Ecology Course Assignments

Ecology: Theory and Applications
Guidelines for Assignments
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Assignments (general):

Team Assignments:

Requirements

Evaluation

Letter Grades

Resources

Web Resources

Special Benefits

What am I expected to do?
       Attend all scheduled sessions of class
       Participate in discussion of assigned readings and activities
       Utilize e-mail & other electronic communication tools
       Integrate concepts & case studies from multiple information sources
       Conduct independent study projects (team-based)
       Complete written assignments, quizzes, and exams
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How is my work evaluated?

Project	20%
Quizzes	10%
Participation (Discussion, Internet)	10%
Midterm Exam	30%
Final Exam	30%

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What Letter Grade Will I Get?

A	94-98	C	73-76
A-	90-93	C-	70-72
B+	87-89	D+	67-69
B	83-86	D	63-67
B-	80-82	D-	60-62
C+	77-79	F	Below 60

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What resources should I use?

Textbooks:

Raven, P. H., L.R. Berg and D.M. Hassenzahl. 2008. Living in the Environment, 6th edition. Wiley & Sons, Publ.
Allen, J.L. 1997. Student Atlas of Environmental Issues. Dushkin/McGraw-Hill Publishers.

Optional Books:

Lajoda, John C. 1994. Northeast Regional Environmental Issues Manual. Saunders College Publishers.
Selected Environmental Law Statutes. 1989. West Publishing Co.
World Resources Institute. 1996. World Resources 1996-97. Oxford University Press.
World Resources Institute. 1992. Information Please - Environmental Almanac. Houghton-Mifflin Publishing. Boston, MA.

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Recommended Web Sites:

Table I: Government and Public Information Sites

*Description*	*Web Address*
U.S. EPA website	www.epa.gov
RIDEM (RI environmental agency)	www.state.ri.us./dem/
RI Health Department	www.state.health.ri.us./
Bryant Environmental Society	web.bryant.edu/~bes
Providence Journal/Bulletin articles	www.projo.com
Information about Belarus	www.state.gov/www/background_notes/
General Newspaper in Belarus	www.belarustoday.com
Web site on Chernobyl Accident

Contact Addresses Updated on September 2001
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Table II: Environmental Information Sites

*Description*	*Web Address*
Internet Environmental Sites
RI Shoreline (University of Rhode Island)	http://omp.gso.uri.edu/ompweb/doce2.htm
Information on Wetlands	www.sierraclub.org/wetlands/
Links to Environmental Action Organizations
National Estuary Program (EPA)	www.epa.gov/nep/nep.html http://omp.gso.uri.edu/ompweb/doee/doee.htm
Watershed Information	http://www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/
Sustainable Forests Directory
Ozone Depletion over Antarctica
Acid Rain - Causes & Effects	http://www.epa.gov/acidrain/effects/index.html
Dioxin Contamination in Rhode Island	http://web.bryant.edu/%7Elanglois/envpol/studentresearch.htm#1
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution	www.whoi.edu/
Solar Energy Websites	www.solarexpert.com www.flasolar.com/ www.fsec.ucf.edu/en/ www.solarpaces.com http://www.alterisinc.com/architects/why-solarworks.php
Green Energy Websites
Plankton Research - Univ. of Guelph	http://www.geocities.com/planktonguy/
Snakehead Fish (photos)	http://www.sunspot.net/sports/outdoors/ bal-ar.snakehead23jul23,0,912050.story?coll=bal-sports-outdoors

Contact Addresses Updated on September 2001
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Any special benefits for the course?

Overview of current environmental issues
Internet connectivity and e-mail roundtable discussions
Hands-on activities (site visits, problem-solving, meeting policy makers, GIS demonstration, computer models, etc.)
Potential for conducting joint research & publishing a paper in a technical journal

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What are the assignments?

Team Research Project

Milestone Dates must be met. Dates are listed on the "Course Outline.".
A team meeting should be scheduled each week, starting in Week 3.
The team is responsible for setting up appointments with the professor, at regular intervals.
All team materials must be submitted according the Milestone Dates for the project.
All team members are equally responsible for work to be completed and submitted; and all team members must sign off for each Milestone.
Milestone materials will be kept by the professor in a Team Portfolio, to be graded with the final submission of the Project Report.
The project will include the following components: Statement of Purpose; Outline; Research Protocols; Draft Data Findings; Draft Report; Final Report; Draft Web Site; Final Web Site Presentation.
Each team will receive a Team Packet with templates for the different project components.
Additional information is provided on the Team Project Description

Participation Assignments

Will be assigned from time to time; contributions are optional but will be counted toward the participation grade.
Discussions and mini-presentations are also counted toward the participation grade.

Quizzes

Four quizzes will be given (see Course Outline); the three best quiz grades will be counted..
Missed quizzes are assigned zero for a grade (no makeups).

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*Home Page*	*Course Description*	*Course Outline*	*Assignments*	*Course Notes*
*Top of Page*	*Team Projects*	*Reserve Readings*	*Course Photos*	*Midterm Review*
*Class Participants*		*Lab Program*	*Wetlands Project*	*Course Grades*

copyright
Gaytha A. Langlois, Ph.D., 1999
Bryant University, Smithfield, RI 02917
E-mail: langlois@bryant.edu
Last Updated: January 2009