Multi-Source Paper AssignmentWriting Assignments and Oral Presentations: At designated class sessions during the semester you must come prepared with written “talking points” summarizing the most significant arguments and counterarguments presented by the environmental issue(s) we will address in that class session. As you construct the talking points you may use materials beyond those we read in class. Talking points must be in complete sentences and be no more than 2 word-processed pages in total length. While talking points are not exhaustive discussions of the issues, you will be assessed for your understanding of the issues and the clarity of your expressions about them. Brevity is essential! You must be prepared to share your talking points in class discussions and hand them in at the class session where the issue is discussed.
In addition, a traditional research paper of 5-6 [15-20 pages] will be due on March 20, during class. The research paper may critically analyze any environmental debate that is of interest to you. You have wide latitude in what you write about, however, all paper topics must be submitted in writing and approved by me. Proposed paper topics, a preliminary outline of the key points of inquiry and a preliminary bibliography are due about a week before the major draft is due. The paper should rely substantially upon secondary sources, but may include personal elements. The paper must be word-processed and contain both a works cited page and in-text citations. In addition to the talking points and research paper, you will need to do a short presentation (5-6 [20-25] minutes in length) of your research to the class during the second half of the semester. Your final grade for the unit will be calculated according to the following percentages: class preparation, participation and presentation of research (25%); talking points (25%); research paper (50%). Limits
CalendarWeek 5 - "No Impact Man" video; Talking Points #1
Week 6- Talking Points #2; Paper Topics chosen Week 7 - Talking Points #3 and #4; Library databases; Research, Drafting Week 8 - Drafting; Conferences; Draft Due Wed. Week 9 -- Final Paper Due March 1; Oral Presentations Possible TopicsNational Issues
1. Is Green (or Organic) Marketing Just Hype? (Greenwashing) 2. Should the US Government invest in Green Technologies? (After Solyndra) 3. Cap and Trade: Is It Worth the Cost? (Carbon Credits) 4. Should Environmentalists Embrace Nuclear Power? 5. Should you eat organic or eat local? 6. Can we talk about the population problem without being racist or elitist? 7. Should Chicago limit expressway lanes and build more mass transit? 8. Is “Nature Deficit Disorder” a hoax? 9. Should you fear fracking? Is fracking worth the risk? (see March 2013 National Geographic cover story: "America Strikes Oil: The Promise and Risk of Fracking") 10. Can the free market protect the wilderness better than government? Local Issues 1. Should Hinsdale (Clarendon Hills, Burr Ridge, Oak Brook, etc.) tighten (and make more green) their building codes? 2. Should Chicago shut down the Fisk and Crawford coal-fired power plants in Pilsen and Little Village? (Chicago Clean Power Ordinance) 3. Would tightening pollution laws for Illinois factory farms kill business? 4. Is SB 3527 -- about setting 2050 goals for Illinois’ use of oil -- a good idea? 5. Can the Chicago River be Saved? (Outside Magazine article: http://bit.ly/15gCccZ Topics from "The Week" Magazine. March 1, 2013 1. Great Lakes crisis - Michigan and Huron lowest levels on record - threatening fishing and shipping industries. Researchers blame climate change. Others say it's more complex. (p. 19) 2. Moose have declined by 52% over 2 years in MN, leaving only 2,760. Same thing NOT happening in Maine. Researchers say: climate change changing moose behavior, increasing parasites. What's the cause of the moose decline? (p. 19) 3. Keystone pipeline. Environmentalists hate it. Oil companies, unions love it. What should Obama do? (p. 16 -- excerpts of talking points on both sides) 4. US Carbon emissions have fallen to 13% below 2005 levels. Why? increased use of natural gas (38%) and growing use of wind power (27%) (this fact needs a topic!) (p. 16) Additional Links"We are as gods and have to get good at it" - Stuart Brand
http://www.edge.org/3rd_culture/brand09/brand09_index.html Anti-environmentalist's say "EPA gone wild": http://www.forbes.com/ sites/davidmarotta/ 2013/01/13/epa-green-gone-wild/ Fox Business questioning the viablity of wind power: http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/2167730311001/green-energys-gray-reality Google Image Search: Political Cartoons Environmental Issues https://www.google.com/search?q=editorial+cartoons+environmental+issues&hl=en&tbo=u&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=gNEiUeHVO9D_yQGb3oCoBQ&ved=0CDsQsAQ&biw=1540&bih=944 "No Impact Man" runs for Congress... article in The Atlantic. http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/11/no-impact-man-runs-for-office/265321/ Association of American Editorial Cartoonists. Search: environment http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/browse.cfm?keywords=environment&datefrom=2012-10-01&usekeywords=checkbox |
Important LinksTopic Selection
Library Database Websites InfoTrack, etc. (add links here) Issues and Controversies (add link here) Internet Databases Debate Topics on the Envi http://idebate.org/motions?tid=140&type_1=All Wikipedia - list of environmental issues http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_environmental_issues Talking Pointsstudent example 1, example 2, example 3
Assignment #1: Please read/view the following and complete "talking points." Michael S. Berliner "Against Environmentalism"http://www.aynrand.org/site/PageServer?pagename=objectivism_environmentalism "If I Wanted America to Fail.... http://www.freemarketamerica.org/free-market-flashpoints/if-i-wanted-america-to-fail.html TED talks: Ray Anderson: The business logic of sustainability http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP9QF_lBOyA "No Impact Man" (in class viewing) see more info at NoImpactProject.com http://noimpactproject.org/ Assignment #2: CSPAN Book Talks - Bill McKibben's Eaarth http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qj8cPYA_8lM David Letterman - Bill McKibben http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=er9WlVgaWSM George Will on This Week http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxTw3EbUWKo Assignment #3: Rachel Carson "from Silent Spring" (1962) (in Nature Packet) link Aldo Leopold "from Land Ethic" (1949) (in Nature Packet) link Lewis Thomas "Natural Man" (1970) (in Nature Packet) link Assignment #4: Bill McKibben "from The End of Nature" (1989) (in Nature Packet) link E.O. Wilson "from The Future of Life" (2002) (in Nature Packet) link "In a Larger Sense"Like "planting a naysayer" and "why it matters," from They Say, I Say, I have invented this academic move that elevates the discussion from practical or logical issues to "higher" concerns -- either ethical or philosophical. This is where you take the reader to consider issues of justice or purpose or historical importance. The narrow question about student locker searches becomes not just about student's need for a place of their own, but about the injustice of infringing on First Amendment rights. The narrow question about laptops for every student becomes not just about creating more intriguing learning places, but about narrowing the opportunity gap between rich and poor, which is the right thing to do in a democracy with a conscience. The name alludes to Lincoln's phrase in The Gettysburg Address. This move often happens towards the end of an essay.
The ProposalMultiple-Source Paper Proposal Worksheet.
Instructions: PLEASE NOTE – this is just a worksheet. You should type your proposal for Monday. Date: To: Mr. Lange From: [name] Subject of my paper: [The subject is the broad topic] The “problem” that you’re addressing and helping clarify by writing your paper: [ex. Many people think that the government should force car companies to increase electric cars to 50% of their total production by the year 2020. Others say that this is impractical and unconstitutional. Taking into consideration the fact that cars produce over 50% of greenhouse gases in America, is this proposal sensible?] Approach to the subject of my paper: [Note: this can be pretty short, but I want you to START thinking about it. Try to envision a logical way in which to present your material. In what order will you present your material to best address the issues? Will you have to define any terms? If so, which ones? Will you have to clarify terms and concepts? Do you think that inserting anecdotal evidence, for example, high profile stories of people who have had multiple births, as in the case above, will help your reader understand your paper? Will you show opposing viewpoints? Will you discuss the plusses and minuses of different platforms that perform similar functions? Will you be comparing and contrasting? Will you be categorizing some information? Perhaps you will be using a number of these approaches in your paper. Let me know where you think you are headed.] Reference Search and Summary: [You should have at least two separate sources listed in the proper MLA format. Under each reference, write a 4-5 sentence summary. The goal of this part of the proposal is for you to see if there will be enough sources on your topic.] |
Credits
adapted this from the following NYU course:
Contemporary Environmental Debates
New York University
Steinhardt School of Education
Environmental Conservation Education Program
E50.2020
http://environment.as.nyu.edu/docs/IO/7563/E50.2020.pdf
Contemporary Environmental Debates
New York University
Steinhardt School of Education
Environmental Conservation Education Program
E50.2020
http://environment.as.nyu.edu/docs/IO/7563/E50.2020.pdf