Required Organization: Identify a unique community struggle that deals touches on at least
three of the course themes (i.e. Economics, Politics, Water Scarcity as they relate to or are
threatened by some force associated with Climate Change) and write a 10-page research paper
discussing and analyzing the struggle (double spaced, 10 written pages, not including graphics,
maps, photos). Your paper should be organized to include the following (please include these
headings in your paper):
1. Geographic description of this community and a description how they are impacted by
climate change (and a introduction to your paper – what is the problem the community
is confronting) – 20 points
2. Description of the local climate (you can use temperature graphs and psychrometric
charts from Climate Consultant – which will be made available in week 9 or 10) – 20
points
3. Description of the individuals or leaders of this movement (there should be leaders or
heroes to these stories) – 20 points
4. Describe the goals of this struggle (what are the opposing, or what do they hope to
accomplish) – 20 points
5. Describe the obstacles or hurdles the community has had to deal with – 20 points
6. Describe the outcomes or the struggle, or if this is a struggle in progress describe the
current status of the struggle – 20 points
7. (7.1) Create a Discussion Board – to be shared with the class – describing your paper or
project – you will introduce these 10 elements to the group in your Discussion
Board (7.2) – Review and comment on the Discussion Board posts of your classmates,
at least two, more is better – 15 points for your Discussion Board, 5 points for
commenting on the blogs of others
8. Include graphics, photos, maps, satellite imagery (feel free to use NASA’s “Vital Signs of
the Planet” from the week 1 assignment, if this helps describe the story – 20 points
9. Provide an analysis of the community struggle. Do this after you’ve described the
background and described what they are hoping to accomplish. How well is the group
doing in to achieve its goals? What could they do better? 25 points
10. Write a detailed conclusion describing what you learned from this story, and how it
might impact your approach to dealing (actively or inactively) Climate Change – 25
points
Note that each section above should include in depth analysis and narrative. Writing a single
paragraph for each item is NOT enough to earn full points