GREEN HOUSE EFFECT

Shawn Georges

Shawng2001@aol.com

CIS 166

TIPS Program

August 23, 2002

Introduction:

Our atmosphere contains gases such as carbon dioxide and water vapor which aid in trapping the rising heat from the Earths surface and prevents it from escaping into outer space.  This trapping of the suns energy in the form of heat helps to keep the Earths surface relatively warm and is called the green house effect. Thanks to the greenhouse effect the Earth's average surface temperature is about 60F (15C).Without greenhouse gases, the Earths temperature would be 0F (-18C), too cold for most life. Human activities are intensifying the natural greenhouse effect.  Every year we release billions of tons of heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere. In doing so, we are setting the stage for a warmer Earth. This could be just as detrimental as having no green house gases present. The average temperature of the Earth could reach temperatures that could not sustain life. This web quest is designed to analyze and improve current policies in order to improve the Earth's atmosphere and decrease global warming.

 

Task:

This years average summer temperatures are greater than last years and that of previous years.  Increased green house gas levels resulting in the growing problem of global warming is a major worldwide problem.  Global warming will definitely affect plant and animal life on the planet.  You work for the environmental protection agency and you want to find the best solution for this growing problem by focusing on how the U.S is affected by global warming.  This goal will be accomplished by using the 6-step public policy approach to write a three page written report and give an oral presentation on the effects of carbon dioxide emissions on Global warming in the U.S.

1.         Define the problem and possible effects on the United States.

2.         Gather evidence on the current climate and temperature of the U. S.

3.         Identify causes of global warming.

4.         Evaluate a policy used by the U.S government to prevent further damage.

5.         Develop solutions to help the U.S government save the environment from the effects of global warming

6.         Select best solution to be used to assist in preventing global warming.

 

Process:

You will be placed in groups of four

You will use websites as sources of information on global warming.

As groups, you will discuss current policies used to limit global warming.

Using the information gathered, you will generate a new public policy concerning global warming using the public policy analyst steps.

You will present this new policy to other groups in the form of an oral presentation.

You will also generate a three- page paper identifying the problem and suggesting possible solutions.

 

Resources:

Here is a list of a few websites that may prove helpful.

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

2.         http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/kids/greenhouse.html

3          http://globalwarming.enviroweb.org/ishappening/ishappening_frameset.html

4.         http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/climate/index.html

5.         http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/actions/index.html 

 

 

Evaluation: (the day of reckoning)

Your grade will be determined using 50% of your score from your written report and 50% of your score from your oral presentation

The rubric chart below demonstrates the method of calculating the score for your written report.

 

55%

75%

100%

INFORMATIVE

Lacks information

Informative

Very informative

                           

GRAMMAR

Grammatically challenged

Very few grammatical errors

Excellent punctuation and grammar usage

 

 

 

 

 

The rubric chart below demonstrates the method of calculating the score for your oral presentation.

 

Excellent

Satisfactory

Needs Improvement

Unsatisfactory

SPEECH

Loud and clear

Understandable

Inconsistent volume levels

Unintelligible

EYE CONTACT

Makes good eye contact

Makes adequate eye contact

Makes very little eye contact

Makes no eye contact

ORGANIIZATION

Well organized

Organization

Needs Organization

Unorganized

VISUAL AIDS

Effective visual aids used

Used related visual aids

Visual aid not related

Lacks visual aid

SUBJECT MATTER

Covered in totality

Covered adequately

Lacks information

Does not cover subject

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Standards

This web quest focuses on the following New York State Science and English Language Arts Standards.

Science Standard 4

Students will understand and apply scientific concepts, principles, and theories pertaining to the physical setting and living environment and recognize the historical development of ideas in science.

English Language Arts Standard 1

As listeners and readers, students will collect data, facts, and ideas, discover relationships, concepts, and generalizations; and use knowledge generated from oral, written, and electronically produced texts. As speakers and writers, they will use oral and written language to acquire, interpret, apply, and transmit information.

Conclusion

As a result of research and analysis of the data on global warming, you will discover the current government policies that exist. You will also use the scientific method process to come up with new and improved policies.