COURSE INFORMATION/POLICY EVR-3013/EVR-5061

Texts: 1. Bush, M. 2000. Ecology for a Changing Planet. 2/e

2. Lodge, T. 1994. The Everglades Handbook.

3. Handouts (HO) provided in class

Evaluation: Three lecture exams @ 100 points + Term Project (The Wildlife Audit) @ 100 points. Total = 400 points.

Exams: Multiple-choice or multiple-choice plus short-answer format depending upon class size. Exams are graded by human being, so pens or pencils are OK. Exams will be returned no later than one week after the exam date.

Out of our compassion and sympathy for the non-science major, we beneficently allow you to bring with you to each exam ONE 3 x 5 CARD with anything you want written on it, both sides. However, you many not use any other type of paper. You may not make your own card! It must be a jen-yoo-ine store-bought 3 x 5 card, certified and attested with no paste-ons, extensions or shennanigans not in the spirit of academic honesty.

In summer sessions there is no final exam period, and the last exam will be given during the final hour of the regularly scheduled class period. Anyone missing that exam (#3) will be given a zero regardless of circumstances. Makeup exams are granted only in genuine emergencies (not family functions or vacations) and are always essays. Nearly all students find makeup exams much more difficult that the regularly scheduled exams.

Attendance: I expect students to attend class regularly and punctually. There is a high correlation between D and F grades and chronic absenteeism. To encourage your honorable intentions, I will make six random attendance checks during the term, and the results will affect your point total for the course as follows:

+6/+10 pts. +5/+5 pts. +4/0 pts. +3/-10 pts. +2/-20 pts. +1/-30 pts. 0/-40 pts.

There will be no excuses for missed checks, since penalties don't kick in until the third missed check. Signing in another student is a violation of the academic honesty policy of the university

and will result in the maximum penalty (-40) for anyone involved.

IN (incomplete) grades and drops: IN grades are only for students in good standing who cannot complete the course for extenuating circumstances. IN grades have to be cleared with me personally at least two weeks before the end of the term. If you are doing poorly and want out, drop the course. Don't ask for an IN. By the way, if you decide you want out and stop attending, you must do the paperwork and formally drop the course. If you just stop coming and don't drop, you'll receive an F at the end of the term.

Tips for doing well in the course: 1. Come to class! 2. Take good notes that you can understand when you read them several weeks later. 3. See the "big picture" and conceptual framework of the course as well as the details. In science courses you have to see broad patterns as well as know the details. 4. Ask questions. There is some time for this during class, but both I and your lab TA's have office hours. Prepare your questions and some in and yak for a while with us. We are your friends and want you to do well, but if you suffer in silence, what can we do? 5. Sit where you can see and hear clearly and stay away from students who talk and show off during class. 6. Learn the specialized vocabulary of ecology. One of the best ways to do this is to use them in your conversations with one another. Also, review in groups and practice explaining the class material to one another. What you can talk about you can answer questions about on exams. 7. Really important: cultivate a good attitude. Good attitudes lead to good grades. If you catch yourself saying, "I don't like science!" " I can't do science!!" "This class is borrrrring!" "The teacher is borrring!" , you're already half dead, because you're unhappy. Find something to be happy about, even if it is the survival tactic of "I have to pass this course!!!!" 8. Finally, do the reading assignment before coming to class.

Wildlife Audit: The details of this project are in a separate handout.

Grades: Grades will be assigned according to the following scale:

A's: 85-100% B's: 73-84% C's: 60-72% D's: 50-59% F: < 50%

Cheating: Academic honesty is strictly enforced in EVR-3013 and EVR-3013L. Anyone caught cheating on exams or plagiarizing written reports or collaborating with these activities may be expelled from the course with a failing grade, have a very unsavory letter in their university file and risk expulsion from the University.

Respect for Others in Lecture Rooms: We expect all students to abide be the University's Code of Student Conduct, which includes among other things, "I shall practice civility and avoid behavior that undermines the normal functioning of the University." Disruptive behavior of any sort is not acceptable at FIU will be given a single and final warning, followed by expulsion from the course and filing a report with the A/S Dean's office and Judiciary Affairs.

EVR-5061: The only people who should be enrolled in EVR-5061 are graduate students. This course is designed primarily for in-service teachers or students in the MAT program of the School of Education. In addition to the coursework assigned in EVR-3013, students in EVR-5061 will be required to complete an additional term project for graduate credit. If you are taking this course, please check in with me during the first week of class so we can get to know one another and discuss your term project.

Lab: Environmental Studies majors and Environmental Certificate students are also required to

take the laboratory, EVR-3013L. Neither EVR-3013 nor EVR-3013L is acceptable for elective credit for Biology majors or minors.