Introduction to Liberal Studies  A&S 61000

The Impact of Climate Change

Fall, 2009

Wednesdays, 5:30 to 7:10 pm,  311 McGilvrey Hall

 

Instructors:  Dr. Don Palmer/Office 212 McGilvrey/Phone (330) 672-0091   dpalmer@kent.edu

 

          Dr. Alison Smith/Office 219 or 308 McGilvrey/Phone (330) 672-3709 alisonjs@kent.edu

 

Date                    Course Topics                        (Readings)*                Assignment Due Dates 

09/02   Introduction and Aims of the Course and the LSM Program  

09/09   Library Tutorial:        Read the Preface, Chapter 1-2       ***We will meet in Room 019 

                                                                                                                Library 5:30 to 7:10 pm***

09/16   How Climate Works: El Nino as an example      

                                                 El Nino and ENSO , Paleoclimate Proxies, and this NOAA webvideo

09/23    Moche Lords of Peru,  the Pacific Islands, and El Nino (Chapter 9, 10)  

                                                                                Paper Topic with 5 References                                     

09/30    El Nino and the Indian Ocean Monsoon      (Chapter 11)               

10/07    The Mongol Invasion and the North Atlantic Oscillation  (Chapter 3)   

                                                                                        Draft of LSM Study Plan Due

10/14      Inuit and Vikings                  (Chapter 5)         Paper Outline & Expanded Refs.

10/21   Mid-Term Exam           

10/28   Settling of the Prairies at the end of the little Ice Age 

11/04   Drought Follows the Plow:  Growth of Deserts                    First Submission

11/11   The Impact of the Dust Bowl             

11/18       open                                                                            Return of First Submissions

11/25   No Class Meeting:  Thanksgiving Holiday  

12/02  Looking to the Future                       

12/09   Class Presentations                                                  Final Submission of Paper

  

12/16   Final Exam 5:45-8:00 pm, Wednesday                       

Grades

Your grade will be based on your class participation (15%), and your performance in your exams (Midterm 20% and Final 25%) and term paper (40%).  There will be one term paper, a midterm, and a final exam.  The final exam is comprehensive.

 

 

 

Texts 

*chapter readings are from the text, other journal articles may also be assigned as needed 

     Fagan, Brian, 2008,   The Great Warming:  Climate Change and the Rise and Fall of Civilizations, Bloomsbury Press, 282 pages, ISBN 1-59691--601-x    This book is available new from Barnes & Noble or Borders for $17 at www.bn.com, or www.borders.com and for for $11.78 from Amazon  www.amazon.com.  Other readings from the literature will be assigned to supplement the textbook for some of our topics. 

 

 

 

 

 

Student Accessibility:

 

In accordance with University policy, if you have a documented disability and require accommodations to obtain equal access in this course, please contact the instructor at the beginning of the term or when given an assignment for which accommodation is required. Students with disabilities must verify their eligibility through the Office of Student Accessibility Services (SAS), located in the Michael Schwartz Student Services Center (2-3391)

 

University Statement Regarding Cheating and Plagiarism

 

Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated. Kent State University has strict policies and procedures (see section 3342-3-07 of the University Policy Register) for dealing with student cheating and plagiarism. Please become familiar with these policies and procedures, as they will be followed and enforced to the maximum extent by the instructor of this course.

 

Registration Requirement:

 

The official registration deadline for this course is September 9, 2009.  University policy requires all students to be officially registered in each class they are attending.  Students who are not officially registered for a course by published deadlines should not be attending classes and will not receive credit or a grade for the course.  Each student must confirm enrollment by checking his/her class schedule (using Student Tools in FlashFast) prior to the deadline indicated.  Registration errors must be corrected prior to the deadline.  November 8th is the last day to drop this course.