SCI275+Syllabus+%28v7%29

SyllabusSCI/275 Version 7

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SyllabusCollege of Humanities and Social Sciences

SCI/275 Version 7Environmental Science

Copyright © 2013, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved.

Course Description

This course focuses on the causes of, impacts of, and solutions to environmental issues. Students identify global environmental issues as well as develop and critique environmental action plans. Topics include ecosystems, energy, populations, resources, pollution, and sustainability.

Policies

Faculty and students will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within the following two documents:

University policies: You must be logged into the student website to view this document. Instructor policies: This document is posted in the Course Materials forum.

University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read the policies at the beginning of each class. Policies may be slightly different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed modalities, read the policies governing your current class modality.

Course Materials

Chiras, D. D. (2013). Environmental science (9th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

All electronic materials are available on the student website.

Week One: Environmental Issues and Sustainability

Details Due Points

Objectives 1.1 Define environmental sustainability.1.2 Describe the history of environmental regulations in the United

States. 1.3 Relate a current environmental problem with possible causes.

Reading Read Ch. 2 of Environmental Science.


Reading Read Ch. 27 section 27.3, Environment and Law: Creating a Sustainable Future.

Reading Read Ch. 27 section 27.4, Environment and Law: Creating a Sustainable Future.

Video Review the following multimedia located in your Week One

https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/secure/aapd/policies/


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Electronic Reserve Readings: Video: Buildings Video: Energy and Recycling Video: Bio-diversity Video: Deforestation: Erosion, Loss of Species, Carbon Dioxide Video: Ozone Hole Table: Threatened and Endangered Animals

Table: Threatened and Endangered Plants

Participation Participate in class discussion. For full participation credit during participation weeks, you are required to contribute a total of six substantive messages each week in the classroom. The six messages must occur on at least three different days during the online week to earn full credit. If substantive messages are posted on only two days, you are eligible for only 2/3 credit. If substantive messages are posted on only one day, you are eligible for only 1/3 credit. Individual discussion question responses count towards the class participation requirement. Only posts in the Main classroom forum will count towards your class participation score

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Discussion Questions

Respond to weekly discussion questions. Days 2 and 4

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Nongraded Activities and PreparationFinal Project Preparation

Review the environmental topics presented in the Week Nine Final Project and think about one you might be interested in researching to complete this assignment.

Nongraded Activities and PreparationEnvironmental Sciences Gamescape

Gamescape is an interactive environmental simulation in which you will be identifying environmental issues through various game-based scenarios. You will be working through these scenarios to implement environmental action plans. The game-based scenarios are associated with the following assignments: Week Three: Balancing Ecosystems (Gamescape Episode 1) Week Four: Population Management (Gamescape Episode 2) Week Five: Atmospheric Issues (Gamescape Episode 3) Week Eight: Impacts of an Energy Resource Plan (Gamescape

Episode 4) Week Nine: Gamescape Summary (Gamescape Episode 5) Week Nine: Environmental Science Final Project (the final project

will use your knowledge from all 5 episodes of the Gamescape)

A link for each episode of the Gamescape will be found on your student website for each assignment. If you experience technical problems, please call University of Phoenix Student Technical Support at 1-877-832-4867.

IndividualAssignment 1Community

Communities across the United States face environmental issues. To see what issues are confronting your community, go to the United States Environmental Protection Agency's website located

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Environmental Issue

at: http :// www . epa . gov / myenvironment / .

Enter your zip code.

Scroll down to My Environmental Reports. If the reports are insufficient you may search your own state's department of environmental protection or department of environmental quality (state agency names may vary but are easily accessible through an Internet search).

Choose an environmental report about an issue in your state or community.

Write a 700- to 1,050-word paper answering these questions: What is the issue? Why is this an environmental sustainability issue? Whom does it affect? What are the causes of the issue? What are the environmental regulations related to this issue? How has this environmental issue been regulated or not

regulated in the past? What solutions are proposed?

Format your paper according to APA standards.

Click the Assignment Files tab to submit your assignment.

IndividualAssignment 2Root Casues of Environmental Issues

Review Figures 3-11 and 3-12 in Chapter 3 of Environmental Science. The figures show a flow diagram of root causes of environmental issues.

Select one root cause that you agree with and one root cause that you disagree with. In 200 to 300 words, describe how your selections are threats to environmental sustainability. Expalin why you agree or disagree with each of your selections.

Include three references to support your position. Use examples from the textbook, available videos, and/or reputable online resources.


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Week Two: Politics and Environmental Risk

Details Due Points

Objectives 2.1 Compare and contrast environmental conservation and preservation efforts.

2.2 Explain how risk assessment could be applied in a given circumstance.

http://www.epa.gov/myenvironment/











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Reading Review Ch. 11 of Environmental Science.

Reading Review Ch. 12 of Environmental Science.

Reading Read Ch. 18 sections 18.3 Reproductive Toxicology, through 18.7 of Environmental Science.

Video Review the following multimedia located in your Week Two Electronic Reserve Readings: Video: Responsibility for the Environment Video: Conservation and Responsibility for the Environment Video: The Future of Zoos Video: Uncharted Waters: The Spill and Human Health Video: Crews Scramble to Protect Louisiana Wildlife from Oil

Leakage

Video: Hidden Dangers?: Rehema Ellis


Decide on a topic for the Week Nine Final Project.


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IndividualAssignmentRisk Assessment

Resource: Ch. 18 of Environmental Science.

Select one case study, or example, from Ch. 18 of Environmental Science that describes the impacts of a toxic substance on human health.

Answer the following questions based on the risk assessment principles presented in Ch. 18, and in Figure 18-10 of section 18.7 Risk and Risk Assessment.

Each response should be 1-3 sentences in length. Use two reputable sources and your textbook to develop your answers.

Describe one case study presented in Chapter 18. Explain how the toxic chemical(s) from your selected case study

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affects human health. State the major source of this chemical(s) and its uses. Review Figure 18-10 and discuss whether you think the

risks of this chemical are acceptable. Explain your answer using two factors for determining acceptable risk that are presented in Figure 18-10. Use cited evidence to support your position?

Describe one limitation in risk assessment. Explain how you would resolve this limitation to improve the effectiveness of risk assessments.


IndividualAssignmentConservation Versus Preservation

Resource: Chapters 11 and 12 of Environmental Science.

Conservation is the careful and sustainable management of a resource so that it can be used indefinitely. In contrast, preservation sets aside wild areas so that they remain untouched. Under preservation guidelines resources are not used. Under conservation guidelines resources are used.

Select one example of conservation and one example of preservation from either Chapters 11 and 12 of Environmental Science. Your example can be based on a wilderness area, a biological resource (plants or animals), a natural resource (mineral, energy, etc.), or an environmental law presented within these chapters.

Answer the following questions. Each response should be 2-4 sentences in length. Use two reputable sources and your textbook to develop your answers.

Describe your examples. Explain why these examples represent either conservation or preservation.

Explain whether these examples successfully meet their respective objectives. Does the conservation example successfully manage the resource so that it can used indefinitely? Does the preservation example successfully set aside the resource so that it is let wild and untouched?

Describe one way in which conservation success is measured in the assigned reading? Do you think that this is an effective measurement for conservation success?

Think of two other ways (environmental, ecological, economic, social, cultural, historical, etc.) in which conservation success could be measured?


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Week Three: Ecosystems

Details Due Points


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Objectives 2.3 Describe the flow of energy in ecosystems. 2.4 Describe living and nonliving components of a biome. 2.5 Apply the concepts of natural selection and succession to a

changing ecosystem.




Video Review the following multimedia located in your Week Three Electronic Reserve Readings: Video: Biogeochemical Cycles Video: Biomes Video: Trophic Relationships Video: Ecology and Ecosystems Video: Animal Adaptations in the Tundra Video: Environment and Mutation

Video: Theory of Evolution and Darwin


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Review the Week Nine Final Project resource requirements and conduct a library search to select Academic Journal articles and an Internet search for reputable sources that you will use for this assignment.

IndivdualAssignmentEnergy Flow

Resource: Chapter 4 of Environmental Science.

Answer the following questions. Each response should be 3-5 sentences in length. Use your textbook to develop your answers.

Review Figue 4-10, "Flow of energy and biomass through a food chain" in Ch. 4 of Environmental Science. Describe the trophic levels presented in the diagram. Explain what is meant by a producer, first-order consumer, and second-order consumer.

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Review Figure 4-12, "Energy pyramids in two food chains" in Ch. 4 of Environmental Science. The figure description states, " ...more food is available to those societies that eat lower on the food chain". Explain what this means by comparing pyramids (a) and (b). Do the benefits of eating lower on the food chain inspire you to make changes in your diet? Why or why not?

Review Figures 4-13 and 4-14 in Ch. 4 of Environmental Science. Summarize the steps of the carbon cycle. How is carbon cycled back and fourth between the atmosphere, and plants and animals? Why should people care about the carbon cycle?

Review Figure 4-15 in Ch. 4 of Environmental Science. Summarize the steps of the nitrogen cycle. How is nitrogen cycled back and fourth between the atmosphere and the earth. Which species plays a prominent role in cycling nitrogen? Why should people care about the nitrogen cycle?


IndividualAssignmentBalancing Ecosystems

Resource: Episode 1 of Gamescape and Chapters 4, 5, and 6 of Environmental Science.

Complete Episode 1: "Balancing Ecosystems" of Gamescape.

Write a 750- to 1,050-word letter to the City Council in neighboring Glimmerville. In your letter, explain the situation with the Grass Carp and some of the challenges faced in restoring balance to Sparksville's aquatic ecosystem. Since Glimmerville is experiencing a similar situation, provide advice on how to restore their lake ecosystem. Include the following points in your letter:

According to Ch. 6 of Environmental Science, what is ecosystem balance? Which reduction factors and which growth factors impacted ecosystem balance in Episode 1? Describe two ways in which the invasive species and native species impact ecosystem balance?

Based on Episode 1 and the assigned readings, describe how native and invasive species might affect succession? How might an invasive species impact the natural selection of the native species within a habitat? Describe how native and invasive species affect the flow of energy in an ecosystem?

Describe four possible solutions to the Grass Carp invasion problem. Describe one advantage and one disadvantage for each solution.

As you learned in Chapters 4 and 6 of Environmental

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Science, the flow of energy, species interactions, and natural selection change over time. Since ecosystems and species are in flux, why should humans strive to restore and maintain ecosystem balance? Use one example from Episode 1 and one example from the assigned reading materials to support your points.

Include the Episode Score Report that you generate once you complete the activities from Episode 1. The report is generated in PDF format.


Week Four: Human Population and the Environment

Details Due Points

Objectives 2.6 Explain the factors that produce changes in population size.2.7 Identify the environmental benefits and challenges of

urbanization.



Video Review the following multimedia located in your Week Four Electronic Reserve Readings: Video: Overpopulation and Conservation Video: One Man's Trash, Another Man's Earthship Video: How to Build a Cooler City Video: The Thin Green Line: Investing in Urban Parks Video: Seeds of Progress: How Urban Farming is Changing

Detroit's Future

Table: World Population and Statistics


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Read the articles that you selected to use for the final project. Take notes and determine whether you need more sources.

IndividualAssignment Population Management

Resources: Gamescape Episode 2 and Chapters 9 and 17 of Environmental Science

Complete Episode 2: "Managing Population Growth" of Gamescape

As president of the City Council, you have been invited by the Mayor to give a PowerPoint presentation to Sparksville High School.

Develop a 7-10 slide PowerPoint presentation that explains the prairie dog land management issue. In your presentation include the following points:

Discuss some of the challenges of urbanization and environmental benefits. Explain how the prairie dog land management issues are related to the challenges of urbanization.

Explain the factors that influence population growth using prairie dogs as an example to illustrate your points. Briefly review how the natural environment is needed to support cities. Use the ecological role of prairie dogs and their benefit to land management and the city of Sparksville as an example.

Describe the different policies that the city explored to manage prairie dog population growth, and discuss how these policies are rooted in environmental science and population dynamics.

Discuss the final management decision, and explain how it balanced urban development with environmental sustainability. Include major challenges you faced in addressing this issue and reaching an optimal solution.

Include an introductory slide, a summary slide, and a reference slide.

Include 300 to 750 words in your speaker notes

Use your textbook and one outside resource.

Include supporting visuals, such as photos, diagrams, and/or graphs.


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IndividualAssignment Urban Sustainability

Select one of the following choices to complete.

Option 1

Video Resources: "How to Build a Cooler City", "The Thin Green Line: Investing in Urban Parks", and "Seeds of Progress: How Urban Farming is Changing Detroit's Future".

Select one video that inspires you.

Develop a 700- to 1,050-word plan to implement one of these programs into your neighborhood or hometown.

Your plan should include a clearly defined goal, steps needed to reach your goal, resources needed to reach your goal, and any community support to implement your plan.

Explain the beneifts of the program you selected and discuss which urban challenges it addresses.

Option 2

Resources: Chapter 17 of Environmental Science and Urban Sustainability Chart.

Complete the Urban Sustainability chart to develop sustainability guidelines for your apartment, home child's school, workplace, or place of worship.


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Week Five: Atmospheric Issues

Details Due Points

Objectives 2.8 Summarize the causes and effects of an atmospheric issue. 2.9 Describe a key challenge to controlling air emissions. 2.10 Analyze impacts of and solutions for indoor air pollution.



Video Review the following multimedia located in your Week Five Electronic Reserve Readings: Video: Environmental Geology: Lithosphere, Hydrosphere,

Atmosphere, and Biosphere Video: Climate Change: Global Warming and Greenhouse Effect


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Video: A Cleaner Life

Video: Not So Green?: Biofuels May Be Worsening Carbon Dioxide Pollution Instead of Lessening It


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Organize your notes from the Academic Journal articles and web sites that you will use for the Week Nine Final Project. Review the instructions and plan how you will use your sources to develop this assignment.

IndividualAssignmentAtmospheric Issues

Resource: Gamescape Episode 3. Assigned sections of Chapters 19 and 20 in Environmental Science.

Complete Episode 3: "Maintaining Terrestrial and Atmospheric Resources" of Gamescape

As Newly elected Mayor of Sparksville, the town's citizens are eager to hear what you plan on doing to promote the local economy while maintaining a high level of environmental air quality.

Write a 700- to 1,050-word speech for a Town Hall Meeting that addresses the following points:

State the current economic situation and the three choices that were available to the town of Sparksville.

Discuss how these three choices would impact water pollution and indoor and outdoor air pollution. Explain how each of the three choices could be a point and non-source of water and air pollution.

Describe how the air and water pollution generated from these sources can impact the health of Sparksville's citizens, the local ecosystem, and the local economy. Include some potential solutions.

Explain why your decision addresses the key environmental challenges and is the optimal choice given this situation.

Include two outside references to support your main points. One reference should be an academic journal found at the University's

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library.


Format your citations consistent with APA guidelines.


Individual AssignmentIndoor Air Pollution

Complete the Indoor Air Pollution Chart

Resources: Chapter 19 of Environmental Science and The EPA website "An Introduction to Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)". Retrieved from, http://www.epa.gov/iaq/ia-intro.html


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Week Six: Water Resource Issues

Details Due Points

Objectives 2.11 Identify the impact of human activities on a water resource. 2.12 Formulate a sustainable plan to manage a water resource.



Reading Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings.

Video Review the following multimedia located in your Week Six Electronic Reserve Readings:

Video: Conserving Natural Resources: Water Video: Ocean and Global Climate Video: Land and Water Pollution Video: Protecting Americans From Danger in the Drinking

Water Diagram: Sources of Groundwater Contamination Map: Groundwater Pollution in the United States

Table: Mercury Levels in Fish and Shellfish

Participation Participate in class discussion. For full participation credit during participation weeks, you are required to contribute a total of six substantive messages each week in the classroom. The six messages must occur on at least three different days during the online week to earn full credit. If substantive messages are posted on only two days, you are eligible for only 2/3 credit. If substantive messages are posted on only one day, you are eligible for only 1/3

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http://www.epa.gov/iaq/ia-intro.html

http://www.epa.gov/iaq/ia-intro.html


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credit. Individual discussion question responses count towards the class participation requirement. Only posts in the Main classroom forum will count towards your class participation score



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Develop an outline for the Week Nine Final Project. Include a thesis statement. If you are having trouble developing a thesis statement contact your instructor and use the thesis generator from the Center For Writing Excellence found in the library.

IndividualAssignment Effects of Water Resource Issues

Review the following multimedia located in the Electronic Reserve Readings:

Video: Protecting Americans From Danger in the Drinking Water

Diagram: Sources of Groundwater Contamination Map: Groundwater Pollution in the United States

Write a 2-3 sentence summary for each multimedia that you reviewed. Then, in 2-3 sentences explain how the environmental issues presented in the multimedia affects you directly and indirectly. (Some indirect effects might include higher taxes and health insurance rates due to clean-up and negative health effects.)


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IndividualAssignment Water Resource Sustainability Plan

Develop a water sustainability plan for your city, hometown, or neighborhood. The plan should include sources of pollution and ways in which you plan on addressing these sources. Present your plan to the local city council.

Develop a 7-10 slide PowerPoint Presentation to present the sustainability plan. Include the following in your presentation:

An introduction that identifies the main challenges of managing a fresh water resource in your home town or city.

State the activities that have impacted this local fresh water supply. Include the name of the lake or river, the specific pollution sources, and the pollutants in your presentation. Descirbe how these pollutants have impacted (or could impact) human health, plants, and wildlife.

Present a plan to clean up this pollution source, prevent future pollution, and to ensure that the water source is not overdrawn enabling long-tem use. Include specific methods from your research.

Identify at least three stakeholders in your plan ( community residents, local government, businesses, non-profit

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organizations, etc.) Describe the local government policy that you will need in order to carry out your plan. And the role of each of the three stakeholders in ensuring that the water is used sustainably.

Use your textbook, and three additional sources. One of these sources should be an academic journal found at the University's library. If you need assistance with identifying a academic journal article (also known as peer-reviewed articles), review the Finding Peer-Reviewed Articles document.

Include an introductory slide, a summary slide, and a reference slide.

Include 300 to 750 words in your speaker notes.



Week Seven: Terrestrial Resource Issues

Details Due Points

Objectives 2.13 Describe challenges associated with managing a terrestrial resource.

2.14 Formulate a sustainable plan to manage a terrestrial resource.


Reading Read Ch. 22, section 22.3 Integrated Pest Management: Protecting Crops Sustainably of Environmental Science.


Video Review the following multimedia located in your Week Seven Electronic Reserve Readings: Video: Remembering Rachel Carson, Part I Video: Majestic Forests in Oregon at Risk from Timber Industry

and Chemical Spraying Video: A Disastrous Year for Bees Video: American Voices: Haile Johnston

Video: Deep Freeze: A Vault Near the North Pole is Storing Millions of Seeds in Order to Preserve the World's Food Supply in Case of Global Catastrophe

Participation Participate in class discussion. For full participation credit during participation weeks, you are required to contribute a total of six substantive messages each week in the classroom. The six messages must occur on at least three different days during the

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online week to earn full credit. If substantive messages are posted on only two days, you are eligible for only 2/3 credit. If substantive messages are posted on only one day, you are eligible for only 1/3 credit. Individual discussion question responses count towards the class participation requirement. Only posts in the Main classroom forum will count towards your class participation score



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Write a rough draft of your Week Nine Final Project. Be sure that all ideas in the paper support your thesis statement presented in the first paragraph.

IndividualAssignmentTerrestrial Resource Challenges

Review this week's multimedia and assigned reading.

Answer each of the following questions in 3-5 sentences: Describe two terrestrial resource challenges presented in the

videos or assigned reading. What are the main causes for each environmental issue?

How do these issues threaten sustainability? How do these issues affect you personally?

Which solutions, if any, are presented in the video and assigned reading. If no solutions are presented, suggest one solution for each problem you selected.

What do you believe is the major challenge in implementing your solution? How could this challenge be addressed?


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IndividualAssignmentAmerican Rangelands and Forests

Complete the Associate Level Material: American Rangelands and Forests located on the student website.


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Week Eight: Energy Issues

Details Due Points

Objectives 2.15 Describe challenges associated with energy resource management.

2.16 Formulate a plan for energy conservation education.



Video Review the following multimedia located in your Week Eight


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Electronic Reserve Readings: Video: Petroleum Video: Coal Video: Consumerism Video: From Petroleum Age to Alternative Energy Sources Video: Renewable Energy Sources

Video: Wind Energy Basics


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Revise your rough draft of your Week Nine Final Project. Be sure that each paragraph has a topic sentence that the thesis statement presented in the first paragraph. Submit your paper to the Center For Writing Excellence at UoP's library for automated corrections.

Individual Assignment Energy Resource Plan

Imagine that you are the Chief Environmental Officer for Volta Cars. Your current project is to reduce the company's reliance on fossil fuels and replace it with one renewable resource.

Develop a 7-10 slide PowerPoint Presentation for the Board of Diretcors. The presentation will outline conservation education for Volta Cars employees and one renewable energy source that the company can use to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. Include the following points:

Propose three major energy conservation steps that the company can take to reduce it's reliance on fossil fuels.

Outline energy conservation education training and incentives for employees in order to implement your energy conservation ideas.

Propose the use of one specific renewable resource to help reduce the reliance on fossil fuels. What are some challenges to implementing this resource?

Expalin how you plan addresses this challenges or offset their negative effects?

Use your textbook, and two additional reputable sources.

Include an introductory slide, a summary slide, and a reference slide

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with three reputable sources plus your textbook.

Include 300-500 words in your speaker notes



Individual Assignment Impacts of an Energy Resource Plan

Resources: Chapters 14 and 15 of Environmental Science and Episode 4 of Gamescape: Controlling Energy Systems

Complete Episode 4: "Controlling Energy Systems" of Gamescape.

Imagine that you are preparing a 750- to 1,050-word letter for a time capsule for your great-great grandchildren which explains the long-term energy sustainability plan that you developed in Episode 4 of Gamescape.

Include the following points in your letter: Briefly describe the nation's current energy situation, reliance

on oil, and renewable energy sources avaible to us. Discuss some challenges that our nation faces with managing our energy resources and how these challenges have affect you personally.

Describe the sustainability plan you developed in Epsiode 4 of Gamescape. Identify two strengths and two weaknesses in this plan. How can you address these weaknesses?

Present three ways in which you hope our nation will educate people on renewable resources and wisely managing our fossil fuel supply.

Close with one key message that you want your great-great grandchildren to understand about how our current society has managed our energy sources and their environmental effects.



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Week Nine: Core Concepts Application

Details Due Points

Objectives 2.17 Rationalize a sustainable plan for addressing an environmental issue.


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2.18 Evaluate mitigation strategies and solutions to an environmental problem.



Reading Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings.


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Respond to weekly discussion questions. Day 3 4

Video Review the following multimedia located in your Week Nine Electronic Reserve Readings:

Video: It's Not Easy Being Green: Creating a Green Economy in Michigan

Video: Life After Superfund Video: A Solution for Nuclear Waste? Video: Rep. Henry Waxman on a Low Carbon Economy Video: Chocolate Made From Cocoa From the Ecuadorian

Rain Forest is Having a Sweet Impact on Mother Earth Video: Extinction

Video: Test Tube Zoo

IndividualAssignment Gamescape Summary

Resource: Gamescape Episodes 5

Complete Episode 5: "Building a Positive Environmental Legacy" of Gamescape.

Answer the following questions. Each response should be 1-3 sentences in length.

Describe how you would balance the needs of Sparksville's environment and economy. Explain your reasoning.

Based on your experience of 25 years in Sparksville and this course , what do you consider to be the key principles required to reach sustainability?

How will you apply these principles to address the environmental issue you selected for the final project?

Include the Episode Score Report that you generate once you

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complete the activities from Episode 5. The report is generated in PDF format.


IndividualAssignment Environmental Science Final Project

Resource: Gamescape Episodes 1- 5, Environmental Science textbook, and four additional outside resources

Choose from one of the following environmental topics that is an issue in your area.

Atmospheric Pollution Oceanic Resources Oceanic Pollution Energy Development and Management Agricultural/Rangeland Management Wildlife Population Management Habitat Restoration Forest Conservation and Preservation InvasiveSpecies Control Endangered Species Recovery Sustainable Urban Planning

Create a 10-15 slide PowerPoint Presentation. The presentation should provide a detailed description of a sustainability plan for your selected environmental issue. Include the following:

Introduce your choice. Explain why this issue is important for humans, wildlife and the environment.

Detailed description of the problem. Present specific details about your selection. This might include a specific habitat, ocean, species, forest, agricultural method, or energy source.

What are the social, economic, and environmental perspectives regarding your choice?

Explain how unsustainable human consumption has caused the problem. Describe the effects the problem is creating for people, wildlife, and the environment.

Present a plan or approach that is currently being used to address this problem, or a similar problem. Is the current strategy effective. Why or why not?

Your plan to reach sustainability. Consider the sustainability plans presented in the assigned reading, videos and the Gamescape Episodes.

Explain how your plan includes social, economic, and environmental perspectives.

Identify the stakeholders in your plan (local community residents, businesses, governmental agencies, non-profit organizations,etc.). What is the role of each of these groups in ensuring that the paln is successful?

Close by reviewing your plan and explain why you think it will be more successful than current actions.

Include 750 to1,050 words in your speaker notes.

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Include at least four outside sources. Two of the sources must be academic journal articles from the University's library. If you need assistance with identifying a academic journal articles (also known as peer-reviewed articles), review the Finding Peer-Reviewed Articles document.


Week One Discussion Questions

Compare and contrast the western world view with the deep ecology world view. Challenge one of the world views presented in Environmental Science. Which world view is closest to your own? Why?

Environmental science involves the fields of science, economics, and politics. Take a current environmental issue, such as the long-term cleanup from Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, and examine it from the scientific, economic, and political perspectives. Which perspective do you think wins out and why?

Week Two Discussion Questions

How do the steps involved in a risk assessment keep the public safe? How could the steps of risk assessment be applied in the community environmental issue from Week One?

Select one person from the list below and summarize why this person is important in United States environmental history and the contribution(s) that he or she has made. Explain whether this person was a conservationist or preservationist. How do you know? Please cite your textbook and at least one reputable resource to develop your answer.

Edward Abbey Lady Bird JohnsonDaniel Boone Aldo Leopold Rachel Carson John Muir James Fennimore Cooper Margaret MurieJimmy Carter Theodore Roosevelt Majora Carter Celia ThaxterErin Brokowich Henry David ThoroughSylvia Earle Edward O’Wilson

Week Three Discussion Questions

View the biome maps in Ch. 5 section 5.2 The Biomes of Environmental Science. Determine the biome in which you live. What are the major biotic and abiotic factors in your biome? Describe a food web or chain that might be found in your biome. Be sure your chain or web has at least three trophic levels.

Why is evolution a multigenerational, multiindividual process? What can evolution not take place in the lifetime of one individual?


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Week Four Discussion Questions

What are the factors that produce changes in population size?

Which factor do you think would have a larger impact on the fertility rate: the increased education of men or of women? Why?

Week Five Discussion Questions

Go to the Emissions Calculator website (http :// airhead . cnt . org / Calculator /? sid = a 743 a 150 a 5 f 5 ff 4 c 72817 e 723 b 7 c 8 c 14 ). Fill out the survey to the best of your knowledge to calculate the total pounds of air pollution your household emits.

What was your highest contributor? What may you do to lower your total? What is your greatest challenge in lowering your total? When you review other students’ posts, suggest how they might control air emissions for their situations.

Review the variety of indoor pollutant hazards posted on the Environmental Protection Agency website (http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/careforyourair.html).

Describe at least three potential indoor air quality hazards in your home. What are the possible health effects of each hazard? Do you believe your health is at risk based on your exposure to the hazards? Why or why not? What may you do to reduce exposure to the hazard?

Go to MyEnvironment (http :// www . epa . gov / myenvironment / ). Enter your zip code and then scroll down to MyAir and click on More Air. Read all of the the MyAir information, and then answer these questions:

What does your local air quality index say about your local air quality forecast? What does your UV index say? What is the radon risk in your area?

Week Six Discussion Questions

Watch the “Conserving Natural Resources: Water” video located on the student website. Then answer these questions:

What is one way you are currently conserving water? What is one way that you are not conserving water? What actions and technologies could you employ to make your own water use more sustainable? Explain.

Choose an anthropogenic issue affecting the global oceans and summarize it for the class. Why is it important? How have humans caused or exacerbated this issue? What are the effects of this issue?

Week Seven Discussion Questions

Identify a viewpoint from the text that highlights the importance of biodiversity. Do you believe every species is connected to one another, as expressed in the text? Why or why not?

Choose one of the following terrestrial resource challenges: loss of agricultural land or reducing solid waste. What are the challenges of managing your chosen issue? What human activities contribute to the problem?

Week Eight Discussion Questions











http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/careforyourair.html

http://airhead.cnt.org/Calculator/?sid=a743a150a5f5ff4c72817e723b7c8c14


































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Describe three nonrenewable energy sources from Ch. 14 of Visualizing Environmental Science. What are the benefits and challenges of each of these energy sources?

Describe three renewable energy sources from Ch. 15 of Visualizing Environmental Science. What are the benefits and challenges of each of these energy sources?

Week Nine Discussion Question

Select one of the following environmental issues and present one major factor contributing to this issue, and one viable solution. How does this environmental issue affect you personally? How will this issue affect our society now and in the future? Consider economics, health, the nation’s beauty, our natural heritage, resource sustainability, lifestyle, ethics and culture. Atmospheric Pollution Oceanic Resources Oceanic Pollution Energy Development and Management Agricultural/Rangeland Management Wildlife Population Management Habitat Restoration Forest Conservation and Preservation InvasiveSpecies Control Endangered Species Recovery Sustainable Urban Planning

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