The class will meet on Thursdays from 3:00 to 4:15 and carry one hour of credit.

This semester, the class will read and discuss Clive Ponting’s book, A Green History of the World; The Environment and the Collapse of Great Civilizations. The author says in his preface, "I am convinced, after nearly twenty years of supporting ‘environmental’ causes, that ‘green’ issues are not simply about the state of the natural world but have to include central problems such as the use of resources and energy, the distribution of poverty and wealth, how people treat other people, and the way people think about the world they inhabit."

Each session will be a discussion of the assigned chapters. Students are asked to bring a note card containing at least one question generated by the reading assigned for that day. These are to be turned in at the beginning of the period.

SCHEDULE:

1. Jan. 17: Introduction
2. Jan. 24: Chs. 1-3
3. Jan. 31: Chs. 4-5
4. Feb. 7: Chs. 6-7
5. Feb. 14: Chs. 8-9
6. Feb. 21: Chs. 10-11
7. Feb. 28: Chs. 12-13
8. March 7: Chs. 14-15
9. March 14: Chs. 16-17

STUDENT RESPONSBILITIES:

1. Attendance: Students are expected to attend all sessions.
2. Participation: Contributions to class discussion are expected.

3. Readings: Students are expected to read the chapters assigned for each

session.

3. Written work: Students are expected to prepare answers to a take-home

essay test. These will be due by March 29.

4. Grades: There are a possible 100 points to be earned.

1. Class attendance/participation: 30 points
2. Take-home essay test: 70 points

A semester grade will be assigned on a 10% basis for each grade.