PSS 195 Sustainable Development Film Series

PSS 195: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FILM SERIES

“There are two kinds of things that teachers must do well. They can set up environments and situations that are conducive to learning, and they can help students get unstuck. It is difficult to be more specific.” –Frank Oppenheimer

Fall Semester 2004

Lafayette 108

Wednesday evenings from 7:00 – 9:30 pm

Instructor: Milton E. Tignor, Jr., Ph.D. ‘Buddy’

Office Hours: by appointment (send me an e-mail with three suggested times)*

Office Phone: 656-0466

E-mail: Milton.Tignor@uvm.edu (most rapid form of contact)

Homepage: http://www.uvm.edu/~pass/tignor/index.htm

Course URL: http://www.uvm.edu/~pass/tignor/filmseries.htm

Course Rationale: This course was created to give students an opportunity to review current global, national, regional, and local issues in sustainability from a variety of viewpoints using recent documentary film releases. There will be a special emphasis on complex agricultural issues. The course will promote and insist on critical discussion of the topics in both oral and written format. Students will be expected to develop and support their own viewpoints utilizing factual sources.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES in order of increasing complexity (Based on Bloom’s Taxonomy):

o Knowledge: Through class discussion and watching films students should increase their factual foundations of several timely sustainability topics including water resource management, waste disposal, and community development.

o Comprehension: Students will be able to illustrate clearly the problems associated with several aspects of development globally. For example, they should be able to explain why water quality is a problem and be able to describe what is being done to solve some water quality issues.

o Application: Students will apply data presented in the films with data they locate on their own to construct specific arguments relating to some facet of sustainable development. This will be practiced in class in the form of open forum discussions and to a lesser extent during on-line evaluations.

o Analysis: Students will analyze the messages presented in the films and learn to distinguish fact from opinion and separate valuable supporting data from anecdotal evidence.

o Synthesis: Students will use their analyses of various issues in class to create a short thesis of their own that will develop one of their findings into a well supported argument.

o Evaluation: Following specific guidelines provided by the instructor students will critique another student’s micro-thesis, justify their critique, and recommend changes to improve the argument.

Course Format: The course basically consists of 3 parts. The first is attendance. Students are expected to attend Wednesday evenings both to view the movie and to participate in discussions. The second part is completing 8 pre and post evaluation surveys. Finally is the development of a tightly written 10-page “micro-thesis” that will include outline development, peer review, and 2 drafts.

“Today, if you are not confused, you are just not thinking clearly.” –Irene Peter

Course Procedures: These current topics can be quite controversial and all opinions will be welcome. As a result you should be prepared to respect and listen to opinions that are not your own. One part of developing a strong argument is understanding opposing viewpoints. You will be expected to address opposing viewpoints in your paper.

My Assumptions: I do not have an ‘agenda’ with this course. You do not need to agree with my opinions or those of the films. In fact, I want quite the opposite. I want you to watch the films, ask questions, participate in discussions, and develop your own ideas about sustainable development. You should all be wary of leaders that have nothing but answers.

Course Requirements, Policies, and Grading:

Class Attendance and Participation Policy: 25% of your grade will be attendance at the movies. A graduate student will take attendance each week via a ‘no-credit’ pre-film knowledge and perceptions survey. 25% of your grade will also be based on participation. This includes thoughtful participation during discussions and/or keeping in touch with the instructor as your thesis develops. There will be helpful resources available at the website and others will be handed out in class.

The paper: 50% of your grade will be the development of a tightly written 10 page paper with several stages of development. Specific instructions for development of each part will be handed out in class. The papers will be assembled in a Master Document at the end of the semester.

Outline (5%)
Draft I (5%) (Instructor / TA reviewed)
Draft II (5%) (Peer reviewed)
Your peer review of a classmate’s paper (5%)
Final product (30%) – must be in txt or MsWord format.
Final papers will be published as a unit for the class.

Late Policy: All papers are due by 5 pm on the date indicated in the syllabus. Late work will not be accepted (I will discuss this policy in detail during class.). I will accept assignments as attachments via e-mail, but you are responsible to see that the files sent are complete and uncorrupted. The assignments will need to be in MSWORD or ADOBE PDF or Text file.

Academic Integrity:

Offenses against academic honesty are any acts which would have the effect of unfairly promoting or enhancing one's academic standing within the entire community of learners. Such acts are serious offenses, which insult the integrity of the entire academic community of the University.

If you know of a violation and don’t report it you are just as guilty of a breach in academic integrity as the person committing the violation.

TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE: (Select Link Below Movie Title for More Detailed Information—Requires Internet Access).

DATE	FILM TITLE	BRIEF FILM DESCRIPTION	WRITING ASSIGNMENT*
September 1^st	*WELCOME AND COURSE INTRODUCTION*
September 8^th	Thirst	A piercing look at the global corporate drive to control and profit from our water -- from bottles to tap.	*******
September 15^th	Crapshoot	Looks at the failure of our current sewage disposal system and presents alternatives.	*******
September 22^nd	McLibel	Two activists take on McDonald's in the longest trial in English history.	Outline
September 29^th	***		*******
October 6^th	Valley at the Crossroads	The battle over sprawl in California's Central Valley, where 50% of America's fruits, nuts, and vegetables are grown	*******
October 13^th	Save Our Land Save Our Towns	Examines the causes and effects of -- and then remedies for -- suburban sprawl.	Draft I
October 20^th	***		*******
October 27^th	Livable Landscapes	How growth and sprawl affect the quality of life in New England, and some possible solutions.	*******
November 3^rd	Beyond Organic	A model of community supported agriculture in the midst of suburban sprawl.	Draft II
November 10^th	***		*******
November 17th	A lot in Common	A community garden grows community as well as food, flowers and consciousness.	Draft II – peer review
November 24^th	THANKSGIVING		BREAK
December 1^st	***		Work on Paper
December 10^th (FRIDAY)	*******		Final Paper Due

* All papers are due by 5 pm on the date indicated. Late work will not be accepted (I will discuss this policy in detail during class.)

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