Intermediate Environmental Studies

ENVS 151     Spring 2002

Tues/Thur  12:30-1:45 pm,  L/L Room 216

 

Syllabus of Jan. 15, 2002

Subject to Change – After Jan 18 Check Class website for updates!:

www.uvm.edu/~cdanks/envs151

 

Instructor:  Dr. Cecilia Danks, Assistant Professor, ENVS/SNR                                               

Office hours:

Aiken 347: Wed. 10:30 am– 12 noon.  Sign up on list on door of Aiken 347.

Bittersweet:  Tues. 2:15-3:30 pm.  Call 656-4055 for appointments.                             

My main office: The Bittersweet, 153 So. Prospect, tel. 656-0175

E-mail: cdanks@zoo.uvm.edu

           

           

           

            ENVS 151 is a core course in the Environmental Studies major designed to help students focus on their particular area of concentration within the very broad field of interdisciplinary environmental study.  Assignments prepare the ENVS major for further in-depth course study and senior project/thesis work.  Class sessions are skill-based rather than content-based.  Students work on their own programs of study, career and research interests, and share their interests and findings with the class.

 

Objectives of this course:

1)  To lay the foundation for your individually-designed ENVS major through intensive research of your areas of environmental interest;

2)  To identify personal strengths, interests, and goals in choosing a focus within ENVS;

2)  To gain access to networks of people and organizations pursuing environmental fields of interest to you

4)  To enhance your investigative, analytical, and communicative skills in carrying out preliminary research towards your senior thesis topic area;

5)  To develop a personal academic plan through investigating course options, graduate and professional study, career and lifestyle options.

 

Course Format:

            Classes will be a variety of formats, including workshop exercises, lectures, discussions, oral presentations, guest panels.  Students are expected to attend all classes.  If you miss a class, please ask another student for assistance in catching up on the material.  As only 1-2 classes are assigned for each main topic, the course will move along at a regular clip.  Although much of the work takes place outside class, class sessions are designed to introduce skills and prepare students for their individual investigations.  Please make every effort to attend, both to help yourself and to support your peers.

 

 Required texts:  There is only one required book: Alfred Roda and Paul Eschholz.  2002.  The Writer’s Brief Handbook.  4th Edition.  New York et al.: Longman.  (Note: 3rd edition is also okay.)   This book will also be a required text for ENVS 201 and 202 and will be a helpful resource in the future.  PLEASE BRING THE HANDBOOK TO CLASS ON Jan 29.

 

 

 

 

ENVS 151 Assignments

 

Reading: There is little assigned reading for this class.  Most of your reading will come as you pursue your independent research on careers and thesis topics.  Some readings may be placed on reserve to assist you in assignments; these are recommended but not required.

 

ENVS 151 Short Schedule of Assignments

 

 

Assignments Due

IN CLASS!!!

Jan.  15

Tues

 

 

Jan.  17

Thurs

 

 

Jan.  22

Tues

 

Academic Plan in pencil – 1 copy

Jan.  24

Thurs

 

 

Jan.  29

Tues

Bring Writer’s Handbook to class

Resumes and Cover letters – 2 copies

Jan.  31

Thurs

 

2 edits due

Feb.  5

Tues

 

 

Feb.  7

Thurs

 

 

Feb.  12

Tues

 

R&C rewrites 1 copy

Skills/Interests/Traits 1 copy

Feb.  14

Thurs

 

2 edits due

Feb.  19

Tues

 

Topic areas – 1 copy

Feb.  21

Thurs

 

 

Feb.  26

Tues

 

Personal statements – 2 copies

Feb.  28

Thurs

 

2 edits due

Mar.  5

Tues

Town Meeting Day – NO CLASS

 

Mar.  7

Thurs

 

 

Mar.  12

Tues

 

Career / Lifestyles – 2 copies

Mar.  14

Thurs

 

2 edits due

Mar.  19

Tues

NO CLASSES

Spring Break

Mar.  21

Thurs

Mar.  26

Tues

 

 

Mar.  28

Thurs

 

 

Apr.  2

Tues

 

Area report (First half) – 2 copies

Apr.  4

Thurs

 

2 edits due

Apr.  9

Tues

Oral presentations

 

Apr.  11

Thurs

Oral presentations

 

Apr.  16

Tues

 

Area report (all parts: 1st half rewrite, and second half) – 1 copy

Apr.  18

Thurs

Oral presentations

1 edit due

Apr.  23

Tues

 

 

Apr.  25

Thurs

 

 

Apr.  30

Tues

Last day of classes

Final Academic Plan (including Personal statement, careers/lifestyles, and area report) and all rewrites due 4 pm at Bittersweet

 

 

Writing:  Because this class focuses on reflection, integration, skill-building, and research, most of the work for this class is in writing assignments.  These assignments are designed to provide direction and focus for the remaining semesters of your undergraduate program in Environmental Studies.  To the extent that you do them thoroughly, investigating your own personal interests, they will provide you with a foundation for all your future training and environmental work.  This class is about YOU and YOUR LIFE; the assignments are tailored to foster your own personal exploration and skills development.

 

Assignments are due on a regular schedule – about every two weeks.  You will need to plan your time well to accommodate the number of assignments.  During the weeks when no assignment is due, consider the week a "research week" in preparation for the next paper.  The assignments build on each other.  You will have a chance to rewrite almost every submission for a better grade if you keep up.

 

Peer editing:  Past students have expressed great appreciation for peer editing – both giving and receiving comments on their writing from fellow students.  You will be graded on your peer editing – quality and promptness.  Instruction will be given on peer editing in class on Jan. 29.

 

Guidelines for Assignments:

1)  All papers should be completed on a word processing program and printed out in a quality that is easy to read.  Double-space your papers, use 12 pt type size, and allow normal 1.25" margins for comments.  Number your pages and staple all pages together.  Best to put your name in the footer on every page.  Remember that these will be passed around for editing.  Consider the visual presentation of your work, especially for final versions; check for computer errors and broken lines or unformatted paragraphs and strange hyphenation.  My good impression of your work is to your benefit. 

 

2)  Spellcheck and proofread your work before handing it in.  Errors should be minimal; Your peer editors and I will expect you to use the spellcheck programs on the computers.

 

3)  Use inclusive language; i.e. be conscious of your use of gender pronouns and referents.  Use "people" or "humankind" instead of "man", and "he or she" or "they" instead of simply "he". 

 

4)  Be honest.  Use your own words, and express your own thoughts.  Don't fall into the habit of using others' words without giving them proper credit.  Avoid long quotes, but work to express your understanding of an author's ideas in your own words.  Give credit where credit is due; don't misrepresent an author's words as your own.

 

5)  Turn work in on time, i.e. IN CLASS on the day it is due.  This is important because peer editors, including you, will pick up papers that day for editing.  Late papers are subject to a 10% penalty per day.  I will do my best to read all the papers at once after they are turned in and try to return them to you before the next assignment is due.  You will receive the best feedback if your work comes in on time. 

 

6)  At the top of all your papers, please be sure to give your name, college, and date.  You do not need to use extra paper for a cover sheet.  Printing on both sides of the page is fine, if your computer can do this.  If possible, use 100% recycled paper for all assignments.  Paper which has been used on one side is fine for draft assignments. 

 

Grading:

The exact number of points allocated for each assignment and class participation will be posted on the website under “Assignments” in the near future date.

 

Participation and Attendance Policy

            Your participation is valued in this class and therefore will count towards your grade.  Since you cannot participate if you do not attend, no matter what the reason, attendance is a big part of participation. I will take attendance regularly in class.  Generally, those who attend class do better on their assignments than those who do not.  I reserve the right to administer grade penalties for cumulative unexcused absences.  Your level of commitment to the class is obviously up to you.  “Just showing up” is a way to build community with peers and gain the most from discussion, editing, and advising sessions.  Our class group will be a network itself, and your active participation helps build that network so it is useful to others.

 

Important:  Please come and talk to me about any of your concerns.  If you are in trouble and falling behind, please come and talk to me.  If you are enjoying the course, please come and talk to me.  If you are stuck on an assignment, please come and talk to me.  Talk to me by phone, in person, or by email.  I can't be helpful if I don't know what’s going on for you.  Don't wait until it's too late and you are really suffering!  I want you to get the most out of your 151 experience, so ... talk to me.

 

Cooperative Learning:

            That said, let me also urge you to talk to others as well.  Almost all successful environmental work is done collaboratively, working in cooperative teams.  I highly encourage you to work with others in the class on your assignments, sharing resources and ideas and helping each other with direction , focus, and clarity.  Also, please feel free to ask advice of other faculty in the Environmental Program and across campus.  You may be drawing on your ENVS colleagues for many years to come, so cultivate relationships now!

 

 

I am indebted to Stephanie Kaza for permission to use her syllabus.  Much if not most of the useful descriptions and excellent advice contained herein are hers.