Critical Research for Postgraduate Study
Module code CONL701
Assessment title Case study: Climate change and ‘the 97%’
Launch date Week 4
Individual feedback will be given through Canvas
within three weeks of the submission date.
Module outcomes
assessed 3. Manage different information sources and
conflicting opinions
4. Present logical arguments
Assessment weighting 35%
Word count (if relevant) 1000 words (+/- 10%)
Assessment task details – provide a description of the task
Module title Critical Research for Postgraduate Study
Climate Change
Climate Change may be the most heavily debated topic in the world today.
Although it could be misleading to suggest that ‘opinion is split’ (as in ‘equally
split’), there is certainly strong disagreement in some quarters. However,
integral to this dispute is the existence of a significant quantity of poor or
irrelevant material or discussion, vested interest and misinformation; alongside
good, verifiable, independent research. Your task is to research this topic with
an open mind then write, in the style of a professional magazine article, a
1,000word overview of the subject, considering and separating facts from
assumptions, from opinion, from flagrant distortion. This, in turn must be based
on credible, publicly-available material (which you cite) and not any of your own
opinions or preconceptions.
The ‘97%’
Within this general discussion, a focus of your article should be the oft-quoted
figure that, ‘97% of the world’s climate experts agree that climate change has
been caused by humans’. What exactly is being claimed here? How, and from
where, has this claim originated? How reliable and meaningful is the claim? Is
the intended information always presented and portrayed helpfully and
accurately? Are realistic conclusions always drawn (by everyone)?
Conclusions
Having discussed climate change in both general and specific terms, your article
should close with appropriate conclusions regarding the severity and causes of
climate change. These should follow logically from your main article and, again
should not be based on prejudice.
References
Your article must be supported by an appropriate reference base (cited list of
references in IEEE format) of publicly available and credible sources.
References do not count towards the 1,000 word count.
Submission instructions – What should be the format of the submission? / Where
should it be submitted?
You will work on this assignment individually and submit your article as a single
Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) file through Canvas. Your assessment should be
formatted as a report using the standard layout template (see Canvas, unit 5.5).
You must ensure all ideas, quotes and media are appropriately referenced in
IEEE format (see Canvas, Student Orientation, unit 6.3).
Upon submission, an automated Turnitin check will be performed and unusually
high levels of similarity will be flagged to the marker. By submitting this work,
you confirm that you have read, understand and accept the university’s
regulations regarding plagiarism and agree to be dealt with accordingly if any
such situation should arise.
Hints and tips
A particular challenge of this assignment will be to condense such a broad
discussion into 1,000 words. This will require careful planning and structuring of
your work together with efficient use of language.
All required work must be submitted, in full and as directed and described, by the
due time and date, to achieve marks reflecting its full worth. Work submitted
after the due time and date, but within one calendar week, will be capped at
40%. Work more than a week late will not be marked and will be entered as 0%.
Marking and moderation
You will be given an indicative mark out of 35 as a guide.
All work is marked by your module tutor and moderated by the module leader.
