Objective:
This assignment aims to delve into global issues through the lens of sustainable development. Your task is to conduct case research on a regional issue and analyze its relationship with sustainable development goals (SDGs). Through this report, you will articulate your claims and arguments supported by reliable evidence and examples.
The purpose of this report is to analyze and articulate your claims and arguments regarding global and regional issues, using reliable evidence and examples. Please write this report in a professional manner and tone, but feel free to share your thoughts and insights.
**Your assignment will undergo a plagiarism review, so ensure to maintain your honesty and originality. The plagiarism software will also review the use of OpenAI or other AI-generated text. Please make sure you do not copy and paste the writing from these websites because it will affect your final grades.
Please carefully go through Steps 1 and 2 described below before you begin your report
Step 1. Research section: (Review the following three review materials – 1a, 1b and 1c.)
1a. Watch video-1 below explaining “What is Sustainable Development ?”
1b. Watch video-2 explaining “What are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?”
1c. Visit the websites by clicking the links below to learn more about each sustainable development goals.
link1 → TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD: THE 2030 AGENDA FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
link2→ TAKE ACTION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
link3→ SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS AND TARGETS
***You may do further research to find out more about your specific issue and its relation with your chosen SDGs.
Step 2. Writing Section: Referring to the above materials and your own research write a report with 500 to 600 words.
Your report must include the following sections:
Section 1: An Original Title: Your report must have a title that accurately reflects the chosen topic and the content of your analysis. Titles should be original and created by you, avoiding direct copying from existing sources such as papers or news articles.
Section 2: Define/introduce two sustainable development goals (SDGs) of your choosing. – (150 words)
Provide definitions of each SDG, addressing their significance, targets and importance.
Section 3: Choose and describe an issue/case discussed in our course / lectures during this semester that is relevant to one of your chosen SDGs. – (200 words)
Choose one detailed issue/ case/ example related to one of your chosen SDGs.
Provide a brief background on the issue.
Explain the issue by addressing the following three guiding questions:
a) What is the issue? – explain what the issue is about? whom does it include and affect, how and why?
b) Where does the issue exist geographically/regionally and why? (e.g., world region, country, location)? – this is important as it situates your essay in world geography.
c) How is the issue relevant/significant locally, regionally and globally and to whom?
You can choose any issue/case from any region that have been discussed during this semester in our class as long as it is relevant to the SDG of your choosing and helps you answer Section 4 of this report. There are so many sustainable development-related geographical topics and cases in the world that we discussed, such as biodiversity and climate change, human/sex trafficking, food desert, gender pay gap, women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math fields), renewable energy, sustainable fashion, sustainable tourism, or even including sustainable and recreational use of the San Marcos River!
But, I suggest choosing something very specific, geographically situated and closely related to one of your SDGs.
Section 4: Analyze the selected case in conjunction with one of the chosen Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs). (200 words)
Your analysis should address the following three guiding questions:
a) What aspects or features of the case can be considered as sustainable development issues, focusing on issues such as the environment, economy, or society/equity?
b) Why does the sustainable development issue matter for the particular region, place, and people at the local/regional scale?
c) How would the sustainable development goal of your choosing address this issue?
Section 5: Provide at least 3 relevant in-text citations and a reference list at the end of the report.
Include and clearly identify at least three references, such as academic journals or news articles. You can cite the videos and links above as well as the lectures from our course. Follow the guideline below for formatting your references and citations.
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An example on one way the report can be done:
For instance, if I decided to analyze the gentrification of Holly, Austin, I will start my report with (Section 1: an original title) – “Is Austin engaging in sustainable urban development?”. I choose SDG10 – Reduced Inequalities and SDG11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities ( i.e. Section 2: Define/introduce two sustainable development goals (SDGs) of your choosing). I will then define each SDG. Then I will explain what the issue of gentrification in Austin is about and why it exists in Austin of all places. I will also discuss why gentrification is an important issue for Austin, the North American region and globally ( i.e.Section 3: Choose and describe an issue/case discussed in our course). The analysis of the case based on one SDG of my choosing ( i.e. Section 4: Analyze the selected case in conjunction with one of the SDG)would include the historical redlining in Austin, race-related gentrification, the voices of original holly communities about relocation, [Economy] changing landscapes and economic impacts on the Holly area Austin, and Texas, and [Society/Equity & Environment] discussing about sustainable urban planning for social and ecological justice in Austin. I will discuss how the issue of gentrification is related and relevant to one of the SDGsof my choosing – SDG10 – Reduced Inequalities or SDG11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities. Finally, my report will be supported by at least three reliable references, with proper in-text citation and the reference list at the end of the issue analysis report (i.e. Section 5: Provide in-text citations and reference list).
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Format for your Report:
Format: Word file, double-spaced, normal margins; Font: 12 points, Times New Roman.
Citation/references: Cite your sources even if it is the assigned reading using AAG author-date style. If you need more resources to support your analysis and thoughts beyond the attached reading, do not hesitate to use others you have, such as lecture notes, videos, or web searching. However, if you cite outside resources, such as news articles or academic papers, follow the AAG author-date reference and citation style. AAG author-date citation style_Sheet.pdf. Download AAG author-date citation style_Sheet.pdf.
Submission: Upload your Word/pdf file on Canvas.
Refer to the rubric below for more information on grading.
***Finally, Please ensure you submit the report before the due date.***
