CADR 403 - Resolving Environmental Conflicts

These are just some components your professor has asked you to include, be sure to refer to the Research Paper Directions handout for full details. After you complete the research paper, remember that you will have an 8-10 minute presentation on this environmental conflict with a visual aid.

1. Paper Requirements

   1. At least 8 pages (1,750 words)

   2. A References Cited page, in addition to your 8 pages of analysis

   3. Sources correctly cited using APA 7 style

   4. Use of proper grammar, spelling, and syntax throughout

2. Paper Structure/Sections:

   1. Introduction Paragraph

      1. Include overview of topic & thesis statement.

   2. Overview of the Environmental Conflict given from a Systems Perspective

      1. Use class materials from week 1 as well as the research you have completed on the complexity and interconnectedness of the issue. 

   3. Connect topic to 2 of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

      1. Explain why this topic is important from a Sustainable Development Perspective.

   4. Analysis of New Media Coverage on your Environmental Topic

      1. Various perspectives on topic, including a minimum of:

         1. 1 Liberal Media News Source

         2. 1 Conservative Media News Source

         3. 1 Center or more Bi-Partisan News Source

            1. For your media articles, you must reference the bias of the sources, as well as how you determined their political skew.

               1. Tool: Ad Fontes Media’s Media Bias Chart ®.

               2. Article: Fair.org criteria, Media Bias: How to Detect Bias in the Media.

   5. Analysis of the Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles/Research contribution on your Environmental Topic, including at least:

      1. 3 Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

   6. Choose 1 of the Conflict Map Tools from The Center for Security Studies at ETH Zurich’s Conflict Analysis Tools document and provide a conflict map detailing and analyzing the various elements and sides/perspectives of the conflict.

      1. Insert in text or in Appendix.

   7. To accompany the conflict map visual, you will provide written commentary detailing at minimum the following:

      1. The parties involved and their roles

         1. Note this can also include non-traditional parties such as environmental factors, not just people.

      2. Each party’s positions, interests, and needs

      3. The power dynamics at play

      4. The historical context that led to the conflict

      5. Possible conflict resolution strategies that could help both parties move forward.

   8. Use one of the conflict models from class to contextualize why it makes sense that this topic is creating conflict.

   9. The final sections of your paper are personal reflections and recommendations which should answer the following:

      1. Personal Reflections:

         1. What bias do you think you personally had when starting this research (conservative, liberal, center/bi-partisan) and why?

         2. Did researching the materials from different perspectives shift any of your preconceived notions about the topic? Why or why not?

         3. What are your biggest take aways from researching this environmental topic and framing it from a conflict analysis perspective?

         4. What do you hope others will learn from your research?

      2. Recommendations:

         1. Given your entire body of research and analysis, what recommendations do you make for resolving this environmental conflict or at least moving forward in a more productive manner?

         2. How would following your recommendations help with achieving the 2 SDG goals for which you related this topic to for Sustainable Development at the beginning of the paper?

   10. Conclusion Paragraph: Sum up your findings, recommendations, and thesis.