Kathy Steinert - Syllabus
Bellevue Community College
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
Environmental Science 204, Sections: B, C, D
Spring, 1998 Syllabus
Instructor: Kathy Steinert Science Division
Office: B134
Office: B116 Science Division Phone:
425-641- 2321
Office Phone: 425-641-2450 Office Hours:
10:30-11:30 a.m. DAILY, and by special appointment
Course Item# 3352 for Section B, meets DAILY in D170
Course Item# 3354 for Section C, meets DAILY in B138
Course Item# 3356 for Section D, meets DAILY in B138
Required Text: Environmental Science, A Global Concern,
4th ed.,
by Cunningham and Saigo
Module for Environmental Science, Kathy Steinert
The Internet Primer, by Erickson and Vonk
Final Exam:
Section B meets on Friday, June 19, from 7:30 - 9:20 p.m. in D170
Section C meets on Wednesday, June 17, from 9:30-11:20 a.m.in
B138
Section D meets on Wednesday, June 17, from 11:30-1:20 p.m. in
B138
If there is a conflict with a final, please see me. In order to
successfully complete the course, you must take the Final Exam.
Course Objectives:
The objective of this course is to provide you with an understanding
of how man interacts with the limited resources of this planet.
We shall be looking at the problems caused by our technological
society, and provide you with tools designed to help you in your
search for some solutions to these problems.
Course Content:
Our course will be divided into five units: humans and nature/an
overview; principles and concepts; resources: air, water, soil,
minerals, and wastes; biodiversity: living resources; and energy
resources. The majority of the class time will be spent on lecture/class
discussions, group and individual projects, listening to guest
speakers, a field trip, reading Scientific American articles,
writing chapter objectives, completing worksheets, and an oral
presentation of your poster presentation. In addition, each student
is expected to contribute to discussions during Student Presentations.
There will also be various assignments given out from time to
time during class meetings. You will be able to derive points
from these ONLY if you are in attendance. Therefore, attendance
is going to affect the total number of points that you will be
able to accrue, and your final course grade.
In addition to the reading assignments in your textbook, you will
be assigned specific Scientific American articles, articles from
newspapers and magazines, the Internet, and appropriate library
assignments. Information from these will be discussed in class.
As a result, you may expect to see a question or two from these
articles on a lecture exam. Exam questions will be derived from
lectures, class discussions, worksheets, assigned readings, figures,
and graphs, and chapter objectives.
Exams:
Exams will closely follow assigned chapter figures,
graphs, worksheets, and the chapter objectives given to you. Some
of the objectives will be discussed during class, others will
not. You will be held accountable for ALL the objectives. The
form of test questions that you may expect to see are multiple
choice, matching, fill-in, and short answer essay questions. THERE
WILL BE NO MAKE-UP EXAMS!!! The final exam is 200 pts., and is
comprehensive. Please bring scantrons and #2 pencils with you
to each exam. If you take all four of the 150 point exams, your
lowest score of those will be dropped. See the specific grading
details below.
Grading Policies:
Your grade at the end of the quarter will
be a % of the total required points. If you take all four of the
150 pt. exams, the lowest score will be dropped. There will be
no curve used, you compete against yourself, not your fellow students.
Lecture exams will begin promptly on the assigned day. Once a
test date is assigned in the syllabus, it will not change. If
we should get behind in class, the content of any given exam will
be changed accordingly.
A = 100-93% 4.0 points/credit hour C = 76-73%
2.0 points/credit hour
A- = 92-90% 3.7 points/credit hour C+ = 79-77% 2.3 points/credit
hour
B+ = 89-87% 3.3 points/credit hour C- = 72-70% 1.7 points/credit
hour
B = 86-83% 3.0 points/credit hour D+ = 69-67% 1.3 points/credit
hour
B- = 82-80% 2.7 points/credit hour D = 66=60% 1.0 points/credit
hour
F = 59-0% 0.0 points/credit hour
NO Z GRADES WILL BE GIVEN
POLICY ON CHEATING:
You, the student, are expected to conduct
yourself with integrity. When you cheat*, or aid someone else
in cheating, you violate a trust. If you cheat*, the following
actions will be taken:
1. You will receive a grade of "0" on the exam, lab,
quiz, etc., where cheating occurs. This grade CANNOT be dropped.
2. A report of the incident will be sent to the Dean of Students.
He/She may file the report in your permanent record or take further
disciplinary action, such as suspension or expulsion from the
college.
If you feel you have been unfairly accused of cheating, you may
appeal. (For a description of due process procedures see WAC 132H-120,
copies of which are available in the Student Body Government Office.)
*Cheating includes, but is not limited to, copying answers on
tests or homework, glimpsing at nearby test papers, sharing laboratory
reports, swapping papers, stealing, plagiarizing, illicitly giving
or receiving help on exams or assignments.
REQUIRED ACTIVITIES:
You are expected to be in attendance for class sessions. In
addition, you are required to attend class sessions with guest
lectures, a poster presentation, complete Internet assignments,
attend one field trip, complete assigned worksheets, and other
written assignments.
1. Guest lectures: When a guest comes to class, you are expected
to write and turn in a two page summary of the topic discussed
for a possible 10 points within a week of the presentation.
2. Research paper and poster presentation: You will write a
research paper, no less than one and a half ,and no more than
two pages long, representing the part of the poster project for
which you are responsible in the group contract. It must present
your one-fourth of the poster presentation. The poster project
MUST present both the pro and con sides of an environmental issue.
This is an informational paper. It should NOT include your own
personal biases, nor be an emotional presentation. At least five
sources are required for your annotated bibliography. At least
one of these must come from the Internet, one from EBSCO Host
index, and one from a current periodical. You MUST site the BCC
library literature, internet, text, as well as personal interviews
used in your paper. Simple footnotes are required, as well as
a complete bibliography. This reasearch paper is worth 25 points
for each of the four persons in a presentation group.
You will be working in groups of 4 on this project. You will
have 12 minutes to present your poster, followed by 3 minutes
to answer questions. You will be graded on content, delivery,
and whether or not you complied with time constraints. You may
not read your research presentation to the group. You may
use either notes on index cards or folder paper. Your written
paper is due to the instructor on the assigned day, before your
classroom presentation. You will be graded on content and form
e.g. footnotes, the correct # of pages, bibliography and grammar.
Each member is responsible for a distinct part of the project,
as stated in the contract signed by each group member.
Posters must include history, present conditions, and steps
to improve the condition. Contruction specifications: 36"
x 48" using either corrugated cardboard with side wings,
or thick syrofoam board with side wings -- either way, it must
be free-standing with a central panel, augmented by two side wings.
See examples provided by your instructor. Poster grading is based
on depth, breadth of topoic covered, large print, good pictures
/graphics, clear layout and a clear presentation to the class.
Classmates will also be involved in the evaluation process. You
are expected to have a strong enough grasp of the subject so that
only occasional use of note cards will be necessary.
3. Internet Assignments: Several assignments will be given
throughout the quarter. If you cannot access Internet at home,
you may do so at either the BCC Library or the Apple Lab in A111.
There is a chat room and a forum assigned for your section of
EnvSci 204. The address is: http://SciDiv.bcc.ctc.edu/interaction
Your instructor will be talking to you about using it during class.
Chat rooms are for large group discussion, while forums are designed
for small group communication simultaneously. They are good for
exam reviews and group projects.
4. Field trip: You are required to attend and summarize one
field trip that is outside of the regularly scheduled class meetings
for a possible 20 points.
You will be given the opportunity to choose from a variety
of field trip offerings to summarize.
5. Worksheets: Are worked on as a group activity, but turned
in and graded individually for 20 possible points each, unless
the point value is stated otherwise.
6. NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED. If you miss a class,
it is your responsibility to contact the instructor in time to
complete any work assigned .
Detailed Class Schedule
WEEK DATE ASSIGNMENT
1 Mon. 4/06/98 Introduction to Environmental Science;
Environmental Attitudes
due for class tomorrow from the EnvSci Module, Gen
Intro Materials
Tue. 4/07/98 Ch 1: Understanding our Environment
Groupswork on Env Attitudes
Wed. 4/08/98 Ch 2: Tools for Building a Better
Environment
Thu. 4/09/98 Ch 3: Matter, Energy, and Life; An
Ecosystem Concept Map, see
Gen Intro section of EnvSci Module
Fri. 4/10/98 conclude Ch 3
___________________________________________________________
2 Mon. 4/13/98 Ch 4: Biological Communities and
Species Interaction
Tue. 4/14/98
Conclude Ch 4; Sci Am: 7/96: The Mother of Mass Extinctions questions
due today
Wed. 4/15/98 Ch 5: Biomes, Landscapes, Restora-
tion, and Management
Thu. 4/16/98 Introduction to Internet in Apple
Lab, A111
Fri. 4/17/98 Introduction to Internet in A111
___________________________________________________________
3 Mon. 4/20/98 Ch 5 continued; A Case Study:The
Rescue of Lake Washington
Group Work; Concept Map Work
Tue. 4/21/98 Library Research - Apple Lab & Library Discussion
Wed. 4/22/98 Library Research - Apple Lab & Library
Discussion
Thu. 4/23/98 Discuss Poster Project Form, Formulate Poster
Groups;
Ch 6: Population Dynamics
Fri. 4/24/98 Holiday --- NO CLASSES !!!!!
__________________________________________________________
4 Mon. 4/27/98 Ch 6 continued; Review for Exam I
Tue. 4/28/98 EXAM I 150 pts. on Chapters 1-5
Ecosystem Concept Map due today
Wed. 4/29/98 Ch 7: Human Population; Bring examples of good posters
to class
Thu. 4/30/98 Ch 7 continued
Fri. 5/01/98 Ch 8: Environmental Resource
Economics
___________________________________________________________
5 Mon. 5/04/98 Ch 8 continued
Poster Contracts are due today
CD Ex: Life Styles and Life Spans due
Handout: Personal Energy Sheets
Tue. 5/05/98 Ch 9: Environmental Health and
Toxicology; SciAm: 7/96:
Sunlight and Skin Cancer questions due today
Wed. 5/06/98 Ch 9 concluded
Thu. 5/07/98 Ch 10: Food, Hunger, and Nutrition
Fri. 5/08/98 Ch 10 continued; SciAm: 11/96:
Can China Feed Itself?
questions due today
________________________________________________________
6 Mon. 5/11/98 Ch 12: Pest Control; Handout Biodiversity, Human
Ecology, and Tropical Forest Loss Worksheet today
Tue. 5/12/98 Ch 12 concluded Review for Exam 2
Wed. 5/13/98 EXAM 2 - 150 pts. on Ch 6-10
Thu. 5/14/98 Ch 13: Biodiversity
Fri. 5/15/98 Ch 13 concluded
___________________________________________________________
7 Mon. 5/18/98 Personal Energy Sheets and CO2
Calculations due today
Tue. 5/19/98 Annotated Bibliography due today
Ch 17: Air, Climate, and Weather
Wed. 5/20/98 Ch 17 concluded;SciAm: 3/97: The
Rising Seas& SciAm:5/97:
The Coming Climate
Thu. 5/21/98 Ch 18: Air Pollution
Fri. 5/22/98 Ch 18 continued; Risk Assessment
questions due today
___________________________________________________________
8 Mon. 5/25/98 Memorial Day Holiday NO CLASS!!!
Tue. 5/26/98 conclude Ch 18; SciAm: 11/96: The
Case for Electric Cars
Wed. 5/27/98 EXAM 3 - 150 pts. on Ch 12,13,17,18
Thu. 5/28/98 Ch 19: Water Use and Management
Fri. 5/29/98 Poster Papers due today
___________________________________________________________
9 Mon. 6/01/98 Ch 19 continued; Extra Credit Human Exploration
CD Exercises due today
Tue. 6/02/98 Ch 19 concluded
Wed. 6/03/98 Ch 20: Water Pollution
Thu. 6/04/98 Ch 20 :concluded; Kyoto Conference
questions due today
Fri. 6/05/98 Ch 21: Conventional Energy
___________________________________________________________
10 Mon. 6/08/98 Ch 22: Sustainable Energy
Tue. 6/09/98 EXAM 4 150 pts. on Chapters 19-22
Wed. 6/10/98 STUDENT PRESENTATIONS
Thu. 6/11/98 STUDENT PRESENTATIONS
Fri. 6/12/98 STUDENT PRESENTATIONS
___________________________________________________________
11 Mon. 6/15/98 STUDENT PRESENTATIONS
Tue. 6/16/98 Review for Final Exam
Wed. 6/17/98 Comprehensive Final Exam --200 pts.
for Sec. B and Sec. C
Fri. 6/19/98 Comprehensive Final Exam --
200 pts. for Sec.D