. The precautionary principle
  2. Sustainable development
  3. Pricing ecosystem services
  4. Biodiversity protection
  5. Drilling for offshore oil
  6. Global warming
  7. Energy supply
  8. Pollution control
  9. Nuclear power and waste disposal
  10. Population
  11. Food supply
  12. Toxic chemicals


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COURSE POLICIES


Each student may be absent twice without penalty. Each additional two absences without a medical excuse (no others are acceptable) will cost the student three points on the course grade.

Students are expected to come to class prepared to discuss the issue scheduled for the day. Failure to contribute to the discussion in a way that demonstrates preparation counts as an absence. "Preparation" means at least reading the issue material; excellent preparation will include doing some additional research and reading.

Students will write nine 3-5 page papers (about 1 per week, excluding exam weeks) answering a question related to the week's issues (see below for the questions). Papers should be supported by high-quality references (e.g., those available through MARVEL / EBSCO HOST on the library's Web page). You may choose to place any or all of them in your E-Portfolio. There will also be four essay exams (counting the final); weekly issue questions and others may appear on the exams. Weeks with exams will NOT have papers assigned.

Papers will each be worth 5% of the course grade. Exams will each be worth 10% of the course grade. Participation will be worth 15% of the course grade.

Students who plagiarize tests and essays will receive zeros for the work in question, with no makeup opportunities.

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GRADING SYSTEM



A (94 - 100)      A- (90 - 93)
B+ (87 - 89)     B (83 - 86)    B- (80 - 82)
C+ (77 - 79)     C (73 - 76)     C- (70 - 72)
D+ (67 - 69)     D (63 - 66)    D- (60 - 62)
F (below 60)



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COURSE SCHEDULE

CAUTION: COURSE SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT WARNING!

DATETOPICASSIGNMENT
  
Tues Aug 27 Introduction -- Environmental issues as questions of priorities; Course overview
   
Thurs Aug 29The Precautionary Principle--What Is It?Read Issue 1
   
Tues Sept 3 The Precautionary Principle--Why Do People Object to It? Weekly Paper #1: What is the "right" amount of precaution to take?
     
Thurs Sept 5 Sustainable Development--What Is It? Read Issue 2
  
Tues Sept 10 Sustainable Development--How Essential Is It? Why? Weekly Paper #2: What kind of development is least sustainable?
     
Thurs Sept 12 Is Commercial Fishing Unsustainable? Read Issue 20
    
Tues Sept 17 Pricing Ecosystem ServicesRead Issue 3
   Weekly Paper #3: How can we best motivate sustainable behavior?
   
Thurs Sept 19 Motivating Sustainable Behavior Discussion of conclusions in papers
 
Tues Sept 24 Should North America's Landscape Be Restored to Its Pre-Human State?Read Issue 4
   Weekly Paper #4: What is the proper role of restoration ecology?
   
Thurs Sept 26 Should the Military (or Anyone) Be Exempt from Environmental Regulations?Read Issue 5
  
Tues Oct 1   ESSAY EXAM #1 Issues 1-5
  
Thurs Oct 3 Restricting Carbon Emissions vs. the Economy Read Issue 6
     
Tues Oct 8Carbon Capture & SequestrationRead Issue 8
   Weekly Paper #5: Discuss the risks of carbon capture and sequestration.
   
Thurs Oct 10 Drilling for Offshore Oil Read Issue 7
   
Tues Oct 15 COLUMBUS DAY OBSERVED 
  
Thurs Oct 17 Geothermal Energy Read Issue 9
   Weekly Paper #6: Can we meet our energy needs without offshore oil?
   
Tues Oct 22 Is Global Warming a Catastrophe that Warrants Immediate Action?Read Issue 21
    
Thurs Oct 24 ESSAY EXAM #2 Issues 6-9, 21
   
Tues Oct 29 Biofuels Read Issue 11
   
Thurs Oct 31 Reviving Nuclear Power--Pro Read Issue 12
    
Tues Nov 5Reviving Nuclear Power--Con Weekly Paper #7: Many people fear that nuclear power could cause many deaths.  How many deaths could global warming cause?  Find suitable numbers and compare nuclear and fossil fuel technologies on this count.
   
Thurs Nov 7 Feeding the World--Foreign Aid Read Issue 13
  
Tues Nov 12 Feeding the World--GMOs Read Issue 14
   Weekly Paper #8: How can we best relieve global hunger?
Thurs Nov 14 Feeding the World--Organic Farming Read Issue 15
  
Tues Nov 19 DDT vs. Malaria Read Issue 16
   Weekly Paper #9: Are protecting the environment and protecting human well-being compatible goals?
   
Thurs Nov 21 ESSAY EXAM #3  
  
Tues Nov 26 Environmental Hormone Mimics Read Issue 17
  
Thurs Nov 28 THANKSGIVING 
   
Tues Dec 3 Nuclear Waste Read Issue 19
  
Thurs Dec 5 Superfund Read Issue 18
  
Mon Dec 9 FINAL EXAMS BEGIN
 
EXAM DAY ESSAY EXAM #4
 




Syllabus last modified March 28, 2013.