You must present a one-page outline of your proposed assignment topic for feedback and approval by the Friday of Week 3 (4th October). The topic must be strategic in scope, i.e. it must include a policy / planning / management dimension, and it must address an issue of practical relevance to the sustainable management of the built environment. Note that your one-page outline is NOT marked; the purpose is purely to provide feedback (what is known in the jargon as ‘formative assessment’).

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The format of your final report should follow the general structure of a research article for a journal or conference, including a clear context (how the project relates to the subject matter of this course), scope, objectives, a critical review of the relevant literature, an outline of the methodology and an exposition of your findings, conclusions and recommendations. Description is necessary, but more so explanation and interpretation – you must establish a theoretical basis for the issues you are investigating. Application of sustainability principles must be informed by a thorough grasp of that which is being applied. The report must be fully referenced using the Harvard (Author, Date) system.

Marks will be awarded based on assessment of your demonstrated understanding of the theoretical and practical basis of the topic, the clarity, depth and consistency of analysis and argument, the validity of your conclusions and your skill in critically evaluating and drawing on the literature pertinent to your subject matter.