Great lesson that teaches problem solving skills.

1. RESEARCH, WRITE,
AND PRESENT
DANGER AHEAD:
DEPENDENCE ON OIL?
ELA GRADE 11
BY: DEAN BERRY, ED. D.
GREGG BERRY, B.A.

2. 2
COPYRIGHT PROTECTED © 2013 DEAN R. BERRY
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT
WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE AUTHOR

3. DANGER AHEAD: DEPENDENCE ON OIL
•

4. INTRODUCTION TO THE PROBLEM
•This first video section is designed to
introduce the problem, provide
background knowledge of the issues,
and stimulate interest in the topic.

5. INTRODUCTION
This unit of study will help you learn the
following important common core curriculum
standards.
Right Click to Pause
5

6. COMMON CORE WRITING STANDARD
Write
informative/explanatory
texts to examine a topic
and convey ideas and
information clearly.

7. TEXT TYPES AND PURPOSES
Write arguments to
support claims in an
analysis of
substantive topics
or texts using valid
reasoning and
relevant and

8. SPEAKING AND LISTENING
Engage effectively in a range of
collaborative discussions with diverse
partners on topics and texts, building
on others’ ideas and expressing their
own clearly

9. PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF
WRITING
•Develop and strengthen
writing as needed by
planning, revising, editing,
rewriting, or trying a new
approach.
•Use technology, including
the internet, to produce
and publish writing as well

10. DISCUSS AND BRAINSTORM IDEAS
As you begin your exploration of the oil
problem, you will meet in small groups to
share ideas and solutions using
brainstorming techniques.

11. BRAINSTORMING
Solving problems can begin with a wide open process where
imagination and unusual ideas are brainstormed without any
evaluation as to whether the ideas might work. The goal is to consider
all “far out” and “unorthodox” possible solutions to the problem.
Brainstorming encourages “out of the box” thinking that borders on
sounding somewhat wild and crazy.
During BRAINSTORMING, ideas are tossed into the ring and added to
the list of potential solutions Without being evaluated.
Participants are asked to withhold judgment on ideas until the brainstorming phase is over.

12. BRAINSTORMING USES
DIVERGENT THINKING
Ideas are explored from
every
possible direction.
Ideas are not judged.
Ideas outside of the box
are considered.

13. BRAINSTORMING
Meet in pairs
or small
groups and
discuss
ideas for
this topic
13

14. BRAINSTORM AND DISCUSS
•Driving is very expensive. What can people
do to use less gasoline?
•Are there any driving habits that might
reduce gasoline usage?
• Right Click to Pause
14

15. REPORT BACK
SHARE YOUR IDEAS.
1. Let’s summarize possible
answers to our question about
gasoline.
2. Include these ideas in your
notes.
3. You may choose to use a
graphic organizer.
15

16. BRAINSTORMING
Meet in pairs or
small groups
and discuss
ideas for this
topic
16

17. BRAINSTORM AND DISCUSS
Are there other types of energy that
might help reduce America’s need for
oil?
What are the pro’s and con’s of using
different alternative sources? 17

18. REPORT BACK
•Share your ideas with the
class.
•Let’s summarize possible
answers to our question
about alternative forms
of energy.
•Include these ideas in
your notes.
•You may chose to use a
graphic organizer.

19. PART ONE
View, Read, and Think

20. •Danger Ahead: Dependence on Oil

21. TAKE NOTES
As we proceed through this unit of
study, you will need to take careful
notes. The information you gather
will be useful in completing
research projects. 21

22. OVER DEPENDENCE ON OIL
Now that you have
shared ideas and
possible solutions to the
problem of oil
dependence, it is time to
gather evidence and
facts and analyze the
best possible ideas. This
section will present a

23. •The amazing growth and
prosperity of the United
States during the last 150
years was made possible by
fossil fuels and new methods
of transportation. With the
population explosion
worldwide, the demand for
fossil fuels has increased
dramatically.

24. CLASS DISCUSSION
•What are the ramifications of the
rapidly increasing use of oil world
wide?
•How does the increased use of oil
affect you? Right Click to

25. • With much higher use of traditional forms of energy, the world
is faced with serious questions about future damage to our
planet. Carbon dioxide emissions are warming the planet and
changing habitats for all species including humans. Chemical
pollutants from burning fossil fuels in automobiles and
factories are directly linked to major diseases such as cancer,
heart disease, and asthma.

26. CLASS DISCUSSION
•What can we do to
reduce our consumption
of oil?

27. • Remaining dependent on oil is no longer an option. With over
dependence on foreign oil and the damage caused by burning
fossil fuels, America’s future will be affected by how we solve
the energy problem. Will we be able to conserve energy and
convert to renewable forms of energy? America will be defined
by the energy choices we make.

29. CLASS DISCUSSION
•Almost half of the oil we depend on
comes from foreign countries in the
Middle East and South America. What
kind of problems might develop
because we rely so much on imported
oil?

30. • Using less oil in our daily lives
will provide many positive
benefits. Since as much as 47%
of our oil is imported, relying
on foreign countries for critical
amounts of energy could result
in impending political and
economic disaster in the
future. Becoming energy
independent would have many
advantages for the United

31. • Experts worry that political confrontations in oil producing areas of
the world could result in a serious reduction in the supply of oil that
America uses to keep the wheels of progress moving. For example, a
10% to 20% drop in imported oil over a period of several months
would result in severe gas shortages in various cities throughout the
United States. Many people would not be able to get to work and
earn a living. The delivery of food and other products to stores
would be interrupted since fuel would not be available for trucks.
Our country could grind to a halt without adequate oil supplies.

32. •Reducing our dependence on oil has other benefits as
well. Burning oil creates carbon emissions that
contribute to global warming which changes the earth’s
climate and causes damage. In addition, the use of fossil
fuels contributes to air and water pollution. If we are to
reduce our use of oil, we need to conserve our use of
energy and develop ways to use renewable forms of
energy.

33. CLASS DISCUSSION
•How many different types of
renewable energy sources can you
identify?

35. •Solar and wind energy are two of the easiest
energy sources to harness because they are
readily available in most areas. Geothermal and
nuclear energy are renewable but provide more
serious challenges to develop.

36. •Dependence on oil is a significant problem for
our country. In order to solve this problem,
Americans can consider drilling for more oil,
fracking to access oil reserves, learning to
conserve energy better, or converting to
alternative sources of energy. The choice is
yours!

37. INTERPRET AND DISCUSS
View the following graphs
and discuss possible
answers.

38. WHO USES MOST OF THE OIL IN THE UNITED
STATES? WHAT DOES THIS TELL US ABOUT
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM OF
OIL DEPENDENCE?

39. AS OF 2012, HOW MUCH OF OUR OIL WAS
IMPORTED FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES? WHY IS IT
DANGEROUS TO RELY ON FOREIGN COUNTRIES
TO PROVIDE SO MUCH OF OUR PETROLEUM?

40. HOW DID THE FUEL ECONOMY OF CARS IN THE U.S.
CHANGE FROM 1975 TO 2003? HOW MUCH MORE
FUEL ECONOMY(MPG) DID CARS GET IN 2003 THAN IN
1975?

41. CONSIDERING THAT THE U.S. HAS A VERY SMALL
PORTION OF THE WORLD’S POPULATION, WHY
DOES THIS GRAPH SUGGEST THAT THE RAPIDLY
MODERNIZATION OF THE REST OF THE WORLD
WILL CREATE SERIOUS OIL SHORTAGES AND
HIGH PRICES?

42. ACCORDING TO THE GRAPH, HOW WILL THE
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OIL PRODUCTION AND
OIL CONSUMPTION CHANGE FROM 2005 TO
2025?

43. IF THE U.S. HAD A SEVERE DROUGHT, HOW
WOULD RENEWABLE ENERGY USE HAVE TO
CHANGE?

44. EXAMINE THE GRAPH AND EXPLAIN WHY THE
PRICE OF OIL/GAS WAS MUCH HIGHER IN 1981
THAN IN 2008.

45. WHAT HAPPENED TO WORLD ENERGY
CONSUMPTION BETWEEN 1960 AND 2000? WHAT
DO YOU THINK CAUSED THIS DRAMATIC
CHANGE?

46. HOW MUCH OF THE OIL THAT THE U.S. IMPORTS
COMES FROM OUTSIDE OF THE WESTERN
HEMISPHERE?

47. Which company
spends the most
money on lobbying?
Who are they trying to
influence with
lobbying money? Why
would an oil company
spend millions of

48. VOCABULARY PRACTICE
• The following words were highlighted during the prior presentation.
Use the Merriam-Webster.com online dictionary or regular dictionary,
and write a definition for each of the following words. Review activities
for these words will be included later in this unit.
• consumption confrontation lobbying habitat
harness
• ramification prosperity impending
adequate