EnviSci summer 2008 announcement 27 March 08

I will go to UAP on the 18th of April. I'd like to tell you what to expect.

I will call 1-2 people at random (daily, henceforth) to make a report. Both on Descartes.

Reporter 1. Makes a critique of the chapter. The format is as follows:

I. Introduction (suggested topics)
1. What is the article about?
2. Why was it written?
3. What do we need to know to understand it? What is generally known about the subject? What special terms were used and what's their meaning?
4. Give a brif outline of what to expect.

II. Thesis. What is the author's thesis? Summarize his argument.

III. Proof. What proofs (data, evidence, examples) does the author present in support of his thesis?

IV. Objections and Response. Give at least one strong objection to the author and respond to it. Possible sources of objections include:
1. Author was misinformed about something.
2. Author did not include information that should have been used.
3. Author was illogical about something.
4. Author's treatment can be viewed in other ways

V. Conclusion. Summarize the author's point in the light of all preceding information.

Reporter 2. Should be prepared to moderate a discussion on any question from the end of the chapter.

PASSPORT: To qualify as a reporter, you must submit a written critique following the above format, 2 pages max, printed on bond paper, single side single space. If called and you are unable to present that paper, you can not report; you automatically get a ZERO, the equivalent of a long exam.

I shuffle the cards daily. This means you may be called several times or not at all during the term. I strongly advise you to write those papers everyday.

Thus, use your four-day cut between the 14th and 17th to do as much advanced work as you can.

Looking forward to meeting you all soon.

Environmental science readings for summer 2008

To my summer 2008 students.

These readings are available for photocopying. Make sure that at the start of the classes you all have these readings already. We will take them up in sequence, approximately two meetings per reading. I may add to them later on.

Thus, on the first day of our meeting, April 18, I expect an essay on Descartes and an intelligent discussion on him from the one who will be called (see my policies on essays). REMEMBER: this essay is long exam, and it is revisable. But failure to submit when called means an automatic zero from which there is no redemption! I will also give a quiz on Descartes.

Coordinate with Zoila Santos-Pilola, our secretary.

The debate sessions remain unmarked. So are the laboratory exercises.


Descartes, Rules for the direction of
Thomas, World’s biggest membrane
Tansley, The ecosystem
Vernadsky, The biosphere
Leopold, Odyssey
Commoner, The closing circle
Lovelock, The recognition of Gaia
Miller, Dimensions of deformity
Clemens, The climax concept
Boulding, Economics of spaceship
Dillard, Intricacy
Hardin, The tragedy of the commons
Leopold, The land ethic
Marsh, Man and nature
McKibben, The end of nature
Grumbine, The politics of wilderness
SciAm Oct 07, Conservation

Policies, envisci and biology

Lecture policies
1) The grade in the course consists of 75% lecture and 25% lab grades.

2) The lecture grade is the average of 3 unit grades and the final exam.

a) The semester is divided into 3 units, each with a unit grade. The unit grade consists of the average of quizzes and at least one long exam or recitation/essay.
b) Quizzes, all objective tests such as crossword puzzles, are given everyday. The quizzes are the basis for attendance.
c) The long exam of each unit is a take-home essay test (objective test during summer term). Optional for those who were called for graded recitation or participated in a debate.
d) Graded recitation takes place almost everyday. The procedure is as follows:

i) The teacher will call 1-5 people AT RANDOM (except for debaters). When called, the student must submit an assigned essay (1 page 8.5x11” page single spaced 12-point font) of the correct format. This essay is revisable for as many times as time allows.
ii) An essay of the correct format has the following parts, clearly marked:

1. Introduction (I, 5 pts)
2. Thesis (II, 5 pts)
3. Proof (III, 5 pts)
4. Objection and Response (IV, 5 pts)
5. Conclusion (V, 5 pts)

iii) The person called will give a presentation on the assigned chapter or on the essay that he/she wrote.
iv) No essay, no recitation, zero. This has the weight of a long exam.

v) The only time you know in advance when you will speak is for debate.
vi) Bonus points are given to audience members who make an intervention, either by providing their own arguments or by asking questions.
vii) Since the cards are randomly shuffled everyday, it is possible for a student to be called for graded recitation several times per unit or not at all. One recitation exempts a student from taking the long exam for that unit; several recitations will be averaged with the quizzes. The final exam is a multiple-choice test covering all readings and discussions, with no preference for those taken up later compared to those taken up at the start of the semester.