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ENS216: Introduction to Environmental Sociology
E-learning course
Mgr. Benjamin Vail, MSc.
Autumn 2007
Course description and requirements
This course introduces many of the major schools of thought and topics of research in the field of environmental
sociology, and presents a historical overview of the development of environmental sociological theory and praxis over
time. The course consists of weekly thematic modules which typically include textbook and other readings, multimedia
lectures, and graded activities. Students should read the assigned chapters in the course textbook and use the Moodle elearning
program to read the supplemental literature, which will be available electronically in PDF and/or Word format.
This is an e-learning course which will require as much time and effort from students as a traditional classroom lecture
course. Because this course will be taught via the Internet using e-learning methods, rather than as a lecture course in a
physical classroom, students are expected to be comfortable using computer hardware and software, and to be
comfortable doing reading, research, and writing independently. It is possible that you will not meet the instructor or
other students in person. The instructor will make every effort to provide information and support to make your
experience of the online learning environment educational.
Students must be proficient in English, and this course is an opportunity for you to practice English. Students are
encouraged to ask the instructor if they have any questions about the language or cultural references in the literature.
Students must also have regular access to a computer and high-speed Internet connection, and be proficient in the use of
various software applications, including word processing, e-mail, Internet searching, and use of multimedia programs
such as Real Player, Windows Media Player, Google Video, and Youtube. Students need an Internet browser, such as
Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape, Opera, or Firefox, to connect to the online course content. Lectures are provided
using Microsoft Office PowerPoint. Most course materials will be delivered to students using the Moodle e-learning
program. Reading materials posted on Moodle or sent to students are for class use only, not for distribution.
Using Moodle
Class resources are available to students through the Philosophy Faculty's Moodle e-learning system. This system is
used to post resources such as the syllabus, supplemental literature, and information about assignments and the seminar
schedule. Students can login to Moodle at http://www.phil.muni.cz/elf. Course materials are listed under the title,
"ENS216: Introduction to Environmental Sociology." It is possible you may need to make a POP3 password to access
the Moodle system. This can be done at this address: https://is.muni.cz/auth/system/heslo.pl#pop. Please contact the
instructor with any questions or concerns about using Moodle.
Assignments and grading policy
The course is based on the textbook An invitation to environmental sociology (2nd edition) by Michael Mayerfeld Bell
(ISBN 0761987754). At least one copy should be reserved for you to read in the university library.
Each week's study will typically involve required readings, viewing of lecture materials and required videos, taking the
weekly quiz, and completing a short writing assignment. It is advised that each week students fulfill the required
activities in the following order: 1) read the assigned literature and watch any required videos, 2) take the weekly quiz,
and 3) write the short essay. The weekly quiz, accessible via Moodle, may include questions about the lecture and any
required reading or videos for that week. Essays submitted late will receive reduced grades.
A 2000-2500 word research essay is due at the end of the semester. Students should use ISO 690 standards for
referencing written and electronic sources of information (see "Writing resources" on the Moodle page for more
information).
Students will receive a final letter grade (A-F) based on the following components:
Final grade components Final grade scale
30% ­ Weekly quizzes
30% ­ Short essay assignments
40% ­ Final essay
A = 90 ­ 100%
B = 80 ­ 90%
C = 70 ­ 80%
D = 60 ­ 70%
E = 50 ­ 60%
F = <50%
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E-mail policy
Communicating with the instructor by e-mail is an important part of this course, since there is no classroom contact. To
ask questions, make comments, and submit written assignments, you will need to send e-mail to the instructor. Students
may contact the instructor at any time by e-mail with questions about the course. I will reply to your questions within 48
hours of receipt of your e-mail. The file type to be used for sending essays as e-mail attachments is Microsoft Word. If
you need to send files in some other format, please contact me first to make sure it is acceptable.
Virtual office hours
I will be available for consultation via real-time chat every Wednesday afternoon from 14.00-16.00 to answer questions
about the course. During these "virtual office hours," you may chat with me by Skype, Windows messenger, or Yahoo
IM. Contact me in advance by e-mail to schedule a chat during my virtual office hours, and I will provide my contact
information.
Academic honesty
The Faculty of Social Studies at MU expects students to know the study rules and maintain academic honesty by
refraining from plagiarism and from cheating during exams. Plagiarism means that one presents other peoples' ideas as
one's own and does not credit the author. Plagiarism is one of the most serious breaches of ethical standards in the
academic environment, for it denies the mission of the university and the meaning of studying. From a legal perspective,
plagiarism is the stealing of intellectual property.
Academic dishonesty is not tolerated under any circumstances at FSS. Each case of such cheating will be punished by
the most serious sanction, unconditional expulsion from the university. We recommend that students become
thoroughly acquainted with the problem of plagiarism and how to avoid it. If you have questions about plagiarism,
please contact the instructor. When writing assignments, give a proper citation for an author when you quote or
paraphrase his/her writing and ideas.
Weekly schedule
September 17 ­
September 23
E-learning and course orientation
Lecture files:
* Welcome to the MU-HiL e-learning program
* Explanation of syllabus, grading policy, student expectations, etc.
Activities:
* Skills questionnaire & introductions
September 24 ­
September 30
Introduction to environmental sociology
Lecture files:
* Introduction to Environmental Sociology
Required reading:
* Bell Chapter 1: Environmental problems and society
* Giddens: Sociology and the environment
Activities:
* Week 2 quiz
* Week 2 short essay assignment
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October 1 ­
October 7
Consumption, materialism, and modern society
Lecture files:
* Consumption, materialism, and modern society
Required reading:
* Bell: Consumption and materialism (Chapter 2)
* Slater: Themes from the sociology of consumption
* Union of Concerned Scientists: The consumer's guide to effective environmental
choices (chapter 1)
Required video:
* Mathis Wackernagel: The ecological footprint
* Barry Schwartz: The paradox of choice
Activities:
* Week 3 quiz
* Week 3 short essay assignment
October 8 ­
October 14
The treadmill of production
Lecture files:
* ToP theory
Required reading:
* Bell: Money and machines (Chapter 3)
* Buttel: The treadmill of production
Activities:
* Week 4 quiz
* Week 4 short essay assignment
October 15 ­
October 21
Reading week: Marx and the environment
Required reading:
* Dickens: Marx and the environment
* Murphy: Environmental accountability under state socialism
* Burkett: On some common misconceptions about nature and Marx
Activities:
* Week 5 quiz
October 22 ­
October 28
Sustainability
Lecture files:
* Sustainability
Required reading:
* Bell: Population and development (Chapter 4)
* Prugh and Assadourian: What is sustainability, anyway?
* Interview with Julian Simon
Required video:
* Vandana Shiva: Defending biodiversity
* Patrick Holden: Sustainable agriculture
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* Monsanto Company: Global benefits of plant biotechnology (youtube)
* Bonnie Bucqueroux: Curing America's eating disorder (youtube)
Activities:
* Week 6 quiz
* Week 6 short essay assignment
October 29 ­
November 4
Health, environmental justice, and risk
Lecture files:
* Health, environmental justice, and risk
Required reading:
* Bell: Body and health (Chapter 5)
* Bell: Risk (Chapter 9)
Required video:
* Vyvyan Howard: The chemical industry and toxicology
* Vyvyan Howard: Rising cancer rates (parts 1 & 2)
Activities:
* Week 7 quiz
* Week 7 short essay assignment
November 5 ­
November 11
Films about environmental justice
Lecture file:
* Introduction to this week's films
Required reading:
* Selva: Toxic shock
* Bullard: Can Americans trust the government to protect them?
* Slade: Electronic waste a ticking time bomb
Required videos:
* The digital dump: Exporting high-tech re-use and abuse to Africa
* Exporting harm: The high-tech trashing of Asia
* "Mountaintop removal" coal mining in the US Appalachian Mountains (youtube)
* Greenpeace: The Mexican electronics industry
Activities:
* Week 8 quiz
* Week 8 short essay assignment
November 12 ­
November 18
Ideology of environmental domination
Lecture files:
* Ideology of environmental domination
Required reading:
* Bell: The ideology of environmental domination (Chapter 6)
Required video:
* A Rocha: Why should Christians care for creation?
Activities:
* Week 9 quiz
* Week 9 short essay assignment
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November 19 ­
November 25
Ideology of environmental concern
Lecture files:
* Ideology of environmental concern
Required reading:
* Bell: The ideology of environmental concern (Chapter 7)
* Buttel: Ecological modernization as social theory
Required video:
* Michael Braungart: "Cradle to cradle" design
* Remembering Rachel Carson
Activities:
* Week 10 quiz
* Week 10 short essay assignment
November 26 ­
December 2
The social construction of nature
Lecture file:
* The social construction of nature
Required reading:
* Bell: The human nature of nature (Chapter 8)
Activities:
* Week 11 quiz
* Week 11 short essay
December 3 ­
December 9
Sociological perspectives on global climate change
Lecture file:
* Introduction to An inconvenient truth
Required reading:
* Gore: Ten simple things you can do to help stop global warming
* Monbiot: Save the planet in 10 steps
* Cohen: Some inconvenient truths about the politics of environmental crisis
* Morris: What Al Gore hasn't told you about global warming
* Kelly: The hidden opportunity in global warming
* Šimůnek and Růžička: Vaclav Klaus on climate change
* Jackson: Insurance industry feels the heat of global warming
Required video:
* An inconvenient truth
* Interview with Bjorn Lomborg about climate change
Activities:
* Week 12 quiz
* Week 12 short essay
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December 10 ­
December 16
Peak oil and Western society
Lecture file:
* Introduction to The end of suburbia and peak oil theory
Required video:
* The end of suburbia: Oil depletion and the collapse of the American dream
* Colin Campbell: The future of oil
* Richard Heinberg: Peak oil (parts 1 & 2)
Required reading:
* ExxonMobil: Peak oil?
* Luttwak: The truth about global oil supply
* Worldwatch special section on peak oil
Activities:
* Week 13 quiz
* Week 13 short essay
December 17 ­
December 23
Environmental problems and solutions
Lecture file:
* Addressing environmental problems as social problems
Required reading:
* Bell: Organizing the ecological society (Chapter 10)
* Kunstler: The long emergency
* Kennedy: Crimes against nature
Required video:
* Bill McKibben: "Proactive localism"
* Lester Brown: Creating a sustainable economy (parts 1 & 2)
Activities:
* Week 14 quiz
* Week 14 short essay
January 27, 2008 * * * Final essay due 23.59 * * *