SEMESTER 2

ASSIGNMENT 02 UNIQUE NUMBER: 835596 DUE DATE: 09/09/2024

This assignment consists of two parts. Ensure that your student number, module code,
and anti-plagiarism declaration appear on the cover page. This assignment contributes
75% to your year mark.

PART ONE:
According to UNEP (2024), “Africa is rich in natural resources ranging from arable land,
water, oil, natural gas, minerals, forests and wildlife. The continent holds a huge proportion
of the world’s natural resources, both renewable and non-renewable.” Write an essay in
which you provide a critical examination of the anticipated effects on the environment due
to human use/exploitation of these resources in Africa as they relate to the following:
• Water pollution (Lesson 4 of the study material),
• Biodiversity loss (Lesson 5 of the study material)

The length of the essay must be between 1 000 and 1 500 words. You need to ensure that
you have referenced at least seven (7) academic sources.
Mark allocation for Part One: 24 Marks.
PART TWO:
Through the use of Google Scholar, select a peer-reviewed journal article that examines a
natural hazard or disaster in Sub-Saharan Africa. The chosen article should provide significant
information on the causes, impacts and / or mitigation strategies associated with the selected
hazard or disaster. Ensure that the article is recent (published within the last five years).
Summarise the main research findings, key arguments, and methodologies employed by the
authors. The focus of your summary should be on identifying the causes, impacts, and/or
mitigation strategies related to the selected hazard or disaster. The length of the summary
must be between 400-600 words. This journal article will also need to be correctly referenced
in the reference list.
Mark allocation for Part Two: 12 Marks.

Please note: Plagiarism is a serious academic offence and will result in penalties according to
university policies. It is essential to paraphrase information from the original article and properly
cite all sources used in your summary. Do not copy and paste text from the article. A separate
referencing guide will be included. Your assignment may be run through plagiarism detection
software.

ADDITIONAL MARK ALLOCATIONS:

Mark allocation for introduction, conclusion, language, referencing and plagiarism declaration:
14 Marks.

Note: An assignment marking rubric and guide to accessing Google Scholar has been included
at the end of this document.
ASSIGNMENT GUIDE

What is expected of you?

Plagiarism
• Proof of cover page with plagiarism declaration

Introduction and Conclusion

• A well-written introduction and conclusion

Content
• The content must be substantial, relevant and must demonstrate a clear understanding
of the topics as indicated in the assignment

Proper grammar, punctuation and spelling

• The essay must contain no spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors.

Correctly referenced and in-text referencing

• Include 7 references and in-text referencing for Part 1

If you need any assistance with regards to any aspect of the assignment, please do not
hesitate to contact your assigned e-Tutor or any of your GGH2604 lecturers. You can find their
information below.

Dr Ryan Anderson Mr Fhedzisani Mukhuba

011 471 3541 011 471 3923
[email protected] [email protected]

© 2024
Unisa

Reference:
United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP). 2024. Our Work in Africa: United Nations
Environment Programme. https://www.unep.org/regions/africa/our-work-africa [accessed
08/15/2024]
Semester 1: Assignment 2 Rubric

Please take the time to read the descriptions in each of the boxes as this gives you an idea of what is expected of you and what you need to do to improve.

Plagiarism 2 0 Mark
(Max. marks: 3) Proof of cover page with No plagiarism declaration
plagiarism declaration
Introduction and conclusion 5 4-3 2 1 0 Mark
(Max. marks: 5) Includes a well-written The introduction and conclusion The introduction and conclusion lack Contains an introduction but no No introduction and no
introduction and conclusion need some revision focus conclusion (vice versa) conclusion
PART ONE
Content (Water pollution
12-11 10-8 7-6 5-4 3-1 0 Mark
Substantial and Adequate Satisfactory Vague content Minimal Did not
relevant content that demonstrate a relevant content that content that demonstrates some that demonstrates a weak content that demonstrates a include any
clear understanding of the topic, demonstrate a clear understanding of the topic. understanding of the topic. lack of understanding the topic. relevant
understanding of the topic. information.

(Discussed five or more examples (Discussed four examples of the (Discussed three examples of the (Discussed two examples of the effects (Discussed one example of the (Did not discuss any relevant
of the effects of natural resource effects of natural resource effects of the effects of natural of natural resource use/exploitation and effects of natural resource examples of the effects of natural
use/exploitation and water pollution use/exploitation and water resource use/exploitation and water pollution in Africa) use/exploitation and water resource use/exploitation and
in Africa) pollution in Africa) water pollution in Africa) pollution in Africa) water pollution in Africa)

Content (Biodiversity loss)

12-11 10-8 7-6 5-4 3-1 0 Mark
Substantial and Adequate and Satisfactory Vague content Minimal Did not
relevant content that demonstrate a relevant content that content that demonstrates some that demonstrates a weak content that demonstrates a include any
clear understanding of the topic. demonstrate a clear understanding of the topic. understanding of the topic. lack of understanding the topic. relevant
understanding of the topic. information.

(Discussed five or more examples (Discussed four examples of the (Discussed three examples of the (Discussed two examples of the effects (Discussed one example of the (Did not discuss any relevant
of the effects of natural resource effects of natural resource effects of natural resource of natural resource use/exploitation and effects of natural resource examples of the effects of natural
use/exploitation and biodiversity use/exploitation and biodiversity use/exploitation and biodiversity biodiversity loss in Africa) use/exploitation and resource use/exploitation and
loss in Africa) loss in Africa) loss in Africa) biodiversity loss in Africa) biodiversity loss in Africa)

PART TWO
12-11 10-8 7-6 5-4 3-1 0 Mark
Excellent summary of natural Adequate summary of natural Satisfactory Vague summary of natural hazard or Poor Did not
hazard or disaster in Africa. All hazard or disaster in Africa. Most summary of natural hazard or disaster in Africa. summary of natural hazard or include any
aspects of assignment instruction aspects of assignment instruction disaster in Africa. Some aspects disaster in Africa. Most aspects relevant
were well addressed. were addressed. addressed were irrelevant. addressed were irrelevant. information.

Language Usage 2 1 0 Mark

(Max. marks: 2) No spelling, punctuation, and Some spelling and punctuation, and Needs total revision
grammatical errors. minor grammatical errors.
Reference use & in-text 5 3-4 2 1 0 Mark
referencing

Proper application of the Harvard Full referencing, and inconsistent Some referencing, and/or no in-text Includes some form of References and in-text
(Max. marks: 4) method both full and in-text in-text referencing referencing referencing referencing have been omitted
referencing

Total ____/50