Environmental Studies

Overview of ENVS Writing │ General Tips │ Response Papers │ Reflection Papers │

Research Papers │ Practicum Writing

Environmental studies is a broad discipline that explores humans and their relationship with the

natural environment. The discipline encompasses ecology and environmental science, as well as

policy, law, economics, and sociology. It is important to remember that nearly any topic can be

studied in terms of its relationship with the natural environment, which is why the field is

interdisciplinary.

Given this interdisciplinary nature, writing in environmental studies is also quite

interdisciplinary. Common types of writing you may encounter include lab reports, response or

reflection papers, research papers, and practicum write-ups. This page contains some tips and

strategies that will hopefully prove useful as you come across these different kinds of writing in

your ENVS classes.

Overview

Writing in Environmental Studies

Four ENVS tracks:

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences- B.S. focused in natural/social sciences

College of Arts and Sciences- B.A. focused in liberal arts

Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources- B.S. focused in natural

resource labs and ecology

College of Education and Social Services- B.A. focused in environmental education

Courses across numerous departments: up to 30 credits can be non-ENVS, environmentally

related courses

All Tracks are Writing Intensive: all four tracks must follow the ENVS core courses,

developing strong writing and communication skills:

ENVS 001 and ENVS 002- weekly writing assignments involving reflections, analysis of

environmental writing, and research papers

ENVS 151- professional development writing, involving self-reflection, research,

resumes, and academic plans

Senior Capstones- option of doing thesis (the most writing intensive track), a

project/internship (and writing an extensive paper as well), or three 200-level ENVS

courses (least writing intensive)

Writing Expectations across all ENVS courses:

In-depth reflection and systems thinking

Cross-disciplinary perspectives

Strong communication and persuasion skills

Individual research and hands-on research, along with a synthesis of information and data

collected

Holistic understanding of environmental issues, and the way that environmental studies

permeates all aspects of life (ecology principles that all things are interdependent and

connected)

Analysis of personal values and cultural norms across the globe

Papers usually involve:

Controversial topics and intense issues with multifaceted viewpoints

International and cultural themes

Scholarly research

The use of APA style citation

General Tips

Here are some general tips on writing in ENVS from faculty as well as from an ENVS TA.

Faculty

ENVS Professor Rick Paradis fully supports the idea of the SPN, or Scholarly Personal

Narrative. This idea supports using personal stories and anecdotes to enhance and/or

illustrate your critical reflections or the connections you are trying to make between ideas

and to make your writing more interesting. However, he cautions that not all professors

share his point of view. Based on your professor’s expectations and instructions, it should

be simple to determine whether or not incorporating personal stories is appropriate.

ENVS Professor Karen Freudenberger supports a “professional” writing style to improve

clarity and conciseness. Every sentence counts, and should be pertinent to the

overarching goals of the paper. Here is what she has to say (these are really useful editing

strategies):

Tips for Improving Your Writing

(Excerpted from Karen Freudenberger’s ENVS 295 course)

While these points are valid for most writing styles, they are particularly relevant to

“professional” writing, such as memos, policy briefs, and funding requests. In general with this

type of writing, less is better...try to get your points across as succinctly as possible while still

giving it the flavor and color needed to keep your reader’s interest. While these points may seem

picayune at times, I can only assure you that they really do make a difference. Good writing

persuades people to take action, will help you raise money for the causes you hold dear, and will

get you hired. The illustrations below are from essays written for this class.

Use paragraphs effectively to make your argument.

Ensure that each paragraph makes a point and that those points are essential to your

overall argument.

Use a sharp, well-honed introductory sentence to emphasize the point of the paragraph

(leading sentence).

Try not to mix arguments between paragraphs: keep ideas together that belong together

and start a new paragraph if you introduce a new idea.

Make sure that the paragraphs are logically ordered to build your case; conclude with a

paragraph (or at least a sentence or two if the essay is very short) that sums up your

argument.

Look for ways to clarify your sentences; shorter may be better.

If you have a sentence that goes on for longer than two lines, reread it carefully...chances

are it can be simplified and clarified. (This does NOT mean that all sentences have to be

shorter than two lines, but they shouldn’t ramble on unnecessarily.)

Pay special attention to strings of prepositional phrases in the same sentence (of ..., in....,

to..., about....). These sentences are often unwieldy and hard to follow.

“Your argument of continuing colonial history by imposing ideas of conservation

upon the Malagasy as unacceptable is compelling.” Comment: The argument

doesn’t stand out because it is lost in the prepositional phrases. Try “Your

argument that imposing conservation on the Malagasy is an unacceptable

continuation of colonial history is compelling.”

Instead of “biodiversity of the country of Madagascar” consider “Madagascar’s

biodiversity”

Get rid of words that don’t play an important role in the sentence.

“You create opposing camps to divide into.” Comment : you don’t need “to divide

into,” it’s implied already by the opposing camps.

Try to find more vibrant expressions to replace one or more weak words. If the weak

words are unnecessary, leave them out altogether.

While this would make conservation and preserving biodiversity simpler and

easier, it is merely not morally just.

While this would make preserving biodiversity easier, it is not morally just.

Consider surprising the reader with a short sentence that will pack some punch if you’ve

just let off a string of complex sentences. The occasional question can play a similar

function.

Try to avoid excess use of “backward sentences” where the reader needs to work back to

the subject.

Take care when using semi-colons. You must have complete sentences (subject and verb)

both before and after the semi-colon.

Incorrect: Combining these two practices will provide food in a sustainable way; ridding

the use of slash and burn agriculture and provide some income to be spent on food not

grown oneself.

Correct: Combining these two practices will increase food security; farmers will

be offered alternatives to slash and burn agriculture as well as off-farm income

generating activities.

Using “patterns” and parallel construction in your sentences can make them easier to read

and follow.

“It may seem contradictory, but viewing conservation on a small varying scale as well as

a global issue is necessary for complete satisfaction.”

Comments : What’s contradictory in this? Viewing conservation (subject) is

necessary (verb)...not a strong formulation. “small varying scale” doesn’t make

sense.

But, I think the person was making an important point. Was it perhaps

“Conservation is a local as well as a global issue.” You might then follow up by saying:

“Sometimes the apparently appropriate global response may not make sense when

applied at the local level.” And so on...

Most of us would fight for their homes and livelihoods as the Malagasy continue to do.

Most of us would fight for our homes and livelihoods...

You seem to be of a firm mind that the right of the Malagasy to be self deterministic is of

greater priority than the protection of the forest of Madagascar along with the wealth of

biodiversity living among these forests.

You seem to be of a firm mind that the Malagasy right to self-determination is of

higher priority than the protection of forests and the biodiversity they harbor.

Colonial history showed a stronger, materialistic, “richer” power taking over the land of a

weaker power, which was practicing a spiritual and sustainable way of life, for the sole

purpose of its self-betterment.

Colonial history was one of a stronger, richer, materialistic power taking over (for its

own betterment) the land of a weaker people who had been practicing a sustainable way

of life.

The truth of the matter is that we are far more environmentally destructive in the

industrialized world than places like rural Madagascar.

We in the industrialized world are far more environmentally destructive than rural

people are in Madagascar.

Read your paper aloud. If you find yourself stumbling over a sentence, it probably merits review

(and is likely to manifest at least one of the problems noted above). Ask a friend to read your

paper; if s/he has to read a sentence more than once to understand what it means, ask them to

mark it for review.

Student Perspective

ENVS TA Lauren Conroy shares insight about being a successful environmental writer:

- Make sure you proof read! It makes a huge difference in the overall quality of your paper.

- Resources are available online and at the library to help with using in-text citations. These

resources show you how to properly cite in each of the major formats.

- For ENVS 001 and 002, pay close attention to each element of the assignment. The

requirements for the majority of the homework assignments are laid out very clearly. If you

follow them closely you will do well.

- Think and write critically. Do not just write what you think the TA or an environmentally

minded citizen would want you to write. Example: just because we’re told “organic” is better

than conventional by environmentalists, that does not mean that everything about organic items

is better than conventional…

- When researching, use Google Scholar and the UVM’s scholarly article databases. Do not do

popular searches (New York Times, Wikipedia). Make sure sources are peer reviewed.

- My biggest piece of advice: read the news! Seriously. The Huffington Post, New York Times,

Grist… and the majority of other news sources have Environmental sections. Keeping up on

local, national, and global news will help you to not only become a better (ENVS) writer, but

will provide you with diverse perspectives.

Response Papers

Writing a Response Paper

This kind of writing is very commonly found in UVM ENVS classes, though the guidelines will

vary depending on the instructor and class. Typically, response papers are brief (2-3 double

spaced pages), opinionated, have a clear focus, and, most importantly, show that the student has

learned something from the lecture and/or course readings. The goal of this type of writing is to

respond to the prompt (if provided) and demonstrate what you have taken away from the

readings/lectures/field trips by using critical thinking and analysis. These papers do not

necessarily have to make an argument, but they must respond to the topic(s).

It is important to:

Clearly and concisely express your ideas (and arguments) by using focused topic

sentences as well as good transitions between ideas.

If you make an argument, support it well. Opinions can (and must) be supported by facts

or logical reasoning.

Show that you understand the material by using examples, facts, etc. from the readings

and lectures.

Make connections between lectures, readings, discussions, guest lectures, and field trips.

When appropriate, professors often enjoy a paper that is a bit more creatively written and

incorporates personal experiences and anecdotes (as long as they are clearly related and

demonstrated to be such by using the above strategies).

Sample Papers

This response paper (See envs1sampleresponse1.pdf), Economists vs. Ecologists connects ideas

presented in a guest lecture by Jon Erickson with personal experience and another guest lecture

to create a thoughtful response for ENVS 001.

This sample (See envs2sampleresponse2.pdf) is a brief paper outlining the pros and cons of

organic agriculture. While brief, it is well organized and persuasive.

Writing a Reflection Paper

Overview

Reflective writing is a significant part of intro-level environmental studies courses. Often, these

stem from an assigned reading and are intended to have the student draw from the text to provide

a personal response. These types of papers are designed to draw reactions, feelings, and analysis

of the text in a more personal way, rather than to be in the format of a formal research paper.

Other reflections can be assigned in response to a lecture, event, or experience (volunteering,

internship, etc.). These are typically 2-3 pages, double-spaced.

Getting Started

Many students find it difficult to draw a connection between themselves and the assigned

reading. Here are some resources to help you get started writing your paper:

Reading Tool #1

Reading Tool #2

Use these sheets to help you gain a sense of what you're reading and why it's pertinent. They can

be filled out either as you go along, or after you finish the reading (also applicable for lectures,

etc.).

The Writing Process

Each professor will have a specific method for how they would like the paper to be written. A

general format is to begin with a brief description of what the reading or lecture was about. This

is a relatively short section, around 1/3 of a page, but gives the reader an overview of what you're

reflecting upon.

Spend the remainder of the paper focusing on interpretation and reflection. Explain how the

material relates to you and your experiences. Do you agree with the text? Does it have relevance

in your life? Several of the questions in the reading tools can be incorporated into the paper and

expanded upon. There is flexibility in reflective writing to go in a variety of directions, as long as

you have a strong voice throughout the paper.

How to Succeed

Clearly identify your thoughts/reaction

Use examples from the text, if appropriate

Use personal anecdotes, if appropriate

Avoid clichés

Be honest

Research Papers

Writing a Research Paper

Similar to response papers, research papers are prevalent in the environmental studies discipline.

Often, these will be assigned in upper level courses as term papers in which the student

determines the topic to research, then adequately researches and writes a concise, creative and

compelling paper. This page contains tips about how to research in the environmental field and

how to construct an annotated bibliography, as well as about the Lives and Livelihoods

assignment (a challenging research paper about career goals that is written in ENVS 151). There

are also some sample papers to help illustrate each of these research aspects.

How to Research in the Environmental Field

Professors expect ample research to be done in order to write a thorough research paper. Usually

scholarly sources are required, especially peer reviewed journals. There are several specific

databases that are particularly useful to use when researching in the environmental field

(Environment Complete among them), though the kinds of databases you use will ultimately

depend on what you are researching (again, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of ENVS). The

UVM library environment databases page

(http://library.uvm.edu/research/index.php?mode=subject&subject_code=environment) should

help you begin your searches. The research guides below are also really helpful.

Library Research Guides

The following are several very helpful research guides for environmental studies prepared by

Bailey-Howe librarian Laurie Kutner.

General Guide to Environment Research (http://researchguides.uvm.edu/environment)

ENVS 151 Class Guide (http://researchguides.uvm.edu/envs151)

How to Write an Annotated Bibliography

Before writing a term paper, most professors will require students to write an annotated

bibliography to ensure that there are scholarly sources available and that it is evident how these

sources will be used in the paper. This is where all the research begins. Be sure to:

Choose well-written, peer-reviewed scholarly sources

Briefly describe each source and why each is relevant/useful for your paper (usually

around 2-4 sentences—check your professor’s expectations)

Cite the sources correctly (APA or whichever style your professor specifies)

This is a pretty good guide for annotated bibliographies put together by Perdue University’s

Writing Center: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/614/01/.

Tips for the Lives and Livelihoods Paper

This is one of the biggest research papers an environmental studies student will write at UVM. It

requires choosing a potential career and doing enough research on it to write a 10-12 page paper,

research usually involving interviewing 4 people and using 3 career reference books, 10

websites, and 15 or more scholarly journal articles (though specific requirements vary from

semester to semester depending on who teaches the course). The following are some general tips

meant to help you through this assignment.

If this paper seems daunting (or even if it doesn’t), starting as early as possible is

definitely a good idea. It will allow you plenty of time to work though any challenges or

questions you have or any revisions you want to make.

Always check your professor’s specific requirements and expectations for this

assignment and use them to guide you.

Choose a career that you are actually interested in; odds are you will learn a lot more

about the topic, which can be quite helpful in the future.

Try to choose your career and begin making contacts for interviews early.

Carefully record your interviews. If you can type quickly, bringing a laptop is helpful, or

borrow an audio recorder from the library.

Keep diligent notes, and be sure to separate information from different sources.

Follow the directions clearly. There is a reason why the instructors created clear and

detailed directions.

The paper should be clearly divided into the required sections. There are several, so it is

okay to put more energy into those that you are more interested in, as long as all sections

are discussed.

The paper should also be objective, until the personal reflection section, which is the only

section where personal opinions and “I” statements should appear.

Be careful to correctly incorporate material from the interview section; it is okay if this

accounts for the majority of the citations because it is the most recent and probably best

source of information.

Spend a good amount of time on the reflection section, as it is the only place to express

what you learned, what you liked and disliked about the career, and what your next steps

are in meeting your career goals.

Remember, even in a long paper, every sentence counts. Carefully proofread and aim for

a clear and concise paper.

Be sure to carefully cite everything correctly (generally APA). It should be noted that

there is a proper way to cite interviewees.

Instructors frequently require the citation page to be separated into the following

categories: Interviews, Literature Cited, and Additional Resources (resources not directly

cited in the text). However, be sure to check your specific requirements.

This assignment has the potential to be useful and fun if you start early and make a good

effort. You could potentially make connections for the future as well.

Take advantage of the various materials and resources available!

Sample Papers

Sample Term Research Paper (envs_sample_term_paper.pdf)---This is a sample term paper for

Ethnobotany. It is about the Franklin Street Elms, and uses both scholarly research and an

ethnographic interview to write about how the elms are a large part of North American culture.

Sample Lives and Livelihoods Paper 1 (envs_sample_lives.livelihoods1.pdf)---This paper

reports on the careers of a Sustainability/ Environmental Educator, and overall follows the

guidelines and requirements well.

Sample Lives and Livelihoods Paper 2 (envs_sample_lives.livelihoods2.pdf)---This paper

reports on careers in the field of green building and design. Again, this follows the guidelines

well, but is a bit lengthier.

Practicum Writing

Reporting on an Environmental Practicum

Doing a practicum in the environmental studies field is a great way to gain additional credits

while obtaining internship experience. This guide will provide suggestions for brainstorming a

topic, writing the proposal, and writing the practicum, as well as some sample papers for each

and a guide to finding environmental jobs/internship positions where you might carry out your

practicum.

Remember that the Writing Center is a great place to come during any step of your writing (from

brainstorming to making a final draft) if you have questions or want some feedback!

Brainstorming a Topic

Make a list of your environmental interests and talents (farming, local food,

environmental art, ecological design?).

Visit the Bittersweet to meet with an advisor or check out the bulletin boards for job and

internship listings.

Don’t be afraid to contact a company you would like to intern for with a cover letter and

resume.

Check out environmental volunteer opportunities (WWOOF- Worldwide Opportunities

on Organic Farms, or various conservation projects.

Writing the Proposal

The guidelines provide very specific questions to answer in the proposal and a clear

planning process; be sure to follow instructions very carefully.

Leave some time to plan and write the proposal, as it is quite specific and requires

thought.

Be clear and specific about learning expectations, and how you will be graded upon

completion.

Choose an advisor based on their interests and specialties.

Provide a preliminary draft to discuss with your advisor before the deadline.

Writing the Final Paper

Review your proposal, and reflect upon how well you met your learning objectives.

The final paper should essentially discuss how well you achieved your learning

objectives and goals, and how you have changed over the course of the practicum.

Be specific and provide examples portraying what you learned.

Be honest.

Keep your audience in mind. This should be a formal piece geared to your advisors,

ENVS faculty, students and even potential employers.

Sample Papers

Sample Proposal (envs_sample_proposal.pdf)

Sample Practicum (envs_sample_practicum.pdf)