Ithaca Seminar 100-10107  Exploring a Global Challenge
	TR 2:35-3:50 p.m.; F 12:00-12:50 p.m. Textor 101 (when sections meet together)
		Nancy Jacobson,  256 Ctr for Natural Sciences 274-1837  jacobson@ithaca.edu

Course Books

The following books are required. You may buy them at the campus bookstore or order them online through Amazon.com or another resource.

• Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed by Jared Diamond. Penguin books, 2005. ISBN: 0143036556.
• Low Carbon Diet: A 30 Day Program to Lose 5000 Pounds by David Gershon. Empowerment Institute, 2006.  ISBN: 978-0-9630327-2-0

In this seminar we will explore threats to the biosphere that threaten life on earth for humans and other living species. Drawing insights from the fields of psychology, sociology, business, and biology, this course will ask the following questions:  What is sustainability? What are the long-term solutions to some of the big environmental problems we face today?  What do we need to know about ourselves, society, business and the natural world to understand how sustainability is achieved? Students in this course will explore sustainability through in-class discussion, readings, films, research, games and simulations.

This course will analyze our role in creating a sustainable world.  In the process of doing this, we will enhance our ability to:

1. collect, analyze, and critically evaluate ideas, data, and points of view
2. use course material and other resources for answering questions and solving problems
3. propose and evaluate possible solutions
4. communicate our findings in written, oral, and digital presentations

As part of an Ithaca Seminar, we will explore transition-to-college issues and familiarize ourselves with the Ithaca College community and the Ithaca area in general.

Sometimes we will meet as sections (see above) and other times as a single class in Textor 101.

All required readings will be accessible on the global WebCT site for the course. All assignments will be available on your section’s WebCT site.  You may print them if you wish to do so.

Work will be submitted to the instructor through WebCT unless otherwise indicated.

Grades for assignments and the course will be available to you on WebCT.

Note: Files from the new versions of Microsoft Word and PowerPoint 2007 for Windows currently do not work with WebCT and Internet Explorer.  Therefore, if you use Word or PowerPoint 2007, you should save your file in the 2003 version before submitting it to WebCT.

To get to your WebCT sites, go to the Ithaca College homepage, to site index, W, and WebCT.  Use your IC email username and password to get into WebCT.

We will be prompt and well prepared for classes, and will return assignments in a timely fashion. We will make time outside class for you to discuss any concern about the course or other matters, and will respond thoughtfully to e-mail queries. We will hold any self-disclosures confidential and will not reveal any information to your parents or campus officials without your consent. We will listen with respect to concerns or criticisms you have about the course.

Demand active participation in class from yourself- after all it is your education. Respect the class, your classmates and yourself by coming to class on time and prepared – BUT come to class and be inspired. Class courtesy includes letting your instructor know if you will be absent, listening with respect, keeping other students' self-disclosures confidential, avoiding disruptive behavior such as whispering or using the computer for unrelated work, and other aspects of good citizenship. Electronic courtesy means avoiding “flaming” or rude or offensive remarks in communicating to others in the class. Turn off your cell phone! Electronic honesty involves refraining from copying unauthorized materials or sending chain letters.

The class involves reading, discussing, and applying concepts from multiple articles, exercises, and lecture. The course assignments and many of the readings will be on-line through WebCT. Exercises that involve computers will be demonstrated in class and completed out of class on lab or individual computers. Attendance in class is required and participation, being well prepared for class and engaging in the in-class exercises, is significant. Students should notify the instructor of any absences and more than two unexcused absences result in a grade penalty. See the IC Catalog for the college’s attendance policies.

If you miss a class, you should contact a classmate to find out about work covered, handouts, and assignments. If possible, please turn in assignments on time even if you will not be in class.

All students have the right to a classroom environment that is conducive to learning. Please refrain from any behavior that is disruptive or distracting to other students. All cellular phones, beepers and chimes on watches must be turned off during class. Violations of this policy will result in dismissal from the class for the day and if continued, a lowering of your grade.

If you have a disability for which you are or may be requesting accommodation, you are encouraged to contact both your instructor and the Office of Academic Support Services for Students with Disabilities, 607-274-1005/607-274-7319(TDD).

You must not plagiarize, which means using another’s words or ideas without proper citation. You must also adhere to the campus rules for using computers, software, and electronic communication. In addition, your data must be authentic, and we may ask to see your original notes or sources if there is any question. Violations of academic honesty must be reported to the Ithaca College Conduct Review Board and can result in failing grades, suspension, or expulsion. See the Ithaca College Policy Manual section on standards of academic conduct.: 

The Writing Center (Park 228) is a wonderful resource for all students. The tutors there, both faculty and peer tutors, can help you find ways to make your writing stronger and clearer, and answer specific questions on the content, organization, or mechanics of your writing.

•  When you use someone else's words you must put them in quotations (or present them in a separate, single spaced, indented paragraph if they are more than three lines) and clearly indicate the source and page number of the quote. For example: "Blah, blah blah," (Diamond, p. 33).

•  When you use someone else's idea you must clearly indicate the source of the idea. For example, you might write: Diamond (p. 62) argues that... Or you might simply state an idea and then note the source at the end of the sentence or paragraph.

•  Do not paraphrase without citation.

•  For books and articles assigned in this course, the last name of the author and page numbers are sufficient (e.g. Diamond, p. 116). You do not need to include these references in a bibliography.

•  For a source other than those assigned, indicate the source by author's last name in the text and then include a full reference in an attached bibliography (author's name, title, publisher, and date of publication).

•  For ideas presented in class, give lecturer's name (or that of a fellow student or guest lecturer or simply "class") and the date of the class (e.g. Rothenberg, 9/20/06 or class discussion, 10/5/06).

Ithaca College Policy on Plagiarism in Collaborative Projects: In a collaborative project, all students in a group may be held responsible for academic misconduct if they engage in plagiarism or are aware of plagiarism by others in their group and fail to report it. Students who participate in a collaborative project in which plagiarism has occurred will not be held accountable if they were not knowledgeable of the plagiarism.

Major assignments
Global warming and sustainability		15 %
Collapse assignment		15 %
Corporations and consumerism		7%
The planet as a commons		19%
Global warming solutions		22%
	Rally or Presentation	(9%)
	Wedge poster	(4%)
	Wedge paper	(9%)
Low carbon diet		22%
	Journal	(6%)
	Group project	(8%)
	Individual paper	(8%)
Total		100%

Grade scale: 

  A = 93-100,  A- = 90-92
  B+ = 87-89, B = 83-86,  B- = 80-82
  C+  = 77-79,  C = 73-76,  C- = 70-72
  D+ = 67-69,  D = 63-66,  D- = 60-62
  F < 60

Small assignments:

 These will be given a check mark if completed adequately (note: just because you turn in the assignment, this does not automatically mean you receive a check mark for it).  If you must miss one of these assignments, you will not be penalized.  Two assignments missed will lower your grade if you are on the boarder line.  Any more than two assignments missed will result in a lower grade.  On WebCT, a check mark will be indicated by the number 1.