RYERSON UNIVERSITY

Chang School of Continuing Education and Department of Geography

CGEO 702
Technology and Contemporary Environments
Spring 2014

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Abednego Aryee

INSTRUCTOR PHONE: 416-979-5000
INSTRUCTOR E-MAIL: aaryee@ryerson.ca
OFFICE HOURS: By Appointment

This is an Upper Level Liberal Studies course

The Chang School Office Hours: Mon-Thurs 8:00am – 7:00pm

Phone: 416.979.5035 Friday 8:00am – 4:30pm

Every effort will be made to manage the course as stated. However, adjustments may be necessary at
the discretion of the instructor. If so, students will be advised and alterations discussed in the class prior
to implementation.

It is the responsibility of instructors and students to ensure that they understand the University’s policies
and procedures, in particular those relating to course management and academic integrity. A list of
relevant policies is included at the end of this outline.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Public concern for the environment continues to exert a major influence on how society functions. More than
ever, individuals, technologies and corporations are asserting their "Greenness". At the same time human activities
are increasingly being recognized as having far-reaching consequences, affecting politics, economics, and society
as well as individuals, for generations to come. That these consequences are now recognized to extend to a global
scale emphasizes that there is a significant geographic dimension to the issues we face. This geographic
perspective on the environment, which also encompasses consideration of the many interactions between
humanity and nature, is the focus of this course. Both recurring and new issues are examined in terms of
implications for North American Society.

REQUIRED TEXT:

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Withgott, J., Brennan S., Murck B. 2009 or 2013. Environment: the science behind the stories (Canadian
edition). Toronto: Pearson Canada. ISBN-978-0-321-31533-5. Specific Required Readings from the
text will be assigned in lectures.

METHOD OF INSTRUCTION: Lectures, videos, and discussions

METHOD AND SCHEDULE OF STUDENT EVALUATION

CRITERIA DATE VALUE
Term Test 1 May 13 (Afternoon) 30 %
Term Test 2 May 27 (Afternoon) 30 %
Participation 5 weeks 10%
Final exam June 17 30%

Missed Term Work or Examination

Students are expected to complete all assignments, tests, and exams within the time frames and by the
dates indicated in this outline. Exemption or deferral of an assignment, term test, or final examination is
only permitted for a medical or personal emergency or due to religious observance. The instructor must
be notified by e-mail prior to the due date or test/exam date, and the appropriate documentation must be
submitted. For absence on medical grounds, an official student medical certificate, downloaded from
the Ryerson website at http://www.ryerson.ca/senate/forms/medical.pdf or picked up from The Chang
School at Heaslip House, 297 Victoria St., Main Floor, must be provided. For absence due to religious
observance, visit http://www.ryerson.ca/senate/forms/relobservforminstr.pdf to obtain and submit the
required form.

Absence from mid-term examination or tests:

 Instructor must be notified by e-mail before the test.
 Documentation must be presented at the next class.
 Depending on course policy, the instructor may arrange a makeup exam or re-weigh the course
requirements.

Absence from final exam:

 Instructor must be notified by e-mail before the examination.
 Documentation must be presented at The Chang School at Heaslip House, Main Floor, within three
working days.
 Student must make arrangements with their instructor to write a makeup exam during one of the pre-
scheduled makeup exam dates as published by The Chang School.

Incomplete (INC) grade:

 On written petition by a student, an incomplete (INC) grade may be assigned for incomplete
coursework or a missed final examination due to documented medical or compassionate grounds.
 If the majority of the course work has been completed with a passing performance, and if the
documentation is acceptable, an INC grade will be entered by the instructor. An INC grade will not
be granted if term work was missed or failed.
 The outstanding work or final examination must be written within four months after the
submission of the incomplete grade. Failure to do this will result in an F grade.

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 It is the student’s responsibility to contact The Chang School office to arrange to write a makeup
final exam.

COURSE REPEAT
Senate GPA policy prevents students from taking a course more than three times. For complete GPA
policy see Policy No. 46 at http://www.ryerson.ca/senate/policies/pol46.pdf

ACADEMIC GRADING POLICY:

All of Ryerson’s academic policies can be found at the Senate website:
http://www.ryerson.ca/senate/policies/
Course Management Policy No. 145
Student Code of Academic Conduct No. 60
Examination Policy No. 135
Policy on Grading, Promotion, and Academic Standing Policy No. 46
Undergraduate Academic Consideration and Appeals Policy No. 134
Accommodation of Student Religious Observance Obligations Policy No. 150

CHANG SCHOOL GUIDELINES/PROCEDURES FOR MISSED TERM TEST or FINAL EXAM:

You must inform your instructor of any situation which arises during the semester which has an adverse effect on
your academic performance and you must request any necessary considerations or accommodations.
A doctor’s certificate is required to substantiate illness. See
http://www.ryerson.ca/senate/forms/medical.pdf for the required Ryerson medical form.
Religious Observance requests are to be made formally within the first two weeks of class. See to
http://www.ryerson.ca/senate/forms/relobservforminstr.pdf
If you miss a term test you must do the following:
Inform your instructor by e-mail prior to the test.
Present the completed official Ryerson medical certificate to your instructor within three working
days or no later than the next scheduled class.

If you miss the final exam you must do the following:

Inform your instructor by e-mail prior to the exam.
Within three business days of the final exam, please present the completed official Ryerson medical
certificate to your instructor or, if your instructor is unavailable, at the front desk of the Chang School,
Heaslip House, 297 Victoria Street.
If the medical documentation is approved and the instructor assigns an Incomplete (INC), it is the
student’s responsibility to arrange with the instructor to write a makeup exam at the first available
opportunity.
INC – Incomplete course work or a missed final examination due to documented medical or
compassionate grounds. An INC can be awarded only when the completion of the outstanding work or an
alternate final examination may result in a passing grade. The outstanding work or alternate examination
must be completed by a specified date within three months of the submission of the INC. The INC will
be replaced by an official course grade when the work is completed. If the work is not completed by the
deadline, the INC will become a grade of F. The designation INC is not included in calculating the GPA
nor is it counted as a course credit or failed course.

POLICIES AND COURSE PRACTICES

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Course Management:
Every effort will be made to manage the course as stated. However, adjustments may be necessary during the term
at the discretion of the instructor. If so, students will be advised and alterations will be discussed prior to
implementation. Students will be informed of any alterations by email and/or announcements on blackboard.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
1. Students are required to adhere to all relevant University policies, such as the Student Code of Academic
Conduct. University regulations concerning unacceptable academic conduct (cheating, plagiarism,
impersonation, etc.) will be followed. See the Ryerson University calendar or online versions at
http://www.ryerson.ca/senate/policies/pol60.pdf and http://www.ryerson.ca/senate/policies/pol61.pdf and
http://www.ryerson.ca/studentguide/Introduction9.html for more explanation.
2. Plagiarism is a serious academic offence and penalties range from zero in an assignment all the way to
expulsion from the university. In any academic exercise, plagiarism occurs when one offers as one’s own
work the words, data, ideas, arguments, calculations, designs or productions of another without appropriate
attribution or when one allows one’s work to be copied. (See the Ryerson Library for APA style guide
references: http://www.ryerson.ca/library/subjects/style/index.html).
3. It is assumed that all examinations and work submitted for evaluation and course credit will be the product of
individual effort, except in the case of team projects arranged for and approved by the course instructor.
Submitting the same work to more than one course, without instructors’ approval, is also considered
plagiarism.
4. Students who have committed academic misconduct for the first time will, at a minimum receive a “0” on the
work, and an instructor may assign an “F” in the course. The Academic Integrity Seminar will also be
assigned and students will have the notation Disciplinary Notice (DN) placed on their academic record and
official transcript. The notation shall remain until the students graduate, or for eight (8) years, whichever
comes first.
5. Students who commit academic misconduct a second time shall be placed on Disciplinary Suspension (DS)
for up to two years, at which time they may apply for reinstatement to a program. The designation DS shall
be placed on their permanent academic record and official transcript. The notation shall remain until students
graduate, or for eight (8) years, whichever comes first.
6. Disciplinary Withdrawn standing (DW) shall be permanently noted on students’ academic records and
official transcripts.
7. Expulsions shall be permanently noted on students’ academic records and official transcripts.
8. NOTE: Students may not drop a course when they have been notified of the suspicion of academic
misconduct. If a student attempts to drop the course, the Registrar’s office will re-register the student in that
course until a decision is reached.
9. When an instructor has reason to suspect that an individual piece of work has been plagiarized, the instructor
shall be permitted to submit that work to any plagiarism detection service.\]

Cheating on an Exam or Test:

Ryerson’s Examination Policy requires that all students have a valid student identification card or other photo
identification on their desk at all times when taking an examination. If it is suspected that someone is
impersonating a student, the photo identification of that person will be checked, and the person will be asked to
sign the exam paper for further verification. If it is suspected that the identification is not valid, students may be
asked to provide alternate photo identification. Security may be called, if circumstances warrant.

Accommodation for Religious Observance:

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Students must file the necessary forms for accommodation of religious observance at the beginning of the term, or
for final exams, as soon as the exam schedule is posted (see policy on Accommodation of Student Religious
Observance Obligations and related form). Please refer to
http://www.ryerson.ca/senate/forms/relobservforminstr.pdf.

Accommodation for Disability:

Students who wish to utilize the Access Centre must submit documentation to the instructor prior to a graded
assignment, test or exam, according to the Access Centre Policies and Procedures. For tests/midterms exams, it is
the student’s responsibility to book an upcoming test at least 7 days prior to the date of writing the test. For final
exams, it is the student’s responsibility to book an upcoming final exam time at least 2 weeks prior to the
beginning of the examination period. The student must confirm the date with the instructor. For complete details
please refer to: http://www.ryerson.ca/accesscentre.

Student Responsibilities in Academic Appeals

Students should read the Undergraduate Academic Consideration and Appeals policy at
(http://www.ryerson.ca/senate/policies/pol134.pdf).
It is the student’s responsibility to notify and consult with either the instructor, or the Chair/Director of the
teaching department/school, depending on the situation, as soon as circumstances arise that are likely to affect
academic performance. It is also the student’s responsibility to attempt to resolve all course related issues with
the instructor and then, if necessary, with the Chair/Director of the teaching department/school as soon as they
arise. An appeal may be filed only if the issue cannot be resolved appropriately.
Students who believe that an assignment, test, or exam has not been appropriately graded must review their
concerns with their instructor within 10 working days of the date when the graded work is returned to the class.

Standard for Written Work

Students are expected to use an acceptable standard of business communication for all assignments. You are
encouraged to obtain assistance from the Writing Centre (http://www.ryerson.ca/writingcentre/) for help with your
written communications as needed. (See the Ryerson Library for APA style guide references:
http://www.ryerson.ca/library/subjects/style/index.html).

Maintaining Professional Learning Environment

Laptop computers, cell phones, or other devices should not be used for non-classroom activities as they are
distracting to other students, speakers and your instructor. Students who do not comply will be asked to leave the
classroom.

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WEEKLY LECTURE SCHEDULES & TEXTBOOK READINGS
WEEKS TOPICS READINGS & RESOURCES
Week 1 May 6 Introduction: Technology Lecture notes
Morning Concepts: conflicts and 1st ed pages 8-9;
uncertainties, the tragedy of the 2nd ed, pages 4-26
commons and property regimes Video: “How the Earth changed history”
Our Common Future, Video:
Afternoon Sustainable development Video: ”Economic development: a
global challenge”
1st ed pages 20-27, 669-683;
2nd ed pages 19-28
Week 2 May 13 Agriculture and rural resources 1st ed pages 188-246;
Morning 2nd ed pages 211-244
Video: “Food Inc”
TERM TEST 1
Afternoon 1st ed pages 624-651;
Cities and urban environments 2nd ed pages 628- 652
Week 3 May 20 Environmental impact assessment 1st ed pages 690-717;
& agencies of change 2nd ed, pages 654-720
Morning “When is enough, enough?”
Fossil Fuels: energy & impacts, 1st ed pages 405-439; 461-494;
Afternoon atmosphere & global warming 2nd ed, pages 316-333; 486-518

“Tipping point: age of the oil sands”

Week 4 May 27 Renewable energy resources 1st ed pages 497-522;
Morning 2nd ed, pages 519-559

Video: “An inconvenient truth”

Afternoon Environmental pollution and 1st ed pages, 556-580;
waste management 2nd ed pages, 593-626; 561-591
TERM TEST 2
Week 5 June 3 Parks and protected areas 1st ed pages 307-315;
Morning 2nd ed, pages 246-284

Water resources 1st ed pages 316-346;

Afternoon 2nd ed, pages 339-371;
Video: “Flow for Love of Water”
Week 6 June 10 Fisheries & oceans 1st ed pages 351-378;
2nd ed, pages 373-400
Morning
Video: “Empty oceans, empty nets”

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 Afternoon Forestry 1st ed pages 287-310;
2nd ed, pages 286-314

Video: Forbidden forest

June 17 FINAL EXAM

Definition Letter Grade Grade Point Conversion Range

A+ 4.33 90-100

Excellent A 4.00 85-89

A- 3.67 80-84

B+ 3.33 77-79

Good B 3.00 73-76

B- 2.67 70-72

C+ 2.33 67-69

Satisfactory C 2.00 63-66

C- 1.67 60-62

D+ 1.33 57-59

Marginal D 1.00 53-56

D- 0.67 50-52

Unsatisfactory F 0.00 7 0-49