COM310-6: Individual Perspectives Paper

Assignment: Based on your readings for this class, our in-class discussions, your journal for this class, and your own experiences, you are to develop a paper outlining your views on the major challenges facing humankind during the 21st century and their solutions, if any. Your perspectives should be presented from two points of view. First, list at least three and no more than six of the principle challenges in order of importance, most important first; this may in part be related to the difficulty of finding technical solutions, or to social or political factors that will inhibit necessary actions in time. Second, your challenges should be grouped under three levels of impact—global, regional (e.g., Northeast US or New England), and personal. The challenges should be listed with a header (in boldface) for each challenge. The levels should be separated with centered, capitalized headings. The paper should include a distinct introduction laying out your themes, and a distinct conclusion summarizing and briefly discussing the entire paper.

For each challenge, state the problem as concisely as possible, citing appropriate references carefully. State your reasons for ranking the problem as you have. To the best of your abilities, make it clear when and how each problem will reach a critical limit and manifest itself, accounting for impact on the economy, life-style, public health, etc. Each challenge should then be followed with a brief summary of most probable solutions. For each challenge / solution pair, allow no more than 1-3 paragraphs.

If you see challenges as manifesting themselves differently (i.e., in different ranks of importance) globally, regionally/nationally, and personally, explain the factors that will mitigate the challenge at the more local or personal scale (e.g., local ecological or other natural resource advantages, local technologies, special circumstances in your life that will give you a personal advantage over other people). Again, to the extent possible, back up your assertions with as much observable and factual material as you can.

Format: This paper should be a minimum of 8 to 10 pages long, printed, double spaced, 10-12pt font, 1" margins. Make certain that you have proofread and that the final copy contains no typos or grammatical errors.

Due: Draft due 10/23. Final draft and in-class presentation due 11/6.