Tuesday, January 22. 2013

Today's schedule is C-D-A-B

C Block Crime, Media & Society 12 - Today we're back in the library working on the collaborize classroom site. Now for today I'd like you to do two things:

1. Continue posting in your individual project thread and 
2. Work with your partners on your group project assignment.

D Block Social Studies 11 - Today we'll watch the first half of the National Geographic DVD “Six Degrees Could Change the World”. This DVD shows the potential environmental changes (not the actual ones) that may happen with incremental degrees of climate change. After the cheeseburger carbon footprint section I'll have you answer the following on a piece of paper:

1. What is a carbon footprint?
2. Who will be affected by the increasing size of our carbon footprint?
3. How does the cheeseburger study highlight ways in which you could reduce your carbon footprint - and not just by stopping eating cheeseburgers!

After the European heat wave section could you answer the following:

4. What happened? – What is a heat wave? How long does it have to last and how hot does it need to be?
5. When did it happen? – You should be able to quote the month and the year.
6. Where did it happen? – The case study discusses the ‘European Heat Wave’ but which city does it focus upon?
7. Why did it happen? – The heat wave caused the deaths of many people. What human systems caused the death rate to be so high?
8. Who was affected by it happening? – The impacts of the heat wave were particularly harsh upon one section of the population? Which section of the population was it? You should also be able to explain why.

NASA has a good website (Earth Observatroy Global Warming) that tries to explain the concept of climate change and global warming without a biased political viewpoint for or against the subject. Check it out. You could also look at the Hyper Physics website from the department of Physics and Astronomy at Georgia State University.

A Block Law 12 - Today we'll continue looking at the black comedy of The War of the Roses, based on the book by Warren Adler. In the movie, we saw how Barbara and Oliver's relationship stagnated and broke down over time due to a lack of communication and respect. We ended with Oliver's prophetic words..."you will never get that house". We'll finish the movie today and then try to understand how two seemingly intelligent and mature people can devolve into the malaise that ensues. Tomorrow I have the library booked for you to finish your project.


B Block Geography 12 -  Today we'll begin work on case studies. On the Final Exam you have a case study (essay) that is worth 18 out of 93 marks (this means that one question is worth almost 20% of your final exam mark). There is no way to study for a topic, per say, because the topic changes from year to year. The case study is a skill based question; in essence it asks you to look at the Big Picture which really is what Geography is all about. The case study is divided into three sections:

The first question will always be asking you to describe and explain the physical environment of the subject area (which could be the North Sea, the Arctic, Indonesian rain forests, the Colorado River, Lake Baikal, etc..). In this you will need to look at the data they provide you and provide detailed information about the area in question.

The second question will always be asking you to assess or interpret the human impact on the subject area (which usually includes economic benefits and detractions, environmental and social impacts, etc...). In this you will need to make connections to the larger picture (e.g.: drilling for oil in the arctic has both local and global implications - oil spills, disruption of wildlife, global
warming).

The last question will always be about explaining the difficulties in coming up with solutions to the problems at hand or assessing the management of the area in question usually the competing environmental perspectives - economic gain versus environmental stewardship).

So today and tomorrow you'll be completing a case study on Ecuador and I'll give you the data sheets/information you can use to answer the questions. Remember the question states - 

Using the data provided on the next two pages and your understanding of geography:

1. Describe Ecuador's natural and physical characteristics
2. Assess the impacts associated with the exploitation of Ecuador's natural resources
3. Suggest reasons why the government of Ecuador faces significant challenges in trying to balance the use of its natural resources with the protection of its environment

You will need to answer this case study in a multi-paragraph format (hint five paragraph essay).