GGR202 – Geography of Canada. Argumentative Essay.

The essay is to be 1000 - 1200 words (approx. 4ish pages double-spaced. Rule of thumb: 250ish words per double spaced page).
choose one of the topic:
immigration trends related to population growth in Canada
• urban sprawl and its impacts on agriculture
• trends in sustainable fishing
• ‘boom and bust’ economies based on natural resources
• the impact of the resource industry (i.e. oil sands, forestry, fishing) on the environment
• protecting the environment vs. using the environment for economic activities
• sustainable forestry and indigenous populations
• manufacturing and the Canadian economy
• evidence of a knowledge-based economy
• mega projects in the Territorial North
• unemployment trends in Atlantic Canada
• multiculturalism and diversity
• indigenous rights
• arctic sovereignty
• offshore oil drilling in Newfoundland
• tanker moratorium on the west coast
• trade with the United States

GGR202 – Geography of Canada, 
Argumentative Essay Instructions
1Grade Value: 20% of final grade
Due Date: Thursday, March 19, 2020 @ 11:59pm
Submission Method: Students will submit the essay online through Quercus (under the‘assignments’ tab), which will be subject to a Turnitin review.
Submission File Format: PDF or word doc.
1. Objectives
The objectives of the essay are to:
• provide an introduction to research;
• lay the foundations for developing your essay writing skill set;
• succinctly articulate an argument and clearly relay your ideas (i.e. thinking)
through writing (writing is a reflection of thinking) on a topic relating to thegeography of Canada.
2. Description
In this essay, you will present a viewpoint/argument and support that viewpoint withevidence. The aim is to persuade the reader of the validity of the viewpoint/argument youare making. This is different than a paper that presents or summarizes information. Apersuasive essay is all about changing someone’s mind. Students will write anargumentative essay that presents a viewpoint (or in other words, a thesis) on a ‘realworld’ issue related to some aspect of course material (of their choosing), and attempts tosupport the argument with evidence (i.e. references from academic sources).3. Selecting a TopicSelecting a topic is a difficult task, but it is part of the assignment’s challenge. Studentsare encouraged to select a topic that is of interest to them.A good topic will:• have conflicting points of view/be arguable. Your topic needs to be debatable andhave a clear opposing argument that others might support. Ask yourself, what arethe two sides of the argument?• be contemporary and relevant to a Canadian issue/event. Look to current eventsand news sources for a topic. What is going on in Canada that is inspiringdiscussion or disagreement?• have value to you. You will write a better paper if the topic ismeaningful/interesting to you. The topic of the assignment is purposely left broadso that students can find something to write about that is of interest to them;• be specific and narrow the focus of the paper.GGR202 – Geography of Canada, Winter 2020Argumentative Essay Instructions2The more specific/narrow your topic, the greater the likelihood it will be easier for you towrite your essay.The following is an example of how a broad topic can be narrowed:• Migrant workers, is a great topic, but very broad. The topic can be narrowed downby identifying from where the migrant workers originate, what type of work theydo and where they do it.• Migrant workers from Jamaica working on tobacco farms in southern Ontarionarrows down the topic. But, what about them, exactly?• The topic could further be narrowed down by focusing on a specific issue relatedto migrant workers from Jamaica working on tobacco farms in southern Ontario,such as temporary foreign workers’ rights.4. Example TopicsThe following are some of the many examples of topics you could write about for theargumentative essay. Please note that this list is by no means exhaustive, meaning theseare only a few of many possibilities. Students are more than welcome and encouraged tocome up with and write about a topic that is of interest to them. Please feel free to consultthe instructor if you have ideas for a topic!!• immigration trends related to population growth in Canada• urban sprawl and its impacts on agriculture• trends in sustainable fishing• ‘boom and bust’ economies based on natural resources• the impact of the resource industry (i.e. oil sands, forestry, fishing) on theenvironment• protecting the environment vs. using the environment for economic activities• sustainable forestry and indigenous populations• manufacturing and the Canadian economy• evidence of a knowledge-based economy• mega projects in the Territorial North• unemployment trends in Atlantic Canada• multiculturalism and diversity• indigenous rights• arctic sovereignty• offshore oil drilling in Newfoundland• tanker moratorium on the west coast• trade with the United StatesGGR202 – Geography of Canada, Winter 2020Argumentative Essay Instructions35. Writing a Thesis StatementAfter choosing a topic, the next step is to develop your argument by way of a thesisstatement. A thesis is a statement that:• presents an argument;• declares your position/takes a stance/makes a claim on a topic or issue;• functions like an opening statement a lawyer gives when making his/her case to ajudge (Example: Your honour, the current rise in global temperatures hasresulted from an increased human induced greenhouse gases in the atmosphere);• informs the reader of your point of view and states what you are proposing toshow or argue in the paper;• has an opposing side/can be contested/debatedA thesis statement consists of two main parts:1. the overall topic2. your position on that topicHere are some example thesis statements that combine a topic and position:Sample Thesis StatementsTopic Thesis Statement = Topic + Your PositionDrunk driving Anyone found guilty of drunk driving should have their licensesrevoked for five years.CollegeinternshipsThe college internship program provides important benefits forparticipants.City mass transit In the next ten years, Americans will be forced to embrace masstransit in their cities.Don't confuse an announcement with a thesis. In an announcement, the writer declarespersonal intentions about the paper instead stating a thesis with clear point of view orposition. An announcement is not necessarily an argument. Here are some examples thatshow the difference between an announcement and a thesis:Write a thesis, not an announcementThesis Statement Announcement (Avoid)Anyone found guilty of drunk drivingshould have their licenses revoked forfive yearsMy paper will discuss drunk drivers andwhen to revoke their licenses.The college internship programprovides important benefits toparticipants.In this essay, I will show the benefits ofcollege internships.In the next ten years, Americans will beforced to embrace mass transit in theircities.The topic of this paper is the futureimportance of mass transit. GGR202 – Geography of Canada, Winter 2020Argumentative Essay Instructions46. Essay StructureThe following section outlines how to organize your essay.Part A – IntroductionYou will be graded on how well you:• identify the issue/broader topic selected for the essay;• present the thesis statement/viewpoint;• provide an outline for the essay (i.e., tell the reader what you are going to talkabout in your essay/how the essay is structured.Part B – Descriptive Summary of the IssueYou will be graded on how well you:• provide brief background information about the issue and where it is takingplace;• briefly address the opposing side of the argument you are making. How couldpeople disagree with what your are arguing (i.e. your thesis statement)?• state why the topic is significant; why should the reader care about the issue?Part C – Presentation of EvidenceYou will be graded on how well you:• have ‘sub-arguments’ to back up the main thesis;• present evidence by using references to back up your sub-arguments.Part D – ConclusionYou will be graded on how well you:• re-state your thesis and readdress it in light of the evidence provided;• summarize what you said in the essay;• include insight gained while writing the essay or provide recommendations forfuture research. What are the implications of your topic? What effect will theissue have on people? Discuss what lies ahead for the topic.Part E – Bibliography• Include all references cited in the paper.• A minimum of five (5) references are required. Three (3) must be from peerreviewed journals. One (1) of the three (3) peer reviewed journals must be froma journal related to geography. Geography related journals might include topicslike: development, the environment, urbanization, globalization, planning,land-use, etc.• You can use other academic sources (e.g. books, edited collection of chapters) inaddition to the required three (3) peer reviewed journal articles.GGR202 – Geography of Canada, Winter 2020Argumentative Essay Instructions5• Where appropriate, you can use other non-academic references such as websites,brochures, magazines, newspapers or press releases.• There is no limit to the number of total references you use (within reason).• Follow APA formatting for bibliography. Please see the APA guides posted toQuercus for reference.7. Essay Formatting• The essay is to be 1000 - 1200 words (approx. 4ish pages double-spaced. Rule ofthumb: 250ish words per double spaced page).• Title page, titles, headings, figures and bibliography are not included in the wordcount or page count• The essay must be typed, double-spaced, 12-point font (Times New Roman,Ariel) on 8½ x 11-inch white paper with one-inch margins.• Use correct grammar, spelling, sentence structure and paragraph construction.• Headings can be used to organize the essay (but are not required).• Number the pages.• On the first page, include the appropriate information: essay title, your name,student number, class name and number, and date of hand in. You do not need toinclude a title page.8. Citation Guidelines• In the text of your essay, use citations when relaying facts, direct quotations orpresenting ideas that come from someone else (i.e., when facts or ideas are notyour own).• Use bracketed citations throughout the paper (e.g. Smith, 2014; Harris and Jones,2017, p. 5).• Use in text citations when: you are referring to an idea from another work, butyou are not directly quoting the material• Use quotations when: you want to use the exact wording from a source becauseit makes an impact9. Example: Topic, Thesis, Sub-Arguments, Evidence, and ReferencesThe following is an example of a topic, thesis, sub-arguments, evidence and referencesthat go into constructing an argumentative essay.ExampleResearchTopicSince 2006, Jamaica has received over two million touristsannually, making it the fifth most popular destination in theCaribbean region (Jamaica Tourist Board 2015). Although Jamaicahas been an exotic destination for rich tourists since the late 19thcentury and an important part of Jamaica’s economic survival(Kingsbury 2005), mass tourism in this developing nation has long GGR202 – Geography of Canada, Winter 2020Argumentative Essay Instructions6Examplebeen criticized as an exploitative form of development on the island(Britton 1980).ThesisStatementTourism in the developing country of Jamaica is dependent onunequal power relationships between multinational corporations inthe developed world and the host population subject to theirdomination.Sub-Argument1Labour exploitation is evidence of unequal power relationships intourism development between developed and developing countries.SupportingEvidence forSub-Argument1 (withreference)The lavish guest restaurants and high value hotel rooms of Sandals,Negril, Jamaica hide the precarious low-paid, low-skilled, and oftentimes menial work of hotel laborers, whom often live in crampedquarters and struggle to provide for their family (Kingsbury 2005).Sub-Argument2Importing goods to support tourism from outside of Jamaica (importsubstitution), as opposed to using local goods, is evidence ofunequal power relationships in tourism development.SupportingEvidence forSub-Argument2 (withreference)The economic benefits of tourism in Jamaica are reduced whenhotels import food for tourist consumption from Canada, the USAand New Zealand (Belisle 1983). Import substitution reduces thepositive economic benefits of tourism because money leaves theeconomy as opposed to being spent and circulated locally (Williamsand Lew 2015).Bibliography Belisle, F. J. (1983). Tourism and food production in the Caribbean.Annals of Tourism Research 10(4), 497-513.Bianchi, R. V. (2009). The ‘critical turn’ in Tourism Studies: aradical critique. Tourism Geographies, 11(4), 484-504.Britton, S. (1980). The spatial organization of tourism in aneocolonial economy: a Fiji case study. Pacific Viewpoint, 21(2),146-165.Kingsbury, P. (2005). Jamaican tourism and the politics ofenjoyment. Geoforum 36, 113-132Jamaica Tourist Board (2016). Annual Travel Statistics, 2015.Retrieved from http: www.jtbonline.org/report-and-statistics/Williams, S., and A. A. Lew (2015). Tourism Geography: CriticalUnderstandings of Place, Space and Experience. Routledge:New York. GGR202 – Geography of Canada, Winter 2020Argumentative Essay Instructions710. Grading RubricMissing/doesnot meetrequirement(F)(0)Notacceptable;incompetentskill(F)(1-2)Poor;marginallymeets therequirement;questionableskill; needsimprovement(D - D+)(2.5)Requireswork; needsfurtherexplanation;unclear(C – C+)(3)Satisfactory;meets therequirement;competent Skills(B – B+)(3.5)Well done;fairly highdegree of skill;marginalimprovement(A)(4)Exceptional;skill is aboveand beyond;needs noimprovement(A+)(4.5-5)Introduction:• Identifies the topic/issue selected for the essay (3marks)• Provides an essay outline (2 marks). Does itprovide a ‘roadmap’ for how the essay isstructured?Thesis:• Provides a thesis statement. Does it clearly indicatea position or claim on the topic/issue? Does it havean identifiable argument that indicates what theessay is about? Does it include key worlds or acentral idea that focuses the argument?Background:• Provides background information about the topic orissue, where it is taking place and why it isimportant• Briefly address the opposing side of the argumentSub-Arguments/Evidence:• Provides ‘sub-arguments’/evidence to back up themain thesisSupporting References:• In presenting sub-arguments, references are used(i.e. in-text citations)Conclusion:• Provides a summary of the essay (2 marks)• Provides insights gained while writing the essay (3marks). What was the most interesting or surprisingthing you learned? What effect will the issue haveon people? What lies ahead for the topic/issue?GGR202 – Geography of Canada, Winter 2020Argumentative Essay Instructions8Bibliography:• Properly and consistently formatted.• Includes at least five (5) references. Three (3) mustbe from peer reviewed journals. One (1) of thethree (3) peer reviewed journals must be related togeography.Formatting:Essay follows formatting instructions.Writing:Writing is clear.Student’s Score (/50)Papers run the risk of receiving a failing grade if:• They do not specify an argument• They do not provide evidence (i.e. in-text citations) to support the argument