A major essay on a selected environmental issue is also requested with the primary objective of developing the students’ abilities to critically analyse scientific writings, analyse different standpoints, develop writing skills, and to propose appropriate outcomes/solution (i.e., the decision) for your chosen issue. Since many of the issues presented through the course are both complex and contentious, students are challenged not to assume that the decision-making process will operate smoothly; they are encouraged to identify enabling conditions and barriers for policy/strategies/actions implementation, including features that might assist in addressing problems that might be encountered.
Professor comments:
Dear all
Assignment 4 requires you preparing a 4000 words essay. Please remember that essays are not reports and the style of writing differs.
A website of Monash University makes it very clear:
A university essay can be thought of as an extended answer to a quite specific question that has been posed by your lecturer. A key consideration for lecturers when they mark students’ work is whether the essay before them is relevant; that is whether it does in fact provide an answer to the question being posed.
For this reason it is important when you prepare to work on an essay that you spend a reasonable amount of time reading and mulling over the essay topic so that you understand precisely what is being asked. This involves identifying and thinking about key words in the topic, among other things.
I found this site at Deakin University; it is a very good guide to prepare your essay:
Dear all
Assignment 4 requires you preparing a 4000 words essay. Please remember that essays are not reports and the style of writing differs.
A website of Monash University makes it very clear:
A university essay can be thought of as an extended answer to a quite specific question that has been posed by your lecturer. A key consideration for lecturers when they mark students’ work is whether the essay before them is relevant; that is whether it does in fact provide an answer to the question being posed.
For this reason it is important when you prepare to work on an essay that you spend a reasonable amount of time reading and mulling over the essay topic so that you understand precisely what is being asked. This involves identifying and thinking about key words in the topic, among other things.
I found this site at Deakin University; it is a very good guide to prepare your essay:
http://www.deakin.edu.au/current-students/study-support/study-skills/handouts/essay.php
Regards
Graciela
Graciela
Task:
Choose one of the case studies attached to the units of this course. You may select the same case study that was allocated to you for your group seminar presentation (for on campus students) or your online discussion leadership task (distance students), but you are expected to look, think and research well beyond those specific issues which were the focus in those case studies. For example, if your report is on the Murray-Darling Basin you will need to think beyond stakeholders; if your report is on genetically modified crops, you will need to take more than public participation into account, etc.
Your essay should include the following:
1) Outline the environmental decision-making and other areas of governance in the case you are addressing, and what factors should play prominence in the process.
2) A brief introduction of the issue to date, what decisions have already been made (if any have been), how and why particular courses of action have prevailed.
3) At a minimum include some discussion of available tools or options and briefly justify your choice of some over others.
4) Discussion of those parts of the course that you consider most relevant and useful in setting out the best possible decision-making process and/or policy option.
5) Some discussion of possible scenarios and how the course of action or management should be followed up. Since many of the issues are both complex and contentious, you should not assume that the decision-making process will operate smoothly; you should identify enabling conditions and barriers for policy/strategies/actions implementation, including features that might assist in addressing problems that might be encountered.
Choose one of the case studies attached to the units of this course. You may select the same case study that was allocated to you for your group seminar presentation (for on campus students) or your online discussion leadership task (distance students), but you are expected to look, think and research well beyond those specific issues which were the focus in those case studies. For example, if your report is on the Murray-Darling Basin you will need to think beyond stakeholders; if your report is on genetically modified crops, you will need to take more than public participation into account, etc.
Your essay should include the following:
1) Outline the environmental decision-making and other areas of governance in the case you are addressing, and what factors should play prominence in the process.
2) A brief introduction of the issue to date, what decisions have already been made (if any have been), how and why particular courses of action have prevailed.
3) At a minimum include some discussion of available tools or options and briefly justify your choice of some over others.
4) Discussion of those parts of the course that you consider most relevant and useful in setting out the best possible decision-making process and/or policy option.
5) Some discussion of possible scenarios and how the course of action or management should be followed up. Since many of the issues are both complex and contentious, you should not assume that the decision-making process will operate smoothly; you should identify enabling conditions and barriers for policy/strategies/actions implementation, including features that might assist in addressing problems that might be encountered.
Learning outcome1:
Describe the various stages in the environmental decisionmaking
Learning outcome 2
Identify and discuss key challenges and points of contention relating to undertaking the various stages in environmental decision making
Learning outcome 3:
Discuss approaches to public participation in addressing environmental issues
Learning outcome 4:
Apply critical thinking skills
Learning outcome 5:
Communicate your ideas and conclusions effectively
a) Demonstration of thorough and thoughtful research; this paper takes a clear position (or analyses contrasting positions) supported logically by extensive, concrete detail and critical interaction with source materials. All key points are thoroughly addressed. Comprehension of research materials and of issues, conflicts and the range of solutions, their strengths and weaknesses. (15 marks)
b) Sources are clearly integrated into, and advance the argument through accurate use of summary, paraphrase and quotation. The essay consistently and accurately uses appropriate documentation (e.g. referencing style). Source materials fit smoothly into the writer´s own text. (10 marks)
c) The organisation is logical; paragraphs are unified, exceptionally coherent, and contain effective topic sentences; transitions are effective. There is a clear and easy to follow sequence of ideas. There is no unnecessary duplication of ideas or information. (5 marks)
d) Clear, succinct (within the established word limits) and effective writing, good grammar and correct spelling.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS TOPIC CLICK HERE
Describe the various stages in the environmental decisionmaking
Learning outcome 2
Identify and discuss key challenges and points of contention relating to undertaking the various stages in environmental decision making
Learning outcome 3:
Discuss approaches to public participation in addressing environmental issues
Learning outcome 4:
Apply critical thinking skills
Learning outcome 5:
Communicate your ideas and conclusions effectively
a) Demonstration of thorough and thoughtful research; this paper takes a clear position (or analyses contrasting positions) supported logically by extensive, concrete detail and critical interaction with source materials. All key points are thoroughly addressed. Comprehension of research materials and of issues, conflicts and the range of solutions, their strengths and weaknesses. (15 marks)
b) Sources are clearly integrated into, and advance the argument through accurate use of summary, paraphrase and quotation. The essay consistently and accurately uses appropriate documentation (e.g. referencing style). Source materials fit smoothly into the writer´s own text. (10 marks)
c) The organisation is logical; paragraphs are unified, exceptionally coherent, and contain effective topic sentences; transitions are effective. There is a clear and easy to follow sequence of ideas. There is no unnecessary duplication of ideas or information. (5 marks)
d) Clear, succinct (within the established word limits) and effective writing, good grammar and correct spelling.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS TOPIC CLICK HERE
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