You will be selecting one of the unit phenomena to write an argument about. The argument will explain how the use of resources is affecting Earth's systems and creating the phenomena. Before you can write an argument you need to gather evidence.
Gather Evidence:
Select one of the unit phenomena with your partner. You will both be gathering evidence and writing your arguments about this phenomena so you need to agree on it.
1. Describe the phenomena
- Where is it?
- What is happening?
2. Natural Resources
What resources are involved? For each resource describe:
- Why do people need it? (What is it used for)
- Does using it cause any problems?
- How is it collected and does that cause any problems?
- Is the resources renewable or not?
3. People
- Who uses the resource?
- Is this resource necessary for people to survive?
- What is the per-capita consumption of it from at least 3 countries.
- Will we need more or less of it in the future?
4. Earth's Systems
- Identify the systems involved (Air, Water, Land, Life)
- How are they being affected?
Use the websites listed below to help find the evidence
1. Per-capita Use of Water
2. Food and Energy Data
3. World Waste Atlas
4. Global Forest Cover
5. Real Time World Air Quality
Below are the unit Phenomena and the big ideas behind them. You should focus on a big ideas in the pictures below not the exact picture or location.
Surface Mining
Deforestation
Air Pollution (Smog)
Plastic in the Ocean
Dead Zone in Gulf of Mexico
- Follow the format below to construct your argument.
- Your evidence was collected with your partner, but your argument must be in YOUR OWN WORDS.
- Your argument should be in paragraph form, not an outline.
- Describe the unit phenomenon you chose.
- Where is it? What is happening?
- Explain the causes behind the phenomenon.
- How is the use of natural resources contributing to the problem?
- How does a growing population affect the problem?
- Include evidence for per-capita consumption of specific resources.
- Identify and explain the impact on an Earth system.
- What system is being affected? How?
- What do you predict will happen to this system in the future? Why?