IB Environmental Systems and Societies – Mrs. Page
Environment Scrap Book or Blog Assignment
This long term project is designed to help you do well in your final exam and help you become more environmentally aware. This course is all about using current issues and thinking about how we make decisions on environmental issues. In this project you will have a chance to give your opinions which should be justified.
- Select articles on environmental issues from newspapers, magazines, or the internetor watch documentaries: Topics could include (but are not restricted to): air or water pollution issues; chemical spills; endangered species issues; land use issues (e.g. where to place landfills, nuclear power plants or other waste depositories); river diversion or cleanliness issues; fossil fuel issues (e.g. efficiency mileages or alternative energy fuels or air pollution); population issues (e.g. family planning, human health as it is affected by the environment); environmental legislation. Ask the teacher if you’re unsure whether or not a particular environmental issue is appropriate.
- Cut out / print / copy the first column or two of the article and part of the headline or a screenshot of the documentaries publicity; you don’t need the entire article. Include it into your scrapbook. Reference the material in an appropriate manner (MLA).
- Review the article or documentary and report your opinion on the story with a potential solution if possible. (1 paragraph for summary and 1 paragraph for your opinion, possible solutions (if applicable), and the link to the ESS syllabus). Try to relate this to your environmental view point.
- You will submit your scrapbook/blog on a regular basis and it should be kept up to date. You should have a MINIMUM of 1 ENTRY PER WEEK.More is fine but less will not be acceptable. This is an ongoing assignment so I will not be telling you every week to complete your entry. It is up to YOU to ensure that you are keeping your blog/scrapbook up to date. They will be collected around quarter periods.
- Before the the blogs/scrapbooks are turned in (at quarter periods), include a final evaluation page (maximum one page typed, double-spaced!!) where you respond to:
(a)Which of the environmental articles that you included was most interesting to you and why?
(b)Which of the environmental issues that you included seems most hopeful and why? OR seems most desperate and why?
(c)Choose one of your news articles and describe it to one or both of your parents or guardians. Write down their solution to the environmental issue, regardless of what it is. Do you agree or disagree with their solution? Maximum one page typed, double-spaced.
GRADING RUBRIC
A-B grade(7-6 grade) / C-D grade
(5-4 grade)
Topic choice /
- Even distribution of local, national & international environmental topics
- Articles show depth of reporting for most environmental issues
- Dates of articles span more than 8 weeks
- At least one article per week
- Lopsided choice of topics
- Articles are all very brief &/or superficial
- Dates span less than 8 weeks
- Less than 1 article per week
Presentation /
- neatly presented (preferably with a visual aide)
- bibliography is clear
- articles from a variety of sources
- All components included
- neatly presented
- bibliography is clear
- articles from only one or two sources
- Parts of assignment missing
Summary /
- Summaries are concise
- Opinions on topic address your personal environmental viewpoint
- Student addresses possible solutions to environmental issue which is realistic & thoughtful (if applicable)
- Shows clear link to the ESS syllabus
- Summaries & solutions are superficial & shallow
- Little self-reflection
- Weak or inaccurate link to ESS syllabus
Evaluation /
- Which issue was most interesting to you
- Which issue seemed most hopeful or desperate
- Your parents’ or other adult's opinion
- Evaluation incomplete or missing
Adapted from Environmental News Articles Project - Dan Hyke by C. Schneider May 2005