Spring 1997 Global Human Ecology:
America, the Environment, and the Global Economy
Sociology 1002
Class Format: Interactive lectures and class discussions. We will use the assigned readings to critically analyze and evaluate the debate between environmentalists, scientists, economists, and developers about the "proper use" of the global environment. Make sure you read the assigned readings from the course readers before each class.
Quizzes and daily assignments: To make sure students are keeping up with the reading, I will give pop quizzes on the daily reading. Quizzes will be based on a general knowledge of the readings: What are the larger conclusions or observations made in the reading. In addition to quizzes, I will give short daily assignments based on the reading. For example, you may be asked to outline the larger argument of an essay.
Grading: Grades will be based on quizzes and daily assignments (15%), class participation (15%), two a take-home midterms (20% each), and a take-home final (30%). I reserve the right to give unannounced quizzes and assignments in class. Content will count most heavily in all written work, but grammar, spelling, and style will also affect your grade.
Course grades will be defined in these terms:
A--Excellent--(Thoughtful, coherent, insightful, contributes) B--Good--(Knows material well, lacks depth, not outstanding) C--Fair--(Adequate, average, passing, little participation) D--Poor--(Little understanding, little effort, incoherent) F--Fail--(No evidence of understanding, no work, no learning)
Exams:will be made up of long and short answer essay questions covering short lectures, class discussion, and reading assignments. Your essays will be graded on how well you use arguments and examples from class discussion and the reading to support your thesis. Instead of memorizing the material, concentrate on learning how to use arguments and examples to address major themes in the debate about the global environment and the American future. If you keep up with the reading and take good class notes, you should have no trouble with the exams.
Incompletes: I will be very reluctant to give a grade of
Incomplete (I). I assign incompletes only to students who have
successfully completed most of the course work and who have been
prevented by significant and unanticipated circumstances from
finishing all of their assignments.
My policy on cheating is to assign a
zero to the work in question.