AREC/ECON 377
Economics of Natural Resources

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Writing Assignment: A Critical Book Review
Spring 2007

Your writing assignment will be to write a critical book review of a major work (book of at least 250 p.) in the area of what is now called “environmental history.” I would prefer you review a book published in the last 20 years, but you may find something older that is suitable. The book should be a scholarly work rather one for the popular press. Any topic related to natural resources is welcome, including but not limited to: native peoples, flora & fauna (hunting, fishing, trapping, conservation), water (irrigation, recreation), mining, forestry & timber, agricultural land use, water & air pollution, outdoor recreation, conservation & environmental movements.

Deadlines
Feb 15 One-paragraph description of proposed book, with complete citation.
April 19 One-page summary of main economic issues relevant to Econ 377 literature.
May 10 Final book review.

Review characteristics

  1. The text must be between 1,000 – 1,500 words.
  2. The review must have a concise summary of the book.
  3. The review must have a critique that is linked to the economics discussed in Econ 377. It must cite some literature from the course.
  4. The review must also include a graphical analysis of some aspect of the book.
  5. The review style should follow exactly the style in the Journal of Economic Literature.
  6. The review must note any other places in which the book has already been reviewed. You must search to find this out.

Possible books;

  1. Karl Jacoby, Crimes Against Nature
  2. Rachel Carson, Silent Spring
  3. Stephen Pyne Fire: A Brief History
  4. Andrew Isenberg, The Destruction of the Bison
  5. Robert Glennon, Water Follies
  6. Alston Chase, Playing God in Yellowstone
  7. Shepard Krech III, The Ecological Indian
  8. Dan Flores, The Natural West
  9. Michael Williams, Deforesting the Earth: From Prehistory to Global Crisis.
  10. Bjorn Lomborg, The Skeptical Environmentalist.
  11. Cronon, William. Changes in the Land: Indians, Colonists, and the Ecology of New England.
  12. Diamond, Jared. Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies.
  13. Diamond, Jared. Collapse.
  14. Hurt, R. Douglas. The Dust Bowl: An Agricultural and Social History.
  15. Gates, Paul W. History of Public Land Law Development.
  16. Souder, Jon & Sally Fairfax. State Trust Lands: History, Management, & Sustainable Use. .
  17. Pinchot, Gifford. Breaking New Ground
  18. Morrissey, Katherine and Kirsten Jensen Picturing Arizona: The Photographic Record of the 1930s.

Environmental History Journals and Associations (possible sources of books)
American Society for Environmental History
Association for the Study of Literature and Environment (ASLE)
Environmental History journal (U.S. based scholarly journal).
Environmental History Listserver (Scholarly email discussions on environmental history)
Environment and History (British based scholarly journal).
European Society for Environmental History
Forest History Society includes searchable database and bibliography of over 25,000 items about environmental history.
Rhizome — Environmental Studies Association of Canada

Last updated March 5, 2007
Document located at http://ag.arizona.edu/classes/arec377/writingassignment.html
website contact: arecweb@ag.arizona.edu

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