Assignment 2: Vulnerability of Human and Natural Systems

The assignment has two sections:

Section A: Short Critical Reflections
Select one of the assigned readings in each topic in Module 2 and write a short critical reflection (about 250 words) for each (a total of three critical reflections; You may find it helpful to use one or more of the focus questions included in the activity as a guide.

Readings:
- Chapter 12: Human Security (Adger, W.N., Pulhin, J.M., Barnett, J., Dabelko, G.D., Hovelsrud, G.K., Levy, M.,...Vogel, C.H.)

- No Change from climate change: vulnerability and small island developing states (Ilan Kelman)

- Africa: Executive summary (Niang, I., Ruppel, O. C., Abdrabo, M. A., Essel, A., Lennard, C., Padgham, J., & Urquhart, P.)

The critical reflection should present your own thoughts and responses to the reading. Thus, it is an interaction between the ideas in the reading and your own interpretation and response to what you have read. The critical reflection is a polished piece of writing that will be assessed using the same criteria as any piece of writing. It should include an introduction, a body that presents your thoughts clearly and logically, and a conclusion. You may write in the first person but be sure to refer to some of the ideas that are introduced in the reading.

Section B: Essay
Using some of the concepts introduced in Module 2, write an essay on a topic related to vulnerability of human or natural systems. You may use content from the required readings (any module), but you must include at least two new references as well. Course resources that are not required readings may be regarded as new references. For example, if you are examining the impact of climate change on Arctic wildlife, you may consider the ACIA report as a new reference provided you are using content beyond the required reading. A strong paper will incorporate the concept of vulnerability and associated terms that were introduced in this module.

If you are having a hard time deciding what to write about, here are just a few examples of topics you might consider within the context of the potential impacts of climate change:

1. Rising sea levels and a vulnerable location (e.g., Florida, Bangladesh, small island states)

Assignment 2: Vulnerability of Human and Natural Systems The as...