DR. JONATHAN M. HUSCH JANUARY 31, 2008

ENV-100: INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

TERM PAPER TOPICS LIST AND INSTRUCTIONS

1) INTRODUCTION AND POSSIBLE TOPICS

Listed below are some possible topics for your 7-10 page term paper. You may select all or part of a listed topic or you may select one of you own choosing. Be creative. Dare to be different! Regardless of what topic you select, you must clear it with me before you begin work on it. In order to prevent more than one person from doing exactly the same topic, all topic selections will be on a first-come, first-served basis. The longer you wait, the less likely your desired topic will still be available. Please note that an official notification to me of your topic and a one-paragraph summary of what you plan to write about is due to me by no later than the end of class on February 14. However, feel free to get it to me (well) before that date.

1) Oil drilling in the Alaskan wilderness: National security or national tragedy?

2) Beach erosion: We control nature or let nature control us?

3) Global warming: Hot problem or just a lot of hot air?

4) Impacts of global warming: Is it really “the end of the world as we know it?”

5) Atmospheric ozone depletion: Overblown or under appreciated?

6) Achieving a sustainable society: Possibility or pipe dream?

7) Crude oil: Is the well really running dry?

8) Athabasca tar sands: Energy savior or environmental disaster.

9) Solar energy: Now or never?

10) Fusion power: In our future or just in our dreams?

11) Fuel cells: Hydrogen hit or hydrogen bomb?

12) Mineral resources: Are they really in short supply? And what if they are?

13) Mining for metals versus the negative environmental impacts: Whose corner are you in?

14) Environmental worldviews: Which one do you see?

15) Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Repository: Part of the solution or part of the problem?

16) Zero population growth: Environmental solution or economic disaster?

17) Modern agriculture: Feeding the world or raping the land?

18) Full-cost pricing: Environmental salvation or economic ruin?

19) Reducing pollution: Free market forces or government regulations?

20) Reducing pollution: Control or prevention?

21) Free trade agreements: Environmental nightmare or economic dream?

22) The widespread us of antibiotics: Reducing disease or creating them?

23) Getting rid of solid wastes: Burn it or bury it?

24) Pesticides: Food on our plate or poisons on our land?

25) Use of public lands: Protecting habitats or producing wealth?

26) The gray wolf in Yellowstone: Ecosystem restoration or livestock predation?

27) Radon: The worst indoor pollutant or the worst case of hype?

28) Fresh water supplies: Running out or running on?

29) Forest fires: Manage them or let them do their damage?

30) Ecotourism: Environmentally sound or just sounds good?

2) PURPOSE AND FORMAT OF PAPER

From the above list it seems fairly obvious that I want your paper to deal with both sides of whatever issue you select. My purpose for doing this is to force you to understand and think about both sides of a controversial environmental issue. The format of your paper, therefore, should be divided into at least the following four major sections (or something like them):

1) Introduction of the issue (with background sources and information)

2) Arguments in favor of a particular position (with supporting data, documentation, and sources)

3) Arguments against a particular position (or in favor of the opposing position; again with supporting data, documentation, and sources)

4) Which side of the argument do you believe is the correct one (once again with supporting data, documentation, and sources)

3) SOURCES AND REFERENCES

All sources of information, data, ideas, or words not your own (including graphs, diagrams, or pictures) must be appropriately cited and referenced (details on format and how to do this will be given to you later in the semester). Rest assured that I will be checking you on this very carefully. Plagiarism of any sort will not be tolerated. For more on this issue, please refer to The Source and the Department of Geological and Marine Sciences’ Statement of Academic Responsibility that was attached to the class syllabus.

You must use at least six approved sources of information (this is an absolute minimum), of which no more than half may be web sites. However, journal articles or other written sources of information (books, newspapers, magazines, etc.) may be retrieved from either the library or electronically. Keep in mind that there is a lot of junk on the web. Just because it is on some web site doesn’t mean it’s scientifically or factually valid. I would suggest that you try to limit your web sites to those sponsored by a governmental agency (e.g. Environmental Protection Agency), an educational institution (college or university), a professional organization (e.g. National Association of Environmental Professionals) or a recognized advocacy group (e.g. National Audubon Society or Sierra Club). If in doubt about quality of a web site, check with me.

4) PAPER EVALUATION

The total number of points you receive for all turned-in work will determine the final grade for your term paper. Maximum points given for each part of the assignment are as follows:

1) The topic selection and summary paragraph (due 2/14) is worth 5 points

2) The two-page outline with sources (due 3/6) is worth 15 points

3) The first final draft of the paper (due 4/3) is worth 30 points (note that this is NOT a “rough draft”)

4) The revised final draft of the paper (due 4/24 if you decide to submit one) is worth 50 points

Note: The deadlines given here and on the syllabus are very real and late submissions will be penalized.

Further handouts, providing details of paper requirements, will be provided to you as necessary. If you have any questions at any time, do not hesitate to ask me. Good luck, good researching, and good writing!