Research Essay - Geography
Directions: You are required to pick one of the following research questions and write a research
essay. Your essay must be in proper APA format including citations and a work cited. This research
essay will be worth 10% of your final mark. Your essay should be between 2-3 pages in length.
Step 1 – Pick a Topic OR come up with another topic that relates to Canadian Geography
Topic
Research Question
1.
Urban Sprawl
How is urban sprawl affecting Canadian cities?
2.
Wind Turbines
Are wind turbines beneficial to Canada?
Solar Panels
Are solar panels beneficial to Canada?
3.
Recycling
Is recycling an effective way to help the environment?
4.
Great Lakes for sale
Should Canadian Great Lakes be for sale?
5.
Forestry
Are Canadian forestry practices sustainable?
6.
Public transportation
Should Canadian cities have better public transit systems?
7.
Pesticides
Should pesticides be outlawed in Canadian farming?
8.
Global Warming
Should Canadians be concerned about global warming?
9.
Garbage
Should disposable coffee cups be outlawed?
Should disposable water bottles be outlawed?
Should Brampton have stricter laws on the number of bags of garbage?
10. Automobile
Should Canada have stricter laws against gas depended cars?
11. Water bottles
What are the problems with disposable water bottles?
12. Electronics
What environmental problems do electronics create?
13. Farmland vs. development Should developers be able to buy and build on unique farmland?
14. Wildlife
Why are wildlife habits being destroyed?
Step 2 – Research
Perform some general research it the library and in the computer lab. Take good notes on the
information. Be sure to keep track of all bibliographic information because you will need this later.
Step 3 – Thesis Development
After doing research you can answer your research question and develop your thesis statement. Your
thesis statement is simply answering your research question. i.e. example thesis : Urban sprawl
negatively affects Canadian cities.
Step 4 – Essay Organizer
Now you are ready to start your essay organizer. You will need to categorize your information into 3
arguments and 3 proofs within each argument.
Thesis: Urban sprawl negatively affects Canadian cities.
Urban Sprawl causes large amounts of traffic
Arguments 1
1. Stats, quotes, case studies etc.. to prove your argument
Proofs
2.
3.
Urban Sprawl wastes valuable land on large backyards and houses
Argument 2
1. Stats, quotes, case studies etc.. to prove your argument
Proofs
2.
3.
Urban sprawl causes a large amounts of pollution
Argument 3
1. Stats, quotes, case studies etc.. to prove your argument
Proofs
2.
3.
Rubric – Evaluation
Criteria
Knowledge
-Research
-Information
presented
Level 1
Essay is lacking
information
-Less than 2
sources are used
Level 2
-Essay is lacking
information
-Less than 3
sources are used
Level 3
-Well research
information is
presented and
researched
-3 sources are
used
-Few mistakes
with APA format
-Missing few
citation
-Work Cited has
few mistakes
Application
-Correct APA
format
-Work Cited
-Citations
-Many mistakes
with APA format
-Missing many
citation
-Work Cited has
many mistakes
-Some mistakes
with APA format
-Missing some
citations
-Work Cited has
some mistakes
Thinking
-Clear Thesis
-3 Strong
arguments
-3 Strong proofs
for each argument
-Thesis is unclear
-3 arguments are
stated but lack
clarity
-Essay lacks
proofs
-Thesis is lacking
clarity
-3 arguments are
stated but proofs
lack clarity
-thesis that is
proven throughout
essay
-3 arguments
stated and proven
with 3 proofs for
each
Communication
-How well the
message is
Communicated
-Spelling/
Grammar
-Writing style
needs a lot more
work with many
awkward
sentences
-Many
spelling/grammar
mistakes
-Writing style
needs more work
with some
awkward
sentences
-Some
spelling/grammar
mistakes
-Writing style is
clear
-Few
spelling/grammar
mistakes
Level 4
-In depth
information and
research presented
-4 sources uses
-No mistakes with
APA format
-No mistakes with
citations
-Work Cited has
No mistakes with
4 sources
-Clear thesis that
is stated and
proven throughout
the essay
-3 clear arguments
that are stated and
highly proven
with 3 proofs for
each
-Writing style is
extremely clear
-No
spelling/grammar
mistakes
An essay without citations will be considered plagiarized and this WILL result in a mark of Zero as
per school policy! NO EXCUSES
Checklist




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Completed Essay Organizer
Rough Copy of essay that has been proof read by 2 peers
Good copy in proper APA format with citations
Work Cited
Copy of the rubric
Due Date: ____________________________