Preparation Guide for Quiz 1

Details:

• covers the first four lectures
  • review lecture notes, readings and vocabulary
• starts at 3:15 and ends at 4:10
• no notes
• worth 25 points
• three types of questions (see below)

Vocabulary questions:

There will probably be ten 1-point vocabulary questions. You need to answer these with a short phrase that demonstrates that you know what the work means. The vocabulary sheet demonstrates this brevity for most answers.

 

Short answer - concept questions:

There will probably be 5 or 6 of these 2-point questions that ask for a short phrase or several phrases that would connect different concepts. A key part of this is to be able to use the vocabulary to answer the question more accurately.

Example 1: What's the relationship between the "demographic transition" and the "poverty trap"?

Your answer could be something like "The poverty trap is when the demographic transition is stalled (or blocked from proceeding) in a high-birth rate, low-death rate condition because of inadequate economic resources."

Example 2: What are two ways you might analyze the environmental impact of a television?

Your answer could mention any of the four approaches we used in class: energy efficiency, carbon footprint, life cycle analysis, or usefulness, necessity or actual benefits of the product. You don't have to provide an answer, i.e. this TV is 22% energy efficient, just the approaches.

Hint: When considering your answer for a question, think through the major concepts that we have been addressing and consider which vocabulary should be included. These questions will all use some of the listed vocabulary.

 

Judgement and explanation:

There will probably be only one (but there might be two) question that will ask you for your opinion or judgement about what should be done in response to an environmental issue and what justification you have for that choice. This question will be worth 3 points. Your judgement is subjective and not graded, although it will have to be clearly stated. The questions will be graded on bringing in pertinent details in the conceptual framework that we have been developing.

Example 1: What is one good idea for improving environmental conditions in the developing world?

Answer: There are so many approaches and you have to pick one to describe. But if you start with the I=PAT equation you would be able to address how these different forces shape the impact and how one activity might decrease the impact. This is just one possible answer.

Hint: In these questions you will be asked to make a judgement and then back it up with some evidence. Just think it through to make sure you have some statement of evidence, otherwise pick another aspect or angle on the problem.

Grading: I will be grading this for complete thoughts that are logical and well stated. Your answer should be straight-forward enough that I would be able to understand and grade it with just one reading. When in doubt, use simple, short, declarative sentences.