Envs 4950 Integrative Seminar in Environmental Studies, O'Donnell, Spring 2013

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Calendar
last update: April 23, 2013

 

-  Class meets on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:25 to 11:20am, in Sam Wilson Hall rm 322. 

-  Except for the first class meeting (Fri, Jan 13), we will not meet on Fridays.

-  BSNW = Best American Science and Nature Writing 2010.

 

Week 1  (Fri Jan 18) 

Introductions. 

 

Week 2  (MLK day, Wed Jan 23) 

This week:  Schedule an individual meeting with me to review of a draft of your syllabus, and to arrange a service placement. 

 

For Wednesday: 

Review the sample syllabi from previous Envs students:  faculty.etsu.edu/odonnell/2013spring/envs4950/syllabi.htm

Read the following, online: 

     -  "What is Environmental Studies?"  Michael E. Soule and Daniel Press.  BioScience 48, 5 (May 1998): 397-405.  http://cstpr.colorado.edu/students/envs_5720/soule_press_1998.pdf .  (Or click here for a cached version.) 

     -  "Environmental Studies" Wikipedia article:  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_studies

Also, browse the titles for presentations at last summer's annual national conference of the the Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences:

     -  Friday, June 22 2012, "A" sessions:  http://www.aess.info/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=939971&module_id=116421

     -  Friday, June 22 2012, "B" sessions:  http://www.aess.info/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=939971&module_id=116422

 

Due: Write a short memo (300-600 words) to me and to your classmates, explaining your interest in environmental studies.  Where do you see yourself fitting into the field, as it is described in the readings, above?  What classes have you taken?  What particular area of environmental studies interests you?  Why are you interested in that area?  Include a draft of a working title for your customized syllabus for this course--that is, a complete, specific description of your interest within the field of environmental studies.  Also include any comments you have on the service placement you would prefer.  Be prepared to present to the class. 

 

Also for Wednesday:  Read, in BSNW, the Foreward and Introduction.   Browse the table of contents, and bring the book to class. 

 

Week 3  (Jan 28, 30) 

Mon: In BSNW, read the following three articles:

     - "The Sixth Extinction?" by Kolbert, p188-200

     - "Still Blue," by Brower, 133-43.  Be sure to see Flip Nicklin's photographs on line. 

     - "Scraping Bottom," by Kunzig, p229-38.

 

Due:  Write a memo to me and your classmates, about 250-300 words, which includes the following: 

1)  A full, formal citation for, and brief description of, an interesting and/ or important text that you encountered in one of those three articles.

2)  The names, formal titles, and brief descriptions of two interesting people you encountered in those three articles. 

Write a clear, complete freestanding memo, using complete sentences and paragraphs. 

 

Wed: 

     - In BSNW, read "Green Giant," by Osnos, p334-51. Underline the names and professional titles of people interviewed or cited.

     - Read, here on line, "Why Not Frack?" By Bill McKibben. The New York Review of Books. March 8, 2012. http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2012/mar/08/why-not-frack/.  Be sure to also read the letters from April 26 and March 22. 

 

Week 4  (Feb 4, 6)

Mon:  In BSNW, read the following three articles:

     -  "Flight of the Kuaka," by Stap, p106-113. Circle a thesis statement, if you find one.

     -  "A Life of Its Own," by Specter, p239-58. 

     - "Hearth Surgery," by Bilger, p311-33.

Due:  Pick an interesting individual that you encountered in one of those three articles.  Use the internet to find out what that person's job is. In a memo to me and your classmates, write up, in a few sentences, your take on what that person's credentials are and what they do for a living; also say a word about the organization that employs them: Is it private industry, state-run education, philanthropical foundation, or other?

 

Wed:  Begin reading the first selection in your customized readings for the course.  Due:  Be prepared to present the book to your classmates:  Prepare a full citation.  Gloss the book.  Describe how you selected it.  Also be prepared to discuss how your service placement is going so far. 

 

Week 5  (Feb 11, 13) 

Mon:  Continue reading the first book in your customized readings.  Be prepared to discuss in class. 

Wed:  Due: Reading response; about 300 words--write a memo, to me and your classmates, that explains and comments on an interesting, important issue raised in your readings. 

 

Week 6  (Feb 18, 20) 

Mon: 

     - Finish reading the first book in your customized readings.  Bring that book to class for further discussion. 

     - Read, here on line, "Margaret Atwood: Rachel Carson's Silent Spring, 50 years on." By Margaret Atwood. The Guardian [Manchester, England]. Friday, December 7, 2012. http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/dec/07/why-rachel-carson-is-a-saint

     - Browse this website:  http://rachelwaswrong.org/

     - Begin reading Merchants of Doubt. 

 

Wed:  Read Introduction (p1-9) and "Chapter 1: Doubt Is Our Product" (p10-35) in Merchants of Doubt.

 

Week 7  (Feb 25, 27) 

Mon:  Read "Chapter 3: Sowing the Seeds of Doubt: Acid Rain" (p66-107) in Merchants of Doubt.  Due: Reading response; about 300 words--write a memo to me and your classmates, in which you make a connection between some information or insight in Merchants of Doubt and some info or insight you've gained in your service placement.

 

Wed:  "Chapter 5: What's Bad Science?  Who Decides?  The Fight Over Second-Hand Smoke" (p136-167) in Merchants of Doubt.

 

Week 8  (March 4, 6) 

Mon: In Merchants of Doubt, Read "Chap 6: The Denial of Global Warming," p169-216.

Also, browse the following blogs:

     - climatedepot.com - A blog that "aims to redefine global warming reporting." 

     - climateprogress.org - "A liberal blog on the science, solutions, and politics of climate change." 

 

Wed:  In Merchants of Doubt, Read "Chap 7: Denial Rides Again: The Revisionist Attack on Rachel Carson," p170-240. 

Due:  In a memo to me and your classmates, write a response to chapter 7. 

Also begin reading the second book on your customized reading list.  Be sure to bring the book to class. 

 

SPRING BREAK!  March 11-16

Week 9  (March 18, 20) 

Mon:  Continue reading the second book on your customized reading list. Due:  Be prepared to present the book to your classmates:  Prepare a full citation.  Gloss the book.  Read a selected passage. 

Wed:  Continue reading the second book on your customized readings.  Due: Reading response; about 300 words--write a memo, to me and your classmates, that introduces some person you've met in your reading of your second book:  Who is the person?  What is her/his title?  What's their organizational affiliation?  What type of organization, what's it's history, where does its money come from? 

 

Week 10  (March 25, 27) 

Mon:  Read the Prologue of Charles Mann's 1493, and bring the book to class.

Wed: Read Mann, 1493, Chapter 1 (p.3-38). Due: Write a memo to me and your classmates, about 250-300 words: Find one title in the list of sources that you think you might like to read, or that you think is important or noteworthy. Include a full citation in your memo and comment: Why is that title significant? 

 

Week 11  (April 1, 3) 

Mon:  Draft of major writing project due: At least 1,500 words. Bring two extra copies (a total of 3 copies) for peer review.

Wed: Read Mann, Chapter 2 (through page 75). Due: Review the notes Mann uses for Chaps 1-2. In a brief memo to me and your classmates, characterize the sources he relies upon.

 

Week 12  (Apr 8, 10) 

Mon: Read Mann, Chapter 6 (p197-238).

Wed:  Read "Why Do G.M.O.’s Need Protection?"  By Mark Bittman.  New York Times online, April 2, 2013.  opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/02/why-do-g-m-o-s-need-protection/

 

Week 13  (Apr 15, 17) 

Mon: Read Mann, Chapter 7 (p238-80).

Wed:  In BSNW, read "All You Can Eat," by Carrier, p161-171. 

 

Week 14  (Apr 22, 24) 

Mon:  Major writing project, 2nd draft due.  Include a cover memo, written to me:  What have you changed since the first draft?  What other comments and questions do you have?  How do you plan to present this material to the class, during week 15? 

Wed:  In class presentations -- 1) Heather on local food; 2) Natalia on campus sustainability. 

 

Week 15  (Apr 29, May 1) 

Mon:  In class presentations -- 1) Sarah on Cherokee Forest Voices, a regional, non-profit forest watch group, and on National Forests management; 2) Katelyn on interfaith environmentalism; 3) Eric on the Erwin National Fish Hatchery and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Wed:  In class presentations:  1) Mary on the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, and efforts to control invasive species in the AT corridor.  2) Barrett on efforts to remediate Sinking Creek, an impaired stream that runs through Johnson City. 

 

Final exam period:  Wednesday, May 8, 8:30-10am. 

  1.  Final revision of writing project due.  Bring a hard copy to class today. 

  2.  Final log of service hours due.  Include supervisor contact information, so I can verify your hours.

  3.  Short in-class writing:  Comments on the class, and one major issue raised.  This short, in-class writing will not be graded.  It will be worth a check mark, the same as other ungraded writing activities done this semester.