In this paper you will critically evaluate a town or city’s sustainability plan.

In this paper you will critically evaluate a town or city’s sustainability plan. Choose the sustainability plan from your hometown or a city nearby. (For example, Washington, DC). If your hometown or a nearby city does not have a publicly accessible sustainability plan, use the “city” of the University of Maryland campus (BSOS plan) or Washington DC.

http://www.bsos.umd.edu/about-us/sustainability-plan

http://www.sustainabledc.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/SDC-Final-Plan_0.pdf (Links to an external site.)

Read the plan document itself and any corresponding information online, and use that information respond to the prompts below. To get full points, respond directly to each of the prompts below. This assignment is a research paper, and therefore requires you to provide in-text citation to accompany all non-common knowledge. Information you learn from lecture should not be considered common knowledge. You must cite your sources using external materials, and follow up on your citations with your own original analysis.

Introduction: 20 points

What town or city are you analyzing? Give a brief background of the town in terms of population, area, economic activity, climate, etc. (5 points)
What is your relationship with this place? Have you lived there long? Why do you live there? Will you stay after graduation? (2.5 points, no citation needed)
Had you heard of or seen the sustainability plan (or aspects of it) before this project? If so, in what capacity (In person around town? Orally explained to you? Read it before?) (5 points, no citation needed)
When, and by whom (government, community organization, etc.) was the plan enacted? Give some background on the mission and development of the plan (5 points)
Include at least one map of the town at the end of the paper (additional page to text, not included) (2.5 points)

Assessment: (45)

How does the plan address economic/environmental/social sustainability? Use specific facts, figures and information from the plan itself to explain each pillar, and do not limit yourself to single examples of each. (18 points, 6 for each pillar)
What is the balance of attention given to each pillar? For example, does the plan enhance or emphasize one pillar while jeopardizing or downplaying (or overlooking) others? Is there an equal balance across all? Explain how. (2 points)
How does the plan include adaptation policies? Are mitigation policies included? Use the definitions of adaptation and mitigation from the Coastal Cities lecture. Use specific facts, figures, and information from the plan itself to explain each, and do not limit yourself to one example. (10 points)
Define resiliency from the Peirce et al 2012 reading. Is the plan resilient based on this definition? Define capacity based on the Wang et al 2012 reading. How does the plan address each of the facets of capacity that Wang et al include? (political support, financial resources, technologies, managerial execution. Use specific references from the plan itself to address these questions (10 points)
Who is involved in executing the plan? Is the plan inclusive across different sectors and actors (Government, businesses, citizens, NGOs, etc.)? Use specific references from the plan itself to answer this prompt (5 points).

Amendments (10)

How might you amend the current plan to make it more sustainable? To answer this question, suggest improvements to at least two areas based on your answers to assessment prompt #s 2-5 above. For example, for prompt #2, how might the plan better include one of the lacking pillars? What new policies, rules, actions, can be created to make each of these improvements? Your answers should be informed by external research that you can cite (10 points… 5 per amendment.)

Points can be subtracted for the following:

Poor grammar, spelling, and syntax: 1-5 points

Improper paper formatting: 1-5 points

o At least six consecutive pages of text (minimum; you can go over if needed). Six pages is the bare minimum for responding to each prompt.To fully and completely answer each prompt, your paper may extend several pages past the minimum of six.

o Not included as one of the six pages of paper content:

One (or more if needed) page for citations.
One page for photos, tables, figures (map goes here).
One title page with name, date, paper title (do not repeat this information on the first page of text content).

Improper paper styling: 1-5 points

Double spaced
Times New Roman size 12 font
1 inch margins
0 point spacing before and after paragraphs
Numbered pages

Citations: 10+ points detracted for:

Not having at least two scholarly sources. The lectures are not scholarly sources. You may use them in your paper, but they must be accompanied with in-text and end of paper references.
Not having AAG style citations or Chicago style citations.
Inconsistent in-text citations:
No bibliography page

Criterions:
Brief background of the town in terms of population, area, economic activity, climate, etc
Full Marks

5.0
No Marks

0.0
5.0
I. Relationship with this place
Full Marks

2.5
No Marks

0.0
2.5
I. Heard from the sustainability plan before? Where/How?
Full Marks

5.0
No Marks

0.0
5.0
I. Map
Full Marks

2.5
No Marks

0.0
2.5
II. How does the plan address economic sustainability?
Full Marks

6.0
No Marks

0.0
6.0
II. How does the plan address environmental sustainability?
Full Marks

6.0
No Marks

0.0
6.0
II. How does the plan address social sustainability?
Full Marks

6.0
No Marks

0.0
6.0
II. Balance of attention given to each pillar?
Full Marks

2.0
No Marks

0.0
2.0
II. How does the plan include adaptation policies? Are mitigation policies included?Definition/facts/figures from the plan
Full Marks

10.0
No Marks

0.0
10.0
II. Definition Resilience & Is the plan resilient based on this definition?
Full Marks

5.0
No Marks

0.0
5.0
II. Definition Capacity & How does the plan address each of the facets?
Full Marks

5.0
No Marks

0.0
5.0
II. Who is involved in executing the plan?
Full Marks

5.0
No Marks

0.0
5.0
III. Amendments (Area 1) How might the plan better include one of the lacking pillars? What new policies/rules/actions can be created to make each of these improvements?
Full Marks

5.0
No Marks

0.0
5.0
III. Amendments (Area 2) How might the plan better include one of the lacking pillars? What new policies/rules/actions can be created to make each of these improvements?
Full Marks

5.0
No Marks

0.0
5.0
1. The Question

Threshold : 3.0

Advanced: Engagement in the question is clear and concise, captures the central issue/s of the course, and reveals that the content has been internalized

3.0
Proficient: Engagement in the question is accurate, the meaning is evident, and is not impeded by omissions.

2.0
Beginning: Engagement in the question is mundane, rote and requires some interpretation and assumptions for full meaning to be evident.

1.0
Unacceptable: Central question or concept is not engaged or is stated inaccurately.

0.0
—
2. The Issues

Threshold : 3.0

Advanced: Discussion of issues: • Is comprehensive, insightful and creative • Synthesizes in-depth information from appropriate sources • Considers multiple perspectives (personal andscholarly) • Reveals how answers to the question reflect an assumed perspective • Recognizes enduring nature of the question

3.0
Proficient: Discussion of issues: • Is adequate to provide the context of the question and to indicate multiple facets pertinent to the question • Presents in-depth information from relevantsources • States multiple perspectives (personal and scholarly) • Recognizes that the question does not have one right answer • Recognizes the relevance of the question

2.0
Beginning: Discussion of issues: • Is simplistic, naïve or general • Presents information from relevant sources • Provides a superficial and or limited perspective • Suggests that the questiondoes not have one right answer • Is narrow, presented a limited recognition of the relevance of the question

1.0
Unacceptable: Discussion of issues: • Is missing or provides no relevant information • Does not include consideration of multiple perspectives or exploration of the complexity of the question •Fails to acknowledge the question

0.0
—
3. The Disciplinary Context

Threshold : 3.0

Advanced: Accurately reflects the perceptions of the course discipline/s. Uses language of course discipline/s in a fluent manner.

3.0
Proficient: Provides a context that generally reflects the course discipline/s. Uses course discipline/s terms appropriately.

2.0
Beginning: Provides a context recognizable to the course discipline/s Uses course terms in an awkward, or imprecise, and/ or inappropriate manner

1.0
Unacceptable: Does not provide context or context is not recognizable as related to the course discipline/s.Does not use terms or inaccurately uses terms of the course discipline/s

0.0
—
When and by whom was the plan enacted?
Full Marks

5.0
Rating Description

3.0
No Marks

0.0
5.0
Total score : 75.0