GEOG20091 Sustainability Formative Assessment Brief 2026 | Nottingham Trent University

GEOG20091 Sustainability Formative Formative Assessment Brief

Formative assessment opportunities

• During the module you will receive feedback on your work in a variety of forms, including written and oral, both in class and through the NOW. 
• Further examples of constructive feedback (and an opportunity to ask further questions) will included in the in-class Group Formative seminar session. 
• Additionally, your formative pro-forma planner form assessment submitted on Friday 13th March, 2026,  will provide you with feedback provide comments on your case study, the viability of the suggested SDG/structure of arguments, and it will also provide advice on any  questions to me about the assessment.

Feedback on your assessment

The written feedback on the Pro-Forma Planner form will assess your performance on the current assignment (feedback) and offer guidance for improvement in future assignments (feedforward). Please take careful note of all comments and use them to enhance your future work.

Aims

There is a single formative assignment which is a Case Study Planner Form. The aim of the Planner form is to act as a guide to assist you in the development of your Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Case Study report. The planner form  template provides a systematic approach to help you identify relevant data to enable you to present their findings coherently in the case study report to apply theoretical concepts to real-world scenarios. Additionally, the Planner form provides space for you to ask me any questions about the assessment. 

Further Assessment Guidance

Specific Tasks 

For this Formative Assessment you will need to: 

1.Review the Summative Assessment Brief: Before you start and submit your formative assignment, read through the Summative Assessment Brief thoroughly.
2.Complete the pro-forma forma planner document that can be found in NOW (as a separate editable document on NOW – pro-forma planner document) which is included on this assessment brief. 
3.upload the completed Pro-forma Planner document into the Formative assessment Dropbox on NOW.  

Additional Guidance for the Pro-forma Planner Form

Section 1: Introduction.

• Explain to your reader what the sustainable development pathway is compared to other pathways and what the limitations and successes of the SDG concept. 
• These ideas will feed into your pathways to development  Venn diagram and the table (discussing the limitations and benefits of the overall theory of SDGs) which must be included in the introduction of your summative report.

Section 2: Your case study ideas.  

• Identify which SDG (and any associated target/s being used) and the case study you will be discussing, for example SDG 11 and Singapore’s transport system.  
• Using your case study research discuss the schemes, legislation, processes which are aiming to try and achieve your SDG (and any associated target/s being used).
• List sources of literature employed so far (using the Harvard Reference system).

Section 3: The discussion section: 

• Identify, if there are specific complexities of implementing your chosen SDG at different scales.  For example, what might be challenges associated with implementing SDG 14 (Life Below Water) at local (pond) versus international scale (Ocean). A local pond may be easier to protect using individualised (bottom-up) sustainable strategies when compared to the protection of an ocean which is transboundary with multiple interested parties needs. 

Section 4: Any questions

• This is your chance to ask me any questions about your assignment. 

Please copy and paste the table template below to complete your Case Study Planner form. 

Pro - forma Planner form     
Name:

1: Introduction.

• Explain to your reader what the sustainable development pathway is compared to other pathways to development and what the limitations and successes of the overall SDG concept are. 
• These ideas will feed into your (i) Venn diagram showing the pathways to development and the (ii) the table describing the successes and limitations of the overall SDG concept which must be included in the introduction of your summative report
  Use this space for inputting your text - thanks ever so much. 

2: Your case study ideas.  

• Identify which SDG (and any associated target/s if being used) and the case study you will be discussing. For example, Singapore transport systems and SDG 11. 
• Using your case study research discuss the schemes, legislation, processes which are aiming to try and achieve your SDG (and any associated target/s if being used).   
• List sources of information identified so far (using the Harvard Reference system)
• These ideas will feed into the Case Study section of your summative report, which includes the case study characteristics, and the schemes, legislation, processes which are aiming to try and achieve your SDG (and any associated target/s if being used). 
  Use this space for inputting your text - thanks ever so much. 

Section 3: The discussion section: 

• Explore the benefits and limitations of your case study’s strategies.
• Remember to refer to your findings here (from your case studies/real-world examples and the literature reviewed) Using the information from your research (theory and case study analysis). 
• Identify, if there are specific complexities of implementing your chosen SDG at different scales.  For example: international vs local scales. 
  Use this space for inputting your text - thanks ever so much. 

Section 4: Any questions

• Please use this section to ask me any questions about the assignment – thank you.

Use this space for inputting your text - thanks ever so much. 

Suggested Reading

Suggested reading for the assessment can be found in the module’s NOW Learning Room Resources

Module Outcomes Addressed

Knowledge and Understanding

• examine the contrasting theories, explanations of and approaches to sustainability
• evaluate the sustainability and sustainable development literature
• apply concepts of scale, place and human-environment relationships
• review the barriers between sustainable development theory and practice
  Skills, Qualities and Attributes
• effectively gather, synthesise and critically evaluate ideas and information drawn from a diversity of academic and non-academic sources
• develop a reasoned argument
• integrate scientific, technological, economic, environmental and social factors within the context of sustainability

Use of artificial intelligence (AI) in this assessment

TU provides guidance NTU AI Policy Guidance Your assessments are an opportunity for you to learn more about your subject area, to demonstrate your understanding and meet the learning outcomes of your modules. It’s through this process of reading, thinking and writing about your subject that most of your learning takes place. 

However, there are some legitimate ways in which GenAI tools can support your learning, these include:

• Conversing with AI about a topic to deepen your understanding – such as idea mapping
• Suggesting alternative ways of structuring your assignment
• Experimenting with different writing style (NTU, 2024). 

But, remember that you’re here at university to develop your subject knowledge and gain a wide range of academic skills; this cannot be achieved by outsourcing your activities to GenAI.

IMPORTANT: Do not submit any work which has been produced by GenAI as if it were your own work. This is classed as academic misconduct (NTU, 2024)