What is the best strategy to ensure that natural resources remain legitimate components of sustainable
economic development? In other words, what would you argue is the best way to utilize natural resources to
advance and enhance not only economic development and wealth accumulation, but human rights, human
wellbeing, and environmental stewardship?
This formal writing assignment gives you the opportunity to explore some of the varying, competing perspectives
related to a specific natural resource competition scenario of your choice. At the core of this in-depth analysis, you
will compare and contrast – and ultimately weigh in on – those differing perspectives.
The objectives of this assignment are: (1) to hone your ability to find reliable, substantive, authoritative, peerreviewed, scholarly journal articles via the library’s research databases; (2) to enhance your ability to carefully and
critically read, evaluate, and analyze those sources and the various perspectives they establish via a comparisoncontrast strategy; (3) to come to some overall appreciation of the value and utility of scholarly sources when it
comes to writing a research paper; (4) to improve your ability to clearly articulate your opinion via a well-crafted,
robust argument/thesis statement; and (5) to watch for and carefully manage ethnocentrism (in your sources, as well
as your own).I have attached the full description of the assignment and the grading critiria
research_paper__1___grade_page__spring_2019_.pdf
research_paper__1___natural_resource_competition__spring_2019_.pdf
Unformatted Attachment Preview
Philip J. Gibbon, Adjunct Professor of History
Jefferson (PhilaU + TJU) College of Humanities and Sciences
Debating Global Issues, Spring 2019
Student: ___________________________
Research Paper #1: Natural Resource Competition – Comparing and Contrasting Varying Perspectives
Turned in on time:
YES
Follows format requirements:
5 full pages
1-inch margins
page numbers
10/11/12pt TNR font
NO
double spacing
cover page
MLA in-text citations and works cited section
Content and Ideas:
Were your articles approved by the deadline?
YES
NO
Do you use 7-10 total sources, including 4 academic,
peer-reviewed, scholarly journal articles?:
YES
NO
Does your paper have an argument/thesis statement?:
YES
NO
Does your paper compare and contrast other sources?:
YES
NO
Writing:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Generally, but not always, writing in first person is discouraged.
Overall, strive to be clear and concise.
Avoid passive voice like the plague!
Avoid contractions.
Avoid vague words.
Avoid cliché, garbage filler, and wishy-washy hedging.
Keep directly quoted material to an absolute minimum! If a quote does not add real value to what you are
saying, then simply summarize/paraphrase, cite the source, and move on!
8. Integrate your sources (avoid source-by-source approach; avoid basing entire paragraphs on a single
source).
9. Evaluate and analyze your sources (do not take them at face value!).
10. Edit and proofread very, very carefully. Make sure your citations and Works Cited section are immaculate.
For fuller elaboration on each of these, refer to “A Basic Guide for Writing DBTG Short Research Paper”
posted on BlackBoard.
Additional Comments and Grade (Research Paper #1 = 15% of final grade):
Philip J. Gibbon, Adjunct Professor of History
Jefferson (PhilaU + TJU)
College of Humanities and Sciences
Debating Global Issues, Spring 2019
Research Paper #1: Natural Resource Competition – Comparing and Contrasting Varying Perspectives
Due:
Friday 22 March 2019 via email (send a PDF version) by 5:00p.m.
If your paper is submitted late, it will be penalized accordingly.
Format:
Set all margins to 1 inch.
Insert page numbers.
Only 10, 11, or 12 pt Times New Roman font is acceptable.
Double space (no more, no less) the entire document.
Cover page (include a title, your name, academic major, date, course/section, professor
name).
[Staple everything together – no folded corners, no paper clips, no folders, no covers,
nothing else.]
MLA format for in-text citations as well as Works Cited section required.
This assignment must be at least 5 full pages of writing, but absolutely no more than 6
(not including the cover and Works Cited section).
This formatting should get you 23 lines of text per page or more.
Research Paper #1 is worth 15% of your final grade.
What is the best strategy to ensure that natural resources remain legitimate components of sustainable
economic development? In other words, what would you argue is the best way to utilize natural resources to
advance and enhance not only economic development and wealth accumulation, but human rights, human
wellbeing, and environmental stewardship?
This formal writing assignment gives you the opportunity to explore some of the varying, competing perspectives
related to a specific natural resource competition scenario of your choice. At the core of this in-depth analysis, you
will compare and contrast – and ultimately weigh in on – those differing perspectives.
The objectives of this assignment are: (1) to hone your ability to find reliable, substantive, authoritative, peerreviewed, scholarly journal articles via the library’s research databases; (2) to enhance your ability to carefully and
critically read, evaluate, and analyze those sources and the various perspectives they establish via a comparisoncontrast strategy; (3) to come to some overall appreciation of the value and utility of scholarly sources when it
comes to writing a research paper; (4) to improve your ability to clearly articulate your opinion via a well-crafted,
robust argument/thesis statement; and (5) to watch for and carefully manage ethnocentrism (in your sources, as well
as your own).
STEP 1 – CHOOSE A NATURAL RESOURCE COMPETION SCENARIO: There are numerous examples –
diamonds (and other precious gems), coltan (and other strategic metals, minerals, and so-called “rare-earths”), ivory
(and other wildlife resources), water, coffee (and other high-demand cash crops – cocoa, opium poppies), oil (and
other fossil fuels), trees/timer, etc.
STEP 2 – ARTICLE RESEARCH: This research paper requires that you use at least 7 but no more than 10
sources total, and at least 4 sources must be academic, peer-reviewed, scholarly journal articles (in other words,
NOT books, book chapters, book reviews, encyclopedia entries, specialized reports, blog entries,
newspaper/periodical articles, conference papers, MA/Ph.D. theses) that discuss your natural resource competition
scenario from different perspectives. These types of articles are published in peer-reviewed journals, and can be
accessed through a variety of excellent research databases via the Gutman Library (you can often limit a database
search to “peer reviewed,” “scholarly,” or other similar term). For the sake of practicality and usability, keep these
in mind while doing your research: (1) articles published more recently will probably be more useful, so be mindful
of articles published more than, say, 20 years ago; (2) skim the articles – if you don’t understand them, don’t use
them!; (3) ideally, NONE of your articles should focus solely, or even primarily, on the United States!
1
NOTE: All articles MUST be approved before moving on to the next step. By email, send me (a) your
natural resource competition scenario, and (b) full and complete citations (not just links!) for all articles. I
should hear from everyone by Friday 8 March 2019 (work under the assumption that it will take me a full 24
hours to respond to your email!). This must be done on your initiative – I will not seek you out or remind
you. Once your articles are approved, you can move on. Please note, however, that if you want/need to
change any article, approval is necessary before proceeding.
STEP 3 – READ: Read the articles carefully and identify and make note of the following: the background and
specifics of the natural resource competition scenario; the author’s argument/thesis and perspective; the evidence the
author uses to bolster or defend their argument/thesis; the strengths and weaknesses of the article based on your
reading of it.
STEP 4 – WRITE: Write a 5-6-page paper comparing and contrasting your sources’ various arguments, main
ideas, perspectives, etc. Think of it this way: you are setting up an analytical “dialogue” or debate between and
among your sources, and then you yourself are engaging in that debate.
In writing your paper, introduce your natural resource competition scenario briefly, make your argument,
and then focus almost entirely on making comparisons and contrasts between and amongst the articles’
varying perspectives, especially their merits and deficiencies. Keep any summary of your articles to an
absolute minimum!
Reminders:
1. Your paper MUST contain a thesis statement – your own argument that clearly and concisely articulates
your perspective. Remember, an argument sparks debate – if there is nothing to debate about or disagree
with, there is no thesis statement.
2. In-text parenthetical citations and a Works Cited section, both adhering to proper MLA format, are
required for all sources you use.
3. Incorporate appropriate themes, terms, concepts, etc., developed and deployed in the unit, as well as in the
overall course.
4. Make sure YOUR voice comes through loud and clear – in other words, do not let your sources speak
louder or more often than you! One way to ensure this is to keep directly quoted material to an absolute
minimum.
5. Do not take your sources at face value – if you are not challenging, questioning, or criticizing them, then
you are not doing your job!
6. Be as detailed and specific as you can.
7. Refer to the list of 10 “General Writing Tips and Suggestions” in “A Basic Guide for DBTG Short
Research Papers” posted on BlackBoard.
And especially…
8. BE MINDFUL OF ENTHNOCENTRISM! You should call-out your sources if they show signs of
ethnocentrism. More importantly, you should put a check on your own.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
“A Basic Guide for DBTG Short Research Papers” (posted on BlackBoard; includes an Appendix with sample
introductory paragraphs).
Jefferson (PhilaU + TJU) Academic Success Center, “Comparison-Contrast Essays”
http://www.philau.edu/learning/INC/pdf/Comparison-Contrast%20Essays.pdf
Jefferson (PhilaU + TJU) Academic Success Center, “Generating a Thesis”
http://www.philau.edu/learning/pdf/Generating%20a%20Thesis.pdf
There are plenty of other research, writing, and citation resources posted on BlackBoard.
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