7/29/2019 CIV440H1S 2013 Term Paper Assignment

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UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

CIV440H1S - 2013 - ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND RISK ASSESSMENT

Term PaperDiscussion of Published Research Paper

Due: In Class on Monday, April 1st, 2013

Theoretical and applied research related to environmental impact assessment and risk assessment is

being carried out in many places around the world. Research can be defined as a careful study to

discover new facts or collate old facts to improve our understanding of, or practices in, a field. Researchrelated to environmental impact assessment and risk assessment has been directed at specific projects, atimproving assessment processes (e.g., predicting impacts, assessing significance, consulting with

stakeholders, etc.), at understanding impacts and risks (e.g., their causes and effects), and at otherrelevant issues. The purpose of this assignment is to expose you to an example of such research.

You are to select, review and discuss a published paper on research related to the course. Find a paper

that was published on line or in print form in a peer-reviewed/research journal after April 2012, and thatdescribes research on: an assessment process; a specific type of environmental impact or risk from an

engineering process, project or activity; or an environmental assessment or risk assessment of a specifictype of activity. Do not select a paper that focuses on a mitigation method. Try to select a paper on a

topic that interests you. You can find research journals in the Engineering Library and on the Webthrough the U of T Librarys site - see the Course Materials(Jan. 9, 2013) or Course outline on

Sources of Information on blackboard.

Your paper is to include:1. A brief description of the topic of the published research paper;2. An explicit, clear explanation of the relevance of the research paper to a specific aspect(s) of

environmental impact assessment and/or risk assessment, using course terminology as

appropriate and references to course notes and lectures;3. An analysis of how the research that is reported in the paper contributes to improving

environmental impact assessment and/or risk assessment (NOT on improving the paper you are

reviewing); and4. Proper referencing of sources of information (including the paper you are reviewing and course

notes)

It should be evident from your term paper that you have read the research paper and considered and

understood the relevance of the research to the course and to improving environmental impact or riskassessments. You are not expected to understand fully the technical details in the paper.

On the next page are suggested steps on How to Review a Published Research Paper. Your mark willalso be based on the choice of research paper (i.e. its relevance to the course), on the quality of your

discussion and on the presentation (i.e. organization, clarity, grammar, spelling). If you have difficultieswriting papers, you are strongly encouraged to discuss a draft of your paper with staff in the Engineering

Communication Program in the SF building.

Your paper should not be longer than 500 words excluding the list of references, it must be double-spaced, and it must state at the top of the paper the full bibliographic information about the research

paper that you are discussing. Attach to your paper: 1) a copy of the published research paper (print2-sided if possible); and 2) a signed Unsupervised Term Work Statement. Your term paper will not

be marked if it does not have both of these two important items attached to it. The paper is worth 10%of your final mark. There will be a late penalty of 2% per day (e.g. the maximum possible mark will be

6% if it is two days late), and no papers will be accepted after April 5.

7/29/2019 CIV440H1S 2013 Term Paper Assignment

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How to Review a Published Research Paper

Suggested Steps:

1. Carefully read assignment in order to know why you are reading the paper.

2. Read and think about the title and abstract to understand the basic purpose of the research

paper.

3. Look at the affiliation of the author(s) to see the perspective from which the paper is likelywritten.

4. Skim the paper to get an overview of the papers scope and difficulty and the time it willtake to fully read.

5. Look at the list of references to get idea of the relevant issues and areas.

6. Make a preliminary judgment on the relevance of the paper to the course and how it relates

to research.

7. Carefully read through paper in detail, making notes in margin, e.g.

Unclear, Poor explanation, etc.

Great idea

Relevant to (a specific aspect of EA or RA)

Improvement to . (a specific aspect of EA or RA)

8. Skim back through the paper and your comments to form an overall opinion about the valueand usefulness of the paper/research to improving EA and/or RA.

9. Re-read the assignment and set up an appropriate structure for your paper. It is suggestedthat you organize your paper with subheadings or at least separate paragraphs dealing witheach of the required elements.

10. Draft your paper based on notes, i.e. from # 6, 7 and 8.

11. Read your draft paper to make sure it covers all requirements of the assignment. Do acrosscheck.

12. Carefully edit your paper for organization, grammar, spelling, referencing, etc.

13.You must be clear about the source of statements (e.g. ideas, views, data, etc.) in yourpaper. For example, if you are stating an idea from the paper you are reviewing, usewording such as According to the author(s) . or The paper mentions . If you do notmention any source, it is assumed to be you.