The Midterm Exam tested your ability to demonstrate an understanding of course content.  The exam questions asked you to recall facts, locations, and concepts that provide a foundation to the study of human-environment relations relevant to an *environmental* history of California.  Most of the questions asked "what?", "where?", and "when?", so effective responses generally identified and described information. The Final Take Home Exam is open books/notes/resources. The questions are designed to assess your ability to analyze and apply what you are learning in the course rather than on your skill to memorize information. The focus is on asking you to describe and explain the “how?” and “why?” behind historical events and to make connections between natural processes, biological and cultural diversity; people, their migration patterns, resource use practices, and cultural landscapes; and local, regional, and global events in their social, political, economic, and environmental context. The exam format allows students to prepare a complete, accurate, concise, and detailed single document that includes text, maps, graphics, images, the use of citations, and a list of references similar to a research paper. Sources of information include the required and suggested readings and materials posted to iLearn, including journal articles, news media articles, reports, videos, PowerPoint presentations, maps, as well as the midterm exam, assignments, guest speakers, class discussions, and forums. Grading criteria: Follow the outline provided below and use section headings to guide the reader through the document. Cite your sources in the text and format all citations in a reference list properly formatted in a style of your choice (APA, MLA, Chicago etc …). Check spelling and grammar, format as a PDF document, and post to the iLearn Final Exam folder by **Monday May 13 by 11:55pm** (no .doc, .docx, pages, .wps, .txt, google doc, or other styles to ensure that your formatting is not altered when converted for grading in iLearn). Late exams will receive a five point penalty out of a total of 100 points. Additional points will be added to the final exam score based on the quality and quantity of extra credit responses included in your document. Title Page Include an original title for the final exam, your name, date, class information, semester, and instructor name. I. Introduction II\. Environmental History How do the tensions suggested in the Introduction of *Green Versus Gold* and the myths and realities described in The Preface: A Nation-State and Chapter 1 Queen Calafia’s Island in the book *California: A History* apply to an understanding of contemporary California? III\. Environmental Degradation How did the commercial exploitation of resources in the 19^th^ and 20^th^ centuries as described in Chapters 2, 3, 4, and 8 of *The Death and Life of Monterey Bay*, and Chapter 4 of *Green Versus Gold* degrade marine and terrestrial ecosystems? IV\. Environmental Management Explain one or more of the primary themes/issues for *each* of the Chapters 5-8 in *Green Versus Gold* based on your readings of the chapters and class discussions. See project description document for a partial list of key terms and concepts. V. Environmental Conservation What natural and cultural resources are protected in National Parks and/or State Parks that you investigated? How are these resources representative of California? a\. Extra credit: Who was John Muir and what is his legacy in terms of environmental conservation in California, the United States, and in the world? VI\. Historical contexts John Steinbeck’s newspaper articles included in the *Harvest Gypsies* and his observations as chronicled in the film *Journey to the Sea of Cortez* provide examples of the social, political, economic, and environmental context of the 1930s-1940s in California and the world. Compare and contrast this historical context with social, political, economic, and environmental events of the 1960s-1970s when Environmental History became an academic field of study and the first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970 as described in the documentary *Earth Days*. b\. Extra credit: Expanding on your response to question VI. Historical Contexts, describe some of the social, economic, political, and environmental context of the contemporary period in which we currently live that help you to understand the world. VII\. Environmental Restoration What is implied by the book title *The Death and Life of Monterey Bay* and Part III The Recovery? Why do the authors suggest that Monterey Bay be considered a case study for “good environmental news”? VIII\. Environmental Sciences and Environmental Ethics Describe the three ethical dilemmas in the concluding chapter of *Green Versus Gold* and explain why an interdisciplinary approach to learning can contribute to a future of “renewal and synthesis as nature and culture come together in new visions and appreciation for a potentially green *and* golden state” (Merchant 1998:pxvii). IX\. Political Action Project Review the CSUMB Founding Vision Statement < > and the Mission and Strategic Plan, Core Values, and Academic Goals < >. How can class activities contribute to achieving the aspirations identified in these CSUMB documents? Can you suggest class activities to improve student engagement with campus stewardship and improve education and awareness of sustainability-related issues on campus? c\. Extra credit: How might a K-12 teacher incorporate environmental history in their lesson plans? In your response, consider both classroom and outdoor activities, including field trips to protected areas and other places that inspire you? X. Sense of Place Describe a sense of place for the location you currently live, your hometown in California, or somewhere that you have spent a significant portion of time in California. In addition to using the four spheres (lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere) to organize your observations and experiences of the natural environment, provide additional context about the place and its position in the contemporary socio-economic context of the Five Californias found in the *Portrait of California Report*. Is this a place that is prospering or in decline as suggested by your observations and the report? d\. Extra credit: How has this class contributed to your understanding of the State of California and what are any recommendations to improve the course? XII\. Conclusion XIII\. References