Essay #3 – Sustainability Within Your Major or Career Interest The United Nations Brundtland report defines sustainable development as that which “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” The Financial Times Lexicon defines business sustainability as “a process by which companies manage their financial, social and environmental risks, obligations and opportunities. These three impacts are sometimes referred to as profits, people and planet.” This essay will examine sustainability, based on either of these definitions or one you clearly define, through the lens of your academic major or specific career interest. You have two options for writing about issue, and must choose only one option:  Essay option #1 How does this major contribute to sustainability (or not)? What changes need to occur for this major to have a better impact on sustainability? Remember, sustainability must balance “profits, people, and planet.” Thus, your sustainable solutions cannot bankrupt companies, jeopardize workers’ safety, or cause massive job loss. Can this sustainable solution be applied on a large enough scale to have an impact, or is it merely a fad? What steps need to be implemented for this sustainable solution(s) to take off and be embraced by the essential “players” (governments, businesses, people)? What steps need to be taken for it to move from an idealized vision to a tangible reality?  Essay option #2 Is this major or field of interest sustainable in itself? Where is this field headed? Will it be here in a recognizable form in ten years, or will shifts in governmental policies, world politics, environmental change, and technological innovation (including AI) cause it to reinvent itself or be gradually phased out? How can this field sustain itself over time? In order to earn a C or above, you must abide by the following criteria: Sources  You must incorporate properly cited quotes and/or paraphrases from a minimum of 4 sources. Sources may be from our class readings/TED talks, the sustainability list, or RELIABLE sources you find through your own research. We will discuss reliable sources in class.  One of these sources may be an interview with an expert in the field. This person may be a professor, a graduate-level student (MA or PhD) studying this field, or a working professional. If you use this option, do not “dump” the interview in one section of the paper, and do not present it as one long quote. Make sure the relevant parts of your interview is synthesized smoothly throughout your essay. DiGangi / WRIT 112 / Summer 2015 2 Length  1,700 to 2,200 word minimum, which is 6-8 double-spaced pages, with one of those pages a 1/2-page abstract (see below). Please note, papers below 1,700 words will be downgraded! APA  an APA format cover page AND an APA reference page (not included in the page count above) ...

1. Essay #3 – Sustainability Within Your Major
or Career Interest
The United Nations Brundtland report defines sustainable
development as that which “meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet
their own needs.”
The Financial Times Lexicon defines business sustainability as
“a process by which companies manage their financial, social
and
environmental risks, obligations and opportunities. These three
impacts are sometimes referred to as profits, people and planet.”
This essay will examine sustainability, based on either of these
definitions or one you clearly define, through the lens of your
academic major or
specific career interest. You have two options for writing about
issue, and must choose only one option:
How does this major contribute to sustainability (or not)? What
changes need to occur for this major to have a better impact on
sustainability? Remember, sustainability must balance “profits,
people, and planet.” Thus, your sustainable solutions cannot
bankrupt
companies, jeopardize workers’ safety, or cause massive job
loss. Can this sustainable solution be applied on a large enough
scale to have
an impact, or is it merely a fad? What steps need to be

2. implemented for this sustainable solution(s) to take off and be
embraced by the
essential “players” (governments, businesses, people)? What
steps need to be taken for it to move from an idealized vision to
a tangible
reality?
Is this major or field of interest sustainable in itself? Where is
this field headed? Will it be here in a recognizable form in ten
years, or will
shifts in governmental policies, world politics, environmental
change, and technological innovation (including AI) cause it to
reinvent itself or
be gradually phased out? How can this field sustain itself over
time?
In order to earn a C or above, you must abide by the following
criteria:
Sources
paraphrases from a minimum of 4 sources. Sources may be from
our class
readings/TED talks, the sustainability list, or RELIABLE
sources you find through your own research. We will discuss
reliable
sources in class.
an expert in

3. the field. This person may be a professor, a graduate-level
student
(MA or PhD) studying this field, or a working professional. If
you use this option, do not “dump” the interview in one section
of the
paper, and do not present it as one long quote. Make sure the
relevant parts of your interview is synthesized smoothly
throughout your essay.
DiGangi / WRIT 112 / Summer 2015 2
Length
-8 double-spaced
pages, with one of those pages a 1/2-page abstract (see below).
Please note, papers below 1,700 words will be downgraded!
APA
included in the page count above)
-text citations for all paraphrases and direct
quotations
– page abstract (approximately 150 words), which is
included in your word/page count above.

4. The important elements all your essays in this class must
contain:
to the topic. Remember, your audience has not read Quinn; thus,
you will need to introduce him and the gist of his idea. The
introduction should include a general or theoretical concept of
sustainability and apply it to the context.
c, debatable claim; your thesis
for this essay must be the last sentence in your one-paragraph
introduction.
and transitions
is convincing and clear to the reader
leaves the reader with further ‘food for thought’
A few more rules and tips
assignments.

5. DiGangi / WRIT 112 / Summer 2015 3
WRIT 112 Grading Sheet Essay #4,
Sustainability within Your Career
Prof. Laurel DiGangi
Disclaimer: This grading sheet is a guide that I use for two
purposes: 1) to help me grade your essay fairly, and 2) to help
you learn
how to improve your essay. Please understand that this is not an
exact system; your grade is based on my overall, final judgment
Superior
best
possible
A
Good,
minor
flaws
B
Passes but

6. needs
major
improve-
ments
C
No
pass
D
Fails
F
Abstract and
Thesis
10%
Essay includes an abstract that provides readers with an abstract
that expresses the main idea and key points.
Essay also includes a strong, debatable thesis at the end of the
introduction paragraph.
Support/

7. Content
30%
The paper’s body supports the thesis with clear, well-developed
details. It does not repeat ideas and is clear and well-
focused. Student must incorporate quotes and paraphrases from
a minimum of FOUR sources that are defined on the
first page of this assignment sheet. No idea should not
contradict the thesis (unless it is clearly a counterargument
which is rebutted). You must represent all your sources
accurately. If an interview is used in place of a source, do not
“dump” the interview in one section of the paper, and do not
present it as one long quote.
Research
10%
All sources must be considered “reliable,” either from a
respected newspaper, online magazine, scholarly journal, or
professional organization that has expertise in your topic. SIX
SOURCES minimum have been used.
Structure
10%

8. The paper is organized and seems to follow an outline.
Paragraphs are presented in a logical order so the reader can
easily understand the writer’s meaning. Each paragraph is
unified and sticks to one topic. Transitions create a clear
flow between sentences and paragraphs.
Overall
clarity/style
20%
The reader can understand all sentences clearly. No sentences
are awkward or confusing. The writing is concise and
not too wordy or repetitious. The style is neither overly formal
nor too casual. All quotes must be integrated properly.
NO DROP QUOTES!
Grammar &
punctuation
10%

9. Essay contains no run-ons, comma splices, fragments, pronoun
problems, capitalization, and other grammatical errors.
There are no misspelled words. Essay has been properly
proofread.
APA Format
10%
Essay uses template on Moodle. Citations are correct and use
proper APA style for both in-text citations and
References list at the end. Please note that this category is
about citing properly. Failure to properly cite most sources
will result in a zero! Essays without citations will not be
accepted.
If box is checked, your paper has been downgraded
because it does not meet the minimum page requirements on this
assignment sheet.
If box is checked, I am requiring you to take a
revised copy of this paper to the Writing Center for an in-person
appointment. 1. Revise your paper according to my
comments.2. Take this new, revised paper to the Writing Center,
along with your revision. The tutor can help you make further
revisions and polish your paper further.
3. Revise your paper again based on your meeting with the
tutor, and turn in this polished paper to me.

10. If box is checked, I am not accepting your essay
because you have not cited your sources, or it is plagiarized.
Essays that appear to be written by multiple parties, or by
someone other than the student, will not be accepted.
Additional comments
Grade
WRIT 112, Summer 2017, Prof. Laurel DiGangi
UNIT 2, SUSTAINING OUR SURVIVAL
Essay #2 – Persuasive essay
In “The New Renaissance,” Daniel Quinn stated, “something
extraordinary is going to happen in your
lifetime,” claiming that “the people of our culture are going to
figure out how to live sustainably on this
planet—or they’re not.” Quinn also suggests that we are on the
brink of a “new Renaissance” that will usher
in radical cultural changes that hopefully will allow us to live
sustainably. Do you agree with this view? Why
or why not? Justify and prove your opinion by providing
examples from Quinn and at least two other outside
sources (see below).
Feel free to focus on specific areas, including those related to
your major or interests, that support your

11. view. Try to explore this question through the “lens” of ideas
that interest you, be they related to the
environment, politics, artificial intelligence, etc. Your essay
should demonstrate that you have a thorough understanding of
Quinn’s
ideas, and that you have thought deeply and critically about this
topic. I don’t expect you to prove your claim beyond a
reasonable
doubt, or resolve all sustainability problems. Nobody can do
that. But I do expect you to move beyond thoughts like, “green
recycling
arrows are seen everywhere, so the new Renaissance is here.”
Most important is that you support your claim with strong
evidence from
your outside sources.
You will need to incorporate properly cited quotes and/or
paraphrases from the following, for a minimum of 4 sources:
the Sustainability Reading List.
In order to earn a C or above, you must abide by the following
criteria:
Length
-6 double-spaced
pages. Please note, papers below 1,200 words will be
downgraded!
APA

12. included in the page count above)
-text citations for all paraphrases and direct
quotations
The important elements all your essays in this class must
contain:
to the topic. Remember, your audience has not read Quinn; thus,
you will need to introduce him and the gist of his idea.
Daniel Quinn, author of
“The New Renaissance”
DiGangi / WRIT 112 / Summer 2015 2
for this essay must be the last sentence in your one-paragraph
introduction.
ntences
and transitions
is convincing and clear to the reader

13. leaves the reader with further ‘food for thought’
A few more rules and tips
quotes.
evidence. For example, if I write about my experiences at the
Antelope
Valley Poppy Preserve, I cannot do this without the word “I,”
just as Louv does in his book. However, I do not need to say “I
believe that the tourists should not have trampled the flowers.”
I can simply say, “The tourists should not have trampled the
flowers.” Please remove “I believe,” “I think,” “I feel,” and “in
my opinion” from all academic essays.
this is an informal instruction sheet; I am telling you what to
do.
However, when you write for an audience of peers, you should
use “we” instead, to include yourself with your readers. Doing
so
shows your readers that you don’t think you’re better than them.
Only your professors can do that!
each quote by 1) creating context for your quote, 2) using a
signal
phrase before the quote, and 3) when possible, easing out of the
quote by adding some analysis.
inflated, pompous language, but also avoid slang and language
that

14. is too informal.
See the grading rubric on the next page to understand how I will
grade this essay!
DiGangi / WRIT 112 / Summer 2015 3
WRIT 112 Grading Sheet Essay
#2, Sustaining our survival
Prof. Laurel DiGangi
Disclaimer: This grading sheet is a guide that I use for two
purposes: 1) to help me grade your essay fairly, and 2) to help

15. you learn
how to improve your essay. Please understand that this is not an
exact system; your grade is based on my overall, final judgment
Superior
best
possible
A
Good
minor
flaws
B
Passes
but needs
major
improve-
ments
C
No
pass
D

16. Fails
F
Introduction
&
Thesis
10%
The introduction engages readers’ interest and introduces the
topic clearly. It provides any background information
the readers might need to help them understand the rest of the
essay. The essay has a main point (a debatable thesis)
that is clearly stated at the end of the introduction.
Support/
Content
30%
The paper’s body supports the thesis with clear, well-developed
details. It does not repeat ideas and is clear and well-
focused. Student must incorporate quotes and paraphrases from

17. a minimum of four sources that are defined on the
first page of this assignment sheet. No idea should not
contradict the thesis (unless it is clearly a counterargument
which is rebutted). You must represent all your sources
accurately.
Structure
10%
The paper is organized and seems to follow an outline.
Paragraphs are presented in a logical order so the reader can
easily understand the writer’s meaning. Each paragraph is
unified and sticks to one topic. Transitions create a clear
flow between sentences and paragraphs.
Overall
clarity/style
20%
The reader can understand all sentences clearly. No sentences
are awkward or confusing. The writing is concise and
not too wordy or repetitious. The style is neither overly formal

18. nor too casual. All quotes must be integrated properly.
NOT DROP QUOTES!
Grammar &
punctuation
20%
Essay contains no run-ons, comma splices, fragments, pronoun
problems, capitalization, and other grammatical errors.
There are no misspelled words. Essay has been properly
proofread.
APA Format
10%
Essay uses template on Moodle. Citations are correct and use
proper APA style for both in-text citations and
References list at the end. Please note that this category is
about citing properly. Failure to properly cite most sources
will result in a zero!
If box is checked, your paper has been downgraded

19. because it does not meet the minimum page requirements on this
assignment sheet.
If box is checked, I am requiring you to take a
revised copy of this paper to the Writing Center for an in-person
appointment. 1. Revise your paper according to my
comments.2. Take this new, revised paper to the Writing Center,
along with your revision. The tutor can help you make further
revisions and polish your paper further.
3. Revise your paper again based on your meeting with the
tutor, and turn in this polished paper to me.
If box is checked, I am not accepting your essay
because you have not cited your sources, or it is plagiarized.
Additional comments
Grade
Running head: Running head: Sustainability Within Your Major
or Career Interest
1
Sustainability Within Your Major or Career Interest

20. Sustaining Our Relationship with Nature
Maha Alnami
Laurel DiGangi
Woodbury University
Sustainability Within Your Major or Career Interest
Introduction
During many thousands of years people are crating clothing
from cutting trees, killing animals, and plastics products. In last
century, fashion industry has a lot of changing of materials but
they still have a lot of miss products in fact our plant. However,
they still are making clothing from bad material it effect the
nature. “The clothing industry is the second largest polluter in
the world ... second only to oil," the recipient of an
environmental award told a stunned Manhattan audience earlier
this year. “It's a really nasty business ... it's a mess."
In my major, we studied about how we can fix that both to
gather with the fashion designers to trying to help the
environmental and the communities. I think governments and
business should to work to gather with charities to help earth
and countries.

21. http://www.alternet.org/environment/its-second-dirtiest-thing-
world-and-youre-wearing-it