UNIV X350 The Global Environment
Fall 2006
Essay 1: Value of People and Resources
Assignment: Write a 1000–1200 word essay, double spaced, to evaluate the monetary values and ecological
footprints of human beings. Measure and express the monetary values in Euros, U.S. dollars, Chinese yuan
and Indian rupees. Use the attached grading guide (p. 2) as your cover page. Print your name and essay title
on the cover page. Circle your activity time and instructor’s name. Print the word count of your essay at the
bottom of the last page. Read the grading guide carefully before starting this assignment.
As part of your essay, include a table that compares your monetary value and economic footprint to those of
an average human being, an average resident of the U.S., an average resident of China, and an average
resident of India. See Table 1 below. Explain how you arrive at your data. Show and explain all calculations
and justify your data.
€
Monetary Value
$
¥
Rs
Global Ecologic
Footprint (Earths)†
You
Average person in world
Average person in the U.S.
Average person in China
Average person in India
Table 1—Human Economic Values and Global Ecological Footprint Comparison
Please respond to the following questions in your essay:
1. Define the following terms as used in a global environmental context
A) Justice
B) Sustainability
2. What do these figures/comparisons lead you to conclude about the State of the World? Is this state
A) Just? Why or why not?
B) Sustainable? Why or why not?
3. What could you do to make the world more
A) Just?
B) Sustainable?
Charts, tables, and maps are appropriate ways of conveying information, and essays that use none of these
will receive lower scores. At the same time, keep in mind this is an essay, not just a list of statistics and
calculations. Charts, tables, and maps should play a supporting role, not become the main characters. Your
overall objective is to weave these many strands of information into an interesting and informative narrative
about economic valuation of people and resources considered in a global context.
Important notes: Pay attention to the units of quantities presented in your essay. Different sources use
different units, so you may have to do some unit conversions to get them in the same units.
Your textbook AAAS Atlas of Population and Environment could make a good starting point. It’s a
wonderful resource.
DUE: Tuesday, October 17 before 4:10 p.m., before the beginning of class. 10% penalty if late.
† As determined from http://www.footprintnetwork.org/gfn_sub.php?content=myfootprint. This
link from the Global Footprint Network will take you to a calculator sponsored by the Earth Day
Network (http://www.earthday.net/) and Redefining Progress (http://www.rprogress.org/).
Essay #1 Grading Guide
The Global Environment
Fall 2006
Name:
Essay Title:
Circle activity-section time and your activity instructor’s name:
W12-2 Tom Ruehr
W2-2 Bud Evans
1
Criteria
2
3
Table 1 Contents:
Explanations and
Calculations
One or more items
missing, determined
incorrectly, or
inadequately
explained
Question 1: Define
Justice & Sustainability
Missing one or more
definition.
Questions 2 & 3:
Evaluate State of the
World & Your Actions
Poor
Average
Above average
Information Quality,
Maps and Figures
No unique
information
Little unique or
helpful information
Some unique and
helpful information,
adds to essay
Topic Sentences &
Organization
Lacks topic sentences Only one topic
and has no logical
sentence, confusing
sequence
sequence.
Evidence, Reasoning &
Critical Thinking
Poor evidence,
reasoning or critical
thinking.
More evidence,
reasoning, or critical
thinking missing.
Clarity, Grammar &
Spelling
More than four
grammar and/or
spelling errors
References
No references
Three or four
grammar and/or
spelling errors
Too few references or
more than two citation
errors.
This Grading Guide
Missing more than
two items.
Overall Quality
Several mistakes, met
Poor, hastily written,
Overall good, only
minimum
several items missing
minor concerns
requirements
Th12-2 David Braun
4
Points
All items present,
All items present,
determined correctly,
determined correctly;
explained clearly, and
explanation
well supported by
incomplete or unclear.
evidence.
Neither definition is
One definition is
Both definitions are
clear, appropriate, and clear, appropriate, and clear, appropriate, and
applies to the global applies to the global apply to the global
environment.
environment.
environment.
All items present; one
determined or
explained incorrectly;
incomplete or unclear.
Missing two items
Addresses both
questions clearly &
completely.
Great deal of
interesting, unique,
and helpful
information
Every section begins
with a clearly stated
Some topic sentences
topic sentence,
and logical sequence.
logical, interesting
sequence
Each topic sentence
A lack of evidence,
supported by
reasoning, or critical
evidence, reasoning,
thinking.
and critical thinking.
One or two errors in
grammar/spelling
All grammar and
spelling are correct
Enough references,
Enough references,
cited completely &
some cited incorrectly
correctly. Has authors
Included as cover page
Missing one item
and filled in correctly.
Outstanding, model for
others
Total (40)
Word count of your essay at the bottom of the last page and entered here: ______________________________
Comments:
Describe and explain all figures, tables, maps, and calculations in the narrative. Each has a number and caption.
Make use of active voice to communicate clearly and concisely. Apply the paramedic method by Richard Lanham
to improve the quality of writing. See http://writing2.richmond.edu/writing/wweb/concise.html
Number pages.
Some items in rubric based on Susanne Hirsch, San Diego-Biarritz Comparison [internet]. San Diego State
University College of Education; [updated August 16, 1996, cited March 18, 2006]. Available from:
http://edweb.sdsu.edu/triton/SDBiarritz/rubric.html.