Syllabus

Revised 1/15/2024

ENVS 110: Introduction to Environment & Sustainability
Spring 2024: ENVS 110: Introduction to Environment & Sustainability

  • Section 1 MWF @ 10 AM – 10:50 AM in 207 SCSC

Instructor: Dr. John Krygier
Office: Schimmel-Conrades Science Center 206
Office Hours: Make an appointment here or email for other times
jbkrygier@owu.edu | http://krygier.owu.edu

This course explores ways to understand interactions between our social and natural worlds within an interdivisional and interdisciplinary framework. The first major course goal is to familiarize students with concepts and theories from environmental geography, political ecology, and related fields. As such, ENVS 110 provides a basic conceptual background for upper-level courses in OWU’s Environmental Studies and Environmental Science majors. Campus and the Delaware, Ohio area serve as a point of engagement throughout the semester. Environmental and sustainability issues are everywhere, and understanding how these issues play out on the ground in real places is the second major goal of the course. All students in ENVS 110 will engage in a semester-long project that applies their understanding of course content and has them construct a viable theory-into-practice proposal, with a draft TPG proposal and presentation of results. Students will develop an overview of the context of their topic, assess their environmental values, research and create an annotated bibliography, develop a draft TPG grant, and present their efforts at the end of the semester. This course is a requirement for majors and minors in Environmental Science and Environmental Studies. Open to all students. No prerequisites. ENVS 198 (.25 credit) should be taken with this course by new ENVS majors.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand core interdivisional/interdisciplinary environmental concepts and theories of environment and sustainability. (readings & lectures)
2. Increase familiarity with environmental and sustainability issues in Delaware, Ohio, and on-campus
3. Understand the relationship between concepts and theories and a specific environmental issue through research for sources, and preparing an annotated bibliography, a draft TPG grant proposal, and a presentation. (assessment of each step)
4. Engage with other Environment & Sustainability peers, upperclassmen, faculty, staff, and community members.

Course Text
Paul Robbins, John Hintz, and Sarah A. Moore, Environment & Society: A Critical Introduction (3rd edition). Wiley/Blackwell 2022.

Evaluation

  • 100 pts: Chapter Review & Presentation
  • 100 pts: Sources and Annotated Bibliography
  • 100 pts: Project Proposal & Presentation
  • 100 pts: Project Synthesis & Keywords (see schedule) & Attendance & Improvement

The Writing Center

The professional writing instructors and peer tutors in the Writing Center work with all members of the OWU community on any type of writing assignment in any class, as well as on resumes, cover letters, applications, and many other kinds of writing tasks. All writers — from novice writers to the most accomplished published pros — benefit from feedback and suggestions on their work, so I urge you to seek out the great support our Writing Center instructors provide. Services are free.

The Writing Center is located in the Sagan Academic Resource Center, Room #324 in the Hamilton Williams Campus Center. To make an appointment, visit their webpage on the OWU site and use the provided link to schedule with an available tutor using the Penji scheduling platform. Alternatively, you can schedule an appointment by stopping by the Sagan ARC during the hours of 9am-5pm Monday through Thursday or 9am-4pm on Fridays. Writing Center appointments and walk-in availability is now on Penji and on our Tutoring Page.

Be aware that if I see serious problems on any writing assignment, or consistent issues in several assignments, I may refer you to the Writing Center and expect you to work with an instructor there.

OWU Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use Policy

Updated for Fall 2023

This policy covers any generative AI tool, such as ChatGPT. This includes text, code, artwork, graphics, video, and audio.

You may use AI programs, e.g. ChatGPT, to help generate ideas and brainstorm. However, the material generated by such programs may be inaccurate, incomplete, or otherwise problematic. Beware that using AI may also stifle your own independent thinking and creativity. AI tools should be utilized responsibly and ethically, adhering to the academic principles of academic honesty and originality.

You may not submit any work generated by an AI program as your own. If your instructor allows for it, you may include material generated by an AI program, but it must be cited like any other reference material, and credit must be given. Failure to do so constitutes an academic honesty violation.

Any suspected plagiarism or other form of cheating, AI or otherwise, will be handled through OWU’s Academic Honesty policy, with potential consequences to follow.

For ENVS 110, which focuses on the research process and writing a draft TPG grant proposal, AI might be useful along the way. Please clearly quote any AI generated content: AI does not make this stuff up, it grabs it from the internet and regurgitates it for you. Most AI output is plagiarism, in that the sources are not specified (unless you ask). So do that, and clearly indicate that the information was sourced from AI.

Subscribe to ENVS 110 Calendar:

  1. On your computer, open Google Calendar.
  2. On the left, next to “Other calendars,” click Add  Addand then Subscribe to calendar.
  3. Copy & paste this address in the Add calendar field, where prompted: 
    owu.edu_pgg3cf6e7s9tj6evcbnc69lfk0@group.calendar.google.com
  4. Press Enter. The calendar will appear on the left side under “Other calendars” as ENVS 110 Intro to E&S

Subscribe to the OWU Academic Calendar

  1. On your computer, open Google Calendar.
  2. On the left, next to “Other calendars,” click Add  Addand then Subscribe to calendar.
  3. Copy & paste this address in the Add calendar field, where prompted: 
    owu.edu_vl2d8chfrg995vsn2rjnossosg@group.calendar.google.com
  4. Press Enter. The calendar will appear on the left side under “Other calendars” as Academic Calendar – OWU.