COURSE OUTLINE
ENVIRONMENTAL LIFE SCIENCE ABIO 106
FALL 2010
Instructor:
Office:
Office hours:
Phone:
e-mail:
Dr. Michele Harmon
SBDG 221
By appointment
(803) 641-3607
micheleh@usca.edu
Lecture:
Credits:
Lab:
10:50 am - 12:05 pm, TTh in SBDG 327
4
Sect 001: T 1:40PM- 4:20PM, SBDG 107 (Dr. Harmon)
Sect 002: TH 1:40PM- 4:20PM, SBDG 107 (Mr. Reinhart)
Required textbooks:
1.
Principles of Environmental Science: Inquiry and Applications, 5th Edition, by William P. Cunningham and Mary Ann
Cunningham. ISBN-13 9780077270643 Note: This book is available in the bookstore; however, there is a more
economical and environmentally-friendly online version that you can purchase through the following website:
http://www.coursesmart.com/givecoursesmartatry?xmlid=0077280644&__instructor=1284733
2.
Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Environmental Issues, 13th Edition, Expanded, by Thomas A. Easton, ISBN-13
9780073514451
3.
Lab Packet: SimBioVirtual Labs available in the Bookstore.
Course Objectives: The course will provide students with an understanding and appreciation of the complex interactions between
man and the environment. The course will specifically address the importance of natural resources, human population growth,
depletion/degradation of the earth’s resources, types of pollution, pollution reduction and prevention, and strategies for sustainability.
Methods of Presentation and Evaluation: Information will be presented through lectures along with appropriate visual aids. Traditional
exams will be used to evaluate student progress in the class. These exams will include multiple choice, terms/definitions, and short
answer. Students should bring a pencil and a long-form Scantron to each exam.
There will be several unannounced quizzes and in-class assignments during the semester. Students are expected to have reviewed the
material from the previous lecture in preparation. These will be administered during the first 10 minutes of class, and there will be no
make-up opportunities for absence or late arrival. However, the lowest quiz grade will be dropped at the end of the semester.
The student will be required to complete several written research assignments and participate in an oral debate/presentation on a
current environmental topic. Full details will be handed out in class.
The final course grade will be based on the following:
3 Lecture exams @ 100 pts. each
1 Final exam @ 200 pts.
On-line and in-class quizzes / assignments
Election Research Assignment
Taking Sides assignment
Laboratory quizzes, reports, and participation
300
200
50
50
100
250
950 total pts. available
GRADING SCALE: A (90-100%), B (80-89), C (70-79), D (60-69), F (0-59)
ATTENDANCE POLICY: The instructor may impose a penalty for absences in excess of 25% of regularly scheduled class meetings
(lectures and labs) by assigning an “F” in the course. Absences, neither excused nor unexcused, absolve the student from meeting
class assignments. Lecture exam dates are clearly stated in the syllabus, and all students are expected to take the exam at the regularly
scheduled time. Make-up lecture exams will be considered only for a documented, excusable reason. If there is an illness or
emergency, you are expected to contact the instructor immediately. Be prepared to show documentation (doctor’s excuse, etc.).
Failure to contact the instructor within 24 hours will forfeit any chance of making up the test, and the student will be assigned a zero.
Attending lecture and taking notes is the sole responsibility of the student. Under no circumstance will the instructor provide copies
of lecture notes or slides for students.
1
LABORATORY ATTENDANCE: Because of their nature, laboratory investigations cannot be made up. You are expected to
attend every laboratory session and participate for the entire period to get full credit. If you miss a laboratory investigation, you will
not be allowed to take any associated quizzes or lab reports. This also applies if you come in late, leave early, or do not participate
fully. You cannot write a report on a laboratory investigation that you did not do.
Schedule for ABIO 106, Fall 2010
Date
Topic
Aug. 19
Introduction
Aug. 24
Environmental Science and Sustainability
Aug. 26
Energy and Ecosystems
Aug. 31
Energy and Ecosystems
Discuss election assignment
Sep. 2
Evolution and Terrestrial Ecosystems
Sep. 7
Aquatic Ecosystems
Sep. 9
Exam 1
Sep. 14
Species Interaction and Succession
Sep. 16
Population Dynamics
Sep. 21
Human Populations: Size and Distribution
Sep. 23
Urbanization
Sep. 28
Water Resources
Sep. 30
Energy
Oct. 5
Energy
Oct. 7
Energy use at USCA
Oct. 12
Exam 2
Oct. 14
Fall Break - no class
Oct. 19
Food Production, Soil, GM Crops, and Pesticides
Oct. 21
Food Production, Soil, GM Crops, and Pesticides
Oct. 26
Toxicology and Risk
Oct. 28
Biohazards and Infectious Disease
Election assignment due
Nov. 2
Election Day - no class
Nov. 4
Air Pollution
Nov. 9
No class today
Nov. 11
Climate Change and Ozone Depletion
Nov. 16
Climate Change and Ozone Depletion
Nov. 18
Exam 3
Nov. 23
Water Pollution
Nov. 25
Thanksgiving Holiday
Nov. 30
Solid and Hazardous Waste
Dec. 2
Restoration Ecology
Comprehensive Final Exam: Dec. 7 at 11:00 am
Chapter
1
2
2
3, 5
5
3, 5
3
4
14
10
12
12
7
7
8
8
9
9
9
10
13
6
CHANGES: The instructor reserves the right to make changes in the lecture or laboratory schedule, the number of quizzes and exams
given, and the content of each exam as deemed necessary.
ELECTRONIC DEVICES: Electronic Devices and Classroom Behavior: It is the instructor’s right to remove from the classroom
any student who disrupts or disturbs the proceeding of the class. Disruption of the class includes, but is not limited to, the use of any
portable electronic devices (cell phones, MP3 players, iPods, etc.) unless prior approval has been given to a student or unless required
for the course. In extreme cases, the faculty member can request assistance from University Police. If the student who has been
ejected causes similar disturbances in subsequent meetings of the class, he/she may be denied admittance to the class for the remainder
of the semester and assigned a grade of F. Therefore, plan to be out of touch and to have your cell phone stored out of sight
during lecture and lab time. This includes leaving the room to answer silent rings or using the phone for text messages.
COMPUTER USE AND EMAIL: All laboratory sessions will require the use of a computer. You must be able to log on to the
USCA computer system in order to accomplish these laboratory exercises. If you do not know how to sign on to the USCA computer
system, you should contact the CSD HELP desk as soon as possible.
All official email communications, including class announcements, are made to USCA email accounts. Students should check their
2
USCA email account on a regular basis and use this account for communication with the instructor. In order to protect the privacy of
the student, the instructor will not reply to emails sent from non-USCA accounts (e.g., Hotmail, Yahoo, etc.).
DISABILITY STATEMENT: If you have a physical, psychological, and/or learning disability which might affect your performance
in this class, please contact the Office of Disability Services, 126A B&E, (803) 641-3609, as soon as possible. The Disability Services
Office will determine appropriate accommodations based on medical documentation.
Date
Aug. 24
Aug. 31
Sept. 7
Sept. 14
Sept. 21
Sept 28
Oct. 5
Oct. 12
Oct. 19
Oct. 26
Nov. 2
Nov. 9
Nov. 16
Nov. 23
Nov. 30
Laboratory Schedule for BIO 106, Fall 2010
Thursday Labs
Tuesday Labs
Topic
Date
Topic
Your Ecological Footprint and Discuss Taking
Aug. 26
Your Ecological Footprint and Discuss Taking
Sides assignment
Sides assignment
Keystone Predator Exercise and Taking Sides
Sept. 2
Keystone Predator Exercise and Taking Sides Issue
Issue Selection
Selection
Keystone Predator Lab Report
Sept. 9
Keystone Predator Lab Report
Isle Royale Exercise
Sept. 16
Isle Royale Exercise
*Taking Sides 5-min overviews 1, 2 and 3
*Taking Sides 5-min overviews 1, 2 and 3
Isle Royale Lab Report
Sept. 23
Isle Royale Lab Report
*Taking Sides 5-min overviews 4, 5 and 6
*Taking Sides 5-min overviews 4, 5 and 6
Pesticide Toxicity Research
Sept. 30
Pesticide Toxicity Research
*Taking Sides 5-min overviews 7, 8 and 9
*Taking Sides 5-min overviews 7, 8 and 9
Pesticide Toxicity Research
Oct. 7
Pesticide Toxicity Research
*Taking Sides 5-min overviews 10, 11 & 12
*Taking Sides 5-min overviews 10, 11 and 12
Nutrient Pollution Exercise
Oct. 14
Fall Break
Local Environmental Issues
Oct. 21
Nutrient Pollution Exercise
Local Environmental Issues
Oct. 28
Local Environmental Issues
Election Day
Nov. 4
Local Environmental Issues
Taking Sides PowerPoint preparation with
Nov. 10
Taking Sides PowerPoint preparation with partner
partner
Oral reports from Taking Sides*
Nov. 18
Oral reports from Taking Sides*
Thanksgiving
Nov. 25
Thanksgiving
Oral reports from Taking Sides*
Dec. 2
Oral reports from Taking Sides*
*Taking Sides reports will be in two parts. First, each pair of students will present the two sides of one of the issues in the first part
of lab each week. This will take no more than 5 minutes and then we will have a few minutes for discussion. Student teams will be
assigned a date (Nov. 16/18 or Nov. 30/Dec. 2) for a PowerPoint presentation on each side of the issue. This will be followed by a
discussion session with the class. All students are expected to attend and participate during BOTH days of presentation. The final
portion of this assignment is a one-page summary of the topic from each student. The summary is due during the final lab period. A
full description of this assignment will be handed out and discussed during the first lab meeting on November 30 or December 2.
3
ELECTION RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT
In November, U.S. citizens will go to the polls to vote for a number of important offices. In South Carolina, these offices include
Governor, Lieutenant Governor, one U.S. Senator, and several members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Your assignment is to research the main candidates for each of these four offices and write a brief report on each candidate’s stance on
one very important issue: the future of energy. Each candidate has a website that discusses the issues that are important to them. If
you do not find direct information on energy, then use the website’s contact information to ask your specific questions via email or
telephone. Be sure to keep a record of your attempts to contact the candidates and report this along with the results of your research.
There are numerous websites with a list of candidates, but I found http://www.politics1.com/sc.htm to be the most comprehensive list,
and it contains links to almost all of the candidates’ websites.
The four offices:
1.
Governor. There are three main candidates for this office: Nikki Haley, Vincent Sheheen, and Morgan Reeves.
2.
Lieutenant Governor. The candidates for this office are Ken Ard and Ashley Cooper.
3.
U.S. Senator. There are three main candidates for this office: Jim DeMint, Alvin Greene, and Tom Clements
4.
For the U.S. House of Representatives, this gets a little complicated. You will have to determine your congressional district
and then find the candidates for that office by going to http://www.govtrack.us/congress/findyourreps.xpd (or a similar
website). This allows you to view maps or input your zip code to determine your Congressional district. To see the all of the
candidates, go to http://www.politics1.com/sc.htm.
Provide a formal summary - in your own words - of where each candidate stands on energy and what they plan to do about it. Beware
of plagiarism. You cannot quote directly from the website or from emails. Text taken directly from the writing of others (even if you
add quotation marks) will cause you to fail the assignment.
Note that this assignment contributes 50 points toward your final grade, so take it seriously and please plan to spend a reasonable
amount of time on this. Be sure to turn in a clean copy that is completely free of grammatical errors and typos, because they will cost
points. Because these are formal papers, they should NOT be written in first or second person. Hard copies of all summaries are due
by the beginning of class on October 28. If you cannot get it in on time, it will cost one letter grade (6 points) for each day after the
deadline.
4