Environmental Issue Case Study
Course Culminating Assignment
Assignment Overview
For the culminating assignment in this course, you will investigate and report on an important environmental or resource management issue of your choice. In addition to an annotated bibliography and formal case study report, you will create an interactive Google Map or Google Earth Timeline Tour that highlights 6 pivotal events in the development of the issue. This is an ongoing assignment that you will work on throughout the rest of the course. There will be three separate due dates when you will have to submit a section of the assignment so plan your time wisely. We will have peer and teacher-review times set aside in class before the due dates.
1) Annotated Bibliography
Start researching your issue now! You will create an annotated bibliography that includes a minimum of 8 useful sources that you will use for writing your case study report. The purpose of this task is for you to locate a variety of different sources on your issue so that you can get the most comprehensive understanding of your issue as possible. You must use the annotated bibliography organizer provided to you to complete this task.
DUE: Monday November 11, 2013
2) Case Study Report
You will create your own case study on your issue that will outline the causes of the environmental or resource management issue, key stakeholders, ecological and human impacts and action plan for addressing the issue. Your case study report will be 5-6 pages in length (typed, double-spaced 12pt font - no longer than 7 pages). Use the following sub-headings to organize your report:
● Issue Overview (brief overview, geographic location, time period)
● Environmental and Human Causes (what ecological and/or human activities are causing the issue in this location)
● Key Stakeholders (identify the key stakeholders and briefly explain their perspective/position on the issue)
● Environmental and Human Impacts (how is the issue affecting ecosystems and humans)
● Action Planning (develop 3 realistic, efficient and sustainable strategies to address your specific issue - consider the factors that make an effective proposal learned in class)
You should also include 2-3 diagrams, maps or figures that will help illustrate your issue.
DUE: Monday December 16th, 2013
3) Google Map/Earth Timeline Tour
Create a Google Map or Google Earth tour that identifies 6 key events/developments related to your issue. For example, a project on climate change may include a pin on Kyoto, Japan with a description box that includes information on the Kyoto Protocol. Each pin should identify the location, a short 1-paragraph description of the key event/development and the date of when it occurred. Organized your map/tour chronologically. You will have a formative assignment to practice using this geotechnology.
DUE: Monday January 13th, 2014
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Writing An Annotated Bibliography
What is an annotated bibliography?
An annotated bibliography is a list of references with each citation followed by a brief paragraph that summarizes and critically evaluates the source - a book, article, website, report, etc.
What’s the purpose?
The list of references (bibliography) and accompanying paragraphs (annotations) inform readers about the best research available on a specific topic or issue. Each annotation is generally 150 words (5-7 sentences) and should:
● briefly summarize and analyze the content of the source;
● evaluate the relevancy, accuracy, and quality of a source;
● inform the reader of how this source will help with the project.
What's the format?
Citations are formatted in a specific style, such as APA or MLA. Resources that are not useful (irrelevant, unreliable, out of date) should not be included. You should gather and examine a large pool of resources then narrow it down to the ones you will annotate and include as part of your research. Ensure that you have a wide variety of sources and that they are peer-reviewed! If you need additional assistance, see your Teacher and/or refer to the guide on our handouts page.
Annotated Bibliography Organizer
Use the proper MLA or APA bibliography format above to complete your annotations.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Annotated Bibliography Rubric
Category / Does not meet standard / Level 1(50-59) / Level 2
(60-69) / Level 3
(70-79) / Level 4
(80-100)
Summary
Summary of the source content
/16 (K/U) / Does not adequately summarize the content of the source / Summarizes the content with limited effectiveness / Summarizes the content with some effectiveness / Summarizes the content with considerable effectiveness / Summarizes the content in a highly effective manner
Critical Analysis
Critical analysis of the source and how it will assist with the case study
/16 (Thinking) / No critical analysis of the source and its value for the assignment / Little to no critical analysis of the source and its value for the assignment / Some critical analysis of the source and its value for the assignment / Considerable critical analysis of the source and its value for the assignment / High degree of critical analysis of the source and its value for the assignment
Format
Proper use of MLA or APA citation format
/8 (Communication) / Annotated bibliography does not follow proper format / Many errors - does not follow proper format throughout / Several errors - does not follow proper format throughout / A few errors - does not follow proper format throughout / Completely follows proper format throughout
TOTAL: /40
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Environmental Issue Case Study Rubric
Category / Does not meet standard / Level 1(50-59) / Level 2
(60-69) / Level 3
(70-79) / Level 4
(80-100)
Knowledge and Understanding
Issue overview
Key Stakeholders and perspectives
Enviro and Human Causes
Environmental and Human Impacts
/25 / Report demonstrates little to no k/u of the issue, key stakeholders and the environmental and human causes and impacts. / Report demonstrates limited k/u of the issue, key stakeholders and the environmental and human causes and impacts. / Report demonstrates some k/u of the issue, key stakeholders and the environmental and human causes and impacts. / Report demonstrates considerable level of k/u of the issue, key stakeholders and the environmental and human causes and impacts. / Report demonstrates extremely high degree of k/u of the issue, key stakeholders ,the environmental and human causes and impacts
Thinking
Action Planning
/10 / Little to no degree of critical thought evident in development of action plan strategies that are efficient, feasible and sustainable. / Minimal degree of critical thought evident in development of action plan strategies that are efficient, feasible and sustainable. / Some evidence of critical thought in development of action plan strategies that are somewhat efficient, feasible and sustainable. / Considerable evidence of critical thought in development of action plan strategies that are efficient, feasible and sustainable. / High degree of critical thought evident in development of action plan strategies that are highly efficient, feasible and sustainable.
Application
Use of geo-terminology between and within different contexts
/5
Use of variety of reliable sources, research and writing process
/5
Proper use of MLA or APA citation format
/5
APA or MLA Works Cited
/5 / Student does not apply prior learning tof geo-terminology from the course to make connections between and within various contexts.
Report is lacking sound research from a variety of sources.
APA or MLA citations are not included.
Works Cited page is not included or is not properly formatted. / Student applies a few examples of geo-terminology from the course to make connections between various contexts.
Report is based on limited research from a variety of sources.
APA or MLA citations included sporadically. More citations required.
Works Cited page is not properly formatted and does not include reliable sources. / Student applies some geo-terminology from the course to make connections between and within various contexts.
Report is based on some research from a variety of sources.
APA or MLA citations included throughout report , more citations required.
Works Cited page is properly formatted in parts and includes some reliable sources. / Student applies a variety of geo-terminology from the course to make connections between and within contexts.
Report is based on research from a variety of reliable sources.
APA or MLA citations included throughout report .
Works Cited page is properly formatted and includes several reliable sources. / Student accurately applies a wide variety of geo-terminology from the course to make connections between and within various contexts.
Report is based on research from a wide variety of reliable sources.
APA or MLA citations properly formatted and included throughout report .
Works Cited page is properly formatted and includes a wide variety of reliable sources.
Communication
Report format
Organization
Style and clarity
/10
Mechanics (spelling, grammar, sentence structure, tense shifts)
/10
TOTAL: /75 / Report does not follow report format.
Report is disorganized and lacking a clear plan of development.
Spelling and /or grammatical errors detract from report content. Report needs to be reviewed for mechanical errors. / Report is written using few aspects of report format.
Report is lacking clear organization, progression and a clear plan of development.
Spelling and /or grammatical errors detract from report content. Report needs to be reviewed for mechanical errors. / Report is written using some aspects of report format.
Report is organized in parts, progression and plan of development are not always clear.
Report includes several spelling and /or grammatical errors. Report needs to be reviewed for mechanical errors. / Report is written using report format (Title, subheadings, introduction, conclusion)
Clear organization, progression and plan of development.
Report includes a few spelling and /or grammatical errors. Report has been edited for mechanical errors. / Report is written using proper report format (Title, subheadings, introduction, conclusion)
Very clear organization, logical progression and clear plan of development.
Report is free from spelling and grammatical errors. Report has been edited for mechanical errors.
Kudos…
Next time...
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Google Map/Earth Timeline Tour
Sliding Scale Evaluation
Knowledge and Understanding
Descriptions demonstrate a high level of knowledge and understanding about each event/development related to the environmental issue. Information is completely accurate.
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Thinking
High level of critical thought evident in choice of events/developments on the timeline tour. Events/developments are significant in the development of the issue over time.
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Application
Student has applied his/her geospatial technology skills to identify and connect key locations to geographic events.
0 1 2 3
Communication
Student has effectively used geotechnology to communicate information about the important developments of an environmental issue over time and space. Map/tour is well organized, clear and easy to read and understand.
0 1 2 3 4 5
TOTAL: /20