OverviewAs Juniors and Seniors you have completed much of your scientific journey. Though there is always more to learn it is good to pause and reflect on what you have already learned. Many of you have taken biology, earth science, maybe chemistry, which are very in depth classes of specific materials. This class is different for several reasons but first and foremost it is a comprehensive class that spans all that you have learned up to this point. It is a class that combines science with the greater society around you.
Course work and Grading:
As you can see above your grade will be comprised of multiple grade categories. I don’t’ normally do this so this year is new for your in my classes. Keep in mind that some of these may have limited numbers of assignments in each category. I expect your work to be turned in on time. Late work will be subject to the following penalties: 1 day late 10% off, 2 days late 50% off, Past 2 days late will be an automatic 0 on that assignment. The only exceptions to this are extended absences due to illness or travel or if you make a prearranged deal with me. |
This course isn’t just a course about learning science skills. It goes deeper into the knowledge and understanding of who God is as Creator of this world. Through this course you will see the world through the wisdom of the Creator and how perfectly He organized the world to be learned by us. Genesis 2:15 is given to us as an example as to why we take this class. God made the world and then put us in charge of it.
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Academic SkillsAcademic skills that you have honed over your tenure in school will help you to keep up with this class. You will be asked to do various assignments, activities, labs, tests and quizzes throughout the year that will help you integrate the information that you are learning. Furthermore, you will be expected to analyze, critique, demonstrate, outline, and evaluate answers to the big questions that the textbook brings out as well as your own questions to ask.
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Communication SkillsThis class will have a major emphasis on writing. You will have opportunity over the course of the year to write arguments, informative, and explanatory texts dealing with current discipline specific issues wither in paper form or in digital form. You will also be asked from time to time to prepare oral speeches to convey important information to audiences or publish editorials in the local newspaper. This part requires you to integrate information and draw conclusions from the information that you have obtained through research and form a formal evaluation of specific issue.
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Investigative SkillsAs you have worked in the past on integration of information through investigations this year will be different in that you will work on real world skills through field research. It is my endeavor to connect you with professionals that work in environmental studies. You already know quite a bit about the limits of scientific study and you will continue to enhance your understanding though investigation by:
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Self-Management SkillsYou will be expected, as Juniors and Seniors, to be able to keep up with the pace of this class as well as all your other classes. This takes some skill in self-management. Take time at the beginning to set up good practices and behaviors so as to not get into that snowball effect through the year.
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