Final Research Essay

Your Task: Create an argumentative research essay exploring a topic that relates to one of the course special concentrations: either asocial justice issue, an environmental issue, or an environmental justice issuewhich has a specific social context and impacts a specific community.

Your essay should explain and explore the importance of the issue, the specific community that is involved in the issue, as well as the social aspects of the issue and its consequences.

Guidelines:

• ● 8-10 pages(2,400-3000 words)
• ● FollowMLA document format and include a properly formatted Works Cited page
• ● Incorporate at least 8 credible sources to support your discussion, with at least 6 coming from peer-reviewed, scholarly journals
• ● Introductionthat identifies the researched issue, gives an overview of the coming topic andpresents a clear argumentative thesis statementabout the specific social and environmental (asapplicable) effects of the issue you researched.
• ● Body Paragraphsthat start with focused argumentativetopic sentencesthat are supportedwith supporting examples and analysis.
• ● Properly introduced, integrated and MLA cited quotations, paraphrases and/or summary.
• ● Effective use of rhetorical appeals — pathos, logos, and ethos — and rhetorical strategies
• ● A counterargumentthat addresses and refutes opposing position(s).
• ● A conclusion that sums up the argument and research and helps contextualize the impact ofyour researched issue for the reader.
• ● Clearly worded sentencesthat demonstrate mastery of standard English grammar andmechanics.Topic Choice: You can choose to explore almost any topic relates to one of the course special concentrations: either a social justice issue, an environmental issue, or an environmental justice issue which has a specific social context and impacts a specific community.Topic Approval: Students will complete a series of activities to find a topic, complete initial research and complete a Research Proposal for topic approval. Any changes to the topic after the Proposal has been submitted and approved must be cleared with Professor Hren or the final Research Essay will not be accepted.

Derocher, Andrew E., et al. “Rapid Ecosystem Change and Polar Bear Conservation.” Conservation Letters, vol. 6, no. 5, Sept. 2013, pp. 368–375. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1111/conl.12009. Use this article as one scholarly article.