Menakumarie Jorree
City College Academy of the Arts
Invasive species taking over New York City!
Introduction:
You are park ranger working in New York City or a consultant for the Environmental Protection Agency. Over the past year or two, you have noticed the vast spreading of an invasive species in city parks. You have noticed that the population of this invasive species is growing exponentially. This invasive species seems to be taking over the parks and pushing out or destroying native species by either competing for food/space or destroying their habitat. You have observed native species being significantly reduced to the point where they are almost disappearing.
Task:
You reported the problem to the head of your agency and they requested that you immediately prepare a PowerPoint presentation to address the urgency of this problem to your colleagues, supervisors, and/or the public.
In your presentation, you will include the six steps of the Public Policy Analyst. You will also address the existing policy on dealing with invasive species and develop new solutions that might be more effective to prevent further spreading of the invasive species.
Process/Resources:
THE PROCESS:
- Your power point must include
these slides showing:
· A Title page, which includes your name and the title of your report in large letters. Be creative!
· The Problem: You might want to create "Wanted Poster” Slides for your invasive species, with these categories: "Identifying Characteristics", "Last Seen”, and "Suspected Hideouts". For your problem, you must choose one specific introduced invasive species that is a problem in the New York City You may choose your species from the list of introduced invasive species included under resources below.
· Evidence of the Problem (at least 2 effects on the impacted ecosystem). In keeping with the “Wanted Poster Theme”, you might want to include a category under evidence of problem called "Crimes Committed",
· Causes and Contributing Factors (including how the alien was accidentally or deliberated introduced and Environmental/ecological factors which have caused it to spread)
· An Evaluation of Existing Public Policies (at least 2 Legislative Acts or Regulations or Government Agencies which attempt to control the introduction or spread of the invasive species)
· Your Suggestions of Alternative Public Policies
· Your choice of The “Best” Public Policy Solution. This will include a discussion & graph of effectiveness vs. feasibility (see Process below).
· References (You will need to cite at least 3 references)
· Slides should include images of your introduced invasive species and the native species that it has impacted.
· Your power point presentation must be at least 10 slides in length
- Here are the steps you will follow, in preparing your
power point presentation:
· Describe the problem & gather evidence of the problem.
· Use the web page: Identifying the Problem to help you complete the Worksheet: Identifying the Problem
· Study and explore the link on Gathering Evidence of the Problem
· Begin to fill out the Worksheet: Gathering Evidence of the Problem by searching out your own websites, using search engines. Go to Information Sources and explore it, to see other possible sources for your web quest.
· Identify causes and contributing factors
· Study and explore the web page: Identifying the Causes
· Begin to fill out the Worksheet: Identifying Causes by searching out your own websites Go to Information Sources and explore it, to see other possible sources for your WebQuest.
· Evaluate public policies in place at the present time.
· Study and explore the web page: Evaluating Existing Public Policies.
· Begin to fill out the Worksheet: Evaluating Public Policies, by searching out your own websites.
· Develop public policy alternatives
· Study the web page: Developing Public Policy Solutions and fill-in Worksheet #5: Developing Public Policy Solutions.
· Now study the web page: Selecting The Best Solution and fill-in Worksheet # 6: Selecting the Best Public Policy Solution. You will use this worksheet to evaluate the feasibility vs. effectiveness of each of the policies that you’ve chosen to discuss. You need to study these 3 web pages: Introduction to Costs & Benefits, Identifying Benefits, and Identifying Costs.
· Determine the best public policy solution, taking into
· Consideration feasibility, effectiveness, and costs & benefits.
· You will include at least 2 different alternative public policy solutions. Each solution should be evaluated for feasibility vs. effectiveness and for costs & benefits. Plot each of your solutions on a graph of feasibility vs. effectiveness, as shown on Worksheet #6.
Resources
· http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/265.html
· http://www.fws.gov/invasives/faq.html#q4
Evaluation
|
Criteria
for Power Point Presentation 100
Points |
|||||
|
Criteria |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total=pts. |
|
I.
Content Knowledge and Effort A,
B, or C 12% |
Student
does not have grasp of information; student cannot answer questions about
subject 0-5 |
Student
is uncomfortable with information and is able to answer only rudimentary
questions.7-8 |
Student
is at ease with content, but fails to elaborate.9-10 |
Student
demonstrates full knowledge (more than required) with explanations and
elaboration. 11-12 |
___/12 |
|
II. Information
Content A Problem 12% |
Student
does not include any identifying characteristics, so that audience would be
unable to identify it in the environment.0-5 |
Student
includes an identifying characteristics of invasive, but does not include
either its area of origin, geographic range or the habitat that it is found
in.7-8 |
Student
includes some identifying characteristics of invasive and its area of origin,
but does not include its geographic range or the habitat that it is
found in 9-10 |
Student
includes all identifying characteristics of invasive, its area of origin, its
geographic range, and the habitat(s) that it is found in.11-12 |
___/12 |
|
III. Information
Content A Evidence of Problem 16% |
Student
does not include any specific effects on the ecosystem, or the effect is not
clearly developed.0-8 |
Student
includes 1 specific effect on the impacted ecosystem 9-12 |
Student
includes 2 effects on the impacted ecosystem 13-14 |
Student
includes more than 2 effects on the impacted ecosystem, including some
statistics on the degree or extent of the damage 15-16 |
___/16 |
|
IV. Information
Content B Causes 16% |
Student
does not include the story of invasive’s
introduction, nor any ecological/environmental factors which have caused it
to spread 0-8 |
Student
includes brief story of invasive’s introduction or some
ecological/environmental factors which have caused it to spread 9-12 |
Student
includes brief story of invasive’s introduction and
some ecological/environmental factors which have caused it to spread 13-14 |
Students
includes full story of invasive’s introduction
and all ecological/environmental factors which have caused it to
spread 15-16 |
___/16 |
|
V. Information
Content C Present Policy 12% |
Student
does not include a correct Legislative Act, Regulation, or Government Agency
controlling the introduction/spread of the invasive species. 0-5 |
Student
includes only 1 Legislative Act, Regulation, or Government Agency controlling
the introduction/spread of the invasive species, and/or does not
clearly explain how the control works. 7-8 |
Student
includes 2 Legislative Acts, Regulations, or Government Agencies controlling
the introduction/spread of the invasive species, but does not clearly explain
how the control works. 9-10 |
Student
includes at least 2 Legislative Acts, Regulations, or Government Agencies
controlling the introduction/spread of the invasive species, and clearly
explains how the control works. 11-12 |
___/12 |
|
VI.
Use of Images 12% |
Student
does not include any photographs/images 0-5 |
Student
includes 1 image of invasive and 1 image of an impacted native species. 7-8 |
Student
includes 1 or more image(s) of invasive images of 2 impacted native species. 9-10 |
Student
includes 1 or more image(s) of invasive images of 2 impacted native species.
Most slides have illustrations or images, indicating much effort. 11-12 |
___/12 |
|
VII.Content, Knowledge,
Effort, and Originality of Decisions Part D & E 12% |
The
student put in little effort toward suggesting public policy alternatives
& determining the best public policy. 0-5 |
The
student put in minimal effort toward suggesting public policy alternatives
& determining the best public policy. The
student included a graph of effectiveness vs. feasilibility
7-8 |
The
student put in some effort toward suggesting public policy alternatives & determining the best public policy. The student
graphed effectiveness vs. feasibility and displayed their graph. 9-10 |
The
student put much effort toward suggesting
public policy alternatives & determining the best public policy.
The student displayed & explained their graph on effectiveness vs.
feasibility. Their suggestions were well thought out and supported. They
answered all questions. 11-12 |
___/12 |
|
VIII. Organization 4% |
Student
does not present information in a logical sequence which audience can follow.
1 |
Audience
has difficulty following presentation because student jumps around. 2.5-3 |
Student
presents information in logical sequence which audience can follow. 3.5 |
Student
presents information in logical, interesting sequence which audience can
follow. 4 |
____/4 |
|
IX.
Delivery 4% |
Student
mumbles, incorrectly pronounces terms, and speaks too quietly for students in
the back of class to hear. 1 |
Student
incorrectly pronounces terms. Audience members have difficulty hearing
presentation. 2.5-3 |
Student's
voice is clear. Student pronounces most words correctly. 3.5 |
Student
used a clear voice and correct, precise pronunciation of terms. 4 |
____/4 |
|
Total----> |
< 57 |
58-79 |
80-92 |
93-100 |
____/100 |
Conclusion
Your project should clearly inform the public about the invasive species and the ecological problems that this invasive species have caused. Your job is to convince everyone that this is indeed a serious problem and necessary actions should be taken immediately to help conserve and save native species.
The public should know how to recognize the invasive species in their neighborhood. They should also have a general idea as to where the invasive species originated and how it got into their neighborhood. Everyone should also be able to understand the effect of the invasive specie on the native plants and animals and what’s causing the invasive species to spread so quickly
You will have evaluated the effectiveness of present public policies in dealing with the problem of invasive species. You will have suggested alternative public policies that are better able to prevent the introduction and spread of alien species.
Standards (K-8 SCIENCE SCOPE & SEQUENCE)
Ecosystems and Interdependence
• Populations and definition of species LE 1.1hLE 7.1a
• Communities LE 7.1a
Factors affecting the population growth of organisms — Predator/prey relationships LE 7.1b
• Relationships among organisms: beneficial and harmful LE 3.2a LE 7.1c,d LE 7.2c
• Effects of environmental changes on humans and other populations LE 7.2a-d LE 7.1e