SC223--Environmental Issues--Spring 2012
Tuesday, Thursday, Period Q (2:00-3:15 PM), Room 122





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, 11-12 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 Jan 10 Introduction -- Environmental issues as questions of priorities; Course overview
   
Thurs Jan 12The Precautionary Principle--What Is It?Read Issue 1
   
Tues Jan 17 The Precautionary Principle--Why Do People Object to It? Weekly Paper #1: What is the "right" amount of precaution to take?
     
Thurs Jan 19 Sustainable Development--What Is It? Read Issue 2
  
Tues Jan 24 Sustainable Development--How Essential Is It? Why? Weekly Paper #2: What kind of development is least sustainable?
     
Thurs Jan 26Pricing Ecosystem ServicesRead Issue 3
 
Tues Jan 31 The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment See Moodle for the readings
   Weekly Paper #3: Can Pricing and Precaution Go Together?
   
Thurs Feb 2 Can Pricing and Precaution Go Together? Discussion of conclusions in papers
 
Tues Feb 7 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 Feb 9 Should the Military (or Anyone) Be Exempt from Environmental Regulations?Read Issue 5
  
Tues Feb 14   ESSAY EXAM #1 Issues 1-5
  
Thurs Feb 16 Restricting Carbon Emissions vs. the Economy Read Issue 6
     
Mon Feb 20 - Fri Feb 24 WINTER BREAK  
     
Tues Feb 28Carbon Capture & SequestrationRead Issue 8
   Weekly Paper #5: Discuss the risks of carbon capture and sequestration.
   
Thurs Mar 1 Drilling for Offshore Oil Read Issue 7
  
Tues Mar 6 Geothermal Energy Read Issue 9
   Weekly Paper #6: Can we meet our energy needs without offshore oil?
   
Thurs Mar 8 Is Global Warming a Catastrophe that Warrants Immediate Action?Read Issue 21
    
Tues Mar 13 ESSAY EXAM #2 Issues 6-9, 21
   
Thurs Mar 15 Biofuels Read Issue 11
  Drop Date:  After Mar 16 you cannot drop the course without getting a grade. 
No W or L!
   
Tues Mar 20 Reviving Nuclear Power--Pro Read Issue 12
    
Thurs Mar 22Reviving 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.
   
Mon Mar 26 - Fri Mar 30SPRING BREAK  
   
Tues Apr 3 Feeding the World--Foreign Aid Read Issue 13
  
Thurs Apr 5 Feeding the World--GMOs Read Issue 14
   Weekly Paper #8: How can we best relieve global hunger?
Tues Apr 10 Feeding the World--Organic Farming Read Issue 15
  
Thurs Apr 12 DDT vs. Malaria Read Issue 16
   Weekly Paper #9: Are protecting the environment and protecting human well-being compatible goals?
   
Tues Apr 17 ESSAY EXAM #3  
  
Thurs Apr 19 Environmental Hormone Mimics Read Issue 17
  
Tues Apr 24 Nuclear Waste Read Issue 19
  
Thurs Apr 26 Superfund Read Issue 18
  
Mon Apr 30 FINAL EXAMS BEGIN
 
EXAM DAY ESSAY EXAM #4
 




Syllabus last modified October 19, 2011.