XC Summary- Climate Change Threatens an Iconic Desert Tree

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/10/151028-joshua-tree-climate-change-mojave-desert/

Assignment: Read the article and write a one-page summary. XC 40 points

On the TOP-right corner of a piece of loose-leaf paper write your name, the class, the period, and the date. On the TOP-left corner of a piece of loose-leaf paper write the name of this assignment "Climate Change Threatens an Iconic Desert Tree". This needs to be in the TOP margin at the top of the paper, not in the lined portion.

Chapter 9 & 10 Video Extravaganza! – Blog Assignment

Assignment: For “Planet in Peril” write a one-page summary. For all other video clips write a one-paragraph summary for each video clip (7 paragraphs). Take notes while you are watching the videos and then write your summaries after watching each clip. On the TOP-right corner of a piece of loose-leaf paper write your name, the class, the period, and the date. On the TOP-left corner of a piece of loose-leaf paper write the name of this assignment "Chapter 9 & 10 Video Extravaganza! – Blog Assignment". This needs to be in the TOP margin at the top of the paper, not in the lined portion.

Due Friday November 6th

1. Watch “Planet in Peril”- CNN- Anderson Cooper from the beginning up to 1:02. Skip the Yellowstone section from 29:00 to 39:00 (you already watched this). Write a one-page summary.

2. Watch “PRI: How to save endangered species” and write a one-paragraph summary.

3. Watch “California Condors” and write a one-paragraph summary.

4. Watch “FSC® Certification to Protect Habitat for the Amur Tiger in the Russian Far East” and write a one-paragraph summary.

5. Watch “CNN Explains: Deforestation” and write a one-paragraph summary.

6. Watch “The Swedish Forestry Model: Environmental Atlas of Europe” and write a one-paragraph summary.

7. Watch “HOME - The Deforestation: Soybean, Palm Oil, Eucalyptus” and write a one-paragraph summary.

8. Watch “How Fighting Wildfires Makes Them Worse” and write a one-paragraph summary.

Trophic Cascades- Synthesis Essay

If you look up the definition of "synthesize" you will find that it is to "combine (a number of things) into a coherent whole." In contrast, a summary is meant to "give a brief statement of the main points of (something)." For this assignment, ensure you are synthesizing, not summarizing.  You will be weaving together information from different videos, literature, and articles into one piece of writing that covers all of the ideas and themes presented in the videos, literature, and articles. Therefore, instead of breaking down the main points of each video, article, piece of literature into separate paragraphs, find common themes and differences within the videos, literature, and articles and organize them into your synthesis.  It is a good idea to take notes first, then analyze your notes to determine the common themes to organize your thoughts, and then write your synthesis essay.

You are not required to use MLA citations for this assignment.  However keep in mind that the project at the end of the semester will require both synthesis and proper use of MLA style citations.

You will be synthesizing four different sources.  They are all embedded below.  

1) Video- “Planet in Peril”- CNN- Anderson Cooper.  Watch only the ten-minute segment from 29:34 to 39:04 (you will watch the rest during other chapters).
2) Video- “How Wolves Change Rivers”
3) Book Excerpt- Thinking Like a Mountain By Aldo Leopold   

4) Nature Article- Rethinking predators: Legend of the wolf 

On the TOP-right corner of a piece of loose-leaf paper write your name, the class, the period, and the date. On the TOP-left corner of a piece of loose-leaf paper write the name of this assignment "Trophic Cascades- Synthesis Essay". This needs to be in the TOP margin at the top of the paper, not in the lined portion.

Length Requirement: 1-2 pages; length is not as important as substance. 

Due Monday October 26th 

Evolution & Biodiversity- Blog Assignment

Part One- Watch the Galapagos Finch Evolution video and write a one to two page summary (front and back of a piece of loose-leaf paper; max). Your summary should summarize what you learned in the video. For the last paragraph of your summary I would like you to explain the weather event known as El Nino that is discussed in the video. To do this you will need to do some internet research. Anything that you learn from your research, that you include in your response, needs to be properly cited using the MLA format (I have included two links at the bottom of this post as resources to help you with MLA formatting). You do not need to cite anything from the video itself; just your El Nino internet research.  Also, be sure to include a reference list, in MLA format, at the end of your summary. 

Part Two- Watch the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity- Official Video and write a one to two page summary (Front and back of a piece of loose-leaf paper; max). Your summary should summarize what you learned in the video.

On the top-right corner of a piece of loose-leaf paper write your name, the class, the period, and the date. On the top-left corner of a piece of loose-leaf paper write the name of this assignment "Evolution & Biodiversity- Blog Assignment". This needs to be in the margin at the top of the paper, not in the lined portion. Due Friday October 2nd


Use the following resources: MLA In-Text Citations: The Basics https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/2/
Son of a Citation Machine- MLA
http://www.citationmachine.net/mla/cite-a-website

Think Globally, Act Locally- Deforestation & The Hydrologic Cycle

Assignment: Watch the following video and write a one-page summary (Front side of a of piece of loose-leaf paper only). Your summary should summarize what you learned in the video and conclude by answering the prompt given at the end of the video. Your response to the prompt should be at least one paragraph. To answer the prompt you will need to do some internet research. Anything that you learn from your research, that you include in your response, needs to be properly cited using the MLA format (I have included two links below the video as resources to help you with MLA formatting). Also, be sure to include a reference list, in MLA format, on the back of your summary.
On the top-right corner of a piece of loose-leaf paper write your name, the class, the period, and the date.  On the top-left corner write the name of this assignment "Think Globally, Act Locally- Deforestation & The Hydrologic Cycle- Blog Assignment".
Due Friday Sept. 25th

Use the following resources: MLA In-Text Citations: The Basics https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/2/
Son of a Citation Machine- MLA
http://www.citationmachine.net/mla/cite-a-website

Jared Diamond: Why Societies Collapse- Blog Assignment

Assignment: Watch the following Ted Talk and write a one-page summary (Front side of a of piece of loose-leaf paper only). On the top-right corner of a piece of loose-leaf paper write your name, the class, the period, and the date. On the top-left corner write the name of this assignment "Jared Diamond: Why Societies Collapse- Blog Assignment".
Due Friday Sept. 11th

Tragedy of the Commons

In December 1968, a scientist by the name of Dr. Garrett Harden coined the concept called the “Tragedy of the Commons” in his article of the same name published by Science Magazine. “The Tragedy of the Commons” is a problem that occurs when a resource –such as the ocean, water, and air- is open to everyone. The following video clips will help you apply your experience from today's "Happy Fishing" activity to the concept of “Tragedy of the Commons”. The goal of this blog assignment is to help you understand the difficulties associated with managing shared resources.

Assignment: Watch the following video clips and write a one-paragraph (minimum) summary for each clip (Chalk Talk 1 & 2 count as one clip; so, three paragraphs total). On the top-right corner of a piece of looseleaf paper write your name, the class, the period, and the date. On the top-left corner write the name of this assignment "Tragedy of the Commons- Blog Assignment". Due Friday Sept. 4th



This video sometimes takes a while to load, but it works.


Bonus- 4th Video Clip & One-Paragraph Summary- 10 points XC- This video suggests an interesting viewpoint.