After deciding on the focus of my project I began writing the introduction to my dissertation. Being unfamiliar with how to construct a dissertation, it was difficult deciding what my introduction should include. To solve this problem I wrote a plan for my dissertation showing what the topic of each paragraph would be. This ensured that I would have enough to write about on my chosen topic and allowed me to focus my research, which was successful as it meant that I only extracted the relevant information from my resources. This greatly improved my research skills and made me realise that I had to broaden the depth of my resources. Next I will find sources other than websites, such as books, newspaper articles, video clips, journals etc, in order to broaden my research and ensure that I have enough resources to complete my project.

Dissertation Plan:

1. Introduction – state some of the issues related to my chosen topic that are to be investigated
2. Greenhouse gas emissions – explain how meat production produces greenhouse gases and which meats are the main contributors
3. Health impacts of livestock production – issues for people living in close proximity to factories
4. Cows – talk about why cows are damaging to the environment e.g. their digestive system, reproduction etc.
5. Pigs -  as above
6. Chickens – as above
7. Fish – as above
8. Insects – a possible alternative solution to livestock
9. Land use and population growth – impacts of livestock on the physical environment e.g. desertification, land degradation, deforestation
10. Water usage during meat production – global shortages and the excessive amounts used during meat production that could be more appropriately used
11. Biodiversity – deforestation leading to loss of habitats, reducing biodiversity
12. Projected increase in meat consumption – wealthier and growing population
13. Economic issues related to reduced meat production
14. Arguments for a plant-based diet
15. Arguments for a meat based diet
16. Possible alternative to having a vegetarian diet – reducing meat intake
17. Proposed benefits of reducing meat production
18. Survey evaluation
19. Conclusion – sum up findings