While SUST 124 is intended to survey a broad range of global environmental issue

While SUST 124 is intended to survey a broad range of global environmental issues, it is also critical to understand how those issues operate at local scales. As such, each of you will investigate a social, economic, or environmental issue local to Geneseo, a nearby community, or your hometown. The issue must relate to sustainability. You will conduct research and write a formal paper on your chosen issue. Topics must be related to the six broad themes that we are covering, and may include (but are not limited to):
Food: industrial agriculture, sustainability, local, organic, GMOs, food access/equity, etc.
Water resources: shortages, contamination, irrigation, dams, water access/equity, etc.
Energy: oil, natural gas (Marcellus shale), coal, nuclear, wind, solar, hydropower, geothermal, tidal, etc.
Resource degradation: water, air, soil, forests, etc.
Waste management: wastewater treatment, solid waste, hazardous waste, health hazard inequity, etc.
Ecosystems: biodiversity, deforestation, desertification, invasive species, threatened/endangered species, wetlands, conservation, etc.
Your paper will be carefully reviewed for organization, content, and grammar, all of which will be considered in grading. You must upload a copy of your paper to Brightspace that meets the following technical specifications:
4-6 pages in length for the body of the paper (excluding title page, images, and references).
12-point font size.
Double-spaced.
Times New Roman font.
One inch margins.
Page numbers (do not number the title page).
In-text citations and a References page using the APA format. Purdue has a very good guide to the APA style.
Write as objectively as possible. Even though this is a “local issue” avoid first person and extensive narratives.
Note: Do not use Chat GPT or any other AI writing assistance. Independent research and writing is required and AI assistance will be considered academic dishonesty.
If you are more familiar with another standard writing style, you may use that instead.
Your document must include the following components:
Title page. List the title of your paper, your name(s), course name, and the date.
Incorporate at least: 1) one peer-reviewed scholarly article, 2) relevant material from lectures, 3) two non-scholarly sources (newspaper, popular journals, etc.), and 4) one non-literary source (examples: a dataset, an interview, a time series of maps/aerial photos (in addition to a site map), a video clip, a brochure/pamphlet/newsletter, photographs). Note: Google Scholar often returns non-scholarly results! Use the Milne Library search engines to find true scholarly literature. Scholarly literature appears in peer-reviewed journals, is usually authored by university professors, and has complete citations and references. If you are not sure if a source is scholarly, ask! Blogs, Wikipedia, online encyclopedias, or websites focused on K-12 or college education are not appropriate sources.
Clearly label your scholarly and non-literary sources in your References. After the official APA citation, simply add “Scholarly Source” and “Non-literary Source”.
Introduction –Provide a concise thesis statement that clarifies how your paper will address your local issue. Options may include taking a stand on a controversial issue, suggesting a solution to a problem, or discussing the issue in the framework of contemporary environmental thought. Be sure to relate your introduction to material/concepts from class lectures. Citation for lectures/notes: (SUST 124, 2023). You do not need to include a Reference for lectures notes as the citations are enough. Use this section to clearly identify your issue and explain it in the context of your sources.
Additional sections as warranted by your topic. Make sure that you fully document:
The nature/origin of the issue.
A brief history/timeline if relevant.
Agencies/organizations involved with the issue, and what roles they play.
Challenges/barriers to addressing the issue.
Incorporate material/concepts from class lectures and cite (SUST 124, 2023).
Discussion/Conclusion. Restate your thesis and express your thoughts/critical commentary (avoiding first person) and conclusions.
A map. You must include at least one site map that shows the location of your issue. The map must be referenced in the text, and have a descriptive caption. It should also have a caption and citation. This is in addition to the non-literary source Example: Figure 1. Map of the oil spill (Author, Year).
References page in APA style.
This is my research proposal for this paper.
This report will describe the impacts and sustainability issues from increased nitrogen wash into the Long Island Sound from fertilizers and faulty sewage treatment plans in Huntington, NY. They cause algae blooms when the algae dies leading to factors that negatively impact local marine life. The decomposers break down the dead plants and use up the oxygen in the water. This report will also focus on the efforts being made in Huntington to improve these situations that are occurring including clean up efforts, new legislation, and better choices by the citizens of Huntington. There are currently a lot of different methods and strategies being used to get this problem to become less relevant. New Suffolk County legislation laws are being placed to protect the environment and our waters. We must also educate Long Island citizens more on the effects that this has on the environment and to us that are living there. Also, this paper will include citizens of Huntington’s opinions, interviews with people that live there, local media from Newsday and scholarly articles. Overall, this report will show readers how one of the wealthiest places to live in the U.S, has these sustainability problems that are underseen and pushed under the rug.