ENV7/808: Assignment 2 Essay on applications of geographic information science The goal of Assignment 2 is to improve your knowledge and understanding of the application of geographic information science in your discipline area (e.g. urban planning, conservation biology, geoscience, soil science, marine science, sustainable development, and environmental management, science, health or planning). Your task is to find two or more primary-source references that apply geographic information science to a research question within your discipline area. Below are some examples of research questions for different discipline areas (you’re not allowed to use these examples as your research question!). Your essay must provide a critical review of the references, meaning you: succinctly summarize the references, compare their similarities and differences, and provide your judgment about the quality or value of the references to answering your research question. Guidance on how to structure your essay is provided in Appendix 2. Examples of research questions in different discipline areas Urban planning: optimizing the location and number of public waste bins using GIS Marine science: mapping the distribution of seabed features using remotely sensed data Conservation biology: GIS modelling of range shifts in plant species under climate change Environmental management: mapping the distribution of heavy metal pollutants in soil Your essay must include at least two primary-source references (i.e. peer-reviewed journals and scholarly books). Use Google Scholar (http://scholar.google.com.au/) to find references that match your discipline of interest and research question. Examples of potentially useful journals available via the Macquarie University library are provided below. Do not, under any circumstances, reference websites. Examples of potentially useful journals International Journal of Geographical Information Science: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tgis20/current#.VO_BRy402ao Journal of Spatial Science: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tjss20/current#.VO_BVy402ao Transactions in GIS: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/%28ISSN%291467-9671 The body of your essay must be between 800 and 1000 words in length. Start your reference list on a new page, and follow the Harvard citation style: http://guides.is.uwa.edu.au/harvard The scoring rubric for Assignment 2 is provided in Appendix 1. Assignment 2 is worth a total of 30 points, and contributes to 10% of your final grade. Assignment 2 is to be submitted in a MS Word or PDF file format via the link provided in iLearn by 5PM on the 7th April 2017. ENVS7.808: Assignment 2 S1 2017 Appendix 1: Assignment 2 Scoring Rubric Category 1 point 3 points 6 points 10 points The research The research The research question is clear question is clear The research question is and is related to Content and is related to question is not clear, but is not the references. the references. clear. related to the Demonstrated Evidence of references. high level of critical thinking. critical thinking. Essay shows Essay contains a No organization, limited clear Essay shows poor structure organization, introduction, complex and incoherent structure and body and development. Organization paragraphs. No coherency. conclusion. Paragraphs are transitions are Some Paragraphs tight, well- used to join transitions are make sense and structured and arguments or used to join are linked with logical. paragraphs. arguments and appropriate paragraphs. transitions. Category 0.5 points 1.5 points 3 points 5 points Word count < 500 or > 1300 500 - 650 or 650 - 800 or 800 - 1000 1150 - 1300 1000 - 1150 Formatting, Most All formatting, formatting, spelling and spelling and Frequent errors Some errors spelling and grammar are grammar grammar are correct correct ENVS7.808: Assignment 2 S1 2017 Appendix 2: The Five-Paragraph Essay Origin of Appendix 2: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/five_par.htm A classic format for compositions is the five-paragraph essay. It is not the only format for writing an essay, of course, but it is a useful model for you to keep in mind, especially as you begin to develop your composition skills. The following material is adapted from a handout prepared by Harry Livermore for his high school English classes at Cook High School in Adel, Georgia. It is used here with his permission. Introduction Introductory Paragraph The introductory paragraph should include the thesis statement, a kind of mini-outline for the paper: it tells the reader what the essay is about. The last sentence of this paragraph must also contain a transitional "hook" which moves the reader to the first paragraph of the body of the paper. Body Body — First paragraph: The first paragraph of the body should contain the strongest argument, most significant example, cleverest illustration, or an obvious beginning point. The first sentence of this paragraph should include the "reverse hook" which ties in with the transitional hook at the end of the introductory paragraph. The topic for this paragraph should be in the first or second sentence. This topic should relate to the thesis statement in the introductory paragraph. The last sentence in this paragraph should include a transitional hook to tie into the second paragraph of the body. Body — Second paragraph: The second paragraph of the body should contain the second strongest argument, second most significant example, second cleverest illustration, or an obvious follow up the first paragraph in the body. The first sentence of this paragraph should include the reverse hook which ties in with the transitional hook at the end of the first paragraph of the body. The topic for this paragraph should be in the first or second sentence. This topic should relate to the thesis statement in the introductory paragraph. The last sentence in this paragraph should include a transitional hook to tie into the third paragraph of the body. Body — Third paragraph: The third paragraph of the body should contain the weakest argument, weakest example, weakest illustration, or an obvious follow up to the second paragraph in the body. The first sentence of this paragraph should include the reverse hook which ties in with the transitional hook at the end of the second paragraph. The topic for this paragraph should be in the first or second sentence. This topic should relate to the thesis statement in the introductory paragraph. The last sentence in this paragraph should include a transitional concluding hook that signals the reader that this is the final major point being made in this paper. This hook also leads into the last, or concluding, paragraph. ENVS7.808: Assignment 2 S1 2017 Conclusion Concluding paragraph: This paragraph should include the following: • an allusion to the pattern used in the introductory paragraph, • a restatement of the thesis statement, using some of the original language or language that "echoes" the original language. (The restatement, however, must not be a duplicate thesis statement.) • a summary of the three main points from the body of the paper. • a final statement that gives the reader signals that the discussion has come to an end. (This final statement may be a "call to action" in a persuasive paper.) ENVS7.808: Assignment 2 S1 2017 .