Description:

This seminar course is an overview of the methods used to produce Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and the benefits and concerns related to their production and use.  Particular attention will be given to evaluating controversies and benefits of GMOs from the past, the present, and into the future. 

This is a seminar course.  In this course, each student is accountable for contributing to all discussions during class meetings.  In some cases, you will assume leadership of a discussion, taking on the role of a teacher.  In the first half of the course, you will assume a lead role in one panel discussion and participate in a debate.  In the second half of the course, you will lead the class discussion of an approved reading of your choice.

This is also a Writing-Intensive (WI) course.   As such, over the semester you will develop a research topic relevant to the course, research the topic, prepare a draft of a term paper, and revise the paper in accordance with recommendations.

Syllabus (Fall 2007)

Course Schedule

Literature in Course Reserve  (Campbell Library)

Ethical Principles

Plagiarism and Falsification

Assignment: Choosing a Paper Topic and References

Assignment: Guidelines for Panel Discussions of Avise

Schedule for Panel Discussions

Assignment:  Selection of a Reading for Class Discussion

    Example of Suitable Reading

    Another Example of Suitable Reading

Assignment: Guidelines for Preparing a Rough Draft

Assignment: Debate of the Ethics of Developing GMOs

Schedule for Discussion of Proposed Readings (may be revised; check weekly for updates)

Assignment: Preparing a Summary of Your Selected Reading (Assignment to be discussed Oct. 23)

Assignment: Guidelines for Discussion of Selected Readings

Assignment: Guidelines for Revision of Rough Draft of Term Paper  (to be posted later)

Some WWW links relevant to the course:

    Council for Biotechnology Information

    Council for Responsible Genetics

    GeneWatch

    The Organic and Non-GMO Report

    Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology

    Science Daily: Genetically Modified Organisms (see the link for GMOs)

    USDA's Agricultural Biotechnology Website