ASCI*3100: Case studies in Arts and Science Research
University of Guelph
Bachelor of Arts & Sciences/Guelph campus
Offering: Winter 2015
Lecture: Tuesday & Thursday, 1:00-2:20pm
Location: MACK, rm 228
Credit value: 0.5
Prerequisites: ASCI*2000: Modes of Inquiry & Communication Across Disciplines
Instructor: Dr. Léna Levison
E-mail: levisonl@uoguelph.ca
Office: 044 MACK
Office hours: By appointment
Calendar Description: This variable-content course introduces students to case studies in the integration
of academic knowledge and practices with social movements, investigating the ways in which cultural,
social, and scientific endeavours meet to work on real-world problems. The course may contain both
historical and current case studies.
Course Description: Non-human animals are ever-present in society, with varied roles in relation to
humans. These roles include, but are not restricted to: companion animal, research subject, food producer,
entertainment figure and working animals. Through group discussions and presentations, this seminar will
offer students the opportunity to reflect on animal use, and also those factors that most directly influence
our attitudes towards animals for example, historical views, regulations, and users’ attitudes.
Course goal: Facilitate students in acquiring a relevant knowledge base that will enable critical reflection
on non-human animals use.
Course learning objectives:
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Develop and articulate personal ethics on animals and their use by taking a personal animal ethics
profile and critically reflecting on results
Experience the value of engaging in critical inquiry and discussion on topics related to animals
through in-class, small and large group dialogues
Deliver an oral presentation in groups that concisely explains and analyses a specific animal use in
society
Develop public educational material on a specific animal use in society
Advance constructive peer evaluating skill through completion of peer presentation evaluations
Practice critical evaluation of popular news items by identifying and presenting news articles
orally in class
Communication with instructor:
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As per university regulations, all students are required to check their <mail.uoguelph.ca> e-mail
account regularly: e-mail is the official route of communication between the University and its
students
For e-mail communications sent to the instructor please expect 24hrs for response on weekdays &
48 hrs on the weekend
Important information that arises during the semester about the course will be posted by he
instructor on the course website under “News” and will be e-mailed to all students UofG account
Course website: The official website for ASCI*3100 is on CourseLink.
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You can access the site using your central login username and password
Materials and important notices will be posted on the course website
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Take advantage of the “Discussions” on CourseLink for questions and answers related to course
material and content. Students are encouraged to answer each other’s questions. The instructor
will moderate the discussion and answer questions at least 3 times per week
Evaluations:
Task
Class objectives
Personal ethics profile
Topic selection & group presentation
date sign-up
Mid-term essay
Presentation – animal use in society
Submission format
Date due
Written in class
Dropbox
CourseLink
Jan. 8
Jan. 8
Feb. 5
In class
In class
Feb. 12
Feb. 26 / Mar. 3,
10 & 12
Feb. 26 / Mar. 3,
10 & 12
Feb. 26 / Mar. 3,
10 & 12
Apr. 14
Apr. 14
-
Peer presentation feedback
In class
Peer presentation questions
In class
Self reflection
Final project
News item presentation
Class feedback
Dropbox
Dropbox or office
In class
In class
Weighting
(%)
2
3
15
30
2
2
7
30
7
2
Note:
 Late submissions will receive a 2% deduction per day and no
assignment will be accepted after 7 days from original due date
 If extenuating circumstances arise preventing a student from
submitting an assignment, the student is to inform the
instructor of the situation as soon as possible via e-mail
Resources:
 There is not a required text for this course
 Supplementary readings for each seminar are available on the library course reserve and on
CourseLink under Content > Readings
 Recommended listening and interesting on-line items related to the course material can be found
on CourseLink under Links
Referencing style:
 Submitted work must properly cite all sources used
 Use the American Sociological Association scheme (ASA reference style) for all submitted work
 Information on this style can be found at the UofG library writing services website by following
the link below:
http://www.lib.uoguelph.ca/get-assistance/writing/citations
The nitty-gritty policies:
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When You Cannot Meet a Course Requirement: When you find yourself unable to meet an incourse requirement because of illness or compassionate reasons, please advise the course
instructor (or designated person, such as a teaching assistant) in writing, with your name, id#, and
e-mail contact. See the undergraduate calendar for information on regulations and procedures for
Academic Consideration.
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Drop Date: The last date to drop one-semester courses, without academic penalty, is Friday, 6
March 2015. For regulations and procedures for Dropping Courses, see the Undergraduate
Calendar.
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Copies of out-of-class assignments: Keep paper and/or other reliable back-up copies of all outof-class assignments: you may be asked to resubmit work at any time.
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Accessibility: The University of Guelph is committed to creating a barrier-free environment.
Providing services for students is a shared responsibility among students, faculty and
administrators. This relationship is based on respect of individual rights, the dignity of the
individual and the University community's shared commitment to an open and supportive learning
environment. Students requiring service or accommodation, whether due to an identified, ongoing
disability or a short-term disability should contact Student Accessibility Services as soon as
possible. For more information, contact SAS at 519-824-4120 ext. 56208 or email
csd@uoguelph.ca or see the website: http://www.csd.uoguelph.ca/csd/
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Student Rights and Responsibilities: Each student at the University of Guelph has rights, which
carry commensurate responsibilities that involve, broadly, being a civil and respectful member of
the University community. The Rights and Responsibilities are detailed in the Undergraduate
Calendar
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Academic Misconduct: The University of Guelph is committed to upholding the highest
standards of academic integrity and it is the responsibility of all members of the University
community – faculty, staff, and students – to be aware of what constitutes academic misconduct
and to do as much as possible to prevent academic offences from occurring. University of Guelph
students have the responsibility of abiding by the University's policy on academic misconduct
regardless of their location of study; faculty, staff and students have the responsibility of
supporting an environment that discourages misconduct. Students need to remain aware that
instructors have access to and the right to use electronic and other means of detection.
o Please note: Whether or not a student intended to commit academic misconduct is not
relevant for a finding of guilt. Hurried or careless submission of assignments does not
excuse students from responsibility for verifying the academic integrity of their work
before submitting it. Students who are in any doubt as to whether an action on their part
could be construed as an academic offence should consult with a faculty member or
faculty advisor. The Academic Misconduct Policy is detailed in the Undergraduate
Calendar.
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Recording of Materials: Presentations which are made in relation to course work—including
lectures—cannot be recorded or copied without the permission of the presenter, whether the
instructor, a classmate or guest lecturer. Material recorded with permission is restricted to use for
that course unless further permission is granted.
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Resources: The Academic Calendars are the source of information about the University of
Guelph’s procedures, policies and regulations, which apply to undergraduate, graduate and
diploma programs.
Some content for this course was taken from ANSC*6700- Animals in society: Historical and global
perspectives on animal welfare with permission from
Dr. Ian Duncan – Thank you!
Assignment details
Class objectives (Due Jan. 8th, 2015; 2%)
 Students are asked to outline 2 objectives they hope to achieve through this course. This will
be completed during class time. Marks will be assigned based on completion.
Personal animal ethics profile (Due Jan.8th, 2015; 3%)
 Students are required to complete an on-line personal animal ethics profile which can be
found at: http://ae.imcode.com/en. Students are asked to report their results using Dropbox.
The submission can be any format (e.g. screen shot of profile graph; written reporting of
results in a word document, etc.). Marks will be assigned based on completion. To complete
the profile each student will need to register on the site which requires you to create a
username and password (please remember them as we will use this site again towards the end
of the course). Remember: It does not matter what your profile says we will all be unique!
Mid-term (Feb. 12th, 2015; 15%)
 Students will be provided with a variety of questions 1 week before the mid-term. During
class time on the day of the mid-term, students will answer a selection of the questions
previously provided. Students will be allowed one page of notes to bring to the mid-term
Presentations- animal use in society (Due Feb 26th, Mar. 3rd, 10th or 12th 2015; 30%)
 Students will work in groups of 4-5 to present relevant topics on animal use in society.
Students should comment on the positives and negatives of the animal use under investigation
and give their own perspective on the subject. Topics can be taken from a list provided or
students can use their own topic of interest once approved by the instructor. The oral
presentation will be 20 minutes in length (± 2 min.) + 5 minutes for questions by peers
 Students will be asked to provide a bibliography of references used using ASA reference style
 Students will be required to pick their topic and sign-up for a presentation time by February
5, 2015. A sing-up sheet will be posted on CourseLink under Content > Signup sheets
 Student groups will be assigned
Peer presentation feedback (Due Feb 26th, Mar. 3rd, 10th or 12th 2015; 2%)
 Students will be given a feedback form to complete for at least 2peer presentation. This will
be completed during class time. Marks will be assigned based on completion.
Peer presentation questions (Due Feb 26th, Mar. 3rd, 10th or 12th 2015; 2%)
 Students are asked to actively listen to peer presentations and participate in the short
discussions by posing at minimum 2 questions over the presentation period. After asking a
question, students will be asked to write their question down & submit to the instructor at the
end of class. This will be completed during class time. Marks will be assigned based on
completion.
News item presentation (Due throughout the semester; 7%)
 Students are asked to present a news article involving animals to the class. The presentation
will be a maximum of 10 minutes in length. This can be completed individually or in a group
of 2. Student presentations can be without visual aids or a maximum of one power point
slide. Students are expected to e-mail their power point slide to the instructor by 12pm on the
day of their presentation and provide a link to their media item (if applicable) to be posted on
CourseLink. Presentations will take place throughout the semester. A sign-up sheet will be
posted on CourseLink under Content
Final project (Due April 13th, 2015; 30%)
 Students will work independently to develop public educational material on the animal
use topic chosen for their group presentation.
 There are no constraints on format – creativity is encouraged!
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Students will be able to submit an outline which includes: a working title; format to be
used; and brief description of content ideas in order to get instructor feedback before
completion of the project
Grades will be based on: creativity, content, and structure (organization of thoughts,
spelling, grammar)
Self-reflection (Due Apr. 13th, 2015; 7%)
 Students are asked to take the on-line personal animal ethics profile a second time
(http://ae.imcode.com/en). Students are required to reflect on their views of animal use and if
their views have changed after taking this course. Length: ~350-500 words
Course feedback (2%)
 At some point in the middle of the semester, students will be asked to provide feedback on
the course. Marks will be assigned based on completion.
Detailed marking schemes for each assignment can be found on
CourseLink under Content > Marking schemes
Seminar Outline
**Note: The seminar outline may change depending on the pace of the course. Please look to the calendar
on the course website for the most up to date listing of seminar topics**
Date
Class description
Seminar 1: Jan.
6, 2015
1st day of class- Introduction, course outline & expectations
Seminar 2: Jan.
8, 2015
Animal ethics: Exploring different views
 Complete personal profile on-line at:
http://ae.imcode.com/en. You will need to register
which only requires you to create a username and
password (please remember them as we will use this
site again towards the end of the course). Remember:
It does not matter what your profile says we will all
be unique!
Animal Sentience
Seminar 3:
Jan.13, 2015
Seminar 4: Jan.
15, 2015
Companion animals: Why have pets?
Seminar 5: Jan.
20, 2015
Companion animals: Is pet welfare important?
Seminar 6: Jan.
22, 2015
New item presentations day (~ 7 students to present)
Seminar 7: Jan.
27, 2015
Seminar 8: Jan.
29, 2015
Working animals: Use in developed and developing nations
Seminar 9: Feb
3, 2015
Seminar 10:
Feb. 5, 2015
Seminar 11:
Feb. 10, 2015
Seminar 12:
Feb. 12, 2015
Feb. 17 & 19
Seminar 13:
Feb. 24, 2015
Seminar 14:
Feb. 26, 2015
Seminar 15:
Mar. 3, 2015
Seminar 16:
Mar. 5, 2015
Seminar 17:
Mar. 10, 2015
Seminar 18:
Animal in literature
*Guest speaker – Michelle Hunniford, PhD Candidate, Animal
Behaviour & Welfare, University of Guelph
Legislation, regulation and Codes of Practice: Parameters
protecting animals in Ontario
*Guest speaker – Mike Draper of the Animal Health & Welfare
Branch, OMAF
To be confirmed
Production animals: Overview of major systems
MID-TERM: In class essay
READING WEEK – No Class (try to relax!)
News item presentation day (~ 7 students to present)
Student presentation (2 groups) & News item presentations (~ 2
students)
Student presentation (2 groups) & News item presentations (~ 2
students)
Production animals
Student presentation (2 groups) & News item presentations (~ 2
students)
Student presentation (2 groups) & News item presentations (~ 2
Mar.12, 2015
Seminar 19:
Mar.17, 2015
students)
Laboratory animals: Overview of use, regulations and the ethical
dilemmas
Seminar 20:
Mar. 19, 2015
Seminar 21:
Mar. 24, 2015
Seminar 22:
Mar. 26, 2015
Seminar 23:
Mar. 31, 2015
Seminar 24:
Apr. 2, 2015
April 13, 2015
Laboratory animals
To be announced
To be announced
News item presentation days (~ 7 students to present)
Last class: Course debrief & discussion on final ethical profile
Final project & Self reflection due by 12:00pm