TATE Final Project Instructions and Examples
Instructions
You may choose the topic and medium for your final project. This is intended to allot you the
freedom to explore what interests you most, and what you find most important. The topic should
be related to thinking about the environment, and should integrate both material from the course
and material not on the syllabus. A few example topics and media options (with appropriate
length requirements) are specified below. If this freedom does not appeal to you and you would
rather write a more traditional essay on an assigned topic, don’t panic. Simply contact the
instructor and ask for one. Regardless of the topic and medium you choose, you must present a
well-reasoned argument for a clearly stated thesis. Throughout the course we will explicate and
practice this skill to prepare you for the final project. Thus it may be useful to refer to your work
from in-class exercises when formulating your argument.
The total grade (30 points) will be the sum of the following components:
Component
Written project proposal (5 points)
Meeting with instructor (5 points)
Project draft to your peer reviewer
Peer draft review (5 points)
Final project (15 points)
Due Date
Before class on 3/3
To be completed between 3/15 and 4/20
Before class on 4/5
Before class on 4/12
Before class on 4/21
Detailed rubrics are available to you for each of these components. Please consult the rubrics
well in advance of the relevant due dates and as you are working on each component. You are
more likely to get high marks on these assignments if you make sure to address each rubric
element.
Example Topics
You may select one of the topics listed below, or you may propose your own.
Humboldt and the Concept of Nature
Andrea Wulf recently published a book titled The Invention of Nature: Alexander
von Humboldt’s New World. She argues that Humboldt’s conception of nature as
an animated whole has deeply shaped our present understanding of the world and
our relationship to it. Is Wulf correct that Humboldt’s “nature” is our “nature”?
To argue for a thesis responding to this question, one would have to explicate
Humboldt’s conception using both primary and secondary sources, explicate a
contemporary characterization backed by reasons and evidence (likely appealing
to other characterizations of the concept extant in the literature), and argue that
these either do or do not align with one another.
Naturalists in Solitude
John Muir and Henry David Thoreau are two of the most important figures in the
origins and legacy of American Environmentalism. Muir’s My First Summer in
the Sierra and Thoreau’s Walden both conveyed to the public the experiences of
these men as they lived in virtual solitude and communion with their
environments. Both men also record the effects of human presence on the
landscapes they loved. For instance, Muir describes the impact of livestock and
tourism on the Sierras and Thoreau discusses the constant reminders of
civilization brought with the passing sound of the train from his cabin. How do
Muir and Thoreau see the relationship between humans and landscapes? Should
we adopt this/these perspective(s)? Explain the views of Muir and Thoreau on
humans and landscapes using textual evidence to support your readings. Discuss
reasons for thinking that these views are or are not descriptively accurate today.
Discuss possible consequences of adopting these views. Argue that we should or
should not accept one or both of these views.
Science, Rhetoric and the Marcellus Protest
Marcellus Protest describe themselves as “an alliance of western PA groups &
individuals building a broad movement to stop the destruction of our environment
and communities caused by Marcellus Shale gas drilling as well as to support
other directly affected communities”. As part of their Fracking Basics, Marcellus
Protest has put together a document titled “What’s the Big Deal About Marcellus
Shale Gas Drilling”, which outlines 11 points about this industry. Does this
document contribute to clear and rigorous thinking about the environment? To
answer this question, one would have to examine the intended purpose of the
document, the credibility of the resources that it cites, the arguments made in the
document, and its rhetorical framing. This would involve explicitly specifying
and justifying standards for credibility and cogency and evaluating the document
with respect to those standards. Does the document serve the intended purpose
well? Are the arguments provided sound? Would another approach better
contribute to clear and rigorous thinking about the environment, and if so, what
and why?
The Keystone XL Pipeline
In November 2015 President Obama rejected the Keystone XL pipeline. Was this
a good decision? Describe what the proposed pipeline was to be and what the
most important effects of its construction would have been. Be sure to carefully
consider from which sources you draw your information, thinking about how
special interests could affect their accuracy. What are the best arguments in favor
of the pipeline? What are the best arguments against it? While you may generate
your own arguments for either side, you should also reference arguments made by
others. On what did the President base his decision? Provide evidence supporting
your answer to this question. Based on all of the above, do you agree or disagree
with him?
Is Climate Change Real?
In order to effectively argue one way or another whether climate change is real,
one would have to specify what is meant by “climate”, “change”, and “real”.
Each of these components should be supported by scientific and conceptual
analysis resources where applicable. For example, one could explicate the
evidence for climate change as communicated by the IPCC reports. Alternatively,
one could argue (referencing Werndl’s 2015 article “On Defining Climate and
Climate Change”) that there is no useful definition of “climate” and that therefore
it is useless to argue about whether or not climate change is real. In addition to
clearly explicating the concepts involved, one would have to provide a wellreasoned argument in support of the chosen thesis.
Other possible topics
If you would like further clarification and explanation regarding any of these topics, please be
sure to ask.
COP21/CMP11
Pittsburgh’s Environmental Charter School
Nature as Female
Solar Radiation Management
Carteret Island Refugees
Property Damage in the Name of Environmentalism
The 2 Degree Limit
On the Viability of Weekly Food and Yard Waste Collection in Pittsburgh
Is Nuclear Power Green?
Cap and Trade
Watching Glaciers
Of Treaties and Tar Sands
Examples of Project Modalities (with specification of appropriate length/magnitude)
Below are some ideas for different options for presenting your final project. There are surely
further possibilities not listed here, so again if you have another idea that you would like to
pursue, please contact your instructor.
Disclaimer: note that the example pieces provided below are in many cases significantly longer
than your project should be. Moreover, several of these pieces lack the sort of clear thesis and
argument structure that you will need to present. These examples are intended to showcase high
quality versions of your media options via environment-related topics.
Write an editorial piece for a newspaper or blog (up to 2500 words, not including
references)
Example: “Short Answers to Hard Questions About Climate Change” by Justin
Gillis (Nov. 28, 2015) for the New York Times Environment Blog
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/11/28/science/what-is-climatechange.html?ref=earth
Make a video (up to 10 minutes long)
Example: Naomi Klein’s “Addicted to Risk” December 2010 TEDWomen talk
https://www.ted.com/talks/naomi_klein_addicted_to_risk?language=en
Record a podcast (up to 10 minutes long)
Example: Ira Glass’ This American Life episode 146: Urban Nature from 1999
http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/146/transcript
Organize a forum or debate (up to 20 minutes long)
Example: Michael Krasny’s forum episode “Poetic Pen Pals: The Letters of
Wendell Berry and Gary Snyder” aired on KQED radio
http://www.kqed.org/a/forum/R201406261000
Draft a locally applicable policy (up to 2500 words, not including references)
Example: the Seattle Climate Action Plan, see especially Sector
Recommendations: Transportation + Land Use
http://greenspace.seattle.gov/climateactionplan/#sthash.LxjNTk2E.WFagr8wL.dp
bs
Keep a term-long naturalist journal (up to 2500 words, not including references)
Example: John Muir’s My First Summer in the Sierra
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/32540/32540-h/32540-h.htm
Compose a short graphic novel or zine (up to 8 pages long)
Example: Philippe Squarzoni’s 2014 Climate Changed: A Personal Journey
through the Science
Or of course…write an essay (up to 3000 words, not including references)
General Guidelines
The final project will be marked for your exposition of arguments drawn from course material
and external sources, your critical engagement with these sources through your own
argumentation, and the organization of your project (including presentation of a clear and cogent
thesis). Your project must show evidence that you have carefully read and considered the
relevant sources.
As specified above, below, and in the project rubric, for your final project you should put
forward a thesis and an argument that supports it. This is not the same as stating your opinion on
something and then providing a loosely related rant.
Please do:
 Have a clear thesis statement at the beginning of your project.
 Use complete sentences. Use concise sentences.
 Signpost (with headings and transition sentences).
 When you include quotes (and citations) make sure to explain what the quote says in
your own words in addition. Try to use quotations sparingly and avoid including long
blocks.
 Give charitable interpretations of the authors you engage.
 Define key terms. Explicate key concepts.
 Consider using examples or case studies to support your view. Consider using
counterexamples to argue against the position you oppose.
 Consider evaluating the consequences of holding a position. Consider evaluating the
preconditions needed to hold a position.
 Consider suggesting an alternative and/or hybrid position to those already formulated
in the relevant literature.
 Point out (genuine) fallacies in the position you are critiquing, if applicable.
 Edit and proofread/listen/watch your project drafts multiple times.
 Ask other people to review your project and give you feedback.
 Present a clear, accurate, well-argued, and insightful project.
Please do not:
 Begin with “Since the dawn of time…” or “Since the beginning of humanity, we have
grappled with the problem of…”
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Present dictionary definitions.
Use overly verbose, baroque, or otiose phrases (even if you think they “sound good”).
Attempt to “fill out” your project with fluff that doesn’t contribute to your argument.
End sentences with “etc.” or “and so on.”
Refer to “human nature.”
Misuse the phrase “begging the question.”
Misuse other technical philosophical and/or scientific vocabulary such as “valid,”
“sound,” “argument,” “logic,” and “theory.”
Present a disorganized, meandering, vague, irrelevant, messy project with no main
point.
On Sources
You must cite your sources. You may use APA, Chicago, MLA or Harvard style.
Plagiarism will result in a failing grade, and may incur further action from the university.
On Style and Organization
Your project should have a thesis, it should clearly explicate the relevant material with which
you are engaging (for example, in an expository section clearly outlining the philosophical
position and/or evidence to which you are responding), and an argument consisting of several
reasons for your position. A good philosophical essay also considers possible objections to the
main argument, and responds to them.
You may find it helpful to compose your project in the following sections, labeling them as such.
Alternate (relevant) headings are also fine.
1. The issue.
State the question you are trying to answer.
2. Alternatives.
State possible answers to your question.
3. Evidence.
Describe whatever philosophical, historical, and/or scientific
evidence is relevant to the different potential answers.
4. Conclusion.
On the basis of the evidence for the different alternatives, argue for
what you see as the best answer to the question.
William Safire's rules for good writing:
No sentence fragments. Avoid run-on sentences they are hard to read. A writer must not shift
your point of view. Reserve the apostrophe for it's proper use and omit it when its not needed.
Write all adverbial forms correct. In their writing, everyone should make sure that their pronouns
agree with its antecedent. Use the semicolon properly, use it between complete but related
thoughts; and not between an independent clause and a mere phrase. Don't use no double
negatives. Also, avoid awkward or affected alliteration. If I've told you once, I've told you a
thousand times: Resist hyperbole. If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb
is. Avoid commas, that are not necessary. Verbs has to agree with their subjects. Avoid trendy
locutions that sound flaky. And don't start a sentence with a conjunction. The passive voice
should never be used. Writing carefully, dangling participles should be avoided. Unless you are
quoting other people's exclamations, kill all exclamation points!!! Never use a long word when a
diminutive one will do. Proofread carefully to see if you any words out. Use parallel structure
when you write and in speaking. You should just avoid confusing readers with misplaced
modifiers. Place pronouns as close as possible, especially in long sentences-such as those of ten
or more words-to their antecedents. Eschew dialect, irregardless. Remember to never split an
infinitive. Take the bull by the hand and don't mix metaphors. Don't verb nouns. Always pick on
the correct idiom. Never, ever use repetitive redundancies. "Avoid overuse of 'quotation
"marks."'" Never use prepositions to end a sentence with. Last but not least, avoid clichés like the
plague.
Use of pronouns
Try to avoid gender-biased pronouns such as the generic “he” or “she”. Do not use “they” or
“their” as singular. In English, gender neutrality can almost always be achieved by using plurals.
Example: “When people care about their friends” instead of “If someone cares about his friends”
or “If someone cares about their friends”.
More Resources
http://prezi.com/z4h1_fwilbxj/a-sample-philosophy-paper/ GOOD example philosophy paper
http://www.jimpryor.net/teaching/guidelines/writing.html How to write a GOOD philosophy
paper
http://web.uct.ac.za/depts/philosophy/James%20Lenman%20%20How%20to%20Write%20a%20Crap%20Philosophy%20Essay.pdf How to write a CRAP
philosophy paper
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/
reference, citation, and style
http://citationmachine.net/index2.php
reference generator
http://www.bartleby.com/141/
The Elements of Style
http://www.composition.pitt.edu/writingcenter/
Pitt Writing Center
http://www.howtopodcasttutorial.com/17-audacity-tutorial.htm
Audacity Tutorial
Acknowledgments: Professors Mathieu Doucet and Paul Thagard of the University of Waterloo
for generously granting permission to use elements of their writing resources.