NATS-101
(Sections 51, 52[H]) Introduction to Global Change (3cr)- Spring 2011
MWF
12-12:50, Space Sciences 308
[NO FOOD OR DRINK IN CLASSROOM]
Instructor: Prof. Steve
Leavitt
Lab.
of Tree-Ring Research
Room
218 W. Stadium (west side of Football stadium- up stairs to second level at
Gate 15)
phone: 621-6468; e-mail: sleavitt@ltrr.arizona.edu
Office
hours: MW 1-2 Room 330SS, and by appointment; e-mail
queries tend to be answered rapidly
TA: Rebecca Lloyd (ralloyd@email.arizona.edu);
Office
hours: MW11-12 in Space Sciences 330, and additional office hours by
appointment (send e-mail or arrange in class).
Readings: Required
Textbook 1. Dire Predictions, by M.E. Mann &
L.R. Kump, Pearson, 2009
Recommended Textbook 2. Our
Changing Planet, by F.T. Mackenzie, Prentice-Hall, 4th Ed. 2011
Required
and optional Web Readings; handouts
Homework: Announced
in class
Course Content: Anyone
following current events on the web, TV, radio or in the newspapers cannot help
but be aware of the growing number of reports about changes taking place on our
Earth, for example related to atmospheric temperatures, forest decline,
hurricanes, wildfires, glaciers and ice sheets, resources, etc. Global Change Science is a rapidly developing
multidisciplinary field that addresses (a) the natural operation of Earth's
atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere, (b) the natural and
human-induced ("anthropogenic") mechanisms by which these systems may
be altered, and (c) the nature of the changes.
The consequences of such changes, whether natural or anthropogenic,
could clearly be important to climate, agriculture, commerce, and human health
on our planet. This course will examine
the science of global environmental change, in part using elements of the movie
“An Inconvenient Truth” by Nobel
Peace Prize recipient Al Gore as a springboard for investigating in greater
detail the underpinnings of such processes as the greenhouse effect, global
warming, the ozone hole, sea-level rise, and deforestation. Introduction to physical and chemical
characteristics of Earth systems is advanced in this class as a prelude to a
more complete and thoughtful analysis of major global change issues. In addition to learning (1) the principles
and jargon of global change science, and (2) our limitations in understanding,
improvement of writing skills is promoted.
Attendance
and make-ups: Daily class attendance is expected. Two
consecutive missed classes are grounds for administrative drop. There are no
make-ups on quizzes, but make-ups are possible on exams with a valid excuse-
Notify us on or before the day of the exam depending on the nature of the
crisis. Make-ups also possible for in-class activities.
NOTE: Final Exam is ONLY on Wednesday,
May 11, 10:30am-12:30pm in 308 Space Sciences (please
plan accordingly).
Grading: Mid-term
Exam 15%; Final Exam 15%
Quizzes
20% [20 minutes followed by lecture;
only the highest 4 counted (2 in each half of the semester)]
Group
activities 20%, writing activities 20% (of which 15% is for writing project)
Other
10% (attendance/participation, in-class
activities, homework)
Section 52 students will have the above grades scaled to 90% so
that their final 10% will derive from contribution to “group activities” as
group leaders and participation in a apecial electronic Discussion forum (on their D2L site)
The following are guaranteed
grades: A (>90.00%), B (80.00-90.00), C (65.00-80.00), D
(55.00-65.00), E (<55.00), thus a final course grade of 79.94% will be a “C”
Extra
Credit: Relevant and approved TV specials
(NOVA, Discovery Channel), special talks/lectures, and documentaries can be
viewed and journal/magazine articles read after which a 1-page double-spaced
typewritten summary/critique must be submitted within 1 week of opportunity, 1
EC point each. NOTE: Only 2 extra points may be earned after April 11 and
before 5pm on May 4, and none after May 4.
Instructors will advertise some opportunities, and you are encouraged
to find others but you must obtain approval from instructors before
attempting to use them for extra credit.
Responsible, motivated, astute students who serve as group leader for
the semester or “acting” group leader in the absence of their regular group
leader will be able to earn EC points. Max. total ExtraCredit is 6
points, and will be added on to your final class grade average.
Communication:
Urgent messages may be sent
to you via the e-mail function in D2L.
If you have a preferred e-mail addresses other
than your “email.arizona.edu” address incorporated in D2L by default, you
should be able to redirect e-mail messages in D2L to your preferred
account. Less urgent information will simply be posted in the “News” link in
D2L- check it regularly.
Cheating
and Plagiarism: Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated,
including cheating on quiz/exams, copying assignments, and presenting the work
of others as your own (plagiarism). I will report anyone cheating, plagiarizing
or violating any other aspect of the code of academic integrity to the Dean of
Students and recommend the course grade of “E”. Policies and procedures in the
Code of Conduct can be viewed at Code of
Academic Integrity | Dean of Students
If you decide to take this course, you are agreeing to submit your papers online [when so instructed] to a
plagiarism-prevention program called TurnItIn.com associated with the D2L dropbox. You should note that TurnItIn.com – always
without your name and any personal information – will retain your paper as part
of their database so that students who plagiarize from it can be detected.
Because of this program, the vast majority of you who do your own work and cite
your sources of information properly will not have to compete with students who
commit undetected plagiarism. Anyone who has questions or problems with
TurnItIn.com may talk privately about these with the instructor.
Policies Regarding Threatening
Behavior:
http://policy.web.arizona.edu/~policy/threatening.pdf
Misc: 1. Unless explicitly requested by
Instructors, assignment submitted by e-mail attachment will not be
accepted.
2.
Work turned in late will either receive a zero (0), or loss of 5-10% per day
depending on assignment
3. Prof. Leavitt’s Pet Peeve= Distracting him or your fellow students, e.g., with cell phone ringing, text messaging,
conversations with your neighbor during class, newspaper reading, laptop use
unrelated to this course, etc.
4. If you are on sports team, please
leave a photocopy of your absence excuse with the Instructors during lecture.
5. For any other special needs,
bring Instructors your paperwork and/or explain circumstances to Prof. Leavitt.
Syllabus is subject to change as announced in class; additional announcements, assignments and information will also be
posted on D2L (partially mirrored at http://www.ltrr.arizona.edu/nats101/)
Note: (1)
Impromptu writing exercises may be
done in any class, and are not formally indicated in syllabus below,
(2)
Additional web reading resources will be announced in class,
(3)
Homeworks may be done in class that were not formally
announced beforehand
Date Topic
Jan. 12 W Bookeeping;
Introduction [M1-8]; MK44-45; (MK6-59 for fun)
Jan. 14 F The Epic Story: Pre-Historical Framework-
Origins [M187-212]; Cerceo, August,
Lemonick
Jan. 17 M MLK Jr. Day- no
class
May
11 (Wed) 10:30am-12:30pm
FINAL
EXAM
at regular classroom in 308 Space Sciences
Periodic
Table of the Elements
Syllabus
Study Questions
AT LEAST TWO OF THESE QUESTIONS (exactly
as below or slightly modified) WILL BE ON THE FIRST QUIZ
True/False
1. Four
of 6 quiz grades will be thrown out, and only your 2 highest will count toward
final grade.
2. With
a valid excuse and advance notice, it should be possible to make up an exam.
3. The
final exam will only be given on Wednesday May 11 from 10:30am to 12:30pm.
4.
Amazing as it may sound, it will be possible to pass this course with a final
grade of 55.5% (D).
5. You
will lose credit when you miss specified deadlines.
6.
Assignments submitted by e-mail attachment will not be accepted, unless
specifically requested.
7. Your
cell-phone must be turned off during class (or at least ringtone should be off).
8. The
final exam will be in Room 653 of Old Main in the revolving restaurant on the
top floor.
9. If a
quiz is given at the beginning of class, unless announced otherwise, you can
count on a lecture to follow.
10.
You are encouraged to bring a lunch or a snack to eat in class because we meet
at
Fill In the Blank
11. You
can earn up to _____ extra credit points toward your final grade.
12. The
Instructor’s office is in the west side of _______________________ (building),
up the stairs at Gate
15.
Multiple Choice
13.
Poor attendance can result in reduction of points in the ______ grade category.
A. “exam” B. “quizzes” C. “homework” D.
“other”
