professional academic journal relevant H u m a n i t i e s

The research paper should develop your outline into a full, 5-6 page (double spaced) paper. References/bibliography do not count to the page total. Please use 12-point, Times New Roman (or equivalent size) font, and one inch margins.

Your assignment, submitted on Canvas, must include your name, course name/number, and quarter/date. Please submit your assignment in a file format that is legible on Canvas / Turn It In, such as .doc, .docx, .rtf, .txt, .pdf (but not .pages).

Your paper must include a title, introduction, conclusion, references/bibliography, and a clear and explicit comparison of political ecology and another framework for understanding and providing solutions to the environmental problem you discuss.

This is the grading rubric I will use:

A+ This paper accomplishes everything that is indicated for an A paper, and it is also outstanding in its quality of writing and research, creativity, and argument. I will recommend the authors of these papers to expand them further into an article that can be submitted for publication in a relevant undergraduate research journal, or possibly in collaboration with me in a professional academic journal relevant for political ecology.

A This paper addresses a clear environmental issue and makes an explicit and clear argument using the framework of political ecology. It draws upon at least 5 academic references, engaging substantially with them in analysis and debate about different and competing frameworks to understand the problem/proposed solutions to the problem. The paper explicitly compares and contrasts apolitical with political ecology frameworks, and correctly engages with political ecology themes beyond a mere description of an environmental issue, a simple description of government regulations (or proposed regulations), and/or a simple description of personal knowledge/preferences, and/or a simple description of a proposed solution.

B The paper addresses a clear environmental issue, and even though the political ecology framework might not be very explicit, it goes beyond a mere description of an environmental issue, a simple description of government regulations (or proposed regulations), a simple account of personal knowledge/preferences, and a simple description of a proposed solution – the paper acknowledges different and competing understandings, frameworks, and solutions in some capacity, and makes an argument related to political ecology themes. The paper draws on at least 4 academic references, and attempts to engage them in substantial discussion and analysis.

C The paper shows significant challenges to address a clear environmental issue, and/or use a political ecology framework, and/or develop a clear and explicit argument about how it differs from other frameworks. The paper draws upon at least 4 academic references, but may not engage with them substantially in its discussion and/or analysis. The discussion and/or analysis of the environmental issue is mostly focused on a description of the problem, and/or regulations (or lack of regulations), and/or personal knowledge/preferences, and/or proposed solutions. The paper may be poorly written, unclear, and/or sloppy in its general presentation, format, expression, etc. but at least it has an argument.

D The paper does not satisfy the requirements for the assignment, but it is at least a fully developed essay on a topic generally relevant to the course. The paper does not draw upon at least 4 academic references, and/or there is some problem with the references and/or the use made of the references. The account of environmental issues (or related issues) is generally descriptive, lacking analysis and/or attempt to engage with themes and debates examined in the readings, lectures, and discussions of the course. The paper may be poorly written, unclear, and/or sloppy in its general presentation, format, argument, expression, etc.

F The paper does not address an environmental issue (or at least does not do so clearly and explicitly enough); and/or it engages with less than 4 academic references (or cites them in a very superficial and/or useless manner); and/or it does not attempt to engage with themes and debates examined in the readings, lectures, and discussions of the course; and/or it is so poorly written, unclear, and/or sloppy that no coherent argument can be assessed.

Note on cheating and plagiarism: Please review the Academic Integrity policies of our university, and the statement about this topic in our class syllabus. All submissions are evaluated through an anti-cheating and anti-plagiarism software. Make sure to use proper quotation, citation, and reference practices – and consult with the writing center for support if you are unsure about this.