Welcome to Mr. Tredinnick's Environmental Policy Course!
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This semester-long course examine the political landscape of the United States, through a specific emphasis of how the government develops and establishes policies regarding the environment. The course begins with an overview of the guiding principles of the formation of the government, before examining the role of different governmental and non-governmental agencies in formulating policies and legislation. Students will also examine how the policy of the United States contrasts to international frameworks on the environment. The varying levels of government will also be examined to see how policy is implemented at state, local, national, and international scales.
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Unit IV - Environmental Legislation
Unit IV Schedule
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Week 18: Project Presentations
(Dec 16-20) Module 4.5: Central Question: Forum 4.5: - Present Action Plans + Examples of Action Plans Module 4.6: |
Unit IV Assignments
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Unit IV Resources
Unit III - State and Non-Governmental Environmentalists
Unit III Schedule
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Week 11: Lower Levels of Government
(Oct 29-Nov 2) Monday: State and Local Government - Forum 3.1 - Its a State Issue - Sub-Federal Levels of Government (Notes) - State Environmentalists (Assignment) Wednesday: Political Parties - Forum 3.2 - Differences Between the Parties - Geoinquiry - Voting Trends (Assignment) + 2016 Election Geoinquiry + ESRI - Community Analyst - Purpose of Political Parties (Notes) HW: Research an Issue (Assignment) + Whitehouse - Domestic Issues + GovTrack Week 14: Zoos and Aquariums
(Nov 19-23) Monday: Working Within A System - Forum 3.6: Government Compliance - Guest Speaker: Jenn Wilson - Zoo Registrar Tuesday: No Class "B" Day |
Week 12: Non-Government Actors
(Nov 5-9) Monday: Influential Institutions - Forum 3.3 - Keeping the Government Honest - Elizabeth Warren Rips Think Tanks - The Media + Politifact + Colbert and Campaign Spending - The Ivory Towers (Assignment) + Top Environmental Science Schools Wednesday: Ordinary Citizens - Forum 3.4 - Effect of Ordinary Citizens - Citizen Created Change (Assignment) + What exactly are people marching for when they march for science? + Time-Lapse Proof of Extreme Ice Loss + Leonardo Dicaprio: UN Speech + Bill Nye: Climate Change 101 
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Week 13: Contributions of NGOs
(Nov 12-16) Monday: Making Voices Heard - Forum 3.5 - The Rules of the Game - Interest Groups and Lobbyists (Notes) HW: Lobbying for Zoos (Assignment) + Association of Zoos and Aquariums Tuesday: No Class "B" Day Wednesday: Environmental NGOs Grade Check-Ins - Forum 3.6 - Handling Specific Issues - Non Government Organizations (Notes) - Examining an ENGO (Assignment) + Present Key Findings for last 15 min of class HW: Come up with 5 Questions for Speaker - Zoo Registrar Week 15: Finish Unit III
(Nov 26-30) Monday: Review Day Tuesday: No Class "B" Day Wednesday: Finish Unit III - Unit III Test - State and Non-Governmental Environmentalists |
Unit III Notes
Unit IV Review
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Unit III Assignments
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Unit III Resources
Unit II - Scale and Influence of the Federal Government
Cover Limited Power, Separation of Power, and Checks and Balances
Unit II Schedule
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Week 6: Roles of the Legislature
(Sept 23-27) Module 2.1: The Legislative Branch - Forum 2.1 - Legislative Requirements - Roles of the Legislative Branch (Notes) - Bill to Law Flow Chart (Notes) + Schoolhouse Rock: I'm Just a Bill - Current Environmental Legislation (Assignment) GovTrack - Environmental Protection HW: Current Environmental Legislation Action Plan (Section 3 of Worksheet) Module 2.2: Congressional Committees - Forum 2.2 - Committees on the Environment - Committee Work (Assignment) *Links in Unit II Resources* - Environmental Checks and Balances (Assignment) + Resisting the Deregulation of Environmental Protection 
Week 9: The Branches of Government
(Oct 14-18) Module 2.7: The Executive Branch - Forum 2.3 - Presidential Actions - The Roles of the Executive (Notes) - Commander in Green (Assignment) + How Trump is Changing the Environment + CNBC: Trump Paris Accord Exit is Good News for the Environment + Time: Is Obama Bad for the Environment + WP: Obama on Saving Energy Module 2.8: Executive Departments - Forum 2.4 - Shared Responsibility - Presidential Environmentalists (Assignment) + Theodore Roosevelt and the National Parks + Theodore Roosevelt and Conservation + Executive Branch Reading Room |
Week 7: Role of Independent Agencies
(Sept 30-4) Module 2.3: Role of the Judicial Branch - Forum 2.5 - Endangered Species Act + Field Excursion: Cats - The Supreme Court (Notes) HW: Cases of Importance (Assignment) - Oyez: Resource Site Module 2.4: NOAA, NASA, and the USGS - Forum 2.6 - Scientific Responsibilities - Federal Scientific Agencies (Assignment) + NASA + NOAA + USGS HW: Federal Scientific Agencies Thought Question 
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Week 8: The Role of Collective Citizens
(Oct 7-11) Module 2.5: Case Study: NEPA - Forum 2.7 - Environmental Considerations - Finish and Discuss Federal Scientific Agencies - National Environmental Policy Act (Notes) HW: Dakota Access Pipeline (Assignment) + Dakota Pipeline (Overview of DAPL) + Indian Country: DAPL Illegal + Forbes: Let DAPL Remain Operational Module 2.6: Case Study: EPA - Forum 2.8 - Environmental Protector - Gutting the EPA (Assignment) + The Environmental Protection Agency + Media Bias/Fact Check 
Week 10: End of Unit II
(Oct 21-25) Monday: Review Day - Forum 2.9 - Linkage Institutions - Present Committee Work - Study Time + Unit II Study Guide - Scale of Influence of the Federal Government Tuesday: No Class "B" Day Wednesday: Finish Unit II - Unit II Test - Scale of Influence of the Federal Government - Unit II Discussion Due Thursday: No Class "B" Day Friday: No School |
Unit II Notes
Unit II Review
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Unit II Assignments
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Unit II Resources
Unit I - Principles of Environmental Protection |
"We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors; We borrow it from our children" - Native American Proverb
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Unit I Schedule
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Week 1: Course Introduction
(Aug 19-23) Module 1.1: Conservationists 101
Central Question: What is conservation and how do different forms of government get involved? Forum 1.1: Knowing the Ropes Field Excursion: Getting to Know You (O&A) Arguing a Policy (Assignment) HW: Review Syllabus Module 1.2: Governmental Ideology
Central Question: What impact can governmental philosophies impact conservation? Forum 1.2: Do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life Field Excursion: Seeing Government (Bugs) Map Lab: Comparing Conservation Policies (Assignment) + Freedom and Conservation (Map) + Freedom in the World + Environmental Performance Index HW: Beg, Borrow, Steal (Assignment) + We the People (Map) + WordCloud Creator Week 4: Role of Citizens (Project Workshop)
(Sept 9-13) Module 1.6: Dividing Up Power
Central Question: What are the advantages and disadvantages of a three branch government? Forum 1.6: Autocratic or Democratic? Restrictions on Power (Notes) The Antiquities Act (Assignment) HW: Body Paragraphs drafted by 1.7 Module 1.7: Power of the People
Central Question: What actions can people take to effect change within the government? Forum 1.7: Forefront of Environmental Protection Field Lab: Land Worth Protecting Part II - Photos, Poetry, and Field Studies (Assignment) Writing Lab 1.2: Peer Review |
Week 2: Basic Division of Power
(Aug 26-30) Module 1.3: Scale of Government
Central Question: What are the different levels of American government and what role can they have in protecting the environment? Forum 1.3: Who protects what? American Federalism and Public Lands (Notes) Map Lab: Federalism Geoinquiry HW: Thesis Statement Draft Module 1.4: Power of the People
Central Question: In what ways is the U.S. Government of the people? by the people? and for the people? Forum 1.4: Land of the People Field Excursion: Land Worth Protecting Part I (Adventure Trails) American Citizenship (Notes) Writing Lab 1.1: Thesis Statement Drafts HW: Introduction and Outline (Due next Mod 1.5) Week 5: Unit I Summative Checks
(Sept 16-20) Module 1.8:
Central Question: Forum 1.8: - Module 1.9: Unit I Test
Central Question: Forum 1.9: Pre-Test Questions - Unit I Test: Principles of Environmental Protection |
Week 3: American Citizenship
(Sept 2-6) Module 1.5: Getting Involved in the Process
Central Question: How can American citizens more directly get involved in the process of American Government and protecting the environment? Forum 1.5: Why be Involved? Field Excursion: Speak Your Piece (Africa) Forms of Civic Participation (Notes) + ISideWith HW: Have Your Voice Heard (Assignment) + Nebraska Senator Lookup HW: Body Paragraphs drafted by 1.7 
Seneca Chief Red Jacket of the Iroquois League
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Unit I NotesAmerican Federalism and Public Lands
Unit I Position Project & Unit ReviewWriting Lab 1.1: Functional Thesis StatementThesis Statement Draft |
Unit I Assignments
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Unit I Resources
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Unit I Notes
Unit I Review
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Unit I Assignments
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Unit I Resources
Environmental Policy Course Resources
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Class Forum
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Helpful Websites
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Political News Sources
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