In this assignment, you are to describe and compare state/federal and international policies for any mammal species of your choice by writing a paragraph for each of the following (10 points each), being sure to number each:( one paragraph for each)

[1] Briefly name and describe your wildlife species. What does it look like? What is its geographic range? What kind of habitat does it occupy?

[2] What are the species’ main conservation concerns or threats?

[3] Describe at least one state or federal law or policy that affects the species. How does the policy attempt to address its conservation concerns?

[4] Describe at least one international law or policy that affects the species. How does the policy attempt to address its conservation concerns? What do you think the advantages or challenges might be for enacting policy at the international vs state/federal level?

This assignment is meant to get you to think beyond the lecture notes, though depending on the species you choose possible answers are there or in the supplementary materials. You may use any external resources to help answer these questions, but please write your answers in your own words. Please include a list of any references you consult (providing the web addresses is acceptable). Excluding references, your answers should be one paragraph each. When using external references, be sure you’re not plagiarizing (i.e. absolutely no copy-pasting, even if you edit the text); make sure the work is your own. You will be graded on the level of detail and completeness you provide (see rubric).

Please also note that the core focus of the short writing assignments is:

1) Following the assignment instructions

2) fulfilling the requirements of the rubric

Beyond that I would recommend:

1) expressing your ideas in full and complete sentences.

2) checking your grammar and spelling to be certain your ideas are legible. Numbering, bulleting, subdividing in sections etc., and using subdivision titling (e.g., section 1 introduction, response 1, etc.) are all highly encouraged to improve organization of the writing.

3) Try to always include citations/references:

A reference list – this goes at the conclusion of the writing (that’s all the way at the end, not the end of your sentence, not the end of the response, not the end of the question. The end of the document or last page) for example

• • • Downs-Firat, J., An amazing course on wildlife research methods, 1st edition, USF, 2020
    • Joseph, N., A much less amazing course on wildlife research methods, 3rd edition, USF 2022

A citation – A citation (more appropriately) a parenthetical citation is what we typically call “in-line” citation. It’s the small bits you see in sentences and mixed in with the writing for example: In 2020 Dr. Firat published a keystone writing “Wildlife Research Methods” (Firat 2020). Then a few years later Joseph (2022) came along with an atrocious new edition of the publication, sigh! (<– none of that is true btw totally an example so don’t waste time looking for the book on amazon)

As demonstrated above, an in-line citation is shorthand for the reference listing (it is not a substitute for a reference listing).

In this course you are (generally) always to be providing reference listing. Parenthetical citations are always encouraged, and only generally required as per the assignment instructions and rubric requirements presented for each assignment.

4) Do not copy and paste chunks of information into your assignments this is plagiarism, and it will be penalized [period]. We are to be reading, comprehending, and then writing our thoughts in our own words.