Task:1. Your task is to examine and research an environmental problem or issue of your choice. This
can be at the local level or something on a global scale – just make sure it is a defined
problem or issue. Then complete the project template to document your research (included)
a. Topics must connect Environmental Science and Physical Geography good choices
are things like deforestation
2. A draft of the project
a. This may be presented in point form
b. Upload to the Dropbox.
c. Extra credit may be given for completion if applicable
3. The final project must be typed – using APA format
a. Double spaced
b. Times New Roman font
c. 12 point
d. 1” margins all around
e. Please using section headings as provided in the outline and put spaces between each
section for readability
4. An outline template has been included to help you address the questions/sections required of
this type of term project
5. The project must use full paragraphs, point form is not permitted in the final product.
a. Each section in the template outline should be one paragraph minimum
6. Proper grammar and English conventions are required.
7. Students referencing and in-text citation using APA
8. At least 5 reputable sources must be included
a. Be aware sites like Wikipedia are not considered reputable sources, try using
government and other reputable professional organizational sites
9. See the grading rubric for details on the project evaluation
Research Project Template (delete unnecessary information, other than the cover page, each
section must be at least one paragraph):
1. Cover Page
a. Course Title
b. Project Title (should describe your topic)
c. Your name
d. Submission Date
e. Instructor and TA names
2. Describe the problem or issue
a. What is the issue or the problem?
b. Who does it impact?
c. How does it impact them?
d. What are the root causes of the problem?
e. Secondary or Tertiary problems it creates?
3. Demonstrate how this problem or issue is connected to the concepts learned in this class.
a. What chapters or concepts that we learned are present in the problem or issue?
Discuss how they are connected.
4. Conduct an organizational needs assessment of the problem or issue
a. Identify two organizations working on the problem or issue.
b. What does each organization do well in response to this problem or issue?
c. Compare and contrast how each organization’s approach to tackling the issue and
asses the effectiveness of each.
d. Identify criticisms of what each organization is lacking in their approach to the
problem or issue.
e. What could these organizations do better?
5. Provide at least 3 solutions to the problem (if you identify solutions in section 4 you may
restate them here)
a. One proposed solution should be your own
b. Outline the pros each solution
c. Outline the cons each solution (remember solutions can often have unintended
consequences)
6. Summary
a. Write a summary of your research stating the problem, its impact and how it could be
solved and what are the likely outcomes to this problem
i. Address questions like will it be resolved, will it get worse?
7. Reflection
a. Reflect on this experience and what you learned engaging in it.
8. References
a. Include at least 5 reputable sources, listed alphabetically.
Section
Problem or Issue Identified
Problem Impacts Identified
Connections made to
course learning
Organizational needs
analysis complete
Solutions provided
Summary provided
Reflection
References
Project formatted properly
Grammar and English
5
Problem is
clearly
Identified
Problem
impacts clearly
identified
Connection
clearly
identified
Analysis totally
complete
Required
solutions
provided
Complete
summary
provided
Detailed
reflections
provided
All required
references
provided
All aspects of
project
included and
properly
formatted
Perfect
presentation
3
Problem is
somewhat
broad
Problem
impacts
somewhat
broad
Connections
somewhat
broad
Analysis
mostly
complete
Most solutions
provided
Mostly detailed
summary
provided
Reflection is
somewhat
broad
Most
references
provided
Most aspects of
project
included and
properly
formatted
Minor
grammar or
English
mistake
1
Problem is
abstract or
vague
Problem
impacts
abstract or
vague
Connections
abstract or
vague
Analysis
Somewhat
complete
Some
solutions
provided
Somewhat
detailed
summary
provided
Reflection
abstract or
vague
Some
references
provided
Some aspects
of project
included and
properly
formatted
Noticeable
grammar or
English
mistakes
0
No
problem
identified
No impacts
identified
No
connections
identified
Analysis
incomplete
No
solutions
provided
No
summary
provided
No
reflection
provided
No
references
provided
Project not
formatted
properly
Major
grammar or
English
mistakes
The Earth-Sun Relationship
Mapping the
Earth
Temperature, Moisture &
Precipitation
Atmosphere & Ocean
Interactions
Weather, Climate and
Change
The Solid Earth
Fresh Water
Landforms: Water, Wind,
Waves, & Ice
Global Soils
Biogeographic Processes &
Global Biogeography
Putting It All Together:
Sustainability in the
Modern World