Written proposal (35%)

A proposal for making the transition to a Conserver Society will be developed by each student. The topic to be explored must be approved before 16 October. (Send the instructor an e-mail.) The proposal will be presented to the class sometime during the exam period and will constitute an oral final exam.

The final deadline for submitting the typed proposal is 3 December by noon. Some of your peers will be asked to read your proposal and provide feedback on it during your oral presentation. (Proposals are typically between 20 and 30 pages in length.)

Proposal assignment guidelines

Field Trip: (20%)

Organize with one or two other students a field trip during October to see and discuss technologies or lifestyles which may be appropriate to a Conserver Society. The purpose of this field trip is to give students hands on contact with the Conserver Society in the real world.

This trip is to be scheduled (arrangements and dates set) by 16 October and a note to this effect submitted to the instructor. The organizers will submit jointly a detailed evaluation of the CS technology and/or lifestyle observed on the field trip, using the criteria outlined for the proposal. This evaluation will consist of a short typed report (less than 5 pages). Use of photographs is encouraged.

Students are also expected to go on two field trips in addition their own.

Ecological Footprint: (20%)

Each student will examine their own use of resources. There are two options:

• a complete system description of the primary consumption and waste production of each student during one month of the term. This description will consist of an input/output system diagram. (i.e. water, energy, materials consumed and waste produced)

• a complete description of one resource system that the student is dependent on. (i.e. where does your water or energy come from, where does your waste go?)

The due dates and submissions are the same as for the proposal.

Participation: (25%)

Each class will consist of discussion of core readings done by all students and readings assigned to individual students. The participation mark will reflect:

• Presentation of assigned readings: A summary sheet will be handed out in class along with a 5 to 10 minute presentation, making appropriate use of visual aids. Succinctness is of the essence.

• Discussion of core readings in class: Each student will demonstrate, through discussion and questions, that they have read the core readings.

NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED UNLESS PRIOR ARRANGEMENTS ARE MADE WITH THE COURSE INSTRUCTOR.

ALL ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE TYPED AND EASILY READABLE.

You may submit an electronic version in WORD, html or ADOBE acrobat format.

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