Environmental Science Research Essay
Topic: The Effects of Human Population Growth on the Environment
Write an research essay on the effects of Human Population Growth on the Environment. You must reference “Tragedy of the Common” as one of the
5 sources. In addition that article, you must find at least 1 more scholarly research paper (that is the scientist actually did a research and published their
finding on a scientific journal). And 3 more credible sources from the website online such as EPA (total of at least 5 articles in all).
This Essay will be counted as a test grade. It is due on Friday, January 29th, 2015. You need to both submit to the turnitin.com (submit by 12:00 pm
on Friday, January 29th, 2015) and print out a hard copy ready to give me as you enter the class on the due date. Please do not ask me to go print in
class, it will consider as late! Both the submission to turnitin.com and a hard copy should be on time. Points will be taken off if either one are not
submitted by the due date. In order word, you may submit your paper on time to turnitin, but late for hard copy or vice versa. Both scenarios are
considered as late and deserve penalty. You also need to schedule to meet with Ms. Leal for at least one session to go over your paper. Minus 10
points if you don’t.
Your essay should be 3-4 pages, double-space, Times New Roman, font 12pts, and in APA format for essays. The title page, the abstract, and
reference page should be separated at not counted as a part of those 3-4 pages. Each paragraph must be at least 10 sentences long. There are at least
5 required paragraphs: Introduction, 3 body paragraphs (it can be more than 3 body paragraphs), and a conclusion. You must write in 3rd person point of
view. You should click on the “Justify” button on word document to align the text to both the left and right margins just like my paper here.
Please understand the followings, otherwise not a good paper and grade. I do not like:
a. Reading vast quantity of quotes in your essay; you should “paraphrase” the quotes instead. I want to read your writing and not the authors!
b. Repeated words or phrases within your sentences or paragraphs!
c. Reading low level vocabularies, so utilize your thesaurus and dictionary for great vocabularies to improve your paper. I highly recommend SAT
vocabularies.
d. Reading 1st and 2nd person writing style. I want 3rd person for my science class, always!
e. Reading senseless sentences which reflect the lack of understanding from your part. Write in a way that reader fully understand your argument
and show them that you understand the issue comprehensively.
f. Run-on sentences or too short sentences.
g. Lengthy or wordy sentences; rather your sentences should be explicitly clear and straight to the points.
h. Unprofessional writing such as mentioning Mr. Lam in your essay or jokes. Take it seriously as if you’re a lawyer trying to persuade the jurors!
i. Essay without peer review; thus, you must schedule with Ms. Leal and Ms. Walker to go over your paper! I have sent them the rubric already.
CITING SOURCES:
WHENEVER you look to another source for information, whether it is your textbook, another book, a magazine, or the internet, you should CITE it.
Citations in a scientific paper or lab write-up let your reader know where you acquired information if the source is something other than your original
scientific work. Citations are similar to footnotes and endnotes but are much simpler, and easier to include in a paper. Citations are placed at the end of a
thought—usually a sentence, sometimes a whole paragraph, and rarely partway through a sentence. Examples of information you might cite include facts
about a species, analytical methods, details about geographic locations, previous conclusions of similar research, and previous conclusions contrary to
your own. Citations should occur both in-text and at the end of the paper in “References” list. We will use APA format for citations in Environmental
Science.
PLEASE. PLEASE. remember that websites should be properly cited as well!!! For example, in the document text I would cite this EPA website as
(EPA, 2004) and in the reference list at the end as:
United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2004, July 22). 9 New hazardous waste sites added to National Priorities List. Superfund
Website Retrieved August 19, 2004, from http://www.epa.gov/superfund/accomp/news/npl_072204.htm
For more information on APA format, follow the links on the class website or go directly to: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_apa.html
Environmental Science APA Format Quick Reference
In-Text Citation Format
One Author: (last name, date of publication) (Smith, 2001)
Two Authors: (last names, date of publication) (Smith & Jones, 1998)
Three or more Authors:
First Time: (last names, date of publication) (Smith, Jones, & Miller, 2000)
Afterwards: (lead author et al., date of publication) (Smith et al., 2000)
Citing a specific part of source:
(last name(s), date of publication, page number) (Smith, 2001, p. 217)
**To cite corporate authors (e.g. EPA, NIH) or websites simply treat the website creator or agency as an “author”.
EXAMPLES: (EPA, 2001); (BBC, 1997)
References
This is where you put all the “other” information about the sources you used.
The general format for non-journal text resources is: Author(s) last name, Initial. (Year of publication). Title. Publication City, STATE: Publisher.
EXAMPLES:
1) Jones, R. (1998). Studying Forests. New York: Random House.
2) Miller, T. and Roberts, K. (2000). Deep Mining vs. Surface Mining. Charleston, WV: Miners Press.
The general format for journal resources is:
Author(s) last name, Initial. (Year of publication). Article title. Journal Title, volume number (issue number), page numbers.
EXAMPLES:
3) Smith, D. (2001). The reproductive characteristics of Thuidium delicatulum. Science, 279, 1678-1681.
4) Anderson, G. (1998). The importance of clean glassware in analytical chemistry. Journal of Lab Methods and Experimental Design, 2, 198-205.
WEBSITES:
The general format for electronic/webresources is:
Author(s) last name, Initial.[Use organization if no author given] (Year of publication, Month day if given). Article title.
Periodical Title, volume number (issue number if given). Retrieved on month, day, year from http:siteurl.etc.
EXAMPLE:
5) United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2004, July 22). 9 New hazardous waste sites added to Superfund National Priorities List. Superfund
Website. Retrieved August 19, 2004, from http://www.epa.gov/superfund/accomp/news/npl_072204.htm
Rubric:
Category
Introduction
Focus &
Sequencing
Support
Conclusion
Grammar &
Mechanics
APA Style &
Unacceptable
(Below Standards)
1
Does not adequately
convey topic. Does not
describe subtopics to be
reviewed. Lacks adequate
theses statement.
Little evidence material is
logically organized into
topic, subtopics or related
to topic. Many transitions
are unclear or nonexistent.
Acceptable
(Meets Standards)
2
Conveys topic, but not key
question(s). Describes
subtopics to be reviewed.
General theses statement.
Good
(Occasionally Exceeds)
3
Conveys topic and key
question(s). Clearly
delineates subtopics to be
reviewed. General thesis
statement.
Most material clearly
All material clearly related
related to subtopic, main
to subtopic, main topic and
topic. Material may not be logically organized within
organized within subtopics. subtopics. Clear, varied
Attempts to provide variety transitions linking
of transitions
subtopics, and main topic.
Few sources supporting
thesis. Sources
insignificant or
unsubstantiated.
Does not summarize
evidence with respect to
thesis statement.
Does not discuss the
impact of researched
material on topic.
Sources generally
acceptable but not
peer-reviewed research
(evidence) based
Review of key conclusions.
Some integration with
thesis statement. Discusses
impact of researched
material on topic.
Grammatical errors or
spelling & punctuation
Substantially detract from
the paper.
Errors in APA style
detract substantially from
the paper. Word choice is
Excellent
(Exceeds Standards)
4
Strong introduction of
topic’s key question(s),
terms. Clearly delineates
subtopics to be reviewed.
Specific thesis statement.
All material clearly related
to subtopic, main topic.
Strong organization and
integration of material
within subtopics. Strong
transitions linking subtopics,
and main topic.
Sources well selected
Strong peer-reviewed
to support thesis with some Research based support for
research in support of thesis. thesis.
Strong review of key
conclusions. Strong
integration with thesis
statement. Discusses
impact of researched
material on topic.
Strong review of key
conclusions. Strong
integration with thesis
statement. Insightful
discussion of impact of the
researched material on topic.
Very few grammatical,
spelling or punctuation
errors interfere with
reading the paper.
Grammatical errors
or spelling & punctuation
are rare and do not detract
from the paper.
The paper is free of
grammatical errors and
spelling & punctuation.
Errors in APA
style are noticeable. Word
choice occasionally
Rare errors in APA
style that do not detract
from the paper. Scholarly
No errors in APA style.
Scholarly style. Writing is
flowing and easy to follow.
SCORE
Communication
Citations &
References
Follow all
instructions
Total
informal in tone. Writing
is choppy, with many
awkward or unclear
passages.
Reference and citation
errors detract significantly
from paper.
informal in tone. Writing
has a few awkward or
unclear passages.
style. Writing has minimal
awkward of unclear
passages.
Two references or citations
missing or incorrectly
written.
One reference or citations
missing or incorrectly
written.
All references and citations
are correctly written and
present
Follow most of instructions
Follow all instructions
Did not follow instructions Follow some instructions