Category Archives: Section 1: Introduction

Writing Assigment 1: ‘What Can I Do to Fight Global Warming?”

You’re finishing an elevator ride with a stranger who has just heard your pitch about why she should care about global warming.  As the ride ends, she hands you her business card and says: “OK, you’ve convinced me that I should care.  Now I’ve got to run, but could you please send me an answer to my next question ‘What can I do to fight global warming?’”  And as she dashes off, she yells “And please, DON”t talk to met about better lightbulbs ….!”

For your first assignment, compose an answer for her.  Your answer should be succinct, no more than 600 words. It should also be authoritative, based on your developing expertise.   It certainly should be insightful: don’t bore her with ideas that she is likely to already know.  And finally, it must be a pleasure to read: dull writing rarely persuades.  AND PLEASE BRING IN 2 COPIES OF YOUR DRAFT.

Welcome to this First Year Seminar at Middlebury

Welcome.  This is the first post for “Global Warming Solutions,” our First Year Seminar at Middlebury College. This blog will serve as the central meeting place for those of us in the class – and perhaps others who are interested in being part of our process of ‘open-source learning.’

I have sent send the URL of this blog to the new students – Go class of 2012! – and asked them to read the following article in our del.icio.us roll: In the face of environmental disaster, more Chinese are going green Using the comments section below, please address and discuss the following questions:

In what ways, if any, is the fact that Chinese citizens are ‘going green’ related to China’s level of economic development? To what degree should non-Chinese citizens help the Chinese economy more sustainable? How would you assess which are the best means to offer such help?  Be specific.

We will discuss your responses on the first day of class – Thursday, September 4th, from 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM in Munroe 314.