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ENGL 1301 - Dwyer - Fall 2025: Your Assignment!

Module 3

Collaborative Research Presentation & Report: UN Sustainable Development Goals 

Composition I, Dr. Dania Dwyer

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Presentation Date: Thursday, Dec 4

Research Report Due: Monday, Dec 8

Assignment Overview

Assignment Overview

In your research group, you will collaboratively investigate one UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), comparing how it is addressed in three specific locations:

  • A city or region in Texas (e.g., Central Texas, Austin, Houston)
  • Shimonoseki City, Japan (your primary international exchange location and primary source)
  • A city or region in one South Asian territory (choose from list below)

Your project is two-fold. As a group, you will complete:

  • An informative group presentation (10–15 minutes)

A written group report (1,000–1,250 words)

South Asia Territory Options (Select One)

  1. Afghanistan
  2. Bangladesh
  3. Bhutan
  4. India
  5. Iran
  6. Maldives
  7. Nepal
  8. Pakistan
  9. Sri Lanka
  10. Myanmar

Specify a city or region within your chosen territory (e.g., Mumbai, Colombo, Kathmandu, etc.).

AI Use Policy Notice for This Assignment

Students are permitted to use AI tools (such as ChatGPT, Grammarly, AI research assistants) as part of their writing and research process for assignments. Any AI use must be transparently disclosed.

How to disclose and cite AI use:

  • Clearly state in your paper or presentation how and where you used AI tools (e.g., drafting, editing, idea generation).
  • Cite AI tools in your Works Cited list using MLA format. For example:
    “Prompt or description of AI use.” ChatGPT, version (e.g., GPT-4), OpenAI, Date accessed, URL (https://chat.openai.com/chat).
  • Include an in-text citation referring to the AI tool when its generated content or ideas are incorporated.
  • You may include a brief acknowledgment statement describing your use of AI, either as a footnote, in the introduction, or in a note section of your submission.

UN Sustainable Development Goals

Goal Short Summary
1 No Poverty
End poverty everywhere.
2 Zero Hunger End hunger and improve sustainable agriculture.
3 Good Health & Well-Being Ensure healthy lives and well-being for all.
4 Quality Education Ensure inclusive, quality education for all.
5 Gender Equality Achieve gender equality and empower women and girls.
6 Clean Water & Sanitation Ensure access to clean water and sanitation.
7 Affordable & Clean Energy Provide affordable, sustainable, modern energy.
8 Decent Work & Economic Growth Promote full, productive employment and economic growth.
9 Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure Build resilient infrastructure and foster innovation.
10 Reduced Inequalities Reduce inequality within and among countries.
11 Sustainable Cities & Communities Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, sustainable.
12 Responsible Consumption & Production Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
13 Climate Action Take urgent action to combat climate change.
14 Life Below Water Conserve oceans, seas, and marine resources.
15 Life on Land Protect land ecosystems, forests, and biodiversity.
16 Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions Promote peace, justice, and accountable institutions.
17 Partnerships for the Goals Strengthen global partnerships for sustainable development.

 

Guidelines

Guidelines

Step 1: Select Your SDG (sustainable development goals)
Review the UN’s 17 SDGs and select one that interests your group.

Step 2: Research Comparative Applications

  • Investigate how your chosen SDG is addressed in your Texas city/region, Shimonoseki City (using your exchange partners as primary sources), and your selected South Asian city/region.
  • Utilize both primary sources (interviews, surveys, data from Shimonoseki exchange plus local sources in Texas and South Asia) and secondary sources (academic articles, UN/government reports).

Step 3: Prepare Your Presentation

  • Length: 10–15 minutes
  • Introduce the SDG and its importance
  • Present examples and stories from each locale illustrating successes, challenges, and local context
  • Use visuals
  • Engage your audience

Step 4: Write Your Group Report

  • Length: 1,000–1,250 words
  • Summarize the SDG and its global and local importance
  • Describe findings per location with an emphasis on Shimonoseki data
  • Compare and contrast the regions
  • Use MLA citation style

Assignment Rubric


Criteria
Description
Weight
Exemplar Descriptions

Research Depth & Content
Use of primary and secondary sources; SDG analysis across regions
30%

Excellent: Deep research; rich primary data from Shimonoseki and other sources; detailed, insightful coverage of SDG issues.

Good: Solid research with some use of primary data; mostly complete understanding.

Satisfactory: Basic research; limited primary sources and fewer details.

Needs Improvement: Superficial or incomplete research; lacks primary data.

Analysis & Comparison
Clarity and depth in comparing SDG impacts across locations
25%

Excellent: Insightful, well-explained comparisons showing nuanced differences/similarities.

Good: Clear comparisons with minor gaps.

Satisfactory: Attempts comparison but lacks depth or clarity.

Needs Improvement: Little/no comparative analysis, mostly descriptive.

Presentation Quality
Organization, engagement, visuals, and timing
20%

Excellent: Engaging, well-structured, effective visuals; within time.

Good: Clear and organized with visuals; minor engagement issues.

Satisfactory: Some organization problems; limited visuals.

Needs Improvement: Disorganized or incomplete; few/no visuals or engagement.

Report Writing & Structure
Clarity, coherence, MLA citation, length
20%

Excellent: Well-written, polished, logically structured; perfect citation; meets length.

Good: Mostly clear writing; minor errors in citation or length.

Satisfactory: Basic coherence; citation or length issues.

Needs Improvement: Poorly organized, many errors, off length.

Collaboration & Primary Sources
Group teamwork and integration of Shimonoseki data
5%

Excellent: Strong collaboration; meaningful use of Shimonoseki data.

Good: Good collaboration and some use of primary data.

Satisfactory: Limited collaboration or sporadic primary source use.

Needs Improvement: No clear collaboration or primary source use.

 

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