About MLA722 – A Cultural Lens on Sustainability
Unlike many sustainability modules that focus mainly on environmental issues, MLA722 explores the cultural side of sustainable development. It asks students to examine how culture, heritage, identity, traditions, and community institutions contribute to creating sustainable places. The module is heavily connected to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 11, which focuses on making cities and communities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Students are expected to move beyond simple descriptions and critically evaluate academic debates, real-world examples, and policy implications.
What catches many students out is the level of critical thinking expected throughout both assessments. The literature review requires analysing and comparing up to twenty scholarly sources rather than simply summarising them. The essay then shifts focus again by requiring students to investigate real places, cultural institutions, and local evidence while linking everything back to wider sustainability theories. Many students find themselves comfortable with either academic theory or case-study analysis, but combining both effectively within a coherent argument is often where the challenge begins.
Why students commonly struggle with MLA722
- Distinguishing between descriptive writing and genuine critical analysis
- Synthesising large volumes of journal articles into thematic discussions
- Identifying research gaps and methodological weaknesses in literature
- Linking cultural sustainability concepts to SDG 11 targets
- Finding strong local case studies with enough publicly available evidence
- Balancing academic theory with practical examples from cultural institutions
- Critically evaluating case studies instead of simply celebrating successes
- Maintaining a clear argument across two substantial 2000-word assignments