SCH4C – Environmental Issues Project

Introduction: “Going green” is a new trend for Canadian citizens. Businesses and government are pressured to find solutions to environmental problems. It is important, as scientists, for us to understand the negative effects on the environment of certain practices and to learn ways to minimize or eliminate these issues.

Project: Your task is to research the effects on the environment of one household or industrial practice. Choose one to research; if something you’re interested in is not on the list, please ask about it!

Project Details: 1. Write a problem statement. This can be the title for your project. It can be a question or a statement.

2. Do some research: a. Describe your issue. What is it? What do we use it for? How does the process work? b. Why is your topic an issue? (If your issue contributes to climate change/global warming, mention this too) c. What are the chemical impacts in this issue? What chemicals are used? Describe the effects on the environment. Consider air, water and soil, as well as any effects on animals and plants. d. Are there any government programs in place to work on this issue? Can regular people do anything to minimize the effects on the environment?

3. Write a report that covers all the details mentioned above. Your report should have: a. Title page b. Sub-headings that include: i. Introduction ii. Problem/Question iii. Environmental and Chemical Impacts of the Issue iv. Solutions to Minimize the Issue 1. Government programs 2. Local programs and individualized solutions c. Bibliography d. Appendices (if you have any graphs, images, charts or tables to help present your report; make sure you include the references to these items)

List of Environmental Issues 1. Fossil fuels 7. Lawn pesticides 2. Disposal of household chemicals 8. Urban runoff, storm drains 3. Disposal of old electronics 9. Volatile organic compounds 4. Landfills and garbage incineration 10. Agricultural runoff 5. Mining 11. Dry cleaning 6. Coal power plants 12. Disposal of medications

If you have an environmental issue you’d like to research that is not listed here, ask your teacher!

What to Hand In: o Research report (including title page and bibliography) o Research notes o Marking rubric Writing the Report:

o It is preferable that you type your report. It must be 12-point Times New Roman or Arial for easy reading. The report must be double-spaced and printed on one side of the page.

o Your report should be in paragraph format, similar to a research essay. Avoid using bulleted lists and/or point-form notes.

o Include sub-headings in your report. These sub-headings should be bolded (or underlined) as to set them apart from the text.

o Spelling, grammar and punctuation are important. Please proof-read your report. All word processing software programs have these features to help you check your work. It is also recommended that you have a peer (outside of the class, such as a friend or family member) to proof-read your work.

o When writing up your report, do NOT copy word or word (or copy/paste) information from the internet or other sources. You must put it in your OWN words and reference it in the Bibliography section. Plagiarism is a serious academic offense and action will be taken against students who commit academic fraud. For help or advice, you are always welcome to ask me or e-mail me to ensure you are writing it the proper way.

o If you are planning to use appendices in your report, such as tables, charts, graphs or images to help build your report and contribute to your overall theme, you MUST reference it somewhere in your report. In other words, you are connecting a piece of information with what you are already saying in the report. Each appendix must have a number (eg. Appendix 1, Appendix 2, etc).

To do this, use a format similar to below:

In report: “The levels of carbon dioxide gases in the atmosphere has dramatically increased in recent years, as shown in Appendix 1”

In appendix: o Title the item as “Appendix 1” – placed at the top of the page o Below the title, place the item (chart, table, graph, image) o Below the item, type in the reference/source (where did you get it from? This could be a website link)

o Use professional language. Avoid slang or jargon words.

o More importantly of all, be insightful. Include your own opinions of the issue you’re researching. The more insight you show in the report, the more you show of your own critical thinking and analytical skills.

DUE DATE: WEDNESDAY MAY 7, 2012 Marking Rubric

Criteria R Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 I 3.5 4.5 5.2 5.5 5.8 6.2 6.5 6.8 7.2 7.5 7.8 8.4 8.9 9.5 10 High quality, Some relevant Limited Most relevant extensive Inadequate information is Research of information is information is information information is included, some information and included, some included and is included, included, many may be the quality of is confusing, clearly clearly and errors and/or minimally research inadequate or documented in thoroughly omissions presented or unclear project documented in unclear project Thorough, Considerable Limited analysis Some analysis of articulate Makes Inadequate or analysis of of social, social, analysis of connection erroneous social, economic, economic, social, between science, analysis of economic, technological technological economic, technology, issues presented technological and/or and/or technological society and the or omitted and environmental environmental and environment completely environmental issues associated issues environmental issues issues Thoughtful, Considerable Limited analysis Some analysis of insightful Response to No analysis analysis of of issues and/or issues, stated analysis of research – submitted issues, well stated opinions opinions based issues, clearly demonstration of and/or not based stated opinions loosely based on data, some stated opinions critical and on data and/or based on data, on data, limited ideas proposed based on data, analytical no ideas for ideas for ideas for action for action on effective ideas thinking skills action practical action on issue issue for practical on issue action on issue Includes few Includes and/or inadequate somewhat Includes Includes and/or questionable numerous, No suitable, varied questionable and/or high quality and Documentation documentation sources, all and/or repetitive somewhat varied varied sources, of sources of sources properly sources and/or sources, a few properly received referenced as some errors or minor referenced as required omissions in errors or required documentation omissions in documentation Jot notes not submitted or Research data Research data Research data Research data show lack of organized and thoroughly Organization organized and well organized organization expressed in jot organized and and expression expressed in jot and expressed in and/or notes with expressed in jot of information notes with some jot notes ineffective limited notes extremely effectiveness effectively expression of effectiveness effectively data Barely meets Adequate Outstanding minimum Sloppy, illegible, presentations, Good presentations, presentation full some evidence presentations, neat, well- requirements, Overall written of spelling and of planning, neat, planned, designed shows little presentation grammar errors somewhat neat and legible, with presentation, planning, hardly or no report & legible, some good spelling with excellent legible, many submitted spelling and and grammar spelling and spelling and grammar errors grammar grammar errors