Green Business Philosophy

For tomorrow’s class, we’re returning to Paul Hawken’s The Ecology of Commerce to read two more chapters on ecologically sustainable business (chapters 7 and 12). We return to Hawken now to refresh ourselves on some of his principles of green business, especially issues of design, with the hope that your group can adapt his ideas for your purposes.

As you develop your group projects, you need to be thinking about your group’s green philosophy. In other words, what does “green business” mean to you? What does “green business” mean in relation to the industry-type you have selected? For example, a “green business” model for a hardware store will differ from a “green business” model for a restaurant or coffee shop.

I will spend a small amount of time at the beginning of tomorrow’s class talking about resources on green business, and I’ll go through a small tutorial (on our wonderful projector–if the classroom behind us is open, maybe we’ll try its projector…) on finding books and journal articles about green business models. We’ll then discuss Hawken’s chapters, paying special attention to principles that you, as groups, can adapt for your projects. If you have a draft of your green business philosophy, I will collect it and provide your group with feedback. If your group does not yet have a draft, I’ll let you get that section to me later on by email. In the end, your group is responsible for getting the various sections of your project completed by the rough draft deadline(s), but I am willing to meet with you and discuss sections along the way; in this case, I’m even willing to email you feedback before or during spring break on this one important section of the project.

The goal for tomorrow is that your group will be thinking about and working on a central component to the entire project, and I hope that you will dedicate at least some of the 25 minutes I’ve alotted for your group to meet during class to discussing your green business philosophy. Your group’s definition of “green business” should serve as a foundation for all of the designs and ideas you propose.

Research-Based Ethics Paper Reminders

Remember to bring 4 copies of your completed rough draft on Tuesday, February 12. You’ll be exchanging your drafts with classmates in preparation for the workshop session on Thursday, February 14.

This weekend, I’ll go through the pages you turned in yesterday, and I’ll provide you with some feedback, especially pertaining to your introductions and thesis statements.

Let me know if you have any questions.

“On Our Own Land” and “Fast Food Women” [Extra Credit Opportunity]

The Writing Program Film Series will be hosting Anne Lewis on Friday, February 22nd, for screenings of “On Our Own Land” and “Fast Food Women.” The event will be held in the W.T. Young Library Auditorium; doors open at 3:00, and the screening begins at 3:30.

Extra Credit Opportunity: After viewing these films, pick an ethical framework to describe the dilemma presented and the ethical solution. Your opinion doesn’t have to agree with Anne Lewis’s; your task is to offer a well-reasoned interpretation and a thoughtful solution/resolution for a dilemma presented in one of the two films.

Your extra credit paper should be well-written and approximately 1.5-2 pages, double-spaced. Be detailed in presenting the ethical framework, and include as many specific examples as you can remember from the film.

Here’s what you’ll get: I’ll grade your paper on a normal 12 point scale (12 for check plus, 9 for check, 6 for a check-minus), and I’ll add as many points as you get to your homework points total. At the end of the semester, you’ll have these extra points built into your sum before it’s averaged. For those of you who missed a quiz or homework or who have turned in assignments late, this extra credit should especially help you. For the rest of you, it’s a chance to either boost your grade or to get out of a single-weighted homework assignment down the road.

You don’t have to sign in at the film, but please make sure I acknowledge seeing you there. Also, you can’t leave the film early if you want to receive the extra credit.

Let me know if you have any questions about this extra credit assignment.

Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore? [Extra Credit Opportunity]

Do you want to earn half a letter grade extra credit on your first project, the research-based ethics essay?

Here’s what you have to do:

1. Attend the Writing Program Film Series screening of Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore? on Thursday, February 14, in the W.T. Young Library Auditorium. Doors open at 7:00 P.M. and the screening begins at  7:30. You don’t have to sign in, but make sure I see you there. Make sure you stay the whole time. If you get up and leave during the film or the Q&A (except for an emergency), then you won’t be eligible for the extra credit.
2. After seeing the film, write a one page letter to a specific person or audience (it could be a friend, parent, grandparent, sibling, etc.) explaining why that person should see this film. Reference specific parts of the film that you think appeal to the person, and think about the needs of that person: why would that person like this film? What would he or she gain from seeing it? You don’t actually have to send the letter to the person; you just have to give it to me.

Stipulations

1. Your letter has to be satisfactory level for you to receive the extra credit (equivalent to what would receive a “check” on homework); if it’s not satisfactory level, I’ll give you one chance to fix it.
2. For doing the extra credit, you will receive one-half letter grade added to your first project. On the 12 point scale, this means that you will get one more point. For example, a B- (8 points) would become a B (9 points).
3. Remember, for Eng 203, you must receive a C-level grade or higher grade on all major assignments to pass. The extra credit cannot take you from a non-passing grade to a passing grade. For example, if you received a D+ on the paper and did the extra credit, then you would still have to do a rewrite. The project itself has to be at C-level. Your extra credit would be applied after the rewrite succeeds. Therefore, the rewrite would take you to a C- (5 points), and the extra credit would bring your grade up to a C (6 points).

Let me know if you have any questions about the extra credit assignment.

For more information about the Writing Program Film Series, please visit the website.

If you would like to learn more information about Film Series event, you’re invited to join the Film Series Facebook group.

Welcome to English 203.024

If you’re here, you’ve found our course blog and, most likely, our course website. The website provides you with access to important course documents–assignment sheets, the syllabus, and other handouts. I’ll use this blog to provide you with other important information–homework prompts, announcements, grading information, etc.