Latin America: Environmental History and Sustainability

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Latin America: Environmental History and Sustainability UGS 303 Unique numbers 62265, 62270, 62275, 62280, 62285, 62290 Fall 2015 Meets in UTC 4.

1 Latin America: Environmental History and Sustainability UGS 303 Unique numbers 62265, 62270, 62275, 62280, 62285, Fall 2015 Meets in UTC 4.134, MW 11-11:50 Discussion Sections meet Fridays in MAI 220F: 8-9, 9-10, 10-11, 11-12, 12-1, or 1-2 Professor: Gregory Knapp Office CLA Office phone: (forwards to ) Office hours Wednesday 12-1 and by appointment Teaching Assistants: TBA Contact information and office hours on Canvas Syllabus Last Updated July 12, 2015; syllabus subject to further revision Overview of Course The course explores Latin America s resources, natural hazards, and conservation issues, in the context of long-term cultural, economic and environmental change and present day debates about modernization and sustainability. The course touches on the methods of

2 geography, ecological anthropology, economics, government, and environmental history, and also interdisciplinary fields such as Environmental Studies, Global Studies, Development Studies, and Sustainability Studies. Students will learn how to assess a variety of sources of information, and develop skills to interpret them in the context of historical cultures and politics. Each week there will be two lectures, followed by a Friday discussion session. This is a Signature Course and also qualifies for the Global Cultures and Ethics and Leadership Flags. As a Signature Course, this course is interdisciplinary and relevant to contemporary issues. It provides education in writing, oral communication, and information literacy. The course highlights resources unique to our campus, involves a plenary University Lecture, and is taught by a permanent member of the University of Texas faculty. Bear in mind that this course may not be used towards a major, but may help guide your choice of a major. This course carries the Ethics and Leadership flag. Ethics and Leadership courses are designed to equip you with skills that are necessary for making ethical decisions in your adult and professional life. A substantial portion of your grade will come from assignments involving ethical issues and the process of applying ethical reasoning to real-life situations. In this course, there is a special emphasis on ethical issues related to poverty, environmental protection and human rights in the context of sustainability. This course carries the Global Cultures flag. Global Cultures courses are designed to increase your familiarity with cultural groups outside the United States. A substantial portion of your grade will come from assignments covering the practices, beliefs, and histories of Latin American cultural groups. This course is on the UT Rappaport Center for Human Rights and Justice list of courses pertaining to human rights study. Prerequisites: None. The course is designed for first-semester students. Course Website: Canvas Textbooks: The following two textbooks should be purchased: Charles Mann, 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus (Yale, 2006) Shawn William Miller, An Environmental History of Latin America (Cambridge University, 2007) The following required readings will be provided on Canvas as pdf files: Cesar Caviedes, and Gregory Knapp, South America. (Prentice-Hall, 1995).

3 Eduardo Gudynas, Buen Vivir: Today s tomorrow. Development 54(4): (2011) Additional articles and websites related to commentary exercises will be assigned and placed on Canvas as the semester proceeds. Lectures The lecture presentation graphics will be placed online on Canvas after each lecture. The presentations are copyright by respective copyright holders and must not be distributed beyond this class. They are not substitutes for good lecture notes. Summary of Grading: A total of 100 points will be given for various exams and assignments during the course of the semester. Final grades will be determined on the basis of the following rubric. Numbers will not be rounded up or down at any stage. The University does not recognize the grade of A+. A = A- = B+ = B = B- = C+ = C = C- = D+ = D = D- = F= Ten short ( word) commentaries (essays) based on readings, activities and lectures (20% of grade). Detailed instructions for your short essays will be provided on Canvas by the beginning the week the essay is due. Your essays should be posted on Canvas by noon on the day before your discussion section. Please note that papers must be posted on time, you must attend the discussion sections in person, and participate well in discussions. Failure to attend, participate, and/or submit papers on time will result in deductions from the 2 points given for each essay, as will significant problems in the essays themselves. Your commentaries may be shared with other students for peer review and/or discussed in class. One of the commentaries will be on a University Lecture (see next item). University Lecture: Students will attend or watch an approved University Lecture, and write a commentary based on it. Details of this assignment will be updated as the course proceeds. Commodity Chain Project: 30% of grade, in four parts: Provide your provisional commodity chain topic on Canvas by October 22. This can be one word or a longer statement. This is not graded but you will lose 0.5 points if this is late. Remember this is tentative, so you can change it later. Attendance and feedback on PCL visits: Attend the PCL visit during your discussion section on October 30 (tentative), write a word statement of how you will use the library for your written project, and provide it by Canvas by noon the following Thursday. This will be graded as part of the discussion section assignments.

4 Written project based on analysis of a commodity chain (25%). Due on Canvas November 25. Detailed instructions on your written project will be provided on Canvas. Late papers will not be accepted. Group Oral presentations (5%). Based on commodity chain exercise. Groups will have several minutes per person to present Power Points to discussion sections or to the class as a whole. Detailed instructions will be provided on Canvas. Quizzes before lectures (10%). Short quizzes will be conducted before, during, and/or after certain lectures and will test a simple concept as discussed in class or the readings and also check attendance. They are designed to be finished in less than 2 minutes. Students who arrive late will not be allowed to take quizzes at the beginning of class. In some cases you will be told in advance of the quiz topic, while in others the quizzes may be a surprise. More than one quiz may be administered in the same class; and there may be multiple versions of each quiz. Students missing a quiz will earn a zero; however, the lowest two quiz scores will be dropped. Quizzes may not be excused unless you provide an acceptable reason such as illness. Exams (40%) There are three exams; the lowest of the three scores will be dropped. Students who take both midterm exams and are satisfied with their scores need not take the final. Review sheets of vocabulary terms and practice questions will be posted on Canvas prior to each exam. There are no special make-ups for the first two exams since the third (final) exam should be taken as the make up exam. The third (final) exam will be December 12, 7-10 pm. Class Attendance Students are expected to attend all lectures and discussion sections and attendance will be monitored via the quizzes and written commentaries required (see above). Extracurricular activities are only excusable if cleared with the professor or TA at the beginning of the semester. Participation in discussion section Friday discussion sections will discuss the course material and concepts in a small group setting, based on your submissions of written commentaries on questions provided by the professor. During discussions, some questions will be posed to the entire group and others will be posed to specific people. Your written submissions may be provided (sometimes in edited form) to other students for their commentaries and feedback in small groups or in the section as a whole. To receive full credit for a discussion paper you must both submit it on time and attend the discussion section. Non attendance in a session will result in a deduction of one point from the 2 point paper score. Classroom Policy on Electronic Devices and Behavior Laptops are NOT allowed during lectures. Laptops, tablets, cell phones, MP3 players, and

5 other such devices must be turned off and stowed during lectures and exams. Lectures may not be recorded in any way without prior permission. Online materials may not be copied or distributed without prior permission. In exceptional cases, with prior permission, students will be allowed to take lecture notes on their laptops; in these cases, laptop lecture notes need to be provided to the professor for each class, and students need to pledge not to use computers for any other purpose during class. If laptops are used for another purpose that day's attendance/quiz score will be reduced to zero. The professor will not provide feedback on lecture notes. Students will arrive on time, minimize unscheduled personal breaks, and stay until the class ends, in both lectures and discussion sections. Your TA will provide you with electronic device rules for discussion sections. Discussion sections will often include controversial issues. Expression of differing opinions and debate will be encouraged. Please respect the right of persons to disagree with you, and avoid ridicule, or ad hominem attacks. You often will learn more from those who disagree with you than from those who agree with you. Accommodations for Special Needs The University makes reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities. Any student who requires special accommodations must obtain a letter that documents the disability from the Services for Students with Disabilities area of the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement ( voice or TTY for users who are deaf or hard of hearing). Present the letter to the professor at the beginning of the semester so that needed accommodations can be discussed. The student should remind the professor of any testing accommodations no later than five business days before an exam. For more information, visit Religious Holidays By UT Austin policy, students must notify the professor of a pending absence at least fourteen days prior to the date of observance of a religious holy day. If the student must miss a class, an examination, a work assignment, or a project in order to observe a religious holy day, the professor will give the student an opportunity to complete the missed work within a reasonable time after the absence. Behavior Concerns Advice Line (BCAL) If students are worried about someone who is acting differently, they may use the Behavior Concerns Advice Line to discuss by phone their concerns about another individual s behavior. This service is provided through a partnership among the Office of the Dean of Students, the Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC), the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and The University of Texas Police Department (UTPD). Call or visit Emergency Evacuation Occupants of buildings on The University of Texas at Austin campus are required to evacuate buildings when a fire alarm is activated. Alarm activation or announcement requires exiting and assembling outside. Familiarize yourself with all exit doors of each classroom and building you may occupy. Remember that the nearest exit door may not be the one you used when entering the building. Students requiring assistance in evacuation must inform their

6 instructor in writing during the first week of class. In the event of an evacuation, follow the instruction of faculty or class instructors. Do not re-enter a building unless given instructions by the following: Austin Fire Department, The University of Texas at Austin Police Department, or Fire Prevention Services office. U.T. Learning Center You may find assistance with specific strategies to help you study effectively at the Learning Center. The Center for Learning offers a range of services to become a better student through assistance in one-on-one tutoring, academic counseling, and other classes. For more information see Academic Integrity and Plagiarism The new (2013) Student Honor Code states: "As a student of The University of Texas at Austin, I shall abide by the core values of the University and uphold academic integrity." If you use words or ideas that are not your own you must cite your sources. Otherwise you will be guilty of plagiarism. Students who violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and/or dismissal from the University. Since such dishonesty harms the individual, all students, and the integrity of the University, policies on scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced. For further information, the student may refer to the Web Site of the Student Judicial Services, Office of the Dean of Students ( Course Schedule and Assignments Subject to revision Prompts for commentaries will be placed on Canvas WEEK 1: August 26 Introduction Discussion Sections August 28: Introduction WEEK 2: August 31, Sept 2 Sustainability, Volcanoes Reading: Caviedes and Knapp (online on Canvas) chapter 1, Commentary 1 due September 3, Images of Latin America Discussion Sections September 4 WEEK 3: September 9 Mountains Readings: Caviedes and Knapp chapter 2 and 3; and pp (on Canvas), Miller pp , Smithsonian volcano website (link on Canvas) Commentary 2 due September 10: Hazards Discussion Sections September 11 WEEK 4: September 14 and 16 Highlands and Lowlands Readings: articles (on Canvas) involving hydroelectric development

7 Commentary 3 due September 17, Complexities of Dam Development Discussion sections September 18 WEEK 5: September 21 and 23 Earth Dynamics and Migrations, Climate Reading: Mann pp (especially chapters 1 and 4) Commentary 4 due September 24, Native Americans, Perceptions and Demography Discussion sections September 25 WEEK 6: September 28 and 30 The First Peoples, Chiefdoms and Civilizations Readings: Mann (all, especially chapters 9 and 10), Miller 1-48, Caviedes and Knapp Commentary 5 due October 1, Pristine Myth Discussion sections October 2 WEEK 7: October 5 and 7 Collapse, Civilizations in Collision Readings: same as last week. Commentary 6 due October 8, Collapse and Sustainability Discussion sections October 9 WEEK 8: October 12 and 14 Colonialism and Commodities Exam 1 October 14 Discussion sections October 16: Commodity Chain project discussion WEEK 9: October 19 and 21 Silver and Gold, Modern Commodities and Drugs Readings: Caviedes and Knapp ; Miller Commentary 7 due October 22, Export-Based Development Tentative Commodity Chain Topic due October 22 Discussion Sections: October 23 WEEK 10: October 26 and 28 Commodities Unleashed, Flowers Commentary 8 due October 29, Drugs and Policy Discussion Sections: October 30: Library Project visits to PCL (tentative) WEEK 11: November 2 and 4 Modernization, Modernization s Impacts Readings: Caviedes and Knapp ; Miller Commentary 9 due November 5, Report on Library Visit Discussion sections November 6: The Drug Trade

8 WEEK 12: November 9 and 11 Population, Frontiers Reading: Eduardo Gudynas, Buen Vivir: Today s Tomorrow, (on Canvas) Watch University Lecture (online) Commentary 10 due November 12, Modernization s advocates and critics Discussion sections November 13 WEEK 13: November 16 and 18 Case Examples Discussion sections November 20 (Commodity Chain Oral Reports 1) WEEK 14: November 23 (no class November 25) Cities Commodity Chain Papers Due November 25 Discussion Sections: none WEEK 15: November 30 and December 2 Sustainability; Conclusion and Review Exam 2 December 2 Discussion sections December 4: Commodity Chain oral reports 2 Exam 3, Saturday, December 12, 7-10 pm. The exam is not required if you have taken the two midterms, and are satisfied with your scores.

Pitching Accounts & Advertising Sales ADV /PR

Pitching Accounts & Advertising Sales ADV 378 05816/PR 378 06233 Fall 2011 UTC 3.110 Fridays 9 am to 12 pm Instructor: Office: Office Hours: TA & Off. Hours: Fran Harris CMA A7.154B By appointment, Thursdays