RESEARCH PAPER: SOCIOLOGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE
GOAL: To evaluate one’s contribution to climate change and to comment on current U.S. policy with regard to climate change. Knowledge of this material will be demonstrated in this research paper.
There is a bit of preparatory work to complete before the writing of this paper, so please complete the following tasks.
TASKS:
1. Please read the textbook information regarding the environment and also the societal transformations (Hunter/Gatherer, Pastoral/Horticultural, Agrarian, Industrial, Post-Industrial, etc.)
2. Please be sure to review the textbook and PowerPoint content with regard to the terms “status” and “role”. Please note that students often confuse these terms as they are used somewhat differently in Sociology than in general discourse.
“Status” refers to a socially defined position-one occupies a status. One way to identify a status is to complete the sentence “I am a _______”. “Student”, “daughter”, and “employee” are all examples of statuses.
“Roles” are related to statuses in that these are the expectations, responsibilities, and privileges associated with a status-one performs a role. One way to identify the roles of a given status would be to identify a status and then complete the sentence “I am expected to ________”. For the status of “student”, some roles would be to come to class, complete homework, and write research papers.
It is useful to create a list of the statuses you have and the roles associated with each in preparation for writing this paper.
Please also review the larger categories of “social variables” and “social institutions”.
3. Please click the link below, which is for The Nature Conservancy’s Carbon Footprint Calculator. Please read the information about carbon footprints and then follow the directions to complete your personal carbon footprint calculation. You will need the resulting amount for writing the paper.
https://www.nature.org/greenliving/carboncalculator/index.htm
4. Please click the link below, which is to a BBC site that evaluates the impact on climate change from foods that are eaten:
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-46459714
Please find the results for at least 3 foods that you consume by using the “How do your food choices impact the environment?” activity.
5. Please read the following articles:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/08/01/magazine/climate-change-losing-earth.html
https://www.audubon.org/magazine/summer-2018/how-us-government-aggressively-censoring-climate
https://www.defense.gov/News/Article/Article/612710/
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-46384067
https://www.newyorker.com/news/dispatch/tangier-the-sinking-island-in-the-chesapeake
Please watch the following TED Talk:
(NOTE: Please pay attention to the date of the above”¦)
Please watch the following documentary High Tide in Dorchester:
Please review the information from NASA’s website regarding adaptation and mitigation-be sure to understand the difference between the two terms:
http://climate.nasa.gov/solutions/adaptation-mitigation/
Please research the means by which you can reduce your personal carbon footprint.
6. Please respond to the following prompts for this paper-each of these can be a clear and concise paragraph:
a. What is your personal carbon footprint? What is your reaction to that number? (This corresponds to Task #3 above.) Which foods did you choose for Task 4 and what is your reaction to that exercise?
b. Which of your statuses and roles contribute to your carbon footprint (please be sure to apply the terms accurately as described above)? Be specific and provide examples of each to illustrate how they contribute to your carbon footprint. NOTE: Include the results of your food choices from Task #4 above as well.
c. What are your overall reactions to the articles and videos from Task #5? Be specific and include information from those sources in your response. Please be sure to use quotation marks for any direct quotes. To what degree are you concerned or not concerned about climate change and for what reason(s)?
d. Research the means by which to reduce your carbon footprint-what are you interested in actually doing to reduce your impact? Alternately, if you are not interested in reducing your carbon footprint, please explain the rationale for your decision and use scholarly sources to support your point(s).
Please use APA in-text citations for your sources and complete a References page.
Research Paper Requirements:
1. Your paper should be typed in Times New Roman 12-point font and double-spaced.
2. Your paper should include both in-text citation and a References page as per the American Psychological Association (APA).
3. Your completed research paper should include the following:
a. Page 1″¦. Title page
b. Pages 2+”¦ These pages will be the body of your paper addressing Task 6 a-d above. Be sure to use in-text citations throughout the body to support your paper.
c. Please remember to have an introductory paragraph, which includes your topic sentence; the body; and a concluding paragraph. The syllabus contains additional information to that effect.
d. Final page”¦. The References Page
4. Your paper should be written in your own voice and should not be overly cited from other works. Do however, use the linked resources above to support your points. Your paper will be evaluated though SafeAssign. This is a feature in Blackboard that reviews papers to ensure original content. You will be able to re-submit after review the SafeAssign report-that will give you the opportunity to correct any citation issues.
Useful Research Links:
Please visit the links below regarding using the CCBC library databases.
1. Information on citing papers in the APA or MLA format:
http://libraryguides.ccbcmd.edu/Citations
2. This entire page listed below is completely dedicated to locating articles in the sociology databases.
http://libraryguides.ccbcmd.edu/sociology
Intragovernmental Panel on Climate Change
http://www.ipcc.ch/
United Nations Paris Agreement
https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/the-paris-agreement
Wikipedia is not an acceptable resource.
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