Brown, Barry Neil

Withnall, Emily R.

English

University of Montana

University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana University of Montana Course Syllabi, 2016-2020 Fall 9-1-2016 ENST 201.01: Envronmental Information Resources Emily R. Withnall University of Montana, Missoula, emily.withnall@umontana.edu Barry Neil Brown University of Montana, Missoula, Barry.Brown@umontana.edu Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/syllabi2016-2020 Let us know how access to this document benefits you. Recommended Citation Withnall, Emily R. and Brown, Barry Neil, "ENST 201.01: Envronmental Information Resources" (2016). University of Montana Course Syllabi, 2016-2020. 30. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/syllabi2016-2020/30 This Syllabus is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in University of Montana Course Syllabi, 2016-2020 by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact scholarworks@mso.umt.edu. 1 Environmental Information Resources: ENST 201 Fall 2016  Room: NAC 014 and Library 283        T/TH 9:30-10:50 AM  Emily Withnall                      emily.withnall@umontana.edu Office Hours: T/TH 11:00 am – 12:30 pm, and by appointment                               Jeannette Rankin Hall, Room 104  Barry Brown              barry.brown@umontana.edu Office Hours: Fri 3:10-4pm, and by appointment            Mansfield Library 327, x6811    Course Description and Purpose The primary purpose of ENST 201 is to give students skills for finding, evaluating, and using existing information to increase understanding of a particular environmental issue and to gain depth of insight into related controversies. During the semester, each student will research a topic using a variety of sources (including, but not limited to academic journals, government documents, national magazines, newspapers, and internet sources), evaluate sources critically, synthesize information, write a literature review on the topic, and give a formal presentation. The course will focus on critical thinking in topic analysis and in effectively dealing with information overload.   Learning Outcomes This semester in Environmental Information Resources, we will: ● Recognize the need for information; ● Formulate a research topic and translate it into a research question; ● Recognize accurate and authoritative information; ● Recognize the differing roles of books, periodicals, electronic sources, etc., in the information-seeking process; ● Identify information on a given topic, using a variety of resources, both internal and external; ● Evaluate whether research meets requirements of a classroom assignment; ● Physically locate resources in a library; ● Arrange and document research appropriately; ● Learn to write a literature review; ● Develop summary and synthesis skills;  ● Learn how to identify and write for a specific audience; ● Develop critical thinking skills; and ● Develop and hone written and oral communication skills.   Required Texts Booth, WC, GG Colomb, and JM Williams. The Craft of Research, 2nd Ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2003.  Additional readings, film, and audio will be selected by instructors.   Moodle Weekly readings, assignments, and handouts will be posted on a regular basis. Always check for updates.   Technical Support: Having trouble with Moodle? Unable to post or log in? Can’t submit assignments?   Avoid waiting until the last minute to contact UM Online Tech support or me. If you are experiencing technical difficulties and need immediate assistance, here are important resources:   2 Email:           umonline-help@umontana.edu Phone:          406.243.4999 or 866.225.1641 (toll-free) Web:             UM Online Technical Support  Note: Firefox is the preferred internet browser for Moodle. For more information go to UMOnline.  Attendance Regular attendance and participation in the class is expected.  Combined, attendance and participation make up 20% of the grade in this course. Three absences will result in a loss of points in your final grade.  Four absences will result in one grade reduction.  Five absences will result in a failing course grade. Note:  If you have a valid reason for missing several classes, such as illness or other conflicting commitments, you still must speak with the instructor).  Disability Student Services The University of Montana assures equal access to instruction through collaboration between students with disabilities, instructors, and Disability Services for Students. If you think you may have a disability adversely affecting your academic performance, and you have not already registered with Disability Services, please contact Disability Services in Lommasson Center 154 or 406.243.2243. I will work with you and Disability Services to provide an appropriate modification. http://life.umt.edu/dss.   Expectations for student conduct In a seminar-style class such as this one, please maintain a friendly, open, and professional demeanor while in class. To nurture your rapport with others in the class, remember to: • maintain a collegial and a professional demeanor throughout the semester (please do not serve as a distraction to others and their learning) • come to class on time, participate actively, and pay attention • refrain from using laptops and tablets for anything other than note-taking and class-related activities (when using laptops & other electronic devices for academic purposes, you must follow all UM policies governing the use of electronic devices) • refrain from eating in class (non-alcoholic drinks in closed containers are okay – if you spill them, though, please clean them up) • avoid side conversations during class • avoid texting or using cell phones or other devices in class (I will mark you absent for doing so) • avoid sleeping in class (I will mark you absent for doing so) • treat your fellow students and the instructor with respect.  UM’s Student Code of Conduct governs student behavior on and beyond campus. Please see especially the section VI on General Conduct.   Plagiarism Warning: Plagiarism is the representing of another's work as one's own. It is a particularly intolerable offense in the academic community and is strictly forbidden. Students who plagiarize may fail the course and may be remanded to Academic Court for possible suspension or expulsion. (See Student Conduct Code section of the catalog.)  Students must always be very careful to acknowledge any kind of borrowing that is included in their work. This means not only borrowed wording but also ideas. Acknowledgment of whatever is not one's own original work is the proper and honest use of sources.  Assignments Brown’s assignments (LSA) are to be emailed to him by 9:00 am on the due date (Tuesdays). Withnall’s assignments are due in hard copy at the beginning of class on the due date (Tuesdays). Assignments are due in class on or before the date listed in the syllabus.  Unless you have made a prior agreement with one of the instructors, we will take off one grade level (A becomes A-) for each class day an assignment is late.  Readings All readings should be completed before class.  3  The UM Writing Center Located in Lommasson 271, the Writing Center is a great resource for all writers. Visit their website for helpful hand-outs on writing effective thesis statements or introductions, and to schedule one-on-one appointments with writing tutors throughout the semester: www.umt.edu/writingcenter.  Grading Grades will be assigned on a standard grading scale, 100 points total. The weight of each assignment is reflected in the amount of points assigned to each.  Attendance (10 points)               10 Participation (10 points)             10 Research proposal (6 points)               6 Literature Review Matrix (10 points)            10 Brown: LSA #1-4 (6 points each)             24 First Draft of Paper (15 points)             15 Presentation (10 points)              10 Final Draft of Paper (15 points)              10                   Total Points: 100   *Note: All of Brown’s classes will be held in Mansfield Library Room 283   Assignments and Class Schedule Class Day/Session          Readings/Assignments  8/30 Withnall: Course overview, student expectations and questions, introductions, defining topic and question 9/1 Withnall: Planning literature research: audience, scope, evaluating sources  Booth, Chapters 1-3  9/6 Withnall: Critical thinking, research, and synthesis     Booth, Chapters 4,5 9/8 Withnall: literature review examples and library tour     Booth, Chapter 6  9/13 Brown: Search Statements and Electronic Indexes      9/15 Brown: Search Statements and Electronic Indexes  9/20 Withnall: questions and claims (LSA I due)      Booth Chapters 7,8  9/22 Withnall: reason, evidence, and  examining objections     Booth Chapters 9,10  9/27 Withnall: Literature reviews and matrixes (Research Proposal due)   Reading TBA 9/29 Withnall: Literature reviews and matrixes      Reading TBA  10/4 Brown: Reference Management, Newspapers, and Library Catalogs 10/6 Brown: Reference Management, Newspapers, and Library Catalogs  10/11 Withnall: Planning first draft, outlining (LSA II due)     Booth Chapters 12,13 10/13 Withnall: Introduction writing workshop      Booth Chapter 14  10/18 Brown: Citation Indexes and Ejournal Packages  10/20 Brown: Citation Indexes and Ejournal Packages  10/25 Brown: Web Information and Search Engines (LSA III due) 10/27 Brown: Web Information and Search Engines  4 11/1 Withnall: attributing sources (Literature Review Matrix due)        Turabian handout 11/3 Withnall: writing—organization and structure       Reading TBA   11/8 Withnall: writing—re-visiting synthesis and counterclaims (LSA IV due)    Reading TBA 11/10 Withnall: writing the conclusion         Reading TBA   11/15 Withnall: Writing Center workshop on peer review 11/17 Withnall: writing workshop (first rough draft due in class but not to instructor)  11/22 Withnall: Presenting research, and rewriting (first draft of paper due) 11/24 No Class. Thanksgiving Holiday.   11/29 Withnall: Incorporating feedback and learning from other approaches 12/1 Presentations (with peer review)  12/6 Presentations (with peer review) 12/8 Presentations (with peer review)  12/13 Finals week: Final paper due by 5 pm     

ENST 201.01: Envronmental Information Resources

https://scholarworks.umt.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1029&context=syllabi2016-2020

ENST 201.01: Envronmental Information Resources

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