HONR 1027
Sustainability and the Modern World
Fall 2014
COURSE INFORMATION:
Course Supervisor: Dr. Nanette Chadwick, Director of Academic Sustainability Programs, Office of
Undergraduate Studies, Provost Office, 141 Funchess Hall, 844-8184, chadwna@auburn.edu
Instructors:
Dr. Sharyn N. Pulling, Instructor, Department of English, 8020 Haley Center, 844-9047, pullisn@auburn.edu
Dr. J. Richard Willis, Associate Research Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, 213A Ramsey
Engineering Center, 103 National Center for Asphalt Technology, 844-7301, willi59@auburn.edu
* Office hours by appointment*
Meeting Times:
Tuesday/Thursday at 12:30-1:45, 3104 Haley Center
REQUIRED TEXTBOOK: Robertson, Margaret. Sustainability Principles and Practice, Routledge: Taylor and
Francis Group, 2014.
DESCRIPTION and OBJECTIVES: This course introduces students to the interdisciplinary study of
sustainability, including issues concerning our local, national, and global systems of food, water, energy, and
materials consumption and waste, as well as our patterns of transportation and the structure of our built
environment. Students learn about the environmental and social impacts of industrialization of these systems
and explore solutions to problems associated with modern patterns of resource use. The course exposes
students to systems thinking and invites students to think critically about the interconnectedness of natural,
technological, cultural, and economic issues of sustainability. They also develop an understanding of how
individual and societal actions may work toward achieving sustainability.
REQUIRED READINGS AND FILMS: Weekly reading and film assignments are described in the course
schedule below, and also may be available through library reserve. All readings and film viewings must be
completed before the discussion section each week.
REQUIREMENTS AND EVALUATION:
In-Class Participation
25
Readings and Videos
25
Ecological Footprint
30
Food Diary
30
Midterm Exam #1
75
Green Building Assignment
30
Poster Proposal
30
Midterm Exam #2
75
Water Diary
30
Poster Project
130 (20 pts for poster rough draft, 90 pts for poster, 20 pts for presentation)
Final Exam
120 (70 from final third of the semester, plus 50 points synthetic)
Total points possible:
600*
[3 exams (270 pts.); 4 assignments (120 pts.); 1 poster project/proposal (160 pts.); full participation (50 pts.)]
*Final grades are on a 600-point scale: A = 540-600 points (90-100%), B = 480-539 points (80-89%), C = 420-479
points (70-79%), D = 360-419 (60-69%), F = less than 360 points (<60%).
Extra credit: Will be awarded for attendance at selected events during the semester (campus-wide lectures,
films, etc.). See Canvas for events and requirements. Records of extra credit will be used to decide
borderline course grades.
Exams: Exams will consist of multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, short answer, and essay questions.
Readings/Videos: We will post reflection questions that pertain to the week’s reading and/or film on
CANVAS. You should write a 1-page response to these questions (complete sentences, double-spaced, 12pt.
Times New Roman font, 1” margins). Please note that we will not grade more than 1-page so you will
probably need to edit your paper to make it clear, concise, and thorough. To turn in your reflections, submit
them on the CANVAS course website. On weeks when we assign reflections they are due by midnight
Wednesday.
Short Assignments: Each student will complete 4 short exercises: an ecological footprint analysis
http://www.myfootprint.org, 2 short diaries to record your patterns of food and water use, and a green
building assignment/self-tour. Assignment guidelines will be posted online.
Final Poster Project: The poster project is a semester-long assignment in which you will apply what you learn
in class to a specific sustainability issue of your choice (subject to instructor approval; we will provide lists of
possible topics). You will identify a local, regional, or worldwide issue about sustainability, research relevant
literature, possibly interview experts or collect data about the issue, and propose sustainable solutions. You
will write a brief proposal with references about your topic, then investigate your topic, synthesize your
findings, and create a poster. Specific poster guidelines and other details will be posted on Canvas and
discussed in section.
Class Participation
The success of this class depends in large part on the full participation of each student and the exchange of
ideas and perceptions. Participation can take various forms and will be different for each person. Some
examples of “participation” include: asking relevant questions, verbally examining a concept or perception,
and listening actively. For those of you who feel insecure about speaking up in class, you can fulfill your
class participation requirement by bringing to class relevant current event articles or emailing to the
instructors questions and comments. Obviously, behavior like sleeping, texting, internet surfing, and
chatting indicate a lack of attention and focus. Likewise, civility in the classroom is crucial to enlightened
discussion. Students who show disrespect for the ideas and expressions shared during lectures and
discussions will fare poorly in their discussion grade. Your participation grade will be evaluated based on
your preparedness for class and the frequency and quality of your comments. We will gladly discuss with
you, during office hours, our assessment of this aspect of your grade.
POLICIES:
E-Mail and Telephone Communications: Auburn University recognizes e-mail as an official form of
communication. BE SURE to regularly check your TigerMail account for communications about this course.
If the nature of a student e-mail is too complex to answer electronically, you will be asked to come during
office hours or to make an appointment at a mutually convenient time.
Late Assignments and Make-up Exams: Assignment due dates are rigid unless you have an excused
absence. If you anticipate a problem turning an assignment in on time, please discuss it with us in advance.
Make-up exams will be all essay format and will only be given with prior permission (please notify us at least
one week in advance) or an excuse from the infirmary or a medical doctor on letterhead (and including
specific information about the illness, time of appointment, etc.). All other circumstances where an exam is
missed will result in a zero grade for the exam.
Attendance and Behavior: Attendance is mandatory; and assumes that you have read the required
materials in advance, are awake, and participate. More than two (2) unexcused absences will result in the
lowering of your final course grade by one-third letter grade per each additional unexcused absence
during the semester (e.g., B- to C+). Cell phones must be silenced and should not be used during class for any
reason. Laptop or tablet computers may be used only to facilitate class participation; students who engage such
devices for other uses will be asked to turn off all devices during class. This class is designed to include a good
amount of discussion, and you will have many opportunities to share your opinions. However, you are
expected to show respect for your classmates, instructors, and guest speakers by not talking amongst
yourselves when we are not engaged in group discussion.
Honesty: Auburn University expects students to complete your academic work with honesty and
integrity. The Academic Honesty Code is online, and explains actions considered to be cheating and the
possible consequences. Violations of the Academic Honesty Code will not be tolerated in this course.
Students with Disabilities: Any student needing special accommodations should inform the instructors
during the first week of class and contact the Program for Students with Disabilities in Haley Center 1244, 8442099 (V/TT) or email: scw0005@auburn.edu.
Syllabus Change: The course instructors reserve the right to change the content of this syllabus at any time
during the semester in order to improve the procedures and student performance, upon proper notification
of the students enrolled in the course.
TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE:
Wk. Date Activities (readings, assignments, and exams are highlighted in bold)
Wk.
1
Date
Aug 19
Aug 21
2
Aug 26
Aug 28
3
Sept 2
Sept 4
4
Sept 9
Sept 11
5
Sept 16
Sept 18
6
Sept 23
Sept 25
7
Sept 30
Oct 2
8
Oct 8
9
Oct 10
Oct 14
10
11
Oct 16
Oct 21
Oct 23
12
Oct 28
Oct 30
Nov 4
13
Nov 6
Nov 11
Nov 13
14
15
16
Nov 18
Nov 20
Dec 2
Dec 4
Dec 9
Topic
Introduction to Sustainability (Nanette Chadwick)
Reading: Plumwood’s Crocodile
Syllabus, Footprint Discussion, Values on the Line Exercise
Reading: Chapters 1 and 2
Assignment: Ecological Footprint Exercise Due
Systems Thinking (Sharyn Pulling)
Reading: Chapter 4
Discuss lecture & reading; view/discuss Story of Stuff video
Discuss Poster Assignment
Climate Change (Richard Willis)
Reading: Chapter 6
Discuss lecture & reading
Assignment: Poster Topic is Due
Ecosystems Services (Y. Zhang)
Reading: Chapter 3
Discuss lecture & reading
Assignment: Water diary due
Exam #1 (Covers materials from weeks 1-4)
Water: The Big Issues (Sharyn Pulling)
Reading: Chapter 7
Chapter 9 (pp.141-143)
Discuss lecture, video, and reading
Video Due: Water Wars
Food Systems (Sharyn Pulling)
Reading: Chapter 13
Campus Food and Water Tour
Assignment: Food Diary Due
Discuss lecture, tour, video, and reading
Video Due: King Corn
Energy (Richard Willis)
Reading: Chapter 10
Campus energy tour
Discuss lecture, tour, and reading
Assignment: Proposal for Poster Project is Due
Fall Break
Exam #2 (covers materials from weeks 5-9)
Transportation (Richard Willis)
Reading: Chapter 12 (pp. 218-220), Sustainable Transportation
Sustainable Transportation Tour: Complete Streets and Green Roads
Discuss lecture, tour, and readings
Materials Consumption and waste (Christopher McNulty)
Reading: Chapter 14 and 15
Discuss lecture and reading
Built environment and sustainable communities (Richard Willis)
Reading: Chapter 11 and 12
Discuss lecture and reading
Assignment: Green Building Assignment due
Hope for the future (Sharyn Pulling)
Reading: Ralph Waldo Emerson reading
Poster peer review and semester wrap up
Poster Presentations (Day 1)
Poster Presentations (Day 2)
Final Exam (Noon – 2:30 PM) (covers material from weeks 10-15, plus synthetic
questions from whole course)