The purpose of this assignment is for students to for an opinion about a complex global problem backed
up by facts, examples, and expert views. It is also designed to showcase student writing and referencing
techniques in the Turabian author?date style.
Your essay should answer the following question: Why do you support or oppose the ?loss and
damage? funding scheme? To answer this question, you will make an argument (i.e., come up with an
opinion about it) and then support your argument with a minimum of three examples or issues. This
will be your evidencefacts, examples, and expert views.
1. Students should read up on the issues:
? Refresh your memory on the basics of climate change by reviewing chapter 13 in the
textbook.
? Read the assigned articles in Canvas. Look for the ** front of the article name. The WRI
article is a long one. There are others with * in front of them. I highly recommend you give
those a quick read to get up to speed on the many issues associated with loss and damage.
You and your classmates will also be posting articles that you could include in your essay.
? You may incorporate any of the articles that I have posted to Canvas into your essay. But
you must also include at least four additonal articles to support your views. Feel free to use
any of the articles that students have posted or any others that you find. One of your
articles should be an opinion piece or contain an opinion that you disagree with and that
you must argue against. Highlight this part of your essay in yellow. Note: When doing
research on loss and damage, consider using keywords such as climate reparations,
climate damages and add opinion, support, oppose, etc., if you are looking for
opinions.
2. Writing: first part of your essay:
? In the first one or two paragraphs of your essay, explain the funding approach of loss and
damage as well as the debate about it (pro and con) and the many difficult issues
associated with it. Its also a good idea to link this discussion to the issue of climate justice
and where the U.S. fits in as far as greenhouse gas emissions go. Be sure to define
important termsimagining that an educated person is reading this essay but they know
almost nothing about the issues. Use statistics and/or expert opinions to back up your
views. Cite your sources.
? By the end of this section, clearly state your opinion about loss and damagethat is if you
support or oppose funding from the Global North to the Global South to pay for climate
damages and and why you feel as you do. Include mention of the three examples you will
use to support your opinion. This is your thesis statement. Make this sentence bold.
3. Writing: remainder of the essay:
? Each paragraph after the first two paragraphs should make a direct link to your opinion/
thesis statement. Support your thesis statement with EVIDENCE: facts, statistics, examples,
and the views of experts (e.g., scientists, policy makers) or people who are personally
affected. Three detailed examples are required. One of these may be something you will
argue against. Note: you may use more than three if you like.
? TERMS: There are four required terms that you must use in your essay in such a way that
demonstrates you understand their meaning and can apply them to loss and damage in a
careful and thoughtful way. You may use these terms anywhere in your essay. Make these
words bold in your essay: attribution science, mitigation, adaptation, Global South. Each
one is worth 5 points. You may use these in any order.
Technical and Referencing
? Your essay should be a minimum of 1000 words, including your sources.
? All essays will be checked by turnitin.com. Click on the little colored square in the gradebook and fix
any plagiarism that is identified. You will not have a chance to do this after you submit your paper.
If you have questions about what you see on the originality report, email me.
? If you are writing about something that is not based on your own personal experience or on
common knowledge, you must cite your sources using Turabian author?date style. You will need to
include an in?text citationsin boldin the body of the text: it is placed at the end of the sentence
but before the period. Here is an example: (Turrentine 2022). The in?text citation will direct the
reader to your References Cited list. There should be a corresponding full citation.
? Do not include the title of the article in the body of your essay. Use an in?text citation instead. If
you do use a title, it will be deducted from your word count. Please review the recorded lecture on
referencing as well as the posted referencing docs for more info. Im also happy to meet via Webex
if you have any questions.
? Using articles: quotations are not permitted in this essay, but you may say something like: according
to the IPCC, such and such is happening and then include an in?text citation: (IPCC 2022, 14?17). If
you want to cite particular points of view within the article, thats fine as long as you identify who
said what.
? Include a short reference list in alphabetical order by authors last name at the end of your essay.
Only the year of publication follows the authors name and is not repeated. Here are a few
examples of citations from the opinions posted to Canvas. Its up to you to use these or not.
Dasgupta, Ani. 2022. Paying for Climate Damage Isnt Charity. Opinion, Guest Essay. The New York
Times. November 11. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/11/opinion/environment/un?climate?
change?conference?2022?reparations.html (accessed November 28, 2022).
Editorial Board. 2022. Mugged at Sharm el?Sheikh [Editorial]. The New York Sun. November 19.
https://www.nysun.com/article/mugged?at?sharm?el?sheikh (accessed November 28, 2022).
In?text citations: (Dasgupta 2022) and (Editorial Board 2022)
A few other things:
? Do not use Wikipedia or any other encyclopedias as sources. You may use their sources, however.
Always go directly to a source instead of using websites that package a list of articles.
? Do not use quotations. Paraphrase an authors perspective, that is put everything in your own
words and also use an in?text citation. Heres an example: According to John Cook,
. (Gramling
2021, 36).
? All papers should exhibit immaculate spelling and grammar, and should be carefully proofread for
clarity. Use paragraphs! You are being graded on flow and minimizing awkward phrases that
sound clunky or weird. How do you do this? Read your paper out loud.
? Avoid the following mistakes: In the article, it says or the article talks about
Instead,
According to Marlon et al,
or Jeff Turrentine explains
. Remember, articles cannot talk but
an expert or politician might. Even when you mention an authors name, include an in?text citation.
? Do not include the title of an article in your essay.
? Use spell check. Using grammar check is also a good idea.
? Review the grading rubric before you make your final submission.
