Reference no: EM133791178

Homework: Environmental Science

Critical Thinking Paper: The Ecological Footprint

General Instructions: read carefully. We will discuss it in class, too.

This homework is designed to achieve objectives: (i) locating and appropriately citing quality sources of information on environmental topics; (ii) correct application of rhetorical or logical arguments using high quality evidence on environmental issues; (iii) written synthesis of information from two or more sources, addressing contrary or multiples sides of an argument about an environmental issue; (iv) and effectively showing how a main take home point is the logical conclusion for the essay based on evidence presented earlier in the piece in the context of the environment and sustainability.

Specific Instructions

This paper will address the question:

"How can we reduce the global ecological footprint and our own contribution to that footprint?"

Use information in your textbook, publication Ecological Footprint Accounting for Countries: Updates and Results of National Footprint Accounts, 2012-2018[1] (download free from Resources | Free Full-Text | Ecological Footprint Accounting for Countries: Updates and Results of the National Footprint Accounts, 2012-2018 and one article from a peer-reviewed journal to write an essay that addresses these points:

I. Define "ecological footprint" and discuss why this concept is important to sustainable living.

II. What components go into the footprint calculation for a nation? Per capita, what is the range of national ecological footprints from the largest to the smallest? According to your research), what is the relationship of the entire human population's footprint to the earth's ability to support us?

III. Discuss the relative ecological impact of countries worldwide. In other words, which are the top five ranked total ecological footprint of country's population footprint (global hectares)? Use this website: Open Data Platform.

IV. Find an article from the peer-reviewed literature that discusses the ecological footprint of a nation (other than the US) or a region of the world. The article could focus on one part of the footprint such as energy consumption, consumption of goods, or food production/ consumption. Briefly summarize what the author(s) were researching in their paper. How does their work help us understand the differences in people's ecological footprint around the world? What can this nation/area do to reduce their footprint?

V. Use yourself as an example of how someone in the US, a developed nation, could reduce his/her footprint. First, use the Ecological Footprint calculator at Ecological Footprint Calculator to calculate your own ecological footprint. What were your scores in the four categories: food, mobility, shelter, and goods/services? What was your total footprint and how many earths would be needed to support the world's human population at your lifestyle? At the end of the quiz, click on "What you can do: Individuals". What actions could you take to reduce your footprint?

VI. Based on your knowledge of this subject, which presents the biggest problem to reaching a sustainable human ecological footprint, human population growth in less developed countries or affluence in more developed countries? Can we shrink our ecological footprints while creating environmental benefits? What are examples of sustainable solutions for the future? Explain your view, supporting your perspective with facts or expert opinion. Do not use inflammatory language. Be sure your argument is logical.

Use appropriate facts, data, and terminology in your paper. Be factual and do not give value judgments. Avoid redundancy or vague sentences. Be sure each sentence includes new data or ideas that move the discussion forward.

Avoiding Plagiarism. You must convey the information from the sources you use totally in your own words. This is paraphrasing. Be sure to always cite the source of your paraphrased information using in-text citations. If your paraphrase is close to the exact words used by another author or if, in fact, you use the exact words of an author without citing that author, then you are plagiarizing. Plagiarizing is a form of stealing and is a punishable offense at San Jose State University (included in syllabus). Changing one or a few words from another author is not paraphrasing; it is plagiarizing. Rephrase language that is close to another author's words. If you use an author's exact words you must quote those words and then cite the author.

Style, Construction, and Organization. This paper must exhibit good sentence construction, syntax, and punctuation. If you are unclear on what constitutes correct writing style, please consult the APA style manual, Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association,

Here are a few important points on sentence construction:

1. Every sentence must have a subject and verb. Do not submit incomplete sentences.

2. Include only one or two ideas in a sentence. Avoid "run-on" sentences. If your sentence is too long, divide it into two.

3. Each sentence must have a purpose and must advance the discussion.

4. Use active verbs that require a subject be named. In other words, avoid the passive tense. An example of a passive sentence is, "A pamphlet will be written." State who will do the writing to make this an active sentence, such as, "The City Fire Department will write a pamphlet describing safe evacuation procedures." This new sentence also includes valuable explanatory information.