This site has the final projects submitted by students in an undergraduate design class at the University of California-Davis (read about the class). The course studies the "full life-cycle and embedded energy of common design materials and products." The projects are similar to what you are asked to do in this class.
Please refer to detailed assignment description posted on the Story of Stuff Resource Page on Canvas.
Focus: Pick an item that is important to you and focus on a component of it
Written: Word document 8 pages per student for WI credit
Oral: PowerPoint 5-7 minutes for individual presentations; 9-13 minutes for two or more (concise is a good thing)
Logistics: Four Versions. See online schedule for due dates
1. Connect to class concepts and themes
2. Personal and/or societal/historical significance -- Why this item? Why is it important?
3. Process-i.e., extraction/cultivation, production, distribution, consumption, disposal
4. Marketing/consumption dimensions -- e.g., emotional marketing
5. Human dignity/community dimensions -- e.g., labor, access, human communities
6. Environmental issues -- both local and global
7. Context -- How does the product compare with substitutes or alternatives in the above content areas?
8. Make it interactive -- 3 questions for the audience that connect to class content
9. Reflection on process -- successes and struggles with research, reflection on improvement.
10. Bibliography -- 3 peer-reviewed articles required. In-text citations required. See: SIFT Test.
