Academic Writing

Short research paper (4 single-spaced pages in 12-point font), using—and citing--at least 3 appropriate references, for 30% of your grade. Choose one of the prompts below. NOTE THAT PLAGIARISM—the use of others’ words without appropriate citations and/or quotation marks--IS EASIER TO DETECT THAN YOU MAY THINK, AND IT MAY RESULT IN A FAILING GRADE. If you are not sure how to quote and cite appropriately, please ask! Your grade will depend on the quality of your research (are your sources sufficient and well chosen), how well you support your conclusions, and the quality of your writing. You should evaluate and analyze, NOT just describe. Always keep in mind that you need to provide evidence to support claims that you make, and cite the sources of your evidence. CHoose 1 of the questions to answer please a) The World Bank has expressed alarm about the threat of climate change, yet environmentalists argue that its actions do not match its words—that is, that the World Bank continues to lend for projects that will produce carbon dioxide emissions far into the future. Review the arguments and write an assessment. A Google search using the term “world bank fossil fuel lending” will get you started. b) Africa’s elephants are being slaughtered at an astounding rate. “Social green” thinkers argue that global inequality--poverty in Africa on the one hand; wealthy consumers elsewhere in the world on the other hand—is producing this tragedy. Explain. c) c) “Fair trade,” in which consumers in wealthy countries voluntarily pay more for fair-trade certified products, is claimed to be a way by which the incomes of commodity producers in developing countries can be improved, in exchange for their agreement to improve the sustainability of their agricultural processes and refrain from exploitative labor practices. Assess fair trade: how effective is this type of certification program, and in what ways? Has it improved the situation of participating farmers? The environment? And how much of a contribution is it making to solving the overall problems of poverty and environmental destruction caused by commodity production? d) Many “free trade” agreements, beginning with NAFTA but including others such as CAFTA and individual agreements between the US and other countries, allow foreign investors to sue governments. (The new Trans-Pacific Partnership also contains this so-called “investor-to-state” provision.) The government of El Salvador, which recently banned gold mining because it is environmentally destructive, is currently being sued by an investor using the “investor-to-state” provisions of the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). Describe the case, and use it to explain why many environmentalists and social justice advocates are hostile to these provisions of “free trade” agreements.