BLAMELESS

WebQuest for TIPS

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS.html

By: C. Taylor

Cynty6@aol

Introduction:

Waste is a big issue for the environment. Industrialized societies produce an overwhelming amount of trash. The garbage problem does exist. We are aware of the problem, and have several solutions to solve the problem. However, existing policies are not being enforced. Who bears responsibility to the waste issue?

The conditions within a community affect the lives of those that live there. Community residences are affected mentally, physically, emotionally and economically when their neighborhood is consumed with waste.

Task

Recycling aluminum saves 95 percent of the energy needed to process virgin aluminum. Knowing this does not prevent people and companies from throwing can goods away. Your mission is to act as a public policy advocate and create a PowerPoint presentation to lower the amount of soda and beer bottles and cans found in your community. Following the public policy analyst worksheets, you will do the following:

1. Define the problem

2. Identifying causes

3. Gathering evidence

4. Describing existing policies of the problem.

5. Formulating solutions/policies for the problem

6. Select the best policy to this problem.

Process

Using the six components of the Public Policy approach you are to create a PowerPoint presentation of five or more slides on the problem with your team members.

Submit a printed copy of your slide show that researched the issue.

Present your slide show to the class.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The following questions should be answered within your PowerPoint presentation:

• State the ways to reduce garbage.

• Are there markets for all materials recycled?

• Can more be recycled than is currently being recycled?

• What are the benefits of recycling?

• Why is recycling cost effective for manufacturers?

• Why is recycling plastic especially important?

• What are some products made from recovered plastics?

Resources

• http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/welcome.html

• http://www.earth911.org/master.asp?s=pop&a=2

• http://www.gpi.org/envio.html

• http://www.greenmap.com/nyc/info/waste main.html

• http://www.nrc-recycle.org/

• http://www.recycle-steel.org/index2,html

• http://www.unitedrecyclingind.com/uri/uri.html

• http://www.bottlebill.com/support-oppose/supp

• http://www.cancentral.com/issue3.html

Evaluation

You will be judged on the following for your PowerPoint presentation:

	POOR	MIDDLE	GOOD	VERY GOOD
Understanding the Task	Completes little of the task.	Completes part of the task.	Completes most of the task.	Completes the entire task of PowerPoint presentation.
Development & Organization of PowerPoint	Few aspects of topic are discussed in organized ways.	Several aspects are discussed, but not in separate slides.	Each slide addresses one aspect of the PowerPoint presentation.	Each slide addresses one aspect of the PowerPoint presentation.
Format	No format followed.	A format is followed.	A general format is followed.	Format is followed perfectly.

Conclusion

Due to the research and analysis of the data on solid waste, students discover the current government policies that exist. Students also use the scientific method process to come up with new policies. You have acted as a public policy analyst and created a PowerPoint presentation about an important problem facing us today.

Standards Focused On

• Math, Science, and Technology Standards #6

Learning the relationship between math, science and technology and apply these relationships to other areas of learning.

• Math, Science and Technology Standards # 7

Apply the knowledge and thinking skills of math, science and technology to address real life problems and make informed decisions.

• English Standard # 1

Speak, listen and read information for understanding.

• English Standard # 3

Speak, listen and read for critical analysis.

• English Standard # 4

Social interaction