Research Essay Workbook for FIBS3002 English for Academic Purposes, Research and Study Skills

This workbook is a guide for students to write an essay on Climate Change. It includes a timetable of planning, note-taking techniques, and an outline for the essay. The workbook aims to assess the student's ability to structure their essay, conduct research, and write in an academic tone.

Project Research Workbook
Course Code and Title: FIBS3002 English for Academic Purposes,
Research and Study Skills
Project Research Workbook Deadline:
Student name:
Student ID:
Project: Research
Essay Workbook
OUTLINE:
As part of the English for Academic Purposes, Research and Study Skills course you are required to write an
essay on the topic of Climate Change; you are also expected to evidence the stages of your essay research
and writing progress in the Essay Research Workbook.
AIMS:
 To assess your ability to structure your essay in order to develop an argument with clarity and your
ability to capture your thinking in effective sentences
 To show that you have conducted research to develop your thinking
 To write in an academic tone and clearly reference the material you have used to develop and
support your ideas
As part of the project, you are required to submit the Research Workbook by 11.59pm on TBC onto

Canvas. Your workbook will be reviewed by your lecturer and you will receive feedback towards your final
Extended Research Essay.
It is then your responsibility to work on your final Extended Research Essay and address any suggestions
and comments given before handing in the final version – by 11.59pm on TBC.
RESEARCH WORKBOOK FORMAT:
Your workbook must be word processed, in Ariel font 12pt minimum with double line spacing. This format
is important as it makes it much easier for us to read. Word count: There is no minimum or maximum word
count for this part of the project.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Unit: EAP, Research and Study Skills
LO1 Select and utilise a range of creative research and theoretical approaches to develop ideas and creative
solutions.
LO2 Identify and explore primary and secondary research from a range of contemporary and historical
sources.
LO3 Demonstrate skill and confidence in writing in academic contexts with emphasis on the essay to at
least the standard required at their course level.
LO4 Use appropriate English language skills and study skills to inform and communicate ideas, creative
solutions and problem solving.
Task one: References
Indicate the title of your essay. Conduct a search for relevant sources and list them below using the
Harvard Referencing System. You should aim to use approximately ten sources in your final essay.
Document your intended essay reading materials below:
Essay Title: To what extent is Climate Change a result of human activities?
Citethisforme.com (Harvard style)
Source 1 BBC, (2021) What is Climate Change? A really simple guide. (online) Available at:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24021772. [Accessed on
03.05.2021].
Source 2 Cook, J., Nuccitelli, D., Green, S., Richardson, M., Winkler, B., Painting, R., Way,
R., Jacobs, P. and Skuce, A. (2013). Quantifying the consensus on anthropogenic
global warming in the scientific literature. Environ. Res. Lett., 8(2), p.024024.
Source 3 Gov.uk, (2021) Climate Change explained. (online) Available at:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/climate-change-explained. [Accessed on
03.05.2021].

Source 4 Clayton, S. (2020). Climate anxiety: Psychological responses to climate change.
Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 74, 102263.
<https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0887618520300773>
Source 5 Nordhaus, W., (2019). Climate change: The ultimate challenge for economics.
American Economic Review, 109(6), pp.1991-
2014.<https://pubs.aeaweb.org/doi/abs/10.1257/aer.109.6.1991>
Source 6 Sippel, S., and et.al., (2020). Climate change now detectable from any single day
of weather at global scale. Nature Climate Change, 10(1), 35-
41.<https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-019-0666-7?
fbclid=IwAR0Mztn8CrswJytkPbFtJaj9Zw3pjkx5J9n7RMFjoS88NozWhDFqJOsQew
Y>
Source 7
Source 8
Source 9
Source 10
Task 2: Timetable of planning
Submit an Essay Plan Timeline outlining the tasks involved and the estimated time range for the
completion of each stage. Mark the actual completion date for each task as you it is finished.
Task Timeline
Time Task Date
Completed
Dec 12-
Dec 13
2021
analyzation of the questions for planning the structure with proper word
count division.
Dec 14
2021
Dec 15-
Dec 16
2021
Preliminary research – locate sources, read and make notes Dec- 17
Dec 17 -
Dec 18
2021
Essay Plan - outlining main points and evidence from reading materials
including an introduction, main body and conclusion
Dec- 18
Dec -19
2021
Revise Essay plan/edit Dec- 19
Dec 20-
Dec 21
2021
Research and Revise main points – including for and against arguments Dec-22
Dec 22-
Dec 23
Write draft 1 Dec -23

Submission of the research essay.
24th December
Dec- 24
Conduct the CRAAP Test on one of your listed sources. Complete notes on the
results in the following template:
Source (Harvard Reference): Nordhaus, W., 2019. Climate change: The ultimate challenge for
economics. American Economic Review, 109(6), pp.1991-
2014.<https://pubs.aeaweb.org/doi/abs/10.1257/aer.109.6.1991>
Currency The information found in this source is reliable as it is related to the
changes will be taking place in the future.
Relevance This source focuses on the climate change which is the ultimate
challenge for the different world economies. This confirms its
relevancy with the topic.
Authority Yes, this sources can help the students and educators use this
information for their study as it is trusted and affiliates as a
important journal for the climate change information.
Accuracy The content of this source matches the study and the background
of the climate change information which has been looked for
observations in different fields.
Purpose The purpose of this journal is to help the readers understand how
the climate changes are effecting the different economies in the
world. Author intentions shows concern about the climate changes
caused by human activities.
Task 3: Note taking and Making
Make notes on at least three sources and record them below. Try to use varied note taking techniques
and ensure that notes are summaries in your own words and not direct copies from original sources.
i. Cornell Notes:
Topic: Climate Change Date:
Essay Title: To what extent is Climate Change a result of human activities?
Reference:
In-text citation: (BBC, 2021)
Reference list: BBC, (2021) What is Climate Change? A really simple guide. (online) Available at:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24021772. [Accessed on 14.07.2021].
Key Ideas Notes
What is climate change?
Climate change is the long term change in the average patterns of weather which comes handy in defining
the earth's local, regional and global climate.
How is it caused?

There are many reasons which causes the climate changes is due to the following, Greenhouse gases,
reflectivity or absorption of the sun energy, changes in the earth's orbit rotation and the level of carbon
dioxides in atmosphere.
How do humans add to
climate change?
 Burning of fuels such as oil, coal and gas which increases the level of carbon dioxide.
 Deforestation also leads to increase in carbon di-oxide.
 Fertilizers which contains chemicals and added nitrogen.
1. World temp. 
2. Temp. hist. – human induced – Indus. Rev. –
f.fuels/Co2/deforestation/1.1 °C 
Summary of key ideas
ii. Linear Notes
Topic: Climate Change Date:
Essay Title: To what extent is Climate Change a result of human activities?

Reference:
1.
– The increase of the carbon dioxide due to the increased consumption of the fossil fuel.
– Deforestation has resulted in the decrease of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
– Increase of methane as a human activities and their relevancy in the agriculture, natural gas
distribution and landfills.
2.
– Radioactive activities which are forcing certain factors for being influenced by the human activities.
– Aerosol particles influences radiative forcing with the help of absorption of solar and infrared
radiation in the atmosphere.
– It causes climate change as it effects the presence of the energy in the atmosphere hence effecting
the earth's surface temperature.
3.
– Destruction of the Ozone layer from the chlorofluorocarbons produced by the refrigerators and air
conditioners.
4.
– Fertilizers which contain nitrogen produces nitrous oxide's emission in the atmosphere which has a
negative impact the to the climate of the world.
5.
– Increase in the greenhouse gases increase the global temperature of the world with 1.1°C .
– The trend of increase in temperature is 0.2°C every decade.
– This increase in the world temperature has been said as global warming which can be very harmful
for the world
6.
– The main reason for global warming is the increase in the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
– In 2020, the CO2 level in the atmosphere was more than 48% to the one which was present in the
pre-industrial level.
7.
– There are ways in which the level of greenhouse gases are increased naturally.
– Volcanic eruption is the one of the ways in which the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
8.
– Natural increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has been only resulted in 0.1°C since 120
years.
9.
– It has been considered that 50% of all the activities of human has been the reason for warming the
planet.

iii. Pattern Maps/Spider Diagrams
Topic: Climate Change Date:
Essay Title: To what extent is Climate Change a result of human activities?
Reference:

Task 4: Outline
Write an outline highlighting the main argument. Include arguments for and against the thesis
statement.
Essay Title: To what extent is Climate Change a
result of human activities?
Introduction
General The increase in the global temperature has been 0.08 degree Celsius in every
decade.
Specific This can be said as the all time the highest average temperature hitting the 18.4
degree Celsius in 2020 which in 1880 was below 0.
Outline and Thesis The human activities is the ones which effects the climate change from the
increase of the global temperature.
Yes (humans cause climate change) – main ideas and support
 There are rapid changes in the climate in the past 50 years which has also been
the years in which their has been vast increase in the population.
 This has been due to the industrial revolution which is the reason for the
increase of carbon dioxide levels.
 Different types of greenhouse gases has resulted in Global warming.
No (humans do not cause climate change)– main ideas and support

 The changes in climate mostly happens due to the changes of time, location and
unusual disruption in balance of nature.
 Due to the changes in nature the global temperature has only increased by 0.1
degree Celsius in last 100 plus years.
 Humans are definitely the cause of climate changes as there are not other
reasons which can impact the change of climate so drastically.
Conclusion
Summary The changes in the climate can be understood due to the increase in the total
average temperate which has increased over the years. As the humans has started
to evolve it has increase the temperature resulting in negative effects to the
climate.
Thesis Increase of human activities = Global Warming
Global Warming = Increase in global temperature
Increase in global temperature = Changes in climate
Recommendation As humans the species responsible for changes in environment societies need to
take actions.
Task 5: First Draft – Introduction
Write your draft essay introduction:
Climate change is the long term change in the average weather patterns which defines the earths
local and regional temperature changes which allows in understanding the global climates. The
human activities have been the main reason due to which the air pollution has increased in the air's
atmosphere. This is the result of the greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides,
sulphur oxides, etc. which have collectively increased the temperature of the planet. Due to the
increase in the deforestation levels there has been an increase in the increase of Carbon dioxide.
Task 6: Draft – Main Body Paragraphs
Write a draft paragraph in support of your argument:
The dramatic changes in the climate is mainly because of the human beings only. The humans
used to increase the temperature of the globe by having greenhouse gases which affects the
climatic conditions of the earth. According to the scientific research it is seen that the humans
are not following the rules regarding the not to pollute the environment which results in
changing in the climatic condition dramatically. The human activities like deforestation,

urbanization, shifts in vegetation leads to the change in the pattern of climate on the earth.
Write a draft paragraph against the support of your argument:
The change in climatic conditions is not always due to the human activities. Sometimes
changes are naturally occurred by changes in the weather conditions. There are many physical
impacts which changes the climatic condition are extreme weather events, glacier retreat,
changes in the seasonal timing, sometimes sea level rises, etc. these factors has great impact
on the change in the climatic conditions as humans are not always responsible.
Task 7: Draft – Conclusion
Write your draft essay Conclusion:
With the help of this analysation it can be concluded that the whether the changes in the climate is an
effect of human activities or not it has had very bad impacts in the world. It explains having
significant scientific evidence of the ways in which the increase of the global temperature is
impacting the Earth. It has been understood that the emission of the green house gases has been the
major cause of global warming. The human activities such as the industrialization, aviation industry
and urbanization is considered to be the polluting factor of the atmosphere.
To be completed after receiving feedback
Task 8: Responses of tutor feedback on draft
Use the feedback annotations on your essay to make amendments to your essay. Once you have
addressed the points to edit, make sure you use them in the 2nd draft of your essay:
Teacher Feedback Amendment
Improve spelling

Grammar
Climates change – Climate Change
Researches – research
Expand on your argument
Fix references
Evidence your claims
Task 9: Improve on the first draft
Task 10: Submit your final essay by the deadline – TBC 2022