Fall - 2002

Philadelphia University

Instructor: Dr. Jeff Ashley, Assistant Professor of Chemistry

Office: Search Hall, Room 304

Phone: 215-951-2779

Dept. Secretary: 215-951-2870

E-mail: ashleyj@philau.edu

Office Hours: M @ 1-2 pm

W @ 10-11 am

Th @ 9-10 am

Or call/e-mail to schedule a time

Web-Site: http://faculty.philau.edu/ashleyj

COURSE OBJECTIVES

1) To acquaint you with numerous concepts in biology, chemistry and physics as they relate to environmental issues.

2) To provide you with the language, terms and critical thinking skills to understand and discuss environmental problems and solutions facing our planet today.

3) To provide you with the opportunity to apply the knowledge from class to an “Environmental Action Project”.

TEXTS

1) Required: Environmental Science, 9^th Addition, G. Tyler Miller, Jr.

2) Additional readings may be assigned and will be held on reserve in the library.

To successfully understand and apply the concepts you will learn in this course, you will need to read the assigned pages before each class, work out any assigned or suggested problems presented in the your textbook, and study your notes between class meetings so that any questions that arise may be answered promptly.

Your grade for is course will be determined by exams, a brief oral presentation on a topical issue in environmental science, written assignments, class participation (attendance included), and your “Environmental Action Project” (more information on this later in the semester). The breakdown for each portion is as follows:

Short Oral Presentation: One person (or possibly two) will be scheduled to briefly (no longer than 5 minutes please) present a current topic of their interest at the beginning of class. The topic must be within the realm of “an issue(s) in environmental science” but that is the only requirement I will give you. You have the freedom to choose any topic you wish. The purpose of this is to give provide your classmates with addition information on an interesting topic relating to an environmental issue and to hone your oral presentation skills.

Your presentation will consist of briefly enlightening the class regarding the information you have gathered through your search. This could include a newspaper or popular press article, a scientific journal article, information gathered from a web-site, your own personal thoughts on an environmental issue, an environmental book review, etc. This is your opportunity to be creative. They are plenty of issues/topics/concerns out there. Keep in mind, some of which are rather ‘unconventional’ issues/topics which fall into the realm of environmental science (e.g., fashion, architecture, etc). If you are finding it difficult to locate an interesting topic to present, see me for some ideas.

If you miss an test due to an excused absence, your remaining grades will be averaged for your final grade (NO MAKE-UP TESTS ARE GIVEN). If your absence is not excused, you will receive a grade of zero for the test or exam.

Plagiarism on any written assignments will not be tolerated. You may turn in only your own work for writing and homework assignments (unless I inform you otherwise), and any references that you use must be fully documented. Cheating on exams or quizzes will not be tolerated. If you are caught you will be appear before the Academic Conduct Committee. Please familiarize yourself with the Student Code of Conduct as it appears in the Student Handbook for Philadelphia University.

Assignments that are turned in late will not be accepted unless prior arrangements have been made with the instructor. No extra credit assignments will be made. Therefore, to do well in this course, you must keep up with the lecture material, reading, and any assignments.

Fall - 2002

TEST 1 Sept. 23