Spring 2025  |  ENGL 3501 Section 001: Public Discourse: Coming to Terms with the Environment (54748)

Instructor(s)
Class Component:
Lecture
Credits:
3 Credits
Grading Basis:
Student Option
Instructor Consent:
No Special Consent Required
Instruction Mode:
In Person
Class Attributes:
UMNTC Liberal Education Requirement
Times and Locations:
Regular Academic Session
 
01/21/2025 - 05/05/2025
Tue, Thu 02:30PM - 03:45PM
UMTC, East Bank
Enrollment Status:
Open (0 of 30 seats filled)
Also Offered:
Course Catalog Description:
This course explores significant environmental issues (such as environmental justice, toxic chemicals, climate change) through the analysis of texts from diverse literary genres. It focuses as much on issues of language and meaning as it does on the subjects these texts concern. Students examine the formal dimensions of these texts, as well as their social and historical contexts. In addition, students are introduced to the underlying scientific principles, the limitations of technologies, and the public policy aspects of each of these issues, in order to judge what constitutes an appropriate response to them. Students also learn how to identify and evaluate credible information concerning the environment.
Class Description:
This course explores three significant environmental issues (biodiversity loss, toxic chemicals, and climate change) through the analysis of texts from three different literary genres (fiction, memoir, and nonfiction journalism). It focuses as much on issues of language and meaning as it does on the subjects these texts concern. Students examine the formal dimensions of these texts, as well as their social and historical contexts. In addition, students are introduced to the underlying scientific principles, the limitations of technologies, and the public policy aspects of each of these issues, in order to judge what constitutes an appropriate response to them. Students also learn how to identify and evaluate credible information concerning the environment. The course features many active learning components (small group discussions, work in pairs, and debates), as well as formal and informal writing assignments (4-5 page papers, short reading responses, and online discussion forums).
Grading:
75% Reports/Papers
15% Quizzes
10% Class Participation
Exam Format:
short-answer quizzes
Class Format:
40% Lecture
60% Discussion
Workload:
75 Pages Reading Per Week
20 Pages Writing Per Term
4 Paper(s)
3 Quiz(zes)
Other Workload: 3 reading responses
Textbooks:
https://bookstores.umn.edu/course-lookup/54748/1253
Instructor Supplied Information Last Updated:
27 October 2016

ClassInfo Links - Spring 2025 English Classes

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