EESB 16 IIT Kharagpur Industrialized Agriculture Research Paper

EESB16H1 Assignment #1
In this assignment, you will consider three
key characteristics of industrial(ized)
agriculture (particularly, food production)
and how each of these generates
environmental costs, how these
characteristics and problems are interrelated, as well as at least one more
ecologically sustainable/resilient
approach or alternative that might
address at least one of the problems
(reduce one of the environmental costs) you
have identified.
Some of the characteristics of industrial
agriculture you could analyze in your paper
include:
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Use of monocultures
Pesticide use
Chemical fertilizer use
Confined animal feeding operations
Reliance on fossil fuels (particularly oil
and gas)
Globalized production (long-range
transport), packaging, processing, etc.
Some environmental costs/problems that
might be associated with some of the above
include:
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Biodiversity loss (deforestation, effects
on different species, the loss of
domesticated crop varieties)
Soil degradation
Water usage (aquifer depletion) and/or
water pollution
Greenhouse gas emissions and climate
change
Loss of resilience in the face of climate
change
Problems related to human health and
well-being (ex. loss of nutritional quality
in food, antibiotic resistance, spread of
diseases, carcinogens, increasing
poverty, etc.)
Begin your 1200 to 1500 word paper
(word count excludes title and reference
list) with an introduction which
defines (and briefly describes)
industrial agriculture and which
gives a brief overview of your
paper, including the three
characteristics you will be considering
along with the problems they are
associated with and the solution you
will be examining. (100-150 words)
Then, write about each of the three
characteristics in detail. For each
characteristic:
Begin by describing the characteristic:
? why it is part of industrial agriculture
(ex. why are monocultures, pesticides,
etc. used— why are these seen as
advantageous or necessary? Does
corporate control of the food industry
influence this?),
?
how might it be related to other
characteristic(s) you have already
identified (ex. how are chemical
fertilizers related to monocultures?), &
?
the environmental problems generated
by the characteristic being analyzed.
(Note: You may only be able to discuss
2-3 of these)
For each problem or environmental cost
identified:
? Describe how the problem is generated
(ex. how do chemical fertilizers generate
GHG emissions or contribute to water
pollution?)
? Provide specific evidence or examples of
the problem. (For example, for
biodiversity loss, you might want to
consider the effects on a specific plant,
insect, amphibian, fish, or mammal or
provide statistical evidence on how
pesticides or chemical fertilizers affect
biodiversity.)
Suggested length for each of the three
characteristics: 300-350 words
Make sure to include a reference list in
simplified APA or similar format:
Conclude your paper by identifying
and describing one alternative to
reduce one of the ecological costs you
have previously identified, providing
concrete examples or other evidence
demonstrating why this alternative might
be an effective way to address the problem
identified. Some possible examples you
could consider might include integrated
pest management, the use of cover crops
and crop rotations, ways to re-localize food
production, ways to increase organic and
carbon content in soil, or changing
regulatory frameworks or agricultural
policies. Suggested length: 200-250 words.
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Books should be referenced as on
Quercus.
•
Lectures may be referenced simply as
“Lecture #, date”
•
In-class videos in the form “Video Title,
Lecture #.”
Use of Course Materials
Over the course of your paper, make sure
that you draw on course references (and,
optionally, additional academic sources) to
support your argument.
At a minimum, draw on two different
course lectures and four different core
course readings (from at least three
different weeks of the course). The best
papers will draw on a greater diversity of
course sources and may also include other
academic sources or optional readings.
Referencing Style
Reference your paper using a simplified
APA style or similar style, but make sure
that all in-text citations include a page
or slide number (even if it is not a direct
quote).
•
Books are cited in the format
(Authors, pp. #)
•
Lectures may be cited more simply
in the format (Lecture 1, slide #)
•
In-class videos may be referenced
using the video title, lecture number,
and video time index or the
transcript page number: ex. (Home,
Lecture 1, 15:00-15:26).
Please note that in-class videos are
essentially considered as part of the
lecture and do not count as a source
distinct from lecture.
Important: Naming your File
Name your file in the following format:
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Begin with your name in the form
LastnameFirstname
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Then comes the assignment number:
A1
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Separate each with a hyphen
Example: JonesMila-A1.doc
Submit your assignment on Quercus in doc,
docx, or rtf (not pdf) format
Length and Late Penalties (see syllabus)
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Any paper over 1400 words will be
penalized at the rate of a 2% penalty for
the first 100 words over (1401-1500
words total) and an additional 5% of
each 100 words thereafter.
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Late papers will be penalized at the rate
of 3%/day unless you have been granted
an extension before the due date. No
paper will be accepted more than
seven days after the due date. (If
granted an extension, the due date is
seven days after your extended due
date.)
Rubric: Assignment #1
Grade Level
Quality of Writing and
Technical Issues (25%)
A (Excellent)
? Writing is excellent (includes
word choice, spelling, sentence
structure, flow, coherence,
transitions, and grammar).
? You include your name and
student number. You name your
file correctly.
? All in-text references include
page numbers.
? There is a reference list in APA
style.
B (Good)
Critical
Analysis/Synthesis and
Organization
(50%)
? You begin with a clear and
compelling introduction describing
industrial agriculture and providing
an overview of your paper.
? The paper skillfully identifies
and describes three key
characteristics of industrial
agriculture that generate
environmental costs/problems.
? You deftly explain why each
characteristic is an element of
industrial agriculture and how it is
related to other characteristics
you have identified.
? For each characteristic, you
skillfully identify, describe, and
analyze 2-3 ecological costs or
problems generated as a result,
providing specific evidence &
examples.
? Each major point is deftly
presented & developed logically.
? Each point is supported by
convincing evidence.
? The paper has a compelling
conclusion that both summarizes
key points and describes &
analyzes one possible alternative
to reduce or eliminate one of the
ecological costs identified.
? In the assignment, at least 7
readings and 4 lectures are
skillfully used to support your
points. Each major point draws on
a wide diversity (3+) of sources.
Other academic sources are used
where helpful.
? You begin with a clear
introduction describing industrial
agriculture and providing an
overview of your paper.
? The paper clearly identifies and
describes three key
characteristics of industrial
agriculture that generate
environmental costs/problems.
? You logically explain why each
characteristic is an element of
industrial agriculture and how it is
related to other characteristics
you have identified.
? For each characteristic, you
identify, describe, and analyze 2-3
ecological costs or problems
generated as a result, providing
specific evidence or examples.
? Each major point is developed
logically.
? Each point is supported by
solid evidence.
? The paper has a wellorganized conclusion that both
summarizes key points and
describes & analyzes one
possible alternative to reduce or
eliminate one of the ecological
costs identified.
? In the assignment, at least 5-6
readings and 3 lectures are used
to support your points. Each major
point draws on a diversity (2-3) of
sources. Additional academic
sources are used where
appropriate.
Quality of Research
(25%)
? Writing is good (includes word
choice, spelling, sentence
structure, flow, coherence,
transitions, and grammar).
? You include your name and
student number. You name your
file correctly.
? All in-text references include
page numbers.
? There is a reference list in APA
style.
C (Adequate)
? Writing is adequate (includes
word choice, spelling, sentence
structure, flow, coherence,
transitions, and grammar).
? You include your name and
student number. You name your
file correctly.
? Most in-text references
include page numbers.
? There is a reference list that
clearly identifies sources.
? You begin with an adequate
introduction describing industrial
agriculture and providing an
overview of your paper.
? The paper identifies and
describes three key
characteristics of industrial
agriculture that generate
environmental costs/problems.
? You explain why each
characteristic is an element of
industrial agriculture.
? For each characteristic, you
identify, describe, and analyze 2
ecological costs or problems
generated as a result, providing
some evidence or examples.
? Each point is supported by
some evidence.
? The paper has a conclusion
that summarizes key points and
describes one possible
alternative to reduce or
eliminate one of the ecological
costs identified.
D (Marginal)
? Writing is marginal (includes
word choice, spelling, sentence
structure, flow, coherence,
transitions, and grammar).
? Some, but not all, of the
technical requirements are
fulfilled.
F (Inadequate)
? Inadequate: The paper is
often difficult to follow (includes
word choice, spelling, sentence
structure, flow, coherence,
transitions, and grammar).
? Many of the technical
requirements are not fulfilled.
? You begin with an
introduction either describing
industrial agriculture or providing
an overview of your paper.
? The paper identifies three
key characteristics of industrial
agriculture that generate
environmental costs/problems,
but you do not explain why each
characteristic is an element of
industrial agriculture.
? For each characteristic, you
identify and describe at least
one ecological cost or problem
generated as a result.
? Only limited evidence is
provided to support key points.
? The paper has a conclusion
that somewhat, but
inadequately, describes one
possible alternative to reduce or
eliminate one of the ecological
costs identified.
? The paper does not begin
with an adequate introduction.
? The paper inadequately
identifies key characteristics of
industrial agriculture – either
presenting too few
characteristics or by failing to
describe these accurately.
? Your description or analysis
of the relationship of the
characteristics and the
environmental costs generated
in unclear or inaccurate.
? Points are confusing or lack
logical development, key
evidence, or understanding of
key course concepts.
? The conclusion is missing,
inadequate, or fails to propose a
possible alternative to reduce or
eliminate one of the ecological
costs identified.
? In the assignment, at least 4
readings and 2 lectures are
used to support your points.
Each major point draws on at
least two sources. Additional
academic sources are used
where appropriate.
? In the assignment, 2-3
readings and 2 lectures are
used to support your points.
? In the assignment, fewer than
2 readings and 2 lectures are
used to support your points.

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