Ecofeminism and Women’s Environmental Activism

In this 750-word essay, you should provide an in-depth theoretical overview of women’s environmental activism. Your paper should have an argument, an intro, body, and conclusion. Your essay should thoughtfully engage the topic of gender, environmental degradation, and women’s environmental activism.
Questions to consider: In what ways is environmental justice a feminist issues? What are the connections between the domination and exploitation of nature and the domination and exploitation of women? What is ecofeminism and how can it be extended to the broader environmental justice movement? Be sure to also analyze and explore the intersection of race and gender by highlighting the central role of women of color in leading the environmental justice movement.
Your essay must explicitly draw upon all of the following materials to support your (the readings of: Pellow and Brehm, Pardo, Rainey; one reference to lecture (lecture is only 8 mins long); one reference to a learning activity). (Total of 5 sources for essay # 1).
ESSAY #2 – Environmental Racism
In this 750-word essay, you should provide an in-depth theoretical overview of environmental racism. Your paper should have an argument, an intro, body, and conclusion. Your essay should thoughtfully engage the topic of environmental racism.
Questions to consider: How does institutional racism structure and shape environmental pollution? Historically, demonstrate the ways communities of color been harmed by environmental injustice in the United States compared to their white counterparts? How does racism and capitalism intersect in structuring environmental harm? What are some of the strengths and weaknesses of the environmental justice movement in challenging environmental racism and injustice?
Your essay must explicitly draw upon all of the following materials to support your (the readings of: Pellow and Brehm; Taylor, Bullard, and Pulido; one reference to lecture (lecture is only 8 mins long); one reference to a learning activity). (Total of 6 sources for essay # 2)

1. Do not wait until the last minute to start
   • Your essays will require a deep level of engagement with the material as well as critical thought. Allow yourself adequate time to reflect on the readings to develop your ideas and assertions.
   • Creating an outline will help you structure and organize the main points of your paper. Your final essay will be much easier to write.
   • When finished, allow yourself time to step away from your paper then come back and proofread it out loud with a clear mind. You are likely to catch errors you initially missed!
2. Develop a strong thesis
   • A thesis is usually located in the latter portion of the introduction
   • Your thesis is your main argument for the essay, so it must be more than a simple statement of facts
   o Your argument is a statement or main point that your essay intends to prove
3. Structure the body of your essay
   • Each paragraph that follows the introduction should develop points that support your thesis
   o Assign a main point to each paragraph. Think of it as a mini-thesis- Then, present evidence from the required readings, lectures, and learning activities to support that point
   o Explain how this relates to/supports your thesis
   • Make thoughtful transitions between paragraphs to maintain a clear flow within your essay
   o Try using words such as- additionally, moreover, furthermore, etc..
4. Wrap up your essay with a conclusion
   • Your conclusion should reiterate the main arguments of your essay and re-emphasize their support of your thesis
   o Do not introduce any new ideas in your conclusion
   • Restate your thesis in a new and reinvigorated way