Hot Topics: Global Warming Project for GSCI115 Liz Johnson & Jerry Gill

About GSCI 115 Earth Systems, Cycles, and Human Impact 3 credits Timelines vs. class time (7 th grade history)

GSCI 115 for Fall 2007 Two sections: MW 10:10-11:30, MW 2:30- 3:45 Each section ~ students No grading assistance Held in the “Band Room” (presentations)

Environmental Issue Assignment (from Lynn Cameron) Week 1: Choose an environmental issue you care about. (Skim through Encyclopedia on the Environment for ideas). –Submit to instructor for approval. Week 2: Research the issue and find: –2 Magazine articles (InfoTrac database) –2 Scholarly journal articles (InfoTrac) –An advocacy web site (Associations Unlimited or Google – limit to.org) Turn in a list of references in APA style. Week 3: Develop a pamphlet on the issue addressing: –A description of the problem or issue –Why the general public should care –A possible solution –Recommended action Incorporate some points you learned from your research.

Project Objectives Student will be able to: Locate information about a topic of interest Differentiate between popular, scholarly, and advocacy resources. Accurately discern and summarize an article’s main concepts. Apply new and prior information to create a concise written report on a specific issue. Give an effective oral presentation about the written report to fellow students.

Assignment Step 1: Choose a climate change issue. Step 2: Research the issue. Step 3: Write a newspaper or magazine article that reviews the contribution of a new research study to our understanding of a modern climate change issue. Step 4: Present to group in class.

Assignment Step 1: Choose a climate change issue The student will use the online Access Science Encyclopedia or sciencedaily.com to choose a modern climate change issue that interests them. Product: The student will briefly describe the issue and the search process they used.

Assignment Step 2: Research the issue Student will locate at least three references: 1. A background resource (.gov,.edu website, encyclopedia, or popular magazine article) 2. An advocacy website (.org,.com) 3. A scholarly research article (not a review) Product: Bibliography (in student’s preferred format) that includes a short justification of the choice of resource.

Assignment Step 3: Write a newspaper or magazine article that reviews the contribution of a new research study to our understanding of a modern climate change issue. dyn/content/article/2007/04/29/AR html Assignment from this semester: splitting paper into sections makes grading much easier

Assignment Step 4: Present in class Dynamics of peer evaluations…

Assessment Step 1 (choose): Credit / no credit Step 2 (research): Holistic or very simple analytical rubric Step 3 (write): Detailed analytical rubric Step 4 (present): Analytical rubric - peers

Assessment Rubric for previous written assignment Rubric for presentations

Project Objectives Course objective: Student is able to critically evaluate climate change issues. Student will be able to: Locate information about a topic of interest Differentiate between popular, scholarly, and advocacy resources. Accurately discern and summarize an article’s main concepts. Apply new and prior information to create a concise written report on a specific issue. Give an effective oral presentation about the written report to fellow students.