University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
Geography 340/540 - Extension: 
Processes of Environmental Degradation

Schedule & Assignments

Thirty theses to examine when considering enviromental degradation.  These will help guide our study of environmental problems this term.

Specific weekly assignments are detailed following the Schedule below. 

The Class Research Project is described separately.

Notes about Schedule:  *G&V refers to Goudie, Andrew, and Heather Viles, 1997, The Earth Transformed; An Introduction to Human Impacts on the Environment. Oxford, England: Blackwell Publishers. 276 pp.   **Foster refers to Foster, John Belamy, 1994 (or revised ed., 1999), The Vulnerable Planet. New York: Monthly Review Press.  The schedule is subject to change by the instructor at any time.

Schedule, Fall 2000  Picture (38x38, 333 bytes) (as of November 19)

Week

Topics

Assignments
  Activity type: Survey--  textbook reading Survey & analysis-- online reading Analysis &
prescription-- Posted comments & discussion 
Oct 9 INTRODUCTION
Picture (14x14, 192 bytes) Model
Picture (14x14, 192 bytes) Basic causes
Picture (14x14, 192 bytes) Thirty theses 		*G&V 3-16 Welcome; 
Model of Enviro Degradation;
Basic Causes; 
Analyzing a stress in detail; 
Thirty theses; 
Toward solutions		 WEEK 1 (below)
Oct 16 THE BIOSPHERE
Picture (14x14, 192 bytes) Deforestation		 G&V 19-57 Biosphere 
(sec. 1-9)
Assigned online reading is at 3, 4, 6, & 9		 WEEK 2 (below)
Oct 23 Picture (14x14, 192 bytes) Extinctions
Picture (14x14, 192 bytes) Introductions 		G&V 58-79 Biosphere 
(sec. 10-15)
Assigned online reading is at 10, 12, 13, & 14		 WEEK 3 (below)
Oct 30 THE ATMOSPHERE
 Picture (14x14, 192 bytes) Global warming
Picture (14x14, 192 bytes) Ozone depletion		 G&V 83-121 Atmosphere
(sec. 1-9)
Assigned online reading is at 4, 7, 8		 WEEK 4 (below)
Nov 6 THE WATERS
 Picture (14x14, 192 bytes) Big dams
Picture (14x14, 192 bytes) Pollution
Picture (14x14, 192 bytes) Aral Sea		 G&V 125-162 Waters
(sec. 1-11)
Assigned online reading is at 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9 		 WEEK 5 (below)
Nov 13 THE LAND SURFACE
 Picture (14x14, 192 bytes) Mining
Picture (14x14, 192 bytes) Soil erosion		 G&V 165-202 Land Surface
(sec. 1-10) Assigned online reading is at 5, 6, 7, 9 & Addition: Mining)		 WEEK 6 (below)
Nov 20 OCEANS, SEAS AND COASTS
 Picture (14x14, 192 bytes) Coral reef degradation
Picture (14x14, 192 bytes) Shrimp culture		 G&V 205-236 Oceans, Seas & Coasts 
(sec. 1- 9) Assigned online reading is at 5, 7, 8		 WEEK 7 (below)
Nov 27 HISTORY of environmental degradation **Foster ch. 1-7   WEEK 8 (below)
Dec 4 Class project due by noon, Sat, Dec 9 -- -- WEEK 9 (below)
Dec 11 Conclusion G&V 239-244 Conclusion (sec. 1-3) WEEK 10 (below)

Specific weekly assignments

WEEK 1 (Oct 9) 

(BACK to schedule)

 1. What tendencies of corporate capitalism commonly lead to environmental degradation? --For each tendency, cite a specific example of degradation, if you can. Post your comments on WebBoard in the Corporate Capitalism & Enviro Degradation conference. 
2. Pose a thoughtful question of your own concerning this week's work. Post your question in the Week 1 Q&A conference, indicating your question's subject in the "topic" line. Deadline for these two posts: 9:00 pm on Wed, Oct. 11.
3. In the Week 1 Q&A conference, answer at least one of the other students' questions, posting it as a "Reply" so the the discussion is organized (or "threaded"). Deadline for this reply: 9:00 pm on Sat, Oct 14.
WEEK 2 (Oct 16) 

(BACK to schedule)

 1. BASIC CAUSES of environmental degradation-- Either (A) describe specifically how any five of the 30 Theses underlie deforestation; or (B) examine the major causes of wetland loss and degradation in terms of the "seven potential basic causes" of environmental degradation; that is, describe specifically how each of five "basic causes" that you have chosen drives wetland loss or degradation. Post your comments on WebBoard in either the Deforestation or the Wetland Loss & Degradation conference. 
2. Read the comments posted by other students in answer to #1 above. Pose a thoughtful question of your own concerning this week's work. Post your question in the Week 2 Q&A conference, indicating your question's subject in the "topic" line. Deadline for these two posts: 10:00 pm on Tue, Oct. 17.
3. In the Week 2 Q&A conference, answer at least one of the other students' questions, posting it as a "Reply" so the the discussion is organized (or "threaded"). Deadline for this reply: 10:00 pm on Sat, Oct 21.
WEEK 3 (Oct 23) 

(BACK to schedule)

1. �Winners and Losers�-- Read the textbook and online assignments for this week; then, for one of the following topics analyze who/what �wins� and what is �won� versus who/what �loses� and what is �lost�. (May usefully review Part A, Analyzing an Evvironmental Stress in Detail.) Use specifics to support generalizations. Post your comment on WebBoard in the Winners and Losers conference, indicating your topic in the subject line. Topic choices: two biotic invaders; habitat fragmentation; genetically-engineered crops. 
2. Read the comments posted by other students in answer to #1 above. Pose a thoughtful question of your own concerning this week's work. Post your question in the Week 3 Q&A conference, indicating your question's subject in the "topic" line. Deadline for these two posts: 10:00 pm on Tue, Oct. 24.
3. In the Week 3 Q&A conference, answer at least one of the other students' questions, posting it as a "Reply". Deadline for this reply: 10:00 pm on Sat, Oct 28.
WEEK 4 (Oct 30) 

(BACK to schedule)

 1. EFFECTS of environmental degradation-- Concisely summarize (in 400 to 600 words) the effects (including extended consequences) of either global warming or stratospheric ozone depletion. Post your essay on WebBoard in the Effects of GW or OD conference, indicating your specific subject in the "topic" line. 
2. Read the comments posted by other students in answer to #1 above. Pose a thoughtful question of your own concerning any of this week's work. Post your question in the Week 4 Q&A conference, indicating your question's subject in the "topic" line. Deadline for these two posts: 10:00 pm, Tue, Oct. 31.
3. In the Week 4 Q&A conference, answer at least one of the other students' questions, posting it as a "Reply". Deadline for this reply: 10:00 pm, Sat, Nov 4.
WEEK 5 (Nov 6) 

(BACK to schedule)

 1. A waters lesson plan-- Create a tentative (need not be refined!) lesson plan for teaching others about a given water problem or case. Base your plan on any (one or more) of the assigned online readings for this week (you may supplement your plan with non-assigned material). Specify your target audience. Post your plan on WebBoard in the Waters Lesson Plan conference, indicating your title in the "topic" line. 
2. Pose a thoughtful question concerning any of this week's work. Post your question in the Week 5 Q&A conference, indicating your question's subject in the "topic" line. Deadline for these two posts: 10:00 pm, Wed, Nov. 8.
3. In the Week 5 Q&A conference, answer at least one of the other students' questions, posting it as a "Reply". Deadline for this reply: 10:00 pm, Sat, Nov 11.
WEEK 6 (Nov 13) 

(BACK to schedule)

 1. Work on Class Research Project, especially with your partner on the two stages that you have been assigned. Also begin wider communication--beyond the stages work-- concerning who will do what and when. If, as you go along, you post work for each other at the WebBoard conferences, I will monitor your work and perhaps make some helpful comments (insofar as I can).
2. In 50 words or less, pose a thoughtful question concerning any of this week's work. Post your question in the Week 6 Q&A conference, indicating your question's subject in the "topic" line. Deadline: 10:00 pm, Wed, Nov. 15.
3. In the Week 6 Q&A conference, answer at least one of the other students' questions, posting it as a "Reply". Deadline for this reply: 10:00 pm, Sat, Nov 18.
WEEK 7 (Nov 20) 

(BACK to schedule)

 1. Work on Class Research Project.
2. In 50 words or less, pose a thoughtful question concerning any of this week's work. Post your question in the Week 7 Q&A conference, indicating your question's subject in the "topic" line. Deadline: 10:00 pm, Wed, Nov. 22.
3. In the Week 7 Q&A conference, answer at least one of the other students' questions, posting it as a "Reply". Deadline for this reply: 10:00 pm, Sat, Nov 25.
WEEK 8 (Nov 27) 

(BACK to schedule)

 1. Work on Class Research Project.
2. In 50 words or less, pose a thoughtful question concerning the Foster book. Post your question in the Week 8 Q&A conference, indicating your question's subject in the "topic" line. Deadline: 10:00 pm, Wed, Nov. 29.
3. In the Week 8 Q&A conference, answer at least one of the other students' questions, posting it as a "Reply". Deadline for this reply: 10:00 pm, Sat, Dec 2.
WEEK 9 (Dec 4) 

(BACK to schedule)

 Complete class project by noon, Sat, Dec 9
WEEK 10 (Dec 11) 

(BACK to schedule))

  

 

Thomas Detwyler maintains this page (tdetwyle@uwsp.edu)
Last updated 26 November 2000