The purpose of this paper is to describe the background, current important issues, misinformation, and recommendations for a feasible, cost-effective solution for an environmental issue that is local to to fictional municipality of Blue Ridge County. While the community is fictional, the environmental issues are not, and all of the information and recommendations in the paper must have a basis in factual scientific knowledge. Your final version must be submitted on the required date, prior to the group workdays.
The paper must follow the guidelines listed here (also see the EcoGrant Paper Rubric for more specific info):
The body of the paper must be between 1250 and 1750 words. This does NOT include the "works cited page" etc.
Citations must be in APA style (check out this poster or go to the Purdue Online Writing Lab ("OWL) APA by clicking here).
Information should be rephrased into your own words (as much as possible) and properly cited. *Some sections - Background, Current Issues, and Conclusion - can include in-text citations. The Next Steps section should NOT include in-text citations. This section should be entirely your unique idea(s).
You must use a minimum of 10 sources (at least 8 from the sources gathered at UVA). All sources must be from professional or educational organizations, scientific journal articles or other reputable sources.
The final copy of your paper must be submitted to turnitin.com and uploaded to the groups Grant Proposal site. You may have no more than a maximum of 15% on the originality report, and your paper must be shared publicly with the world prior to the group presentation.
Your Paper must follow the following format:
Section 1 - Background information:
How and when did this topic originally arise?
What do we know about the historical impact of this topic, in terms of who has been impacted, in what way, and to what extent?
What makes this a "significant" topic?
Section 2 - Current Issues:
What current important knowledge exists about this topic?
What research is currently being done to further expand knowledge on this topic?
What important programs or initiatives have scientists, governments and/or the public created to deal with this topic through legislation, direct action, or education?
What is misunderstood about this topic, and what is the cause of this?
What misinformation has been spread about this topic? By whom, and for what reasons?
What honest misunderstandings exist about this topic?
Section 3 - Next Steps:
What are difficulties or obstacles?
What is a specific solution that might be implemented by a local government for this issue?
How will you ensure that this proposed solution is feasible and cost-effective for the local government of Blue Ridge County
Section 4 - Conclusion:
Summarize the issue in terms of historical and present knowledge and current and future actions in regard to this issue.
Section 5 - Appendix (optional)
Charts, graphs or any other supporting reference information
Section 6 - Works Cited
Minimum of 10 sources cited in APA format
Minimum of 8 sources must be those found at UVA
Section 7 - UVA Source Documentation
Identification of where each UVA source was used in your paper - copy and paste sections of cited material under each source.