Guidelines to the Pacific Northwest Environmental Assignment – LECTURE
TOTAL POINTS: 80
For the essay project of this course, we will discuss current AND SPECIFIC environmental problems
in the Pacific Northwest (Oregon, Washington). An issue is a topic where people with good
background knowledge about the topic disagree about how it should be handled.
We will discuss some of these issues as a class and you will pick one of these issues, or another of your choice that I
approve, as a topic for your essay. The goal is for you to become well informed enough so that you
could help to lead a discussion of the issue. You will research and complete these sections for your
issue project.
SELECTION OF THE ISSUE or TOPIC:
During this class we will read several chapters that cover great many topics. Choose 3 topics you
want to use for your essay project. Submit this list in writing or via e-mail your chosen topics
by Jan 23, 2018. I will compare your choices to those of other students and inform you the topic
available as soon as possible after receiving your list of topics.
For ideas on specific topics from the
Pacific Northwest visit the Oregon Public Broadcasting Website and search for Ecotrope
().
Please do not submit generic or global topics such as ‘Effects of Climate Change on PNW Crops’
or ‘Effects of Climate Change on PNW Vegetation’ or any generic topic. A good topic may address
issues on a particular areas: for example ‘Irrigation and salmon needs in Klamath Falls’.
GRADING AND REQUIRED COMPONENTS OF THE PROJECT:
1. ESSAY (65 pts) – Write a 2000 words Essay. You need to be very clear and concise. Add
citation references within the text. Often students will propose some solution to a problem
posed by your issue. A big part of your grade will come from using your environmental and
biological knowledge to make a persuasive argument.
General structure of Essay:
Title
Introduction
Argument/Analysis
Conclusions/proposed solutions
List of References
Annotated bibliography (see below).
If possible, add maps, pictures, charts or tables, making sure you provide the proper citation of
the sources of these graphics.
Print essay using double space and a font size 12. For help on how to write an essay start at:
http://www.wikihow.com/Write-an-Essay. For an example see: PNWEssay_Example.pdf
This assignment continues in the next page !
2. Annotated Bibliography of Sources (10 pts) –Two (2) Peer-reviewed sources plus three (3)
supporting sources that will give a well-rounded understanding of the issue. If applicable,
make sure that you find sources that present sides of the issue that you may not agree with.
As you are researching, be sure to keep track of the sources that you read. Write a short, 2-3
sentence summary of each peer-reviewed source to be included with the citation that
explains its value (100 words).
Attach the printed abstract page of the peer-reviewed
sources to your paper. Check out for help formatting
your bibliography. The preferred citation format is APA.
3. Overall effort (5 pts) – I look for overall effort in part based on the quality of your argument,
the research that you do, and your clear understanding of the environmental topics (and
biology) involved.
Bibliography:
Citation Style Guidelines and Samples. Retrieved April 2, 2016 at
http://www.pcc.edu/library/research/citing/citation-style-guidelines-and-samples/
APA STYLE EXAMPLE OF CITATION WITHIN THE TEXT of an ESSAY:
…
As stated by Reynolds (1984) and Sommer (1993), low redox values and low pH create conditions where nitrate
is reduced to ammonia, and other nutrients are released from the sediments into the waters.
These nutrients can
reach the epilimnion and cause blooms of algae that might interfere with the water treatment and human
consumption of these waters. In Hagg Lake an increase in hypolimnetic ammonium was observed during the
period of anoxia and low redox potential.
APA STYLE EXAMPLE of a CITATION IN THE REFERENCE SECTION:
Reynolds, C. S. 1984. The ecology of Freshwater Phytoplankton. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge,
Great Britain.
Sommer U. 1993. Disturbance diversity relationships in two lakes of similar nutrient chemistry but contrasting
disturbance regimes. Hydrobiologia 249: 59-65.
PNW Essay RUBRIC
Name: _________________________ Topic: _____________________________
Points Earned = Bibliography + Essay + Effort = Total: /80
10 65 5 65 5
Essay: (65 points) Is the essay focused on an issue of the Pacific Northwest? Y / N
1. Introduction: (10 points) Points earned: a short introduction makes the issue clear to an informed reader.
| 2. Argument: (30 points) | Points earned: fully explains why your solution is a good one and supports your ideas with biological arguments |
3. Solution/conclusion: (15 points) Points earned: solution is clearly presented and author’s opinion is clear
| 4. Env/Bio: (10 points max) | Points earned: connection of issue to the environment and biology is clear, the relevance to the topics covered during class is present and |
relationship to how this issue impacts your life is made apparent
Bibliography (10 Points):
1. Sources/# of Entries (2 points) Points earned: shows proper citation format of peer-reviewed papers
2. Summary (5 points) Points earned: shows summary and use of reference for the paper. The summary
contains at least 100 words.
3. Printed Abstracts (3 points) Points earned: Student attached abstract pages of the papers cited.
Overall effort (quality) (5 points): Did you prepare a draft for the instructor to review? Y / N
2. Organization/Effort: (3 points) Points earned: shows good organization of ideas and obvious effort.
3. Length and Grammar: (2 points) Points earned: sections are readable and of appropriate length