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GEOG 321: Cities and Climate Justice (Professor Kim Knowles-Yánez)

GEOG 321 Class Project (Multi-Part)

Genre writing and creation is for a specific professional activity and includes consideration of audience and format.  

Pick a genre and subject which would make you proud to share with a future employer in a job interview and/or be part of your career. You may choose and complete more than one genre: 

  • Curriculum/lesson plans, for a specific grade level or public audience 

  • Website or app design 

  • Business letters (a series, for different audiences) 

  • Business memos (a series, for different audiences) 

  • Social media campaign plan  

  • Research Report 

  • Policy recommendation (ex., for addressing climate justice, etc...) 

  • Press release (a series, for different audiences) 

  • Project proposal (ex., to create a new business or non-governmental association) 

  • GIS project 

  • Scientific experiment design or research plan 

  • News articles (a series, for different audiences) 

  • Video 

  • In the arts: 

  • A play (or script) 

  • A podcast episode (or script) 

  • Movie script (fictional or documentary) 

  • Song lyrics 

  • Creative writing: poetry, essay, short story or detailed outline/proposal for a novel 

  • Annotated photography or visual medium exhibit 

Workplace genres which may be part of an array of genres, but which may not be a sole item for your project: 

  • Email 

  • Messaging apps (text, WhatsApp, Signal, dms, etc…)

For complete assignment guidelines, please consult Cougar Courses.

Project Proposal (Due March 12):

Objective: Write a one-page proposal and prepare a 60-second (non-electronic) in-class presentation to introduce your project to your group members. You may change your focus later, as your project progresses.

Steps to include in your proposal:

  • Choose a U.S. city of interest to you.
  • Select a specific topic about cities and climate justice. Use the class syllabus as guidance for topics, especially forthcoming topics.
  • Decide on a genre format from the list provided by Dr. Knowles-Yánez.
  • Find and include two research-based sources that will support your project.
  • Identify proposed presentation format (Story Map, PowerPoint, Prezi, GIS, or another electronic format).
  • Describe potential use of AI to improve your work.

For complete assignment guidelines, please consult Cougar Courses.

Lively in-class presentation (April 28-May 12)

Length: 5-7 minutes and 1-2 minutes for q & a (up to 9 minutes total) 

  • Turn in any material used to support your presentation (notes, electronic support) on the date of your presentation. 

  • Use any format: 

    • PowerPoint, StoryMap, Prezi, Google Slides (may be sent to Dr. Knowles-Yánez in an email) 

    • Live action 

  • Using an introduction, body, and conclusion format, discuss all aspects of your project, including how it relates to your career path.

Check your work against the Presentation Rubric before your presentation. 

For complete assignment guidelines, please consult Cougar Courses.

Workplace Genre Output (May 7):

Select a genre. See below for guidance on choosing your workplace genre format. 

  • Focus on a specific topic and age group. 

  • Include research sources. in the body of a written work or as an appendix (see below) 

Check your work against the Genre and Appendices Rubric before you turn in your genre. 

Workplace genres which may be part of an array of genres, but which may not be a sole item for your project: 

  • Email 

  • Messaging apps (text, WhatsApp, Signal, dms, etc…) 

For complete assignment guidelines, please consult Cougar Courses.

Part 4: Appendices (due May 7) 

  • If not already included in your genre, include a list of sources with brief descriptions (also known as an annotated bibliography)  

  • See this format and this format for guidance on how to present your research sources 

  • Include “information literacy” analysis. 

  • Include an AI annotated markup. 

  • These instructions are subject to change; more guidance will be provided later on. 

  • Do not use the AI to write your work for you. 

  • Read syllabus guidelines for the “Carbon-Based Artificial Intelligence Policy.” 

  • At one specific point in your work on this project, discuss your already prepared draft with an AI. 

  • Print out your chat in full. 

  • Annotate the points at which the AI improved your work (more guidance to follow).

  • If not already included in the genre output itself, explanation of how this workplace genre applies to your career ambitions and the audience it is tailored to. 

Check your work against the Genre and Appendices Rubric before you turn it in.