Posted: December 2nd, 2014

Wetlands and Water as Habitats

Wetlands and Water as Habitats

Assessment task 4: Documentary Film or ‘Visual Term Paper’

The largest assessment activity for Resource Sustainability will be a documentary film or ‘visual term paper’. This assessment will build on what you have done in the other assessments, what you have learned about resource sustainability issues in the lectures and from the textbook, and the critical thinking skills you have learned in the workshops.

OVERVIEW – MAKING YOUR DOCUMENTARY
In Assessment 1, each person chose a resource sustainability topic to research. In this Assessment, you will make a documentary film based on your issue and research that will be presented to the class during the workshops in week 10.

In the documentary, you will explain the issue based on your research report, describe the various sides and opinions surrounding the issue, and present your critical analysis of which side is more credible and why you think so. You will analyse the consequences of each point of view in terms of the principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development (people, place, profit), as well as scientific credibility and accuracy. In addition, you will compare the status of the issue in Australia to that of another country. How is the issue handled elsewhere? What are the similarities and differences in points of view in the other location? Discuss the consequences and trade-offs involved in the issue and make suggestions for solutions based on what you have learned in your research and what is done elsewhere.

The finished product should present a flowing, logical, insightful, in-depth, well-researched and well-presented examination of a Resource Sustainability issue in Australia and another country, as well as document your critical analysis of the various sides of the issue based on your research. Creativity, effort, scientific content, and critical thinking will be major parts of the assessment. We don’t expect a slick production with special effects – just a film in which the content, analysis, creativity, and ideas will teach us all something about your subject matter, the different sides of the issue in Australia and elsewhere, and what you ultimately think about it.

2. Overview –
In the beginning of the script, make sure you state the purpose and importance of the documentary and an overview of what is included (i.e. what resource issue will be covered in the film, what you will show etc). This shouldn’t be a table of contents, more of a short introduction.
II. Body –
The body consists of the main information you are presenting. First, describe the issue and the different points of view. Then critically analyse the points showing your research. Show how you formed an opinion based on facts and credible sources.
For each issue, include:
a. What is the issue (i.e. which resource sustainability are you discussing? What was the initial article about?)
b. What are the different points of view surrounding this issue?
c. Are points of view based on opinion or fact? Is their opinion credible? Why or why not? Have they considered all the elements of people, place, profit?
d. Compare the perspectives regarding this resource issue to those in at least one other country in the world. Be specific and include (and explain) at least 2 maps and critical analyses.
e. What do you think about this issue now, based on what you have learned and how other countries think about the problem?
Be sure to include:
1) SCIENTIFIC CONTENT AND CRITICAL ANALYSIS
2) Graphs and other visuals for scientific content, all of appropriate type, font, and readability for your viewers.
3) At least 2 maps and other spatial information, which you describe in detail.
4) Don’t forget to explain all graphs, tables and maps in detail, just as you would in a PowerPoint presentation. State what the axes are and explain what the graph means, or state what the map is and what all colours and symbols represent.
8) This film can be about your journey to research the issue and what you have learned, or a critique of the issue itself, as long as you have included the elements of: scientific fact, critical analysis, comparison to another country, some ideas for solutions, conclusions.
INCLUDE REFERENCES PLEASE. IN HARVARD STYLE.
III. Conclusions –
Summary of main points, recommendations to take forward, take-home message, sum up points or recommendations.

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