4_ES_CaseStudAssign

Chapter Case Studies

This is not a "hub page". There are no links to the Case Studies Assignment. All Case Studies are in the textbook, and the assignment is a discussion/reflection on Blackboard.

It is the students' responsibility to read these instructions -- CAREFULLY.

Create and submit two (2) Case Studies postings one in each of two bulletin boards. The Case Studies are located at the beginning of each chapter in the Environmental Biology textbook, and at the beginning of the book is an index of all Case Studies. Most semesters Case Study 1 is due a few weeks before Case Study 2. Case Study 1, is one of a few assignments that are due BEFORE the last few weeks of the semester...

The points are EARNED as "all or nothing" (no partial points -- you either do it correctly following the instructions on this page, or don't do it at all).

This assignment is more of a "reflection" by each student, rather than a "discussion". However, you must still "discuss", and for each bulletin board you must post a minimum of 2 postings -- one (1) posting must be your ORIGINAL (created) selection posting (NOT A REPLY), and at least one posting must be a REPLY to another students posting (it can be a reply to another students posting about a different case study or the same case study as you selected). You can make as many replies as you wish, but ONLY ONE ORIGINAL MESSAGE.

The ORIGINAL posting is the most important one, and must --

----- be minimum 150 words (about the case study -- not counting quoted text).
----- be spell-checked with a computer spell checker.
----- include BOTH a (1) short summary (paraphrased text from the textbook case study) AND (2) your reaction (your own worded opinion) to the case study.
----- include also the title, chapter number and textbook edition. Include this BOTH in your posting SUBJECT and as the TITLE on top of your posting. The subject and the title must be the same as the title in your textbook. You MUST include the textbook chapter number and the textbook edition -- since students are allowed to use different editions of the textbook for the class. Here is an example of a good Subject/Title: Case Study: Stabilizing Our Climate. Chapter 9. Ed. 5.

The REPLY posting must --

-- be minimum 50 words (about the case study -- not counting quoted text).
-- be spell-checked with a computer spell checker.
-- have the same subject as the message you reply to

Grading Note 1 -- Misspelled and too short messages: Misspelled messages, and original messages shorter than 150 words (149 words or less), or replies shorter than 50 words (49 words or less) may earn the student an F (grade given will be 40 -- to separate from students who did not submit anything). Also, remember quotes do NOT count towards the 150 or 50 words!

The instructor will not have time to scrutinize all messages, but if I notice a message and suspect it is too short, I will use the computer word counter. Also if you write like a 3rd grader your message will stand out and cannot be missed. Many of you are going to become teacher -- start now being a "teacher" by ignoring and not post replies to "sloppy contributions". This is all about academic/educational quality, but if you need clarification about this grading note -- let's discuss it in the HELP DESK. (The instructor will not reply to e-mail about this.)

Grading Note 2 -- number of original postings and correction of mistakes: You should ONLY POST ONE ORIGINAL MESSAGE for each of the two case studies you select. In all "discussions" we have in this class, this is the only assignment where you can EDIT a message you have posted and you discover a mistake after the posting (misspelled word or made the message too short). You can make corrections up to the deadline.

Grading Note 3 -- Summary and Reaction : Your posting MUST include BOTH a short SUMMARY and YOUR REACTION to the topic. A summary is NOT a quote... In your reaction you may include a SHORT quote to show what you are commenting about, but this quote WILL NOT COUNT TOWARDS THE 150 WORDS. If you quote, make sure that you mark the quote clearly...

PLAGIARISM WARNING:

1. Copying other students' work in any bulletin board and presenting it as if the students own work is plagiarism (CHEATING). Plagiarism will result in a zero on this assignment, but ALSO in the General Class Discussion assignment and the Town Hall Meeting, and depending on severity may result in an F as the course grade.

2. Copying text from the textbook and from the Internet, and presenting it as if the students own work (short quotes are allowed, if marked as quotes, and the source is given), will also result in a zero on this assignment, but will be treated milder as far as the course grade, because some students don't -- unfortunately, from previous lack of education about how to present material published by other people -- understand what plagiarism is.

It should, however, be very clear, to anyone, that copying other student's work and presenting it as your work (number 1 above) is CHEATING.

Perhaps you should look at this assignment as a small group project -- you all will help each other out and make sure all students spell check their messages and post according to instructions! In other words, don't get upset if someone informs you about your misspelled or too short message. Thank them instead!

For the same reason -- we all do spelling mistakes -- please let me know if you find spelling mistakes / typos on the class pages. I am not writing my "stuff" for a grade -- like you guys -- but I will make corrections when I update pages...

Dr. Nilsson

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Copyright 2007, 2008, 2009 Jan A. Nilsson. Web page layout and design © and intellectual property Jan A. Nilsson. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited. Page created 28.VIII.2007, last updated 29.V.2009, most likely during the wee hours of the morning on a G3 PowerBook owned by Jan A. Nilsson.