Course Requirements:

Book Review -- 20 per cent

Submit Title/Author by: September 27th to Geeta Vaidyanathan gvaidyan@fes.uwaterloo.ca with the subject line: 218 book review

Length: 1000-1500 words

Assignment: Review a book related to some aspect of the sustainability of environmental and resource systems.

Guidelines:

A book review is differentiated from other essay formats by its readers and its function. The audience is someone who has not read the book, but who is interested in its subject matter and has some background in the discipline. The purpose of a book review is to summarize, analyze, and evaluate a book, and to show your critical acumen in so doing: then, to recommend, to criticize, or to dismiss the book according to careful judgement.

An analytical book review typically consists of three separate sections: introduction, summary and evaluation. Like any other essay, it should also contain a thesis statement that clarifies your reaction to the book. The introduction should provide background information - what is the book about? What is the author's purpose? What kind of audience is he/she writing for? How does the time frame the book was written in relate to its subject? Are there any special circumstances connected with the writing of this book? What sources has the author used? Obviously not all of these questions will be relevant to every book, but providing similar information helps to set the stage for the reader by providing a backdrop for understanding the main arguments.

The summary should outline the contents of the book, briefly sketching the main points and providing the author's arguments. This can be organized into chronological sections, separated by issues or however you feel best illustrates the content. Try to avoid a chapter by chapter rundown, instead attempt to identify themes and connections which flow throughout the book. You may choose to present a summary of the book separate from an evaluation section, or you may wish to integrate them, assessing the argument's as you present them.

The evaluation section should make up roughly half of the book review. Here you may ask some of the following questions:

How is the book organized? Are the divisions valid? Is anything left out?

What kind of assumptions does the author make in presenting the material? Are they stated or implied? Are they valid?

Does the book accomplish what it set out to do? Does the author's position change? Are there any contradictions or weak spots in the arguments? Does the author recognize those weaknesses or omissions? Your job is not only to analyze the contents but to present its strengths and weaknesses.

What kind of evidence is presented to support the author's ideas? Is it reliable and up to date? Are any of the data distorted or misinterpreted? Could any of the data be used to support a different case? Does the book leave out any evidence that might weaken its case? Is the author's position convincing?

Is the book clearly written and interesting to read? What did you think about the writing style? (repetitious? Too detailed? Not detailed enough? Unclear? Confusing? Full of jargon?)

Does the book raise issues that need further exploration? Does it present any challenges or leave unfinished business for the author or other scholars to pick up?

Did this book make you think about issues in a new way? Did it challenge you to evaluate your thoughts or previous notions about an aspect of environment/resource systems. If you were to explore one aspect of this book further (for example by writing a paper, or reading more books/articles), which topic would you choose?

To what extent would you recommend this book? How do you feel it fits in to the issues we have or will touch on in ERS 218? What effect has it had on you?

* Sections taken from:

- Margot Norther, Making Sense, 3rd Edition

- Joanne Buckley, Fit to Print: The Canadian Student's Guide to Essay Writing. 1995, Harcourt Brace & Company Ltd.

Due date: Tuesday, 10 October

Personal System -- 30 per cent

You will describe the resource system which you personally depend on for both the things you consume and your waste disposal. The point of the exercise is to gain an understanding of your biophysical relationship with the rest of the planet. This is a preliminary step to understanding the sustainability of your lifestyle.

Your description will take the form of a systems description as discussed in class. You will identify all the inputs to your personal system and trace them back as far as you can. Similarly you will trace where your outputs go. Your description will take the form of systems diagrams and descriptive text. You will need to consider different types of descriptions as well as different scales of description. Where possible actual numbers should be assigned to the flows.

We recognise that in some instances it will be impossible for you to trace some flows very far. Identifying the reasons why you cannot trace the flows is as important as actually being able to identify the flows. Such gaps in your knowledge reflect the failure of our socio-economic systems to provide you with adequate feedback about the sustainability implications of the choices you are making every day.

Due date: changed from Monday, 6 November to Monday 13 November

Personal system lecture notes in Acrobat format (88K)

Take-home diagnostic -- 0 per cent

This exercise will test your understanding of basic concepts which are important for understanding the material in the course. Its purpose is to be a self diagnostic. It will give you a sense of how well you have understood the course material and help prepare you for the final exam. It will not be marked, however answers will be posted. We encourage students to form study groups to work together on on the take-home. It will be discussed in class.

Distribution date: Monday 13 November

Completition date: Monday, 4 December

Final examination -- 50 per cent

A 'closed-book' final examination will take place at the end of the course. It will cover the entire course, including lecture content and readings. It will have a combination of questions requiring short answers and ones requiring essay answers.

Date: The final examination will take place during the regularly-scheduled final examination period Students are required to be present during all of the final examination period. (This year that means till 22 December.) Therefore students will be required to write their final examination in the course at the time scheduled during the exam period. No exceptions will be made, except for documented health reasons or family emergencies.

Policy on late submissions of assignments: Late submissions will not be accepted without prior (at least two working days) written consent of the instructor. Such consent will only be granted in extraordinary circumstances. (In other words, late assignments will not be marked.) (Computer problems, assignments in other courses, sporting events etc. are not extraordinary circumstances.)

Cheating: I encourage students to study together. However I expect each student to individually write up assignments on their own. Plagiarism will be dealt with to the full extent of university policy.

Back to Environment and Resource Studies 218

Last updated: 24 October, 2000 jjk