COM310 (Section 6)—The Century of Limits, Fall 2006
Section 6
Dr. Patrick Logan
Department of Communications Studies, URI, Kingston RI 02881
Phone: 401-874-2970; Fax: 401-874-4722
Email: mayfly@uri.edu
http://www.uri.edu/artsci/com/Logan/teaching/html/com310_Fall_2006/syllabus.htm

COURSE GOALS

Through a review of contemporary books, magazines, and newspapers, we will study the biological and physical science behind global warming, peak oil, and the limits of planetary resources which will impede human populations this century. Focus will be on how these concerns are being portrayed, and to the varying messages coming from government versus the private sector. We will take a particularly close look at how government and higher education are addressing major challenges posed by planetary resource limits that will affect human ecology and economy this century. We will examine how perspectives are communicated as concerns that are personal versus public and local versus regional, national, or international. We will look for messages that focus on the present versus those that give significant weight to the concerns of future generations. Students will be encouraged to reevaluate how current assumptions about future life styles will have to be altered to cope with global limits.

PREREQUISITES

A passion for reading, a quest for knowledge of where the world is heading today, and a faith that individuals can make critical differences of a planetary scope for a better tomorrow.

TEXTS

(available at RI Book Company and URI Book Store)

(Others as handouts from the instructor)

FORMAT

We will have three weekly classes, lecture and discussion on Mondays and Wednesdays, workshops and extended discussions on Friday. The last 4 weeks of class will consist of in class workshops and collaborations on two major group projects. The course will focus on analysis of books and assigned reading materials. Students will write several brief thought pieces in preparation for class discussions, and a major paper due the 10th week of class. The class will collaborate on a single multi-authored position paper and a database on curricular development at research universities, to be completed by the last day of class.

ATTENDANCE

This course demands full attendance, preparation, and participation in every meeting. Students should be prepared to think long, hard, and deeply in this course, and to reflect the seriousness of the subject matter with their attendance and diligence.

GRADES

Grades are based on writing assignments, degree and quality of participation, and attendance. If you do not contribute to class discussions in a meaningful way, your grade will be severely compromised. There will be a variety of in-class and out-of-class writing assignments, both formal and informal. (details).

SCHEDULE (Fall, 2006)

Class: MWF 1:00—1:50, 314 Davis
Office hours: MWF, 10-12

COURSE OUTLINE

(Note: Additional readings, added during the semester, will be distributed as handouts.)

Week 1 (September 6—8)

Introduction: Course goals, requirements, procedures. What is "the century of limits"?

What do I want? Contemplating your personal visions and material desires for the rest of your life.

What do I know (or think I know)? Setting out your biases about the world's resources and human potentials—what potholes lie on the highway to your dream?

Reading:

Week 2 (September 11—15)

Gorilla Philosophy: Developing a Personal Ethic in a Resource Limited World.

Flatism: When it Comes to Eating Your Lunch, is it a Dog Eat Dog World Out There?

Reading:

Week 3 (September 18—22)

Is it Getting Warm in Here? What is Inconvenient About Truth?

Kyoto. Why Won't the US Sign?

Reading:

Week 4 (September 25—29)

Gore's Solutions: Yuppie environmentalism, or is this the best we can do?

Reading:

Week 5 (October 2—6)

Fossil Fuels: Estimating Reserves and Depletion Rates.

Peak Oil: Is the Party Really Over?

Reading:

Week 6 (October 9—13)

Post-Peak Oil: Energy Scenarios for the 21st Century.

Reading:

Week 7 (October 16—20)

The Century of Limits: When Exponential Growth Crosses Planetary Limits; Soil, Water, Renewable and Nonrenewable Resource Futures.

Reading:

Week 8 (October 23—27)

(October 23 is mid-semester.)

Transitions: Bending Exponential Curves Into Asymptotes—OR—Bouncing Off the Carrying Capacity.

Reading:

Week 9 (October 30—November 3)

The Federal Response: See no Evil?

The Choice: Global Domination or Global Leadership?

Readings:

Week 10 (November 6—10)

(November 7 is Election Day. Classes do not meet.)

In-class Presentations: Presentations of personal perspectives papers (assignment 1).

Week 11 (November 13—17)

The Higher Education Response: Class project to create a database of higher education curricular initiatives for the century of limits (more)

Toward Our Consensus: Class workshop to develop a consensus perspective paper.

Week 12 (November 20—22 )

(Thanksgiving recess begins November 23)

Higher Ed Project (continued): Data coordination for higher education response project.

Week 13 (November 27—December 1)

Group Meetings: Group meetings as needed to create higher ed database and consensus paper. First draft of consensus reported out. Inputting of database underway and nearly complete.

Week 14 (December 4—8)

Wrapping and Reporting: Final draft of consensus paper reported out and posted to web (by Dr. Logan). Database summary outlined and drafted (completed during finals and posted to web). SET's, please.