Final Exam Essay Prompt: The synergy between economic growth and technological innovation has been the most significant engine of change for the last 200 years, but unless we improve our economic, environmental, and social behaviors, the next 100 years could be disastrous. Reflect on all parts of this statement. Write a reflective essay that addresses the full themes of this statement. Use concepts from at least two UN Sustainable Goals, other readings in the course, and outside research to back up your opinions and analysis.
Please focus on the following points as you prepare your essay:
1. The essay question requires that you integrate information taken from several different (referenced) sources, to organize that information, and to summarize the information with conclusions that may be new to you.
2. Begin with a thesis statement, (or a claim) that you will explain and justify in your essay. Support your ideas with a rationale and evidence (not opinion statements such as “I think”) that are logically organized throughout the essay. Your ideas and support should be clear to the reader.
3. Select relevant material to illustrate your points and provide specific references to class readings as well as additional research that you conduct via FDU library resources (i.e., electronic databases such as Academic OneFile or Academic Search Premier). Your essay must make substantive reference to at least three resources. Do not cite, quote, or reference from Wikipedia or general non-verifiable sources. References should follow a standard citation format (APA or MLA).
4. Your essay should reflect appropriate grammar and syntax and be 3-4 pages in length.
Scoring Rubric (this is how your essay will be assessed)
4️⃣ = ideal
3️⃣ = competent
2️⃣ = proficient
1️⃣ = unacceptable
For the purpose of learning outcomes assessment across sections, the following measures and rankings will be used:
✔ Explanation of topic/issue/problem to be addressed—
4️⃣ Response does a clear, explicit, and full job of identifying and explaining the importance of the TWO SDGs and how the TWO SDGs are interconnected for sustainability
3️⃣ Response does a good job of identifying the TWO SDGs although some questions remain as to the importance of both or how the TWO SDGs are interconnected for sustainability
2️⃣ Response does an adequate job of identifying the TWO SDGs but without clarity about the importance of interconnectedness for sustainability
1️⃣ Response does not include TWO SDGs or does not explain their importance or relation to sustainability
✔ Evidence of selecting and using information to investigate a point of view or conclusion—
4️⃣ Response does a clear, explicit, and full job of using source(s) with interpretation/evaluation to provide evidence for the response. The viewpoints of experts are questioned and analyzed.
3️⃣ Response does a good job of using source(s) with interpretation/evaluation to provide evidence for the response, but some questions or lack of clarity remain. The viewpoints of experts are subject to questioning.
2️⃣ Response does an adequate job of identifying the source(s) with interpretation/evaluation to provide evidence for the response but without clarity. The viewpoints of experts are taken as mostly fact, with little questioning.
1️⃣ Response does not include the use of sources or provides no interpretation/evaluation of the evidence. The viewpoints of experts are taken as fact, without question.
✔ Influence of context and assumptions—
4️⃣ Thoroughly (systematically and methodically) analyzes own and others’ assumptions and carefully evaluates the relevance of contexts when presenting a position.
3️⃣ Identifies own and others’ assumptions and several relevant contexts when presenting a position.
2️⃣ Questions some assumptions. Identifies several relevant contexts when presenting a position. May be more aware of others’ assumptions than one’s own (or vice versa).
1️⃣ Shows an emerging awareness of present assumptions (sometimes labels assertions as assumptions). Begins to identify some contexts when presenting a position.
✔ Conclusions and related outcomes (implications and consequences)—
4️⃣ Response clearly explains a conclusion and related outcomes (consequences and implications) are logical and reflect the student’s informed evaluation and ability to place evidence and perspectives discussed in priority order.
3️⃣ Response does a good job of explaining a conclusion that is logically tied to a range of information, including opposing viewpoints; related outcomes (consequences and implications) are identified clearly.
2️⃣ Response does an adequate job of explaining a conclusion that is logically tied to information (because the information is chosen to fit the desired conclusion); some related outcomes (consequences and implications) are NOT identified clearly.
1️⃣ Response does not include a conclusion or the conclusion is inconsistently tied to some of the information discussed; related outcomes (consequences and implications) are oversimplified.
