HSS 202H, "Society, Technology, and Environment" is an introduction to environmental issues from the perspective of the Social Sciences. Solving problems, making decisions, and thinking critically will be stressed throughout the semester to assist the student in understanding the variety of topics that are discussed. In addition, the interplay between and among the aspects of society, technology, and the environment will be highlighted. The main goals of the course are to expose students to current environmental issues along with the various disciplines of Social Science, as well as improve their ability to problem-solve, research, write, and public speak. In addition, students will be given the opportunity to work in groups and make professional oral presentations. This is a writing intensive class intended to assist students to hone thinking skills by utilizing writing.

The course draws readings from the following texts: Sociology for a New Century: An Introduction to Environmental Sociology by Michael Mayerfeld Bell (ISBN: 0761985093) and Sources: Notable Selections in Environmental Studies Edited by Theodore D. Goldfarb (ISBN: 0073031860). Other readings are available on reserve in the library under Dr. Lipuma’s name for the HSS 202 course. These readings are intended to assist the students with research. The only prerequisite for this course is the Introductory English class HSS 101 or its equivalent. The Scott, Foresman Handbook for Writers by Maxine Hairston et al (ISBN:0-321-00248-2) currently used in the NJIT English composition courses is a recommended text for this class as it is the standard that will be used for assessing the written work in the course. Otherwise, the instructor assumes there are no other prerequisites to the course material.

Throughout the semester, there will be homework and paper assignments that each student must complete in order to receive a grade in the class. Most importantly, two in-class presentations and a final project will be required for this class.

The papers handed in for this course are to be college-level research papers. A college-level paper is type written, has page numbers, contains references to research and includes a reference page at the end for works quoted or otherwise referenced to in the document. Citations for the research used needs to be included with the paper and should follow the APA format for citations. This means parenthetical citations within the text with a reference page at the end of the document. Only works that are actually quoted from or referenced directly should be cited. Do not list all works that were read for the creation of the paper. This is not a bibliography but rather a "Reference Page." Please remember, simply lifting text from a dictionary or encyclopedia is something found mainly in high school. Though it may be necessary to quote from these types of sources, rarely are they the only works used for references.

I want to stress that the work for this class should be formal research papers. There should be no contractions, spelling errors, punctuation errors, or mistakes in grammar. Please be consistent within the paper with abbreviations and other acronyms. Double-space the paper. Please use Times New Roman 12-point font, as it is clear and easy-to-read. Your margins should be a uniform 1-inch on all sides and the paper should minimize large areas of white space within the text. If you wish to have assistance with writing, the HSS department has a writing tutor who can be contacted for assistance with all aspects of the paper. The lead contact is Dr. Janet Bodner. You may also ask your professor, Dr. James Lipuma, for further assistance or more detailed information.

All assignments handed in for this course should be original and the sole work of the student. The rules and procedures set down in the student handbook as administered by the Dean of Students office will be used to judge plagiarism. DO NOT PLAGIARISE. If you are unclear about these rules, please see the student handbook on the NJIT web page.

Beyond the standard writing assignments, WebCT and other on-line tools will be utilized in the course to assist the student learning process. Students will be asked to access WebCT to complete written homework and hold discussions about class topics. Details of each assignment will be provided on the WebCT page for the class.

Attendance will be taken throughout the semester. A greater emphasis is placed on participation rather than simple attendance; however, you cannot participate if you are not there. Absences and late work are excused only by arrangements with the instructor. All work receives a 10% per day penalty if it is late. Course grades may be withheld if all assignments are not submitted in some form.

jlipuma@webspan.net lipuma@njit.edu

1. Open a WebCT account, log into HSS 202H and introduce yourself to the class.

Briefly explain, 1-2 paragraphs, why you are in the class. Describe what are your goals and how will you attain them? The main focus of this essay is to have you think about your own motivations and desires.

This assignment asks you to select the area that you identify as your community. Once you have chosen, you need to describe it as accurately and completely as you wish, but be sure to give enough information so that the reader is able to understand the place you are describing. Then, explain how technology and society have changed or influenced the community you have selected.

The main focus of this essay is thinking so that you can be informative and persuasive. There is no need to cite sources. However, if you use material that requires a source citation, please be sure to use the proper format and include a reference page in the APA format.

Is preservation, conservation, the Land Ethic, or some other view the best way to interact with the environment? Discuss this by first summarizing the ideas presented in the selections from three premier American environmentalists in Goldfarb Chapter 1.

This group oral presentation is for 2-3 people and should last approximately 10 minutes per person in the group. Each group will be asked to select a Bell Chapter 1-8 or Goldfarb Chapter 2-4. The goal of this assignment is to inform the class about the material covered in the selection and highlight the most important ideas. In addition, the group should relate these ideas to society, technology and the environment as well as explain their view of the author’s ideas.

Each group will be asked to submit a brief written summary of their presentation along with sample test questions. There should be 5 multiple-choice questions and 1 short answer question submitted per person in the group.

The exam for the course will have an in-class and take-home portion. The in-class portion will consist of multiple choice, matching and short answer style questions. The take-home portion will be a short research essay that will be handed out during the in-class exam and be due one week after the in-class exam date.

Each student is asked to be involved in helping his or her own community during the semester. There is a written report due at the end of the semester along with an oral report explaining the project scheduled during the last weeks of class. Community service related to the work may be substituted for a portion (10%) of the grade but will not be accepted in lieu of a paper or oral presentation.

This project asks students to research an environmental problem in their community as they define it. Once the problem is identified, the student must clearly define it so that it is understood. Then the student should propose solutions and work to implement those solutions in the community that they have chosen.

The written report must be individual work and is a description of the problem solving process along with the research conducted during it. It is expected that a clear justification for the solution that was chosen will become apparent by the review given during the paper. Besides working through the problem solving process, the paper should utilize research methods and other aspects of the various disciplines discussed during the semester to assist in making decisions and providing information for the report. Photographs or other evidence of the solution being implemented can be given whenever possible. Practical work will be favored over theoretical suggestions.

The paper should be approximately 8-10 pages in length. It can be longer, if necessary, in order to accomplish the objective of explaining the problem that was identified and the actions taken to remedy the problem. Due to the length and nature of the work, it should contain section headings, a separate title page, and a table of contents that lists sections along with tables, charts, and any other figures used in the paper. Remember, this is a research paper and must contain citations. You must use the APA format for citations. This means parenthetical citations within the text with a references page at the end of the document. The written report is due the last day of class.

The oral portion of the project will be a 10-15 minute report explaining the community the student has selected, the problem being solved, and the work that was done in the community to implement the solution. The main focus of the oral report is to inform and motivate the class. Again, visual examples to demonstrate to the class the work accomplished is always helpful.

As mentioned above, it is possible that part of the work for the project can be community service. Many of the problems that will be identified are long standing and have organizations that work to solve them. Students may wish to participate in these existing programs and use these resources to assist in the report. This type of involvement is encouraged. For more information about community service options and outreach, students should contact Vivian Lanzot in the Service Learning Department of Career Services.

Students are also encouraged to work with others from the class and NJIT on these projects. Though each student must write an individual essay and present an individual oral report, the community work can be done with others. Organization and motivation of others is always beneficial for community action. The object of this project is to motivate and educate students to be involved in helping their own community solve problems.