UNCG -- Spring Semester 2005 -- Lennartson
Environmental Hazards Assessment (GEO 305)

Contact Information

Professor: Dr. G. Jay Lennartson
Class Meetings:  MWF 1-1:50 pm; Graham 104
Email: gjlennar@uncg.edu
Course WWW URL: http://www.uncg.edu/~gjlennar/geo305.html
Office: Graham 116E
Office Phone: 334-3913
Office Hours: MWF 2-3 pm; and by appointment
 

Course Overview and Learning Outcomes
 

·        GEO 305 will probe thoroughly into a wide range of natural and anthropogenic environmental hazards.

·        GEO 305 will sensitize students to the impact and consequences of environmental hazards.

·        In Environmental Hazards we will combine a rigorous presentation of natural science principles with a humanistic approach to demonstrate the critical relationships between the physical and social sciences.

·        Upon completion of GEO 305, students will be able to identify and explain the causes, nature, and distribution of environmental hazards.  

·        Students, after completing GEO 305, will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the societal impact both on and from environmental hazards.

·        Students will participate in laboratory and field exercises designed to give them the ability to measure and analyze environmental data.

·        Because GEO 305 is a writing-intensive course, one of its aims is to improve students’ writing skills in the context of learning about environmental hazards. This course will treat writing as a means of learning as well as a skill to be honed.

·        GEO 305 is also a speaking-intensive course, and as such it has two goals: (1) to enhance learning through active engagement in oral communication; and (2) to improve a student's ability in oral communication.

·        In preparing and completing the writing and speaking-related assignments for the course, it is expected that students will gain practice with and a better understanding of how to conduct scholarly independent and group research.
 

Textbook and Supplementary Learning Materials

Textbook

Disasters (4th ed.), by Charles H. Ebert, Kendall/Hunt Publishing (Required)

·  To supplement your text you may find it useful to refer to a basic earth science text, such as Tarbuck and Lutgen’s (T&L's) Earth Science (8th ed.), which is on reserve in the library under my name and my GEO 103 course.

·  Interactive CDROMS have been placed on reserve in the library as well.  Viewing them will help to help reinforce fundamental principles in the earth sciences and natural hazards.Some assignments will be based on material found on the CDROMS.    

·  Throughout the semester you will be asked to visit and explore various WWW sites. Visits to these sites will provide you with data and information, and will serve to augment lectures, class discussions, and reading assignments.
 

  Exams

·  There will be a total of “2” exams.  Each of the exams will be weighted equally, and will count, respectively, for 15% if your grade in the course.  In total, exams will count for 30% of your grade in GEO 305.  Examinations will draw questions from my lectures, class discussions, writing assignments, your textbooks, CDROMS, WWW sites, and supplementary reading assignments.    

·  Make-up exams will only be given under extraordinary circumstances -- i.e., documented medical emergencies -- no exceptions!



Writing Assignments 
 

·        Since GEO 305 is a writing-intensive course, an important component of the course is a “semester paper”.  You will be required to chose a topic from the field of natural hazards and write a research paper on that topic.  You will submit several drafts of your paper.  Due dates for the drafts are listed in the schedule of topics.  Due dates are firm.  If a due date is missed, for whatever reason, your final grade for the paper will be lowered by 10% for every day that the draft is late—absolutely no exceptions will be made.

·        Each draft of your paper will be carefully reviewed and commented on.  On each phase (draft) of your paper you will be provided with instruction and coaching in the following areas: command of the subject matter, clarity, organization, correctness, and effectiveness of expression.

·        Your final grade for the paper will reflect an assessment of both the overall quality of the paper, and improvement in your writing.  Your paper is worth 25% of your grade in the course. Your paper when completed should be approximately 8-10 pages in length.  It must be double-spaced, with a font size of 12, and you may use either the "Courier", "Times New Roman", or "Arial" font type.  You are to use the style prescribed in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA), which is available in the reference section of the Jackson Library. Click here to view a quick reference sheet on the APA Manual.

·        Students will also be assigned a number of shorter writing exercises throughout the semester.  These will typically be one or two pages in length and students will be required to submit two or more drafts of each short writing assignment.  Each of these assignments will also be evaluated for command of the subject matter, clarity, organization, correctness, and effectiveness of expression.  Students will be given instruction and coaching in each of these areas as well.

 

Speaking  Assignments and Activities 

 

·        Since GEO 305 is a speaking-intensive course, students will participate in a variety of assignments and activities designed to enhance their understanding of environmental hazards through active engagement in oral communication.  Additionally, GEO 305 will help students develop the ability to speak clearly, coherently, and effectively—as well as to adapt modes of communication to their audience.

 

o       These goals will be met by having students participate in a variety of oral communication activities.  These include: (1) an oral presentation of students’ “semester papers” (this assignment is designed to improve students’ presentational speaking ability); (2) formal and informal oral presentations of some of the shorter writing assignments; (3) a debate on the topic of “global warming” (this exercise is designed to help students learn about the physical basis of global warming, the potential consequences of global warming, and the controversies associated with the topic); and (4) a number of small group assignments—designed to help students learn more about a given topic from the discipline of environmental hazards, and to more effectively communicate with one another in small group settings.  Students will then present what they learn in their small groups to the class via small group presentations (small group presentations are designed to improve students’ small group presentation skills).  Fifty percent of the small group assignments and subsequent presentations will be graded, and 50% will be ungraded.

o       Students will receive instruction as to what constitutes effective oral communication.  Specifically, they will receive coaching in the eight “Public Speaking Competences” listed on the NCA Competent Speaker Form.  Students will also be instructed and coached in the “Eight Small Group Competencies” from the Small Group Competency Form posted at: http://www.uncg.edu/cac/SAC/assessment/group4.html.

o       Informed feedback will be provided to each student/group during and after oral exercises/assignments.

o       Students will have ample opportunity to apply what they have learned (from coaching and informed feedback) in subsequent oral presentations of shorter writing assignments and group projects/presentations.

o       Students’ individual oral presentations will be assessed according to the eight “Public Speaking Competencies” from the NCA Competent Speaker Form.  Students will assess their small group work using the Post-Meeting Open Ended Reaction Form and the Group Discussion Reaction Questionnaire.  They will perform peer evaluations of fellow group members using the Peer Evaluation Form.  I will assess a student’s proficiency in small group work according to the “Eight Small Group Competencies” from the Small Group Competency Form.

o       Instructor assessments will take into consideration both the quality and development of students’ oral communication skills. 

 

 

Exams

30%

Semester Paper

15%

Other Writing Assignments

20%

Oral Communication Activities/Assignments

20%

Other Exercises and Assignments

15%

 

100%


Attendance

·  Attendance is very important and you are expected to attend all class meetings; please do not be tardy as well!  After three unexcused absences your final grade for the course will be lowered by one full letter grade for each additonal absence.  If you are more than 5 minutes late to a class it will count as an absence.  Do not schedule doctors’ appointments, appointment with other faculty, etc., during GEO 305 class time.

Course Resources and Success in GEO 305
 

·  Material (e.g., lecture notes/outlines, figures, images) for upcoming classes will often be available from the course home page: (http://www.uncg.edu/~gjlennar/geo305Wnotes.html).

·  Classes will be conducted based on the expectation that you have familiarized yourself with the posted material and completed the assigned material before coming to class.

·  Obtain assistance from me - at the earliest possible opportunity - if you have questions regarding the class material or assignments.

·  I encourage you to come visit me during my office hours (MWF 2-3 pm); or if these times are not convenient, please schedule an appointment.
 

Miscellaneous Information
 

·  Any student in the class who has a documented disability that prevents the fullest expression of abilities should contact me personally as soon as possible so that we can discuss class requirements and accommodations.

·  Final grades once posted will not be changed under any circumstances (with the exception of clerical error).