Geography 303: Environmental Geography

Geography 303: Environmental Geography Final Project

Due Date: Your project is due on the same day as your presentation. If you turn it in after that date, you will be penalized 2 pts for each day late.

Project Description (Please read this carefully!): Most of you enrolled in the class because you have an interest in the environment. We will cover many topics in the class. However, it may be we don’t get to the one topic you are particularly interested. This project is designed to give you an opportunity to learn more about an environmental problem that is of interest to you and to educate your peers on this issue. You may choose any environmental problem, but you must clear it with me first. For the project, you will present the environmental problem to the class and write a paper about the particular problem. I have included a general outline for both the presentation and paper below.

You will be required to find at least 5 references on the topic. These references must consist of both books and peer-reviewed journal articles. You may use the internet as a reference, but it cannot be a primary reference and it will not count towards the 5 required references. If you need help finding articles, please let me know and I will help you!

You will also be required to contact at least one organization that is acting to solve this environmental problem. Usually these will be non-profit organizations or government agencies. You can simply call them or send an email asking them for more information about the problem or any further questions that you might have about the issue. This is a great way to get additional references; you can ask them if they have any they can recommend. You will need to document this correspondence and include it as an appendix in your paper. Paper Outline: Your paper should be 6-8 pages long double-spaced. You will be graded on basic grammar, clarity, and your ability to following the instructions for the assignment. Here is a general outline for your paper. You may want to modify this slightly depending upon your environmental problem, if so, come and talk to me first!

I. Introduction II. Location Description a. Describe the geography associated with the problem III. Specifics of the problem a. What is the science behind the problem? b. Why does anyone care? c. How did the problem come about? IV. Larger consequences of the problem a. Are there other cases of the same problem elsewhere? b. Are there global consequences to this problem? V. Solutions a. What are the potential solutions to this problem? b. Has this solution been applied elsewhere with success, why or why not? VI. Conclusion a. Do you think this problem will ever be resolved? b. What is your personal stand on the problem? c. Are there any over-arching lessons to be learned from this problem? VII. Appendix 1 a. Documentation of correspondence with organization involved in resolving this environmental problem.

Presentation: Each presentation should be roughly 20 minutes long. You can use any medium to deliver the presentation. However, probably the best is Powerpoint. You will be graded on clarity of your presentation, organization of your presentation, and ingenuity…yes, I want to be entertained! Here is a general guide on how to organize your presentation:

I. Title slide with your name and title of the presentation II. Outline of what you are going to talk about III. From here on in, follow the outline from your paper IV. The end!

Please feel free to touch base with me if you need help with creating your presentation or have any questions.