For this assignment you will write a profile of someone whom you consider to be an environmentalist. You are free to experiment with form and style, but your final product should contain the following elements:

A profile of the person you're studying. You should make the person come alive for your readers through description, quotations, background information, and/or other strategies that you discover as you read and write.

A definition of the term "environmentalist" that emerges from your study of this person. This could be a traditional kind of image of the environmentalist as a tree hugger or whale saver. It could be a more unusual image, like someone who is committed to the defense of one local site or someone who believes in protecting a social kind of environment more than a physical one. It's quite open-ended. You'll need to make your understanding and use of the term clear as part of your final piece.

A representation of the process the subject went through to become the kind of environmentally-oriented person she or he is. You might describe events or people that shaped this person's perceptions, training that she or he went through to understand the importance of her or his cause, or actions that are directly associated with the daily processes of the person's life.

Some conclusions about the politics of environmentalism--generally or related to the definition you've created--that emerged for you as you did your research and writing. Here you can address things like what this person gains and loses because of her or his environmental commitments, how the person is perceived by others in connection with this commitment, etc. When you think of politics, think about analyzing power issues.

A description of the process you went through to put the essay together--any changes that have taken place in your own sense of the importance of place and space, any new terms you've learned or concepts you've been introduced to.

Grading Criteria for the essay:

An "A" paper will include all of the elements listed above. While reading it, your audience will get a clear sense of how the person you're writing about looks and sounds. Your essay will demonstrate a definition of environmentalism through the example of your subject. This essay will begin with a title that captures the major point of the paper and motivates the audience to read on. It will be creative, and will include a wide range of ideas and details. It will be written in a clear and readable style and will be free of grammar and spelling errors. It will be arranged in a way that demonstrates your ability to guide the reader's attention in the way you choose. The reader will not have to strain to figure out where the essay is heading next. When your audience members are finished reading this essay, they will remember the major point and at least a few specific details. The paper will be printed in a clear font on nice paper and placed in a folder in an orderly fashion.

A "B" paper will include all of the elements listed above. It will be similar to an "A" paper--including analysis and vivid detail--but it will fall short in one or two areas. Maybe it won't contain quite as much analysis as is needed to really convey the point to the reader. Perhaps a few minor grammar and spelling problems will take away from the paper's strength. Maybe the arrangement will be a little confusing. It might be generally solid, but just kind of dull.

A "C" paper will include all of the elements listed above. It will include some analysis and some smart reflection, but it may be mediocre overall. It will likely be poorly organized and will probably include several grammatical and spelling errors. It will fulfill the basic requirements of the assignment, but will not exceed them.

A "D" paper will not include the basic elements required for the essay. It will include some attempt at addressing the assignment, but will not give the reader a clear sense of who the reader is as a user of language. It will likely be between two and four pages long and will probably not be arranged in a reader-friendly way. Grammar and spelling errors will seriously distract the reader.

An "F" paper will not fulfill the assignment at all. It may be very short, not meeting the length requirement for the essay. It will be difficult to read and will suggest that the writer disregarded the paper guidelines.

Additional Instructions

When you turn in the final draft of the paper on September 19, include all of the required materials. Clip together and place your rough drafts, classmates' comments, and invention materials (in-class writings, outlines/timelines) in the left pocket of your folder. Place the nice crisp clean final draft and the extra copy of the final draft on the right side. The final draft should be word-processed and printed in a 10 or 12 point type such as Palatino, Courier, Bookman, or Times Roman.

Every final draft will include a cover sheet containing the following information:

Your name, the date, and the title of your essay.

Who is your intended audience for the essay?

What is the purpose of the essay? What do you want the reader to do after reading it?

How did you choose the format for the essay? Why is the format you selected the best one to accomplish your purpose?

What major revisions have you made in your essay?

What other revisions would you make if you had time?