Essay Topics: Environment and Social Identity

Environment

Research

You will need to search for and read reliable sources - books, academic journal articles, articles from reputable publications, e.g. The Economist; and/or websites produced by credible organisations. These sources will help to inform your discussion and provide evidence for the ideas that you are presenting. 

Choose one of the essay topics below. You must use one of the topics provided

1. Environment 

1. Outline a current local or global environmental issue (see sample topics below). 
a) Identify and evaluate key players and policies that aim to solve this issue
Who is trying to solve this issue?  e.g. governments, organisations, etc.
What policies are being made? e.g. regulating car emissions, etc.

b) Include the name of the country/region that you are focusing on.

c) Make your own recommendations for solving the issue. 

2. Environmental activists, such as Greta Thunberg, have aimed to inspire the young generation to take a stand against climate change leading efforts to combat climate change and minimise the environmental impact of human activities. To what extent have they been effective?  

a) Discuss the reasons why young people have become involved in environmental movements based on Greta Thunberg’s example 

b) Evaluate the impact of Greta Thunberg’s environmental activism (Greta Thunberg’s effect) and discuss changes that have come about from Greta’s activity 

Guiding questions: 

1. How have humans contributed to climate change?  
2. What is Greta Thunberg’s scope of activity, and what does she do to raise awareness?  
3. What are other ways of raising awareness about climate change amongst young people?  

2. Social Identity 

1. In our lives, we often identify with many different groups (see box below). This is our social identity, which can also be a result of cultural norms and socialisation.

Think about your own social identity and the groups to which you belong. 
• What role have other people had in shaping your identity(ies)?
• What are some academic theories regarding social identity?
• What do academic sources about social identity say about the groups you have chosen?
• Discuss how the information in the academic sources supports your own experience of being a member of a particular group or groups

Questions to get you started: 

1. What impact, do you think, does belonging to a social group of university students have on your personality?  

2. How do you see yourself when you are interacting with other students vs when you are on your own? 

3. Does belonging to the social category of students affect your perception of yourself?

4. What theories linked to social identity and self-perception can you use when thinking about belonging to a social category of students?