233045 SE Nature and culture in the Anthropocene (2021S)
Continuous assessment of course work
Labels
Registration/Deregistration
Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).
- Registration is open from Mo 01.02.2021 09:00 to Su 21.02.2021 23:59
- Deregistration possible until Su 21.03.2021 23:59
Details
max. 25 participants
Language: English
Lecturers
Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N
- Wednesday 03.03. 17:00 - 20:00 Digital (Kickoff Class)
- Wednesday 10.03. 17:00 - 20:00 Digital
- Wednesday 17.03. 17:00 - 20:00 Digital
- Wednesday 24.03. 17:00 - 20:00 Digital
- Wednesday 28.04. 17:00 - 20:00 Digital
- Wednesday 26.05. 17:00 - 20:00 Digital
- Wednesday 30.06. 17:00 - 20:00 Digital
Information
Aims, contents and method of the course
Humans and their environments are in a complex and co-dependent relationship. Although humans are part of what we call “nature”, they have always also influenced, shaped and changed their surroundings. However, at least since the industrial revolution these relations have gained a new quality. Humanity’s impacts on the so-called “natural world” have become so profound that they will still be traceable in millennia to come. Therefore, some experts have started talking about a new geological epoch: the Anthropocene.This seminar aims at studying the changing and complex (inter)relation of humans and nature from the disciplinary perspectives of Science and Technology Studies as well as Environmental Humanities. We will raise questions like: How can we best theorize the changing relation of humans and their environment? How can we think of the phenomenon of climate change in the context of risk society and the Anthropocene? What are the social, political and environmental consequences of global hazardous waste? And how do we visualize nature and what consequences do these imaginations have for our conceptions of and relations to nature?In a first part, we will explore these topics and questions through close readings of texts and in-class discussions. In a second part, students will engage in self-designed small-scale research projects related to the thematic focus of the seminar. The conception and conduction of the projects will be closely supported by the lecturer. In a final unit, students will present and discuss the findings of their research projects.
Assessment and permitted materials
To pass the seminar, students need to complete the following tasks:
- Participate in discussions and exercises in class
- Read the mandatory literature and hand in discussion questions
- Hand in research plan in connection to the research project
- Work on a research project (incl. research report and presentation of results)
- Write a final reflection
This course uses the plagiarism-detection service Turnitin for larger assignments.
- Participate in discussions and exercises in class
- Read the mandatory literature and hand in discussion questions
- Hand in research plan in connection to the research project
- Work on a research project (incl. research report and presentation of results)
- Write a final reflection
This course uses the plagiarism-detection service Turnitin for larger assignments.
Minimum requirements and assessment criteria
The grading scheme is based on a total of 100 points. These points will be awarded in relation to students’ performance in meeting the course learning aims in the different obligatory tasks.
The maximum number of points to be acquired for each task is:Participation in class, including written questions on mandatory reading: 25 points
Research plan: 15 points
Research report & presentation of results: 35 points
Final reflection: 25 pointsMinimum requirements
A minimum of 50 points is necessary to successfully complete the course. Failure to meet the attendance regulations, to deliver course assignments on time or to adhere to standards of academic work may result in a deduction of points.Grades
100-87 points Excellent (1)
86-75 points Good (2)
74-63 points Satisfactory (3)
62-50 points Sufficient (4)
49-0 points Unsatisfactory (5) (fail)Attendance
Presence and participation is compulsory. Absences of four hours at maximum are tolerated, provided that the lecturer is informed about the absence. Absences of up to eight hours in total may be compensated by either a deduction of grading points or/and extra work agreed with the lecturer. Whether compensation is possible is decided by the lecturer. Absences of more than eight hours in total cannot be compensated. In this case, or if the lecturer does not allow a student to compensate absences of more than four hours, the course cannot be completed and is graded as a ‘fail’ (5), unless there is a major and unpredictable reason for not being able to fulfill the attendance requirements on the student’s side (e.g. a longer illness). In such a case, the student may be de-registered from the course without grading. It is the student’s responsibility to communicate this in a timely manner, and to provide relevant evidence to their claims if necessary. Whether this exception applies is decided by the lecturer.Important Grading Information
If not explicitly noted otherwise, all requirements mentioned in the grading scheme and the attendance regulations must be met. If a required task is not fulfilled, e.g. a required assignment is not handed in or if the student does not meet the attendance requirements, this will be considered as a discontinuation of the course. In that case, the course will be graded as ‘fail’ (5), unless there is a major and unpredictable reason for not being able to fulfill the task on the student's side (e.g. a longer illness). In such a case, the student may be de-registered from the course without grading. It is the student’s responsibility to communicate this in a timely manner, and to provide relevant evidence to their claims if necessary. Whether this exception applies is decided by the lecturer.
If any requirement of the course has been fulfilled by fraudulent means, be it for example by cheating at an exam, plagiarizing parts of a written assignment or by faking signatures on an attendance sheet, the student's participation in the course will be discontinued, the entire course will be graded as ‘not assessed’ and will be entered into the electronic exam record as ‘fraudulently obtained’. Self-plagiarism, particularly re-using own work handed in for other courses, will be treated likewise.
The maximum number of points to be acquired for each task is:Participation in class, including written questions on mandatory reading: 25 points
Research plan: 15 points
Research report & presentation of results: 35 points
Final reflection: 25 pointsMinimum requirements
A minimum of 50 points is necessary to successfully complete the course. Failure to meet the attendance regulations, to deliver course assignments on time or to adhere to standards of academic work may result in a deduction of points.Grades
100-87 points Excellent (1)
86-75 points Good (2)
74-63 points Satisfactory (3)
62-50 points Sufficient (4)
49-0 points Unsatisfactory (5) (fail)Attendance
Presence and participation is compulsory. Absences of four hours at maximum are tolerated, provided that the lecturer is informed about the absence. Absences of up to eight hours in total may be compensated by either a deduction of grading points or/and extra work agreed with the lecturer. Whether compensation is possible is decided by the lecturer. Absences of more than eight hours in total cannot be compensated. In this case, or if the lecturer does not allow a student to compensate absences of more than four hours, the course cannot be completed and is graded as a ‘fail’ (5), unless there is a major and unpredictable reason for not being able to fulfill the attendance requirements on the student’s side (e.g. a longer illness). In such a case, the student may be de-registered from the course without grading. It is the student’s responsibility to communicate this in a timely manner, and to provide relevant evidence to their claims if necessary. Whether this exception applies is decided by the lecturer.Important Grading Information
If not explicitly noted otherwise, all requirements mentioned in the grading scheme and the attendance regulations must be met. If a required task is not fulfilled, e.g. a required assignment is not handed in or if the student does not meet the attendance requirements, this will be considered as a discontinuation of the course. In that case, the course will be graded as ‘fail’ (5), unless there is a major and unpredictable reason for not being able to fulfill the task on the student's side (e.g. a longer illness). In such a case, the student may be de-registered from the course without grading. It is the student’s responsibility to communicate this in a timely manner, and to provide relevant evidence to their claims if necessary. Whether this exception applies is decided by the lecturer.
If any requirement of the course has been fulfilled by fraudulent means, be it for example by cheating at an exam, plagiarizing parts of a written assignment or by faking signatures on an attendance sheet, the student's participation in the course will be discontinued, the entire course will be graded as ‘not assessed’ and will be entered into the electronic exam record as ‘fraudulently obtained’. Self-plagiarism, particularly re-using own work handed in for other courses, will be treated likewise.
Examination topics
Reading list
Association in the course directory
Last modified: Fr 12.05.2023 00:20