Waste Problems in the Bronx & Bronx Schools

Elvis Rodriguez

Christopher Columbus High School

 

 

Introduction:

Look around you, have you noticed how the streets and the schools look in Bronx. Compared to other counties, the Bronx streets and schools are not appealing. Many people have little consideration for others: they leave their wrappers or bottles in the streets, students leave their garbage in the water fountains. These things are not only dirty but also unhealthy. It affects us all in many different aspects. Who is responsible for this? The occupants or residents are. They would not this at home, but if you live in the Bronx, it is your home.  This problem has been around for years and has not faded. It is up to you to do something about it. How can we use public policy in order to maintain our neighborhood and schools clean?

We will investigate the causes, the consequences that originate this problem and the political solutions that are carried out to solve this problem.

 

Task:

You are a local (Bronx) politician and your job is to research the current public policy on waste in the Bronx.  Then you will give your personal suggestions on how to improve the existing public policy—it is obvious that it needs improvement.  You will learn how to use the internet to help you perform your research and powerpoint to do you presentation.  You or your group will have the opportunity to embark on the problem in school or in the Bronx:

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/tips/t3prod/battahwq1_files/image027.gif

 

 

Process:

NOTE: You may work in a group of 2-4 people or individually, however, the report will be handed in individually.

You and your group will create a Power Point Presentation as well as a 3 page typed report on your findings and recommendations.  To accomplish your goal, you have to use the 6-step public policy approach to write a report and a powerpoint presentation.

 

6-step public policy approach:

1) What is the problem?

Define the problem: In this step you are required to fill out the attached worksheet 1.

2) What is the evidence for your problem?

Gather evidence: Using the websites from the resource section below and other relevant ones, you will retrieve evidence for the problem. Surveys are also suggested.

 

3) What are 3 causes for this problem?

Identify:  at least 3 causes

4) What is the government doing now as an attempt for resolution?

Evaluate a policy: Using the internet as a source of information, including the resources sites from below, find what the government (city, state, federal) is doing to correct this problem. Again, it is required to complete the worksheet 4.

5) How can you or your team make ameliorate the problem?

Develop solutions:  You may develop a new policy or you may amend the current one, using worksheet 5.

6) What is your final recommendation?

Select best solution:  From the 3 alternative policies you created, using worksheet 6, rate them according to feasibility and effectiveness. And choose the best one.

 

 

Resources:

Tips-PPA         http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/ppa/intro.html

 

Resources & Tutorial    http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/tips/tutorials.html

New York City Department of Sanitation          http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/dos/home.html

 

NRDC http://www.nrdc.org/cities/recycling/gnyc.asp

 

Furniture Recycling       http://www.sonrisafurniture.com/

 

Environmental Defense  http://www.edf.org/pubs/EDF-Letter/1989/Oct/l_recycling.html

 

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

 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)           http://www.epa.gov/

 

NY Solid Waste           http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/2000/solidwaste.html

 

Fresh Kills Landfill        http://www.concernedcitizens.homestead.com/FKfacts.html

 

Waste Management in NYC     http://www.seas.columbia.edu/earth/papers/wastemaninnyc.html

 

Governor Pataki           http://www.state.ny.us/governor/press/dec22_2_98.htm

 

GPI Environmental Policy         http://www.gpi.org/envio.html

 

National Recycling Coalition     http://www.nrc-recycle.org/

 

United Recycling Industries       http://www.unitedrecyclingind.com/uri/uri.html

 

discoveryschool.com    http://school.discovery.com/

 

online library     http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/lists.html

 

animation factory          http://www.animationfactory.com/

 

build own online survey http://www.opinionpower.com/index.html

 

 

Evaluation:

The evaluation of your projects will be done in two parts.  The first part will be on your oral presentation.  You and your group will present your project to the rest of the class and the class will submit rubrics based on your group’s presentation.  The instructor will then combine these rubrics, along with your self-assessment, to determine a score.  Then the rubric on your typed report will be averaged with your oral presentation score to determine your final grade.

Guidelines for your 3-page typed report

Your three page typed report will be based on the 6 step public policy analyst format

Your report will be typed, double-spaced, and in 12-point font.

You may include graphics in addition to the typed 3 page

A cover sheet with your name, group members’ names, class, teacher, date, and title of report will be included.

 

Rubric

Points

4

3

2

1

Total

Task Completeness

6 Steps

5 Steps

4 Steps

3 or fewer steps

 

Development & Organization

excellent organization & thorough explanations

very good organization & explanations

good organization & explanations

poor organization & explanations

 

Oral Presentation

All members participate; very clear, loud & understandable

All members participate; somewhat clear, loud & understandable

Some members; somewhat clear, loud & understanding

some members; not clear or understanding

 

Grammar

writing is in your own words; few grammatical errors

writing is in your own words; 5-8 grammatical errors

writing is in your own words; 9-11 grammatical errors

writing is not in your own words; 11> errors

 

Research

Gathered information from at least 4 online sources

Gathered information from at  3 online sources

Gathered information from at 2 online sources

Gathered information from at 1 online source

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

example: task 4; organization 3; presentation 3; grammar 3; research 4  total: 17 x 5 = 85%

 

Standards:

LIVING ENVIRONMENT:

#7 Human decisions and activities have had a profound impact on the physical and living environment.

·        identify ways in which humans have changed their environment and the effects of those changes

·        describe the effects of environmental changes on humans and other populations

·        explain how individual choices and societal actions can contribute to improving the environment

·

ENGLISH

#1 Students will read, write, listen, and speak for information and understanding.

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.

  • select information appropriate to the purpose of their investigation and relate ideas from one text to another
  • select and use strategies that have been taught for notetaking, organizing, and categorizing information

·        ask specific questions to clarify and extend meaning

·

·

Conclusion:

After the completion of this assignment you would have learned how to perform online research to solve a problem. This would be accomplished by analyzing current policies and reconciling it or making your own in order to ameliorate the problem.