Lecture: 3:30-4:45pm Tuesday and Thursday, 116 Pearson Hall

Discussion: 3:00-3:50pm Wednesday, 128 Pearson Hall

Section: B, Course code: 9722-202, 4 Credit Hours

Instructor: Dr. Matt Persons

Office: 146 Pearson Hall (desk hidden around corner)

Office Hours: 4:45-6 T,Th, W 4-5 and by appointment

Phone: 529-3175

e-mail: personmh@muohio.edu

Course Description:

Local, regional, and global environmental issues are examined in the context

of current ecological theory and principles of resource use and management. This course will integrate the use of the scientific method in understanding ecological processes and the modification of these processes through human activity.

Course Objectives:

• To understand the scientific method and its applications to environmental problems
• To provide students with an understanding of basic ecological principles
• To help students understand the basic environmental issues that we currently face, to explore the economic, political and social causes of environmental problems and to critically evaluate the possible solutions to those problems.
• To identify your own perspective on environmental issues and relate that perspective to that of others.
• To introduce the complexities of environmental policy making and the realities of how

decisions about the environment are made.

• To begin to develop a consciousness of environmental ethics and personal responsibility regarding the world in which we live.

Your grade for the course will be based on a total of 450 possible points. Total points are based on the following: 1) three lecture exams (100 pts each), 2) orally presented environmental debates pro/con (70 pts), 3) written portion of environmental debate (30 pts), 4) peer evaluations, attendance, participation, quizzes (50 pts). For both lectures and discussion sessions you should always bring paper, pencil, and, most importantly, an open mind. You may also want to bring your textbook as a reference.

All lecture exams will consist of 50-60 multiple choice questions (1-2 pt each) and 4 short answers (10 points each). None of the exams are cumulative, but will cover material ONLY presented in LECTURES, DISCUSSIONS, or information related to DEBATE topics since the previous exam. Note: In class, we will cover information from a variety of sources other than your textbook and may have in-class discussions in the lecture sessions as well (i.e. poor attendance will likely have a large negative effect on your grade).

One in class presentation will be conducted on an environmental issue for every person in class (70 pts). You will present a "pro" or "con" stance on a particular environmental issue that you must argue persuasively for or against. This will require RESEARCH on your part to be successful. The 70 points of debate presentation grade will be determined by the following:

1) Prepared Introductory Argument (20 points). This is a GROUP GRADE so it should have

group participation.

Clarity 5pts.

Ability to stay within the allotted time 5pts.

Soundness of argument (internal logic and consistency) 5pts.

Persuasiveness (did it contribute to changing one’s initial stance on the topic?) 5pts.

2) Response to questions posed, 4 responses/person (10 points each, 40 pts total)

a) Did they answer the question? 5 pts

b) Did they present factual information to back up their claim? 2 pts

c) Did they change your mind regarding the way you think about the issue (i.e. were they persuasive?)? 1 pt.

d) Were they clear, concise (stay in the allotted time) and understandable? 2 pts.

3) Showing up (10 points)

Hey, willing to speak up in class and wave your opinions in public is worth something on its own! Not showing up on the day of a presentation will cost you the full 70 points, plus participation points unless presented proof of a personal or family emergency. In this case, a make-up "one-on-one" debate will be given to the student by the instructor at a mutually agreed upon time.

Each student will be asked to answer a single question regarding your particular position on an environmental topic. Your answer must be a typed, 12pt font, 1 inch margins, (single or double-spaced) and must not exceed 1 page. If facts are given to back-up your argument, you must cite the reference using the author and year method and attach a bibliography to your written answer (not included in the 1 page limit). The criteria for grading is as follows:

1) Did they address the question? (10pts!-remember to read the question carefully)

2) Did they present factual information to back up their answer? (10 pts)

3) Appropriate grammar, spelling, organization, conciseness, and length (7pts)

4) Did they change your mind regarding the way you think about the issue (i.e. were they persuasive?) (3pts)

Did you fill out the form for each person presenting?

For the last five minutes (or middle) of most lectures I will ask 1 or 2 question. It will usually be a question regarding the main point(s) made in the lecture for that day (but may consist of other written assignments). The purpose of having you answer this question(s) is: 1) to determine if the material covered in class is understood by you. 2) to determine if I need to re-emphasize information covered in class based on your responses. 3) determine if any of you are having difficulty with material in class. 4) increase your skill in discriminating between key points and extraneous ones from presented material. 5) to keep a record of attendance.

Your answer to the question will NOT be graded based on content so relax. Points will be determined based on whether or not you COMPLETED a quiz for that day. I will also use your responses to determine what material needs to be re-emphasized prior to an exam. In this way, your quizzes are used to help me teach as much as they are used to help yourself organize information.

Cheating: Cheating is not allowed in this class (I’m sure this is not surprising information). Cheating includes copying answers from another students paper, turning in work that is not your own or copying anything from another source without providing the appropriate credit (plagiarism). For a full definition of academic dishonesty see section 502 of the undergraduate student regulations. Suspected cheating on class assignments will result in a zero for that assignment. Cheating on tests or any major component of the grade for the course will result in a failing grade for the course with the possibility of disciplinary action from the university.

Calendar of Lecture topics, discussion topics, and recommended textbook readings.

*Exams will not be given early.

**Syllabus subject to change by the instructor.

The purposes of conducting in class environmental debates are as follows: 1) allows you to research one particular environmental problem in depth, 2) exposes you to the complexity and variety of perspectives on environmental problems, 3) encourages you to address the concerns of different viewpoints when considering solutions to environmental problems, 4) enhances your oral and written communication skills, 5) sharpens your ability to critically evaluate the merits of particular perspectives on environmental issues, and 6) encourages maximum participation of everyone in class.

Each debate will last for approximately 68 minutes. Since the discussion session is only 50 minutes long, we will conduct these debates during scheduled lecture times (75 minute time slot).

The last half of all discussion sessions of class will be devoted to debates on important environmental issues. Each member of class will present either a "Pro" stance or a "Con" stance on some environmental issue (chosen from a range of topics). If you are not actively participating in the debate, you will be asked to critically evaluate each of your peers’ initial argument and responses to questions.

Criteria for evaluation of debate participants will be based on those outlined on the page "determining your grade" Please take your evaluations of your peers seriously and honestly. I will give your evaluation to each student (with your name removed) and use the collective evaluation of the class as a percentage of your debate presentation grade.

Each Environmental Issues Debate will have 4 "Pro" participants and 4 "Con" participants.

Each debate will begin by allowing a 4 minute introductory statement by one member of each team. The introduction will be written by ALL members of the team and will be graded as a GROUP. Each person on the opposing team will then have a 90 second opportunity for a rebuttal to the introductory statement of the other team (20 minutes for intro and rebuttal). Team members may amend rebuttals of other team members or establish separate arguments for themselves.

After all introductions and rebuttals, the moderator (instructor) will then pose a series of 8 questions (4 questions to each member of the "con" team, and 4 questions to each member of the "pro" team). Questions will be answered in a "round-robin" manner (e.g. every student will have the opportunity to be the first, and last person to address a question). 90 seconds will be allowed per question. (48 minutes). Members of each team may expand on their team-mates answers to particular questions. The question section of the debate may be conducted in several different ways which we will determine democratically as a class.

Although you will be graded individually, it is beneficial if you meet with everyone on your team, share resources, perspectives, and arguments prior to the debate to strengthen your individual and collective arguments.