Arctic Canada: Geography 153 Spring 2010 Instructor: Dr. Shelly A. Rayback Office: #213 Old Mill, Geography Department Phone: 802.656.3019 Email: srayback@uvm.edu Office Hours: Wednesdays 1:30-4:30, by appointment. Course Description Canada is an arctic nation with over one third of its land surface dominated by northern forests and tundra landscapes. This course seeks to acquaint students with the physical, biological, cultural, political, historical and economic characteristics of the Canadian Arctic. We will explore the region s past and present climate, the evolution of the arctic landscape, and tundra and marine ecosystems. We will also investigate cultureenvironment interfaces including environmental changes and the challenges posed by them for those who live in the North, economic and industrial development, and the new political realities in the Arctic. Prerequisites: Geography 040 or 050. Course Goals Students who have successfully completed this course should be able to demonstrate a proficiency in the following: - Define and articulate the major weather and climatic factors governing Arctic Canada and their impacts on terrestrial and marine ecosystems - Synthesize the long-term impacts and current manifestations of glaciation on Arctic Canada - Develop and articulate a model to show the flow of energy and mass within the biosphere and predict outcomes based on climate change - Synthesize historical Canadian treatment of First Nations people with current issues of sovereignty - Articulate challenges facing First Nations people today in Arctic Canada - Evaluate information pertaining to environmental resource extraction in relation to environmental change, climate change and First Nations people 1
Course Format In this course, we will explore both the physical and human geography of the Canadian Arctic through lectures, discussions, readings, writing assignments and audio-visual presentations. We will meet MWF from 9:35-10:25 in Lafayette 210. Course Resources Required Textbook Pielou, E. C. 1994. A Naturalist s Guide to the Arctic. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.* *A copy of the Pielou (1994) text is on reserve at the Bailey-Howe reserve desk. Reading List A complete reading list (Part I) is posted on Blackboard (Part II will be posted after Spring Break). You will be assigned readings from the text, as well as other readings throughout the semester which will be made available in pdf format on Blackboard or are available on the Internet. In-Class Handouts Periodically, I will provide handouts in class, including in-class exercises, and critical analysis questions. Handouts will also be placed on Blackboard. Images In this course, I use many types of visual images to convey information about the week s topic. Powerpoints presented in class will be made available on Blackboard 48 hours after the lecture. Videos shown in class will be placed on reserve at Bailey-Howe library (Media Department, ground floor) for one week following the in-class presentation. URL addresses will be provided for internet content (visual, audio, etc.). Grading Scale A+ (97-100) B+ (87-89) C+ ( 77-79) D+ (67-69) F (below 60) A (94-96) B (84-86) C (74-76) D (64-66) A- (90-93) B- (80-83) C- (70-73) D- (60-63) 2
Grading 1. Final Paper and Presentation (30%) Students will carry out a group project and presentation at the end of the semester. The project will involve a group (~5 students) addressing a particular question or problem relevant to Arctic Canada. The group will work together to carry out the research and write the final paper. Based on their research for the final paper, the group will also develop an educational product that will target a select audience to inform them about a particular arctic-based issue. The educational product may be in the form of a pod cast, a formal in-class presentation, a brochure or handout. Instructions will be presented to students at mid-semester. 2. Critical Analysis Exercises (25%) Students will complete four sets of critical analysis questions over the course of the semester. The questions will often be presented to you after viewing a film. I will ask you to draw upon your knowledge and critical analysis of material presented throughout the semester. Each exercise will be limited to one page of text and will be due in class one week after it is assigned. 3. Class Participation (5%) Class participation will be evaluated on your preparedness and relevant contributions to class discussions. It will also be evaluated periodically (e.g., check plus, check, check minus) based on short-in-class exercises or reflections. 4. Midterm Exam (20%) The midterm exam will take place in class on Wednesday, March 3, 2010. It will cover material presented in lecture, the readings, and audio-visual materials, as well as drawing from reading response questions, critical analysis and in-class exercises. 5. Final Exam (20%) The final exam will be cumulative and will cover material presented in lecture, the readings, audio-visual materials, etc. The final exam will take place on Monday, May 10, 2010 from 8:00 am to 11:00 am in Lafayette 210. 3
Other Information Office Hours Please take advantage of office hours if you have questions or concerns about the lectures, readings, quizzes or exams. You do not need an appointment during regular office hours. Web Site The course website will be available on Blackboard at bb.uvm.edu. The website will be updated regularly with announcements, lecture slides, reading assignments, lab exercises and project guidelines. If you are having problems with Blackboard, please see me immediately for help. Email I will occasionally send you email messages with reminders or announcements via your UVM email address. If you use another email account (gmail, yahoo, etc.) please use the tool at https://webmail.uvm.edu to forward your UVM mail to that account. You can do this at webmail by using the tool on the left-hand frame titled, Forward Your Email to Another Account. Learning and Physical Disabilities Students with learning and physical disabilities must let me know and provide a letter from ACCESS if you need special exam situations or other appropriate accommodations. For your privacy and my clarity, I ask that you come talk with me during office hours about any accommodations requested. If you know or suspect you may have a learning disability you should contact ACCESS for screening and advice. Contact ACCESS at 802-656-7753. They are located at A170 Living/Learning Center on the University of Vermont Campus. Learning Skills UVM is fortunate to have the Learning Co-Op (www.uvm.edu/~learnco) on campus; a center devoted to helping UVM students learn effective study and writing skills. Please take advantage of the programs and services the Learning Co-Op has to offer. The Learning Co-Op and Writing Center is located at 244 Commons Living/Learning Center. 4
Positive Learning Environment: Our Responsibilities 1. Class attendance and participation are critical to your success in the course. You are expected to attend all class sessions, take notes, and ask questions when material is not clear. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to take whatever steps are necessary to acquire the material that you have missed from a classmate. I recommend that you identify another student in class from whom you can borrow lecture notes and visit me during office hours if you have questions about missed material. 2. If you are a student who will miss class due to athletics or another universitysponsored activity, please let me know in writing by the second week of classes. Because material missed during absences will affect your participation/attendance score and your ability to complete the lab exercises, I encourage you to visit with me during office hours to discuss it. 3. Please be prompt to class and plan to stay in the classroom for the entire session. I ask that you not leave the classroom for visits to the restroom, water fountain, etc. during the lecture, as it is distracting to me and other students. 4. Please refrain from conversations during lecture. If you have a question, please ask. 5. Please turn off all cell phones, pagers, blackberries, ipods, etc. Put away newspapers, magazines, work from other classes, etc. You may use laptops to take lecture notes, but refrain from using your computer for other purposes (i.e., reading email, IM, surfing the internet, doing homework for other classes). 6. Due dates for homework exercises will be strictly adhered to. A deduction of 10% will be assessed for each week day that an assignment is handed in late. 7. No make-up exams will be given. Exceptions to this will only be made for prearranged absence for a university-sponsored event (see #2 above) or a documented illness or emergency (this must be documented through your Dean s office). 8. I encourage you to take advantage of office hours if you have questions or concerns about the lectures, readings, exercises or exams. You may drop-in during office hours or schedule an appointment. 5
Academic Integrity Statement by the University of Vermont The principal objective of The University of Vermont policy on academic honesty is to promote an intellectual climate in which the procedures and sanctions that follow will be superfluous. Academic dishonesty or an offense against academic honesty includes acts which may subvert or compromise the integrity of the educational process at The University of Vermont. Such acts are serious offenses, which insult the integrity of the entire academic community of the University. Offenses Against Academic Honesty 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 which includes, but is not limited to, the faculty and students of The University of Vermont. The following is a list of some, but not all, offenses of academic dishonesty: plagiarism (submitting someone else s work as your own), cheating, copying another s work, and fabricating information or citations (Adapted from the Academic Honesty Code of Ethics, UVM, 2006). Suspected dishonesty will be handled by the Center for Student Ethics and Standards. If you have any questions about what constitutes academic dishonesty, please ask. 6
Arctic Canada: Schedule of Topics and Dates Week Date Topic Important Dates 1 Jan 20 Jan 22 Course Introduction Where is the Arctic? 2 Jan 25 Jan 27 Jan 29 Arctic Weather and Climate Arctic Weather and Climate Arctic Weather and Climate 3 Feb1 Feb 3 Feb 5 4 Feb 8 Feb 10 Feb 12 5 Feb 15 Feb 17 Feb 19 6 Feb 22 Feb 24 Feb 26 7 Mar 1 Mar 3 Mar 5 8 Mar 8 Mar 10 Mar 12 9 Mar 15 Mar 17 Mar 19 10 Mar 22 Mar 24 Mar26 11 Mar 29 Mar 31 The Quaternary: Glaciation The Quaternary: Understanding the Holocene The Quaternary: Understanding the Holocene Permafrost The Arctic Ocean Climate Change in the Arctic No Class President s Day Boreal Forest Ecosystem Boreal Forest Ecosystem Tundra Ecosystem Tundra Ecosystem Tundra Ecosystem Marine Ecosystems Mid-term exam Introduction of Final Project No Class Spring Break No Class Spring Break No Class- Spring Break Nunavut Inuit Lives and Experiences Inuit Lives and Experiences Inuit Resettlement and Canadian Sovereignty Inuit Resettlement and Canadian Sovereignty Inuit Resettlement and Canadian Sovereignty Add/Drop Deadline CAE #1 Assigned CAE #2 Assigned Paper Topic Deadline, CAE #3 Assigned 7
Apr 2 Natural Resources in Arctic Canada 12 Apr 5 Apr 7 Apr 9 Last day to withdraw CAE #4 Assigned 13 Apr 12 Apr 14 Apr 16 In-class Group Work Session No Classes AAG Conference No Classes AAG Conference 14 Apr 19 Apr 21 Apr 23 21 st Century Challenges for Arctic Canada 21 st Century Challenges for Arctic Canada 21 st Century Challenges for Arctic Canada 15 Apr 26 Apr 28 Apr 30 Final Presentations (Groups 1-3) Final Presentations (Groups 4-6) Final Presentations (Groups 7-9) 16 May 3 Summary of Course/Course Evaluations Final Paper Due in-class 8