Final project ideas: These can apply to almost any FP Option.
Nature. Society and Culture: ESPM 50 addresses how social, natural and cultural systems influence and are shaped by natural resource management. Whatever topic you choose, you should consider some aspect of interaction between at least two of these three systems in specific contexts and/or as a subject of scholarly discourse.
Specificity and precision: Precisely specify times, places, people groups and events in your project. Avoid over-generalization and vagueness.
Topics; We encourage you to focus on topics associated with California, the Bay Area and particularly the East Bay. However you may focus on any historical and/or contemporary topic that is primarily concerned with the U.S. (including areas of U.S. foreign policy influence). DO NOT select an topic that is primarily outside of the US.
Frameworks and themes: Here are some ways you can structure many of the project options:
• Place and ecological change: Explore the interaction of people and specific places. Explain how different management approaches and resource use strategies have shaped landscapes and changed ecosystems. Conversely, examine how geophysical and ecological factors have shaped resource use by different groups. Or focus on the importance of a specific place or ecosystem to shaping social systems and ideas.
• Resource management: Examine approaches to resource management specific practices by an
individual or group, or compare resource management by different individuals, groups, interests or parties within a group. ixplore the role of ideology, the state, cultural traditions, social organization, etc. in shaping resource management histories and practices.
• Natural resource access, control and use: Focus on one of the following themes to understand struggles over resource control, access and use:
• Property: Discuss how one or more groups have defined land and property rights and how this has influenced their ability to control resources and resource management.
• Politics: Examine interest group ideas, tactics, strategies, positions and dynamics concerning a specific natural resource management issue.
• power relations: Discuss how power relations and policy affect resource management.
• Identity: Examine resource management and cultural identity, heritage and practices. Consider ideas, ideology and the social construction of Nature and the Other.
• Domination and resistance: Discuss the expropriation of natural and cultural resources by dominant groups. Consider the importance of cultural identity in resisting domination.
• Economy: Focus on how economic factors affect resource management.
• Institutions. policy and law: Focus on the historical development and implications of specific institutions, policy and law governing resource management.
• Resource manager decision-making: Consider why resource managers make decisions as individuals and groups and how these decisions impacts ecosystems and social systems.
• Environmental or social justice issues: Explore the drivers of and possible solutions to a specific issue, by examining underlying environmental and social justice histories.
• Case study: Examine one group, time period and place. Ideally, your case study should be representative of and allow you to analyze a larger issue. Or compare two cases.
• Literature review and commentary: Describe and analyze key scholarly ideas and debates.
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Option lA (01A): INDIVIDUAL PAPER
• Individual. 8-10 pages (not including images and bibliography)
• Project Coordinator: Your CISI
Assignment: Write an 8-10 page paper (excluding images and bibliography) on almost any topic addressing a course-related theme in the United States or in an area of U.S. imperial influence. are encouraged, but not required, to focus on the Bay Area or California.
Resources: See “Getting started and following through”, annotated bibliography guidelines, and example papers in the FP folder on bCourses.
Sub-assignment Due date Grade value
1) Project Description F (1012) on bCourses by 10pm 10 points (-20 if no submission)
2) Progress Report Su (11115) on bCourses by 10pm 40 points
3) Final Draft Su (1216) on bCourses by 10pm 200 points
1) Project Description: A brief paragraph summarizing your paper subject area, topic and preliminary question(s) that you will use to formulate a thesis.
2) Progress Report:
A. Project Overview:
• Key question: A (re)iteration of your central question
• Thesis statement: A succinct, precise thesis statement addressing your key question
• Paper outline specifying the contents of each paragraph, including:
o Complete topic sentences for each anticipated paragraph
o Supporting sentences: At least 2 descriptive phrases that specify the content of your supporting sentences. Complete sentences ale not required.
B. Task and Resource Inventory: This can be presented as a bullet point list, spreak;heet or table.
• Description of work completed.
• Description of planned tasks and timeline.
• List of resources that you have on hand and plan to acquire to research and write your paper.
C. Annotated Bibliography: Write at least five annotations, four of which must cover peer reviewed articles or (chapters from) academic press books. You may also annotate primary texts and art works, if appropriate to your project. Do not annotate websites, blogs or newspaper articles.
*See “Annotated bibliography guidelines” in the bCourses Final Project folder.
3) Final Draft: You may take any number of creative approaches to the form and content of your paper, but most students will present and argue for a thesis. If you choose another approach, pl discuss this with your GSI.
Citations and bibliography: Quotes, information and ideas from books, readings or lectures must be cited using MLA style parenthetic citations. All references also must be listed in a bibliography using MLA style. See the MLA style guide in the FP Resources on bCourses. You must include at least seven sources, five of which must be either peer reviewed articles or (chapters from) academic press books. You may also annotate primary texts and art works, if appropriate to your project.
Format:
• 8-10 pages • 1″ margins.
• 1.5-spaced • File and front page titling (see p. 2)
• 12-point font • Use no cover sheet
