Integrated Seminar Project (ISP)

Integrated Seminar Project (ISP) – Fall 2006 Instructor: Aaron Routhe

The Integrated Seminar Project (ISP) is a group project of independent study that all CCSP students participate in. Its purpose is to encourage you to integrate and apply the knowledge you acquire from the diverse courses you participate in during the semester. This is done by considering the Biblical and Box 1: ISP Aims and Objectives practical aspects of ‘creation care’ when examining a particular development issue in the South Pacific in 1. Examine a development issue relevant to the South Pacific through the prism of terms of environmental sustainability and community environmental sustainability and community development from a specifically Christian perspective. development; The ISP aims and objectives are outlined in Box 1. 2. Integrate issues of creation care/environmental Required text & materials to bring to Samoa: stewardship within a single project; 3. Facilitate group learning through collaborative  Samoan Planters by Tim O’Meara effort; and  ISP field journal 4. Present a public seminar.  1 sheet blank white paper The ISP is a component of Sustainable Community Development. The marks for ISP equal one third (33.3%) of the total grade for that course. Your work for the ISP takes various forms and is completed in both Samoa and New Zealand. The proportion that each assignment contributes to your final ISP grade is indicated in parantheses and they are listed in the order the assignments are due. Details for each assignment are below.

1. Reflection Essay #1: 2-4 page essay based on the cultural-ecological tour of Savaii (5%) 2. Reflection Essay #2: 2-4 page essay based on the Faga Village homestay on Savaii (5%) 3. Socio-Geographical Map: Longitudinal, cross-sectional map illustrating relationships between Samoan culture/society and Samoa’s ecosystems (5%) 4. Project Proposal: 1 page written proposal identifying research group, topic, and plan (5%) 5. Project Report: Research report describing your topic and outlining your analysis (50%) 6. Project Presentation: Public presentation given in a seminar setting (30%)

Because the ISP is intended to help you integrate your learning, it is a semester long project. You’re expected to explore your topic whenever possible occasion. During each course that you participate in you should consider what you can bring from that experience to your ISP project. I am available for one-on-one or group meetings as you work on writing your project proposal or finishing assignments. One entire week of the semester is also reserved for working on, and finishing, your research papers and public presentations. Both your finished report and a copy of your seminar presentation are due on Saturday, 9 December.

Reflection Essays Reflection essays are opportunities to reflect on the meaning(s) and possible connections between your experiences on Savaii with the book Samoan Planters and your first week of Sustainable Community Development with Mick Duncan. You can hand write each essay using pages from your ISP field journal and then remove them to turn them in to me. Essays must be between 2-4 pages and should adequately address the parts of each one.

Reflection Essay #1: Complete by lunch on Monday, 2 October Part 1: Describe an example of something you learned, observed, or experienced about the ecological and social context of Samoa during our tours with Warren on the island of Savaii. Part 2: Explain whether, from your perspective, what you describe confirms or contradicts something presented in the book Samoan Planters or your first week of Sustainable Community Development with Mick Duncan. Provide examples to support your conclusion. Part 3: Evaluate the implications of your conclusion in comparison to your own personal views. Do this with respect to development issues and consider either the 1) economic, 2) social, or 3) ecological dimensions of imaging God in both a developing world context and an underdeveloped world context.

Reflection Essay #2: Complete by breakfast on Monday, 9 October Part 1: Describe an example of something you learned, observed, or experienced during your homestay in Faga Village on the island of Savaii. Part 2: Explain whether, from your perspective, what you describe confirms or contradicts something presented in the book Samoan Planters or your first week of Sustainable Community Development with Mick Duncan. Provide examples to support your conclusion. Part 3: Evaluate the implications of your conclusion in comparison to your own personal views. Do this with respect to development issues and consider either the 1) economic, 2) social, or 3) ecological dimensions of imaging God in both a developing world context and an underdeveloped world context.

Socio-Geographical Map Socio-Geographical Map: Complete by dinner on Saturday, 14 October Using a blank unlined sheet of paper create a longitudinal, cross-sectional map illustrating the relationships between Samoan culture/society and Samoa’s ecosystems. Illustrate: 1) how Samoa’s geological and ecological characteristics are reflected in the organization of Samoan society or cultural practices, and 2) how the organization of Samoan society or cultural practices are reflected in Samoa’s architecture and human-built environment.

Use one side of your sheet to construct your map. Include a numbered or lettered reference key on this side. On the reverse side, provide written explanations for your map key. Draw on Warren’s tours, Samoan Planters, Marine Ecology material, and other sources as reference material.

Research Paper & Presentation The Research Paper & Presentation is an independent project so you are responsible for ensuring your project is quality and completed on time. You should feel free to approach me at any point to talk about your project. Although I will actively encourage and assist you, it remains your responsibility to look after your own project. The Research Paper & Presentation intentionally requires 2 – 4 people to work together in a group. Education is never an individual process – it is always communal and relational. Cooperating together enables you to build upon each other’s knowledge and creativity. Group members each receive the same final grade for the Research Paper & Presentation. Group work takes time to complete to a high standard. Make sure you take the required time to meet together to discuss and work on your project.

Project Proposal Choose a development issue relevant to the South Pacific to explore in your paper and presentation. You’re welcome to discuss options with me. A draft written proposal with: a. a description of your chosen topic, b. a brief outline of your paper, and c. group members involved in the project should be submitted to me by Friday 27 October. I will then follow up with each group.

Research Report This section describes the requirements for your written report. Make sure your whole group thoroughly understands what is being asked of you. If you have any questions, please ask me. Box 2: Research Report Content

Title page

Table of contents A digital and printed copy of your report Introduction is due by 11am on Saturday 9 December. Please print your report double-sided. Box Annotated bibliography (1500 words) 2 outlines the contents required.  Read and summarize 10-15 texts on your chosen topic.

Include a precise statement of your topic, Analysis of the issues (2500 words) group members, and semester date on the  Explore the key issues surrounding your chosen topic. title page. Your introduction should  Reflect theologically/biblically on issues of creation care. succinctly summarize the topic of your Practical implications (1000 words) project and provide a preview of the  Public policy implications paper’s major sections. Your conclusion  Personal lifestyle implications should summarize the main points of Conclusion your project and highlight important aspects of your analysis. Include the full References bibliographic details of only texts that you actually cite in the body of your text in your References list. The main section of the report is divided into three parts: a. Annotated bibliography; b. Analysis of the issues; and c. Practical implications

1. Annotated bibliography The annotated bibliography requires that you review relevant literature on your chosen topic. Please review between 10-15 texts (books or peer-reviewed articles) in your annotated bibliography. Arrange the annotated bibliography in alphabetical order (by authors’ surnames). Include the full bibliographic details of each text and the name of the reviewer in single-spaced bold at the start of each entry. Each member of your group should be involved in reading for and writing the annotated bibliography. Each entry should be about 150 words and include a short synopsis of the text and an analysis by the reviewer. It must 1) address the key points discussed by the author(s) and 2) provide a critical analysis of your own on the weaknesses and value of the text. You may also include other topics: an evaluation of the background or authority of the author; a comment on the intended audience; or comparison with other works you have cited or will cite.

2. Analysis of the issues This is the most significant and sizeable section of your report. Consequently, you should focus much of your attention here. Your goal is to provide a specifically Christian analysis of a development issue relevant to the South Pacific in terms of environmental sustainability, community development, and a theological basis for environmental stewardship (“creation care). You should draw on texts from your annotated bibliography and any other relevant material, experiences or research from your semester. An effective analysis of the issue will consider the following questions:  What is the issue(s) or problem?  Why is it important?  What are possible explanations or “causes” of the issue?  Why should Christians care about the issue? For this section you are welcome to include reflection on specific biblical concepts and narratives as well as concerns addressed within broader theological literature, class discussions etc. Make sure your theological analysis is connected to the concerns raised by your specific topic.

3. Practical implications The final section of your research paper explores practical responses. If your analysis is taken seriously, then what must change? What is a Christian response to the issue in terms of an ethic of ‘creation care’? This is based on the assumption that any Christian ethic of creation care can’t just be abstract theorising but must result in practical real-world actions. Consider what initiatives your group believes would be more congruent with an ethic of creation care than what is currently taking place. Specifically, you are asked to explore two types of implications for practical action: a. Public policy/institutional implications: What is the connection between your development issue and public policy? What sort of institutional changes (if any) are required, for example at governmental, business or international organisation levels? b. Personal lifestyle implications: What is the connection between your development issue and you personally, as well CCSP itself as an organization? What practical things can you/we do to better reflect with our actions the Christ-centred, Christian ethic of creation care that you explored? Resources Keep your eyes and ears open. As you travel around The South Pacific for class and personal travel always check to see if there is something that you can learn and integrate into your ISP. The CCSP library: The library has a number of good resources on socio-economic development, environmental conservation, the South Pacific context, theological perspectives on creation care, issues of health and medicine, and others. Familiarize yourself with resources available in the library and make good use of them. The Internet has a wide array of websites that explore material relevant to the ISP. But be careful not to get too bogged down in cyberspace!

Other libraries: There are public libraries in Christchurch. You can also visit various University libraries, but you will have to use their books and resources in the library.

Seminar Presentation A public presentation on your project is one of the central outcomes of your ISP. It allows you to present your argument to a public forum. Although it is likely your audience will primarily be your fellow students and staff of CCSP, there may be a few invited guests. Presentations are scheduled for Friday, 8 October (possibly beginning in the afternoon and continuing into the early evening with a break for dinner). You will have a maximum of 20 minutes per group for your actual presentaiton with time for questions immediately after each presentation. You should be prepared to ask questions and make comments on each others presentations as well as respond to questions asked about your own. An oral presentation is significantly different from a written report. Here are some things you will want to think about as you prepare it: a. You don’t want to simply repeat the structure of your report. The structure for your presentation is flexible – you may be as creative and imaginative as you would like. b. You need to selectively choose which content to include (the limited time mean you will need to exclude a fair amount of material). Emphasise certain key aspects of your report and downplay other parts that aren’t so central to your subject. c. Keep in mind your audience: What will they already know? What do they need explained? What will they find most interesting? How will you keep them stimulated enough to listen to and engage with your ENTIRE presentation? Often the more thought-through and thorough written reports translate best into seminar presentations. This is because the group that puts time and effort into the report is often best prepared to approach the seminar with both an emphasis on conveying with clarity the significant content of their report and also bringing creativity and playfulness to their presentation.

Past Projects  A Comparative Study: Poverty & Healthcare in NZ and USA  Aliens Attack: Invasive Plant Species in New Zealand  Big Things Come in Small Packages: Are Small Farms Sustainable?  Christ In Culture: Reconciliation with Indigenous people  Conceptualize This: Pontificating The Ubiquitoius Exacerbation Of Global Climate Change  Economic, Social, Environmental Problems Facing Pregnant Women in Samoa.  Education in a Multi-Cultural New Zealand  Irrigation and Agriculture: Water Use in the Canterbury Plains  Effects of Poverty on Single Mothers in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands  Land: Property or Identity?  Sowing your Seed… Organically  Tell-tale tags: Reflections of Clothing Consumption  There are Plenty of Fish in the Sea… or are there?  Two Lefts Don’t Make A Right, But Three Do: Recycling Below is a sample of the criteria used to evaluate seminar presentations:

ISP SEMINAR PRESENTATIONS

Title: ______

Group Members: ______

______

Assessment Content (35): Interest (interesting or not?) 1 2 3 4 5 Evidence of research and select- ion/relevance of material 1 2 3 4 5 Structure/Organisation 1 2 3 4 5 Clarity & Coherence 1 2 3 4 5 AccuracyAppropriate level? 1 2 3 4 5 Degree of integration 1 2 3 4 5 Timing 1 2 3 4 5

Creativity/Imagination (5) 1 2 3 4 5

Visuals (15): Appropriateness 1 2 3 4 5 Variety & Clarity 1 2 3 4 5 Use of 1 2 3 4 5

Voice (15): Variation (volume, speed, intonation) 1 2 3 4 5 Fluency 1 2 3 4 5 Clarity 1 2 3 4 5

Body Language (15): Eye contact 1 2 3 4 5 Posture, Gestures, Facial Expression & Mannerisms 1 2 3 4 5 Knowledge of topic (not reading) 1 2 3 4 5

Questions (10): Eliciting, Paraphrasing & Clarifying 1 2 3 4 5 Responses 1 2 3 4 5

Participation (5) Group member involvement 1 2 3 4 5

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