Scarcity of Fossil Fuels Leads to
Alternative Energy Sources
A Web Quest for Ninth Graders
Designed by LaVerne Randolph Williams, TIPS
March, 2002
Introduction: You are an elected official
responsible for investigating, and choosing the best type of energy for your
city. The voters in your district are up in arms about the cost of fossil fuel
energy, and want you to select an alternative energy source. Upon investigation
you find a number of companies are lobbying for the legislature to license them
to deliver energy sources to the community. You want to be well informed in
order to write the best public policy to help your community.
As
fossil fuels are depleted, costs to public rise.
Problem: How many different types of alternative
energy sources are there, and which one will be the least expensive? Are these companies able to deliver all the energy
that is needed for home heating, cars, electric lights
and, all the technology that rely on steady electric current? What about the cost of public transportation,
and hospitals, which charge your constituency more money as a result of their energy costs? You, and your team
will research the above questions, and then discuss the best possible public
policy to solve the problem. This will include talking with representatives in
other cities to see what conclusion their research has brought them to.
Task: Research the above problem
using the Internet. Discuss your
research with your team, write a research paper, and each write a public policy
to help solve the high cost of energy using alternative energy sources. Follow
the Project Legal steps, which the Public Policy Analyst will guide you
through. Always check with your PPA and follow the steps so that you will
receive credit for the work you do. Upon completion of your research paper you
and your team will be responsible for a PowerPoint Presentation.
The Process: Contact your PPA for
instructions at http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/ (Click
twice on the yellow spot to get your PPA, then click twice again on the yellow
box for additional information.) Read and discuss carefully. As you research the problem there will be
worksheets for you to complete. Read
each worksheet first to see what is expected of you. Worksheets have been provided by your PPA at www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/ppae/ppae.html
You will find the URL’s listed below which will get you started in researching alternative energy sources. You are also responsible for finding your own Internet sources for information (2). As any scientist would, you must keep accurate data in order to write your research paper, and conclude with a public policy to help solve the cost of energy for your constituents.
·
Note, You may find the graphics version for first visitors quite
useful in explaining the worksheets. Once you go to www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/ppae/ppae.html click twice on
forward, from the Welcome Page.
·
After
researching your task, use the questions from the worksheets to guide you in
writing an essay on your research. Now
you are ready to answer complete a worksheet.
·
The worksheet
topics are:
1.
What is the
social problem?
2.
Gathering
evidence for this problem.
3.
Identifying
causes for this problem.
4.
Evaluating the
existing public policy.
5.
Developing
public policy solutions.
6.
Selecting the
best public policy solution.
Report your progress after
you have gathered research on the problem, and before you begin to write your
essay. All members of your group need to
work to read what information has been gathered. This will be done in class.
Each person is responsible
for a graph, chart and picture to explain information in their final
report. Your public policy analysis will
be in the conclusion. Each person is also
responsible for work on a slide in the Power Point Presentation.
Follow the PPA format in
your essay, and Power Point Presentation.
Background on Fossil fuels
www.energy.ca.gov/education/story/story-html
Web
Quest Resources:
http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal Project Legal Resources
www.maxwell.sys.edu/plegal/ppae/ppae.html Worksheets
During computer room Internet research, you must keep a list of sites visited and turn them in at the end of each class.
URL’s with information about fossil fuels and alternative
energy sources
www.culturechange.org/caoe.html
Why we should not continue to drill for oil.
The case against offshore oil.
Question 105 What is the difference
between gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel, etc.?
www.energy.ca.gov/education/story/story-html
Where fossil fuels come from.
What are fossil fuels?
www.ucsusa.org/energy/brief.hidden.html
The Hidden Costs of Fossil fuels.
www.loonycat.com/alt_energy_frame.htm
Alternative sources of energy.
www.greenmountain.com/index.jsp
Alternative energy site.
Alternative energy sources.
General Search Engines
Evaluation
You and your group will be
graded on three parts of your project.
1.
Your essay
2.
Your
worksheets (group)
3.
Your PowerPoint
presentation (group)
Guidelines for final essay
-
Your Three
page typed report must include the six step public policy analyst format.
-
Double space
using font number 12
-
Be certain to
cite references
-
State why you
believe the public policy you proposed is best.
-
Include
statistics, a chart or graph, and a picture.
Guidelines for your groups’
worksheets
-
Discuss and
compare your essay with group members.
-
Decide upon
the best answer for the worksheet.
Guidelines for your groups’
PowerPoint Presentation
-
No more than 7
slides. One slide must identify the
group.
-
Your slides
must follow the PPA format
-
Your work must
be your own creation
-
Your group
members must be prepared to speak about the details of your investigation.
-
Back up the
public policy you choose with facts.
v Your typed report is due in 5 weeks
v Your PowerPoint presentation is due two weeks later.
v The final project is worth 300 points. See rubric.
Rubric
55 Points 75 Points 100 Points
Essay Incomplete Answers all questions Complete with an
In worksheet, analyzes and
excellent understanding
States statistics. Of the PPA format.
Worksheets Incomp. Not enough
detail
Thorough, clearly
PowerPoint minimum Supports proposed policy
Excellent PP Presentation
Presentation amount of data
Supports policy
Standards
This Web quest meets the
following
Science Standards.
English
v E1c: Read and
comprehend informational materials.
v E2a: Produce
a report of information.
v E2e: Produce a persuasive essay.
v E4b: Analyze
and subsequently revise work to improve its clarity
and
effectiveness.
Science
v S8a: Demonstrates scientific competence by
completing secondary
research.
v S7b: Argues from evidence.
v S7e: Communications in a form suited to the purpose
and the
v audience.
v S5c: Uses evidence from reliable sources to develop
descriptions,
v explanations, and models; and makes
appropriate
v adjustments and improvements.
v S5d: Proposes, recognizes, analyzes, considers, and
critiques
alternative
explanations; and distinguishes between fact and
opinion.
v S5f: Works
individually and in teams to collect and share
information
and ideas.
v S6c: Collects
and analyzes data using concepts and techniques in
Mathematics
Standard 4.
Submitted,
LaVerne Randolph Williams
- Tips
This project was prepared for my ninth
grade Environmental Science class whose average reading levels are below grade.