SCIENCE 1101: Science, Society, and the Environment I

Transcription

1 1 SCIENCE 1101: Science, Society, and the Environment I Course and Instructor Information: Instructor: Bozena Kajzer B.Sc., Hort.Eng., M. Agr. St., P/G Dip. Ed. Semester: Fall 2011 Lecture: MW 6.30 pm 7.45 pm SCI 109 (evening group); MW 8.00 am 9.15 am SCI 215 (morning group) Phone: bkajzer@ .kennesaw.edu Office hours: Monday 3.00 pm 6.00 pm (by appointment only) Course web site: Text: Environment:The Science Behind the Stories, 4 th Edition, Withgott & Brennan Course Description: This course is the first in a two-part sequence that fulfills the general education science requirement. Using the context of environmental issues, it introduces students to the basic nature of matter, energy and living systems and to the nature of science. Emphasis is placed on making decisions about scientific issues. Science 1101 is not designed for science majors and is not a prerequisite for introductory courses in biology, chemistry, or physics. Course Policies: Classroom: No eating, drinking, sleeping, conversing, or working on outside assignments while in class. Arrive on time, but if you happen to enter late, seat yourself quickly and discreetly. Always conduct yourself with proper manners during class and discussions. Only students enrolled in the course may be present in the class no visitors. All exams and assignments must be completed in the section for which the student is enrolled in order to be graded and recorded. Your continued enrollment in the course signifies acceptance of all stated course policies. In the event of inclement weather: The status of the University during inclement weather is determined by visiting and selecting Campus Advisors. Changes in policies: Changes to the course s point distribution, schedule, policies, office hours, or any other component may be made during the semester. Changes will be announced in class and posted on the course web site. Accommodations: Any student with a documented disability or medical condition needing academic accommodations of class-related activities or schedules must contact the instructor immediately. Written verification from the KSU disabled Student Support Services is

2 2 required. No requirements exist that accommodations be made prior to completion of this approved University documentation. All discussions will remain confidential. Estimates of turnaround Times and Exam Grades: s received during the regular work week will typically receive a response within 24 hrs. s received at other times will typically receive a response on the next day of the work week. Student exam scores and class exam statistics are typically available within 48 hrs of the exam. Laboratory Component: Science 1101 has a laboratory component comprised of exercises examining various topics in environmental science through online exercises. Directions/handouts for the activities and the semester lab schedule are found on the web site below. Online lab manual: Your performance in the laboratory portion of the course will be evaluated on the exams. Each module will be evaluated on the exam that closely follows its conclusion. A significant percentage of the questions on each exam will concern material from the laboratory exercises. Questions will cover background material, procedures, and any other component of the laboratory exercises, so it is necessary to complete each exercise in its entirety using the provided handouts to prepare for these questions. Exams: All exams and assignments must be completed in the section for which the student is enrolled in order to be graded and recorded. Students may not operate any electronic devices during exams (calculators, cell phones, etc.). The penalties for violating this policy will be at the instructor s discretion. The distribution of exams to arriving students will cease once the first exam is submitted or 20 minutes after the scheduled exam start time, whichever is later. Making up exams: Make-up exams for students who missed scheduled exams will only be granted in extreme circumstances and at the instructor s discretion. Sleeping late, heavy traffic, and similar excuses do not qualify as extreme circumstances, and are not valid grounds for a make-up assignment. The instructor must be contacted within 48 hrs of the missed exam by , phone, or in person to be eligible for a make up exam. Contact by phone or in person must provide an address and contacts should only be considered successful when a confirmation is received from the instructor. Documentation must be received by the instructor within 10 days of the missed exam to be eligible for make up exam. Examples of acceptable excuses include: Serious illness: The student must provide a signed doctor s excuse listing the illness and treatment date immediately upon return to class. Funeral: Documentation (e.g., obituary) must be provided immediately upon return to class. Other: The determination of the validity of other excuses and the necessary documentation to support them will be at the instructor s discretion.

3 3 Make up exams are in a writing- intensive format (essay and short answer questions) that differs from the format of the regular course exams. All make-up exams will be administered on the final day of classes in the regular meeting location. This is the sole opportunity for taking make-up exams. Students will have one full class period to complete all make up exams they have secured permission to take. Any student missing a scheduled make up exam will need to provide an acceptable excuse to be granted another opportunity to complete it. Any student missing the make-up exam session or the final exam for an excused reason will be assigned a grade I (incomplete) for the course and will be required to complete a make-up exam during a scheduled exam period in one of the instructor s classes the following semester (Maymester and summer semesters excluded). It is the responsibility of the student to contact the instructor the following semester to arrange the make up exam and a minimum of two weeks notice is required. The student should not consider a contact attempt successful until they have received confirmation from the instructor. Questions on exams: If you have a question on a particular exam question, have found a scoring error, or wish to challenge an exam question s answer, you must alert the instructor and bring the item in question to the instructor within one week of the return/posting of the exam. All questions concerning the final exam must be addressed within 24 hrs of the posting of the exam scores to facilitate the calculation of final grades. Do not hesitate to ask questions, simply do so in a timely manner. Reviewing grades: Near the end of the semester, you have the opportunity to view your recorded exam scores online, referenced by your personal six-digit course number. Any errors must be immediately reported to the instructor by . All recorded grades become final at the conclusion of the final exam period. Plagiarism and cheating: The instructor will strictly adhere to the University policy concerning plagiarism and cheating as stated in the KSU Student Code of Conduct: No student shall receive, attempt to receive, knowingly give or attempt to give unauthorized assistance in the preparation of any work required to be submitted for credit as part of a course (including examinations, laboratory reports, essays, themes, term papers, etc.). When direct quotations are used, they should be indicated; when the language, ideas, theories, date, figures, graphs, programs, electronic based information or illustrations of someone other than the student are incorporated into a paper or used in a project, they should be duly acknowledged. All instances of academic misconduct, both intentional and unintentional, will be handled through established procedures of the University Judiciary Program. Students violating the University s academic honesty code are subject to University-level disciplinary action, which may include suspension or expulsion from the University. For exams, any student observed cheating will, at a minimum, receive a zero for the entire exam in addition to any penalties assessed through campus disciplinary procedures. See the University Judiciary web site for further info (

4 4 Assignment of final course letter grades: Final letter grade in the course will be assigned according to the point breakdown listed below. These cutoff points are firm, regardless of your proximity to the next higher grade. As a result, you should strive to obtain as many points as possible throughout the semester, for they may make a large difference when final grades are assigned. Aside from bonus questions on each exam and a ten point pre-quiz on environmental issues, there are no opportunities for extra credit n the course. Graded assignments and grade distribution: Graded assignments Totals Final course grades Exam pts. A 432 pts. Exam pts. B = pts. Exam pts. C = pts. Final Exam 120 pts. D = pts. 480 pts. F 288 pts.

5 5 Course Schedule Aug 17 Course Introduction and Overview Syllabus Aug 22 The Nature of Science Ch 1 Aug 24 Earth s Physical Systems: Matter, Ch 2 Energy and Geology Aug 29 Science Pre-Quiz Human Nature Aug 31 Environmental Economics Ch 6 Sep 05 Labor Day Holiday No Class Sep 07 Sep 12 Environmental Economics, Environmental Politics Environmental Politics Ch 7 Sep 14 Film: The Lorax, Exam Review Sep 19 Exam 1 Sep 21 Return Exams, Systems and pp Change Sep 26 Systems and Change, Film:Killing the Aral Sea Sep 28 Chemical Cycles pp Oct 03 Chemical Cycles, Evolution pp Oct 05 Evolution Oct 10 Evolution, Exam Review Oct 12 Exam 2 Oct 17 Return Exams, Ecosystems: pp Basics Oct 19 Ecosystems: Regulation Ch 4 Oct 24 Ecosystems: Regulation Oct 26 Energy Ch 19 Oct 31 Fossil Fuels Nov 02 Fossil Fuels, Exam Review Nov 07 Exam 3 Nov 09 Return Exam, Climate Change Ch 18 Nov 14 Nov 16 Nov 21 Nov 23 Nov 28 Nov 30 Climate Change Alternative Energy Sources: The Big Energy Gamble Online Activity Sustainable Housing No Class Fall Break Film: Climate Change Conclusions, Exam Review Session

6 6 Dec 05 Make Up Exam Session Dec 12 Exam 4 not comprehensive Science, Society, and the Environment I (SCI 1101) Learning Objectives Goal: The goal of this course and this sequence (SCI ) is to strengthen the appreciation for and understanding of science and its role in society and to provide students with the skills and information needed to make informed decisions in their personal and public lives. General Course Objectives; Upon completion of this course, students should be able to: Describe the basic nature of science, energy, matter, and living systems Critique simple scientific investigations Describe the interdependence among Earth s systems Specific Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, students should be able to: NATURE OF SCIENCE 1. design and/or critique simple experiments 2. utilize statistics to analyze data and draw conclusions 3. organize and display data on tables and graphs 4. differentiate between scientific and non-scientific conclusions 5. consider the uncertain nature of science when drawing conclusions 6. explain the dynamic nature of scientific knowledge 7. evaluate scientific articles written for lay persons NATURE OF ENERGY, MATTER, AND LIVING SYSTEMS 1. identify the consequences of the laws of thermodynamics 2. describe the trophic model for the flow of energy through an ecosystem 3. describe the structure and reactivity of matter at the atomic and molecular levels 4. describe the cycling of major elements through the environment and predict the consequences of disruptions to these cycles 5. explain the functions of and reciprocal nature of photosynthesis and respiration LIVING SYSTEMS AND ECOSYSTEMS 1. define evolution, provide evidence for its occurrence, and describe the major mechanisms by which it occurs 2. identify the primary patterns of population change and describe factors that influence population size 3. describe the structure of an ecosystem, identifying the roles and types of interactions between different organisms 4. define major characteristics of an ecosystems such as complexity, diversity, and successional stage and indicate how changes in these characteristics affect the ecosystem 5. predict major consequences of a given disturbance in an ecosystem

7 7 ECOSYSTEMS 1. define evolution, provide evidence for its occurrence, and describe the major mechanisms by which it occurs 2. identify the primary patterns of population change and describe factors that influence population size 3. describe the structure of an ecosystem, identifying the roles and types of interactions between different organisms 4. define major characteristics of an ecosystems such as complexity, diversity, and successional stage and indicate how changes in these characteristics affect the ecosystem 5. predict major consequences of a given disturbance in an ecosystem ACADEMIC WITHDRAWAL POLICY Students may withdraw from one or more courses anytime before the last three weeks of the semester. However, as of Fall 2004, students will be allowed a maximum of eight total withdrawals if they enter KSU as a freshman. Transfer students will be allowed one withdrawal per fifteen credit hours attempted, for a maximum of eight. Students who choose to pursue a second degree at KSU will be allowed two additional withdrawals. Students who entered KSU before the Fall of 2004 will be allowed one withdrawal per fifteen credit hours attempted for a maximum of eight. To withdraw, the student should complete an official withdrawal form in the Office of the Registrar. Students who officially withdraw from course on or before the last day to withdraw without academic penalty will receive a W. Students who officially withdraw after the last day to withdraw without academic penalty (and before the last three weeks of the semester) will receive a WF, which will be counted as an F on calculation of their grade point average. The only exceptions to these withdrawal regulations will be for instances involving unusual circumstances, which are fully documented. Students may appeal to the academic standing committee for consideration of unusual circumstances. LAST DATE TO WITHDRAW WITHOUT ACADEMIC PENALTY FALL 2011 OCTOBER 12, 2011

8 8 ACADEMIC INTEGRITY Every KSU student is responsible for upholding the provisions of the Student cod of Conduct, as published in the Undergraduate and Graduate catalogs. Section II of the Student Code of Conduct addresses the University s policy on academic honesty, including provisions regarding plagiarism and cheating, unauthorized access to University materials, misrepresentation/falsification of University records or academic malicious/intentional misuses of computer facilities and/or services, and misuse of student identification cards. Incidents of alleged academic misconduct will be handled through the established procedures of the University Judiciary Program, which includes either an informal resolution by a faculty member, resulting in a grade adjustment, or a formal hearing procedure, which may subject a student to the Code of Conduct s minimum one semester suspension requirement.