3. The Mission
You are a successful scientist
and have been asked to serve on
a federal commission to
investigate ways that humans
and animals can live together
successfully on our planet.
4. The Focus
In order to get started, you will need to
research the various problems that
occur when animals and humans share
the same ecosystems and determine
possible actions that can be taken to
ensure that both humans and animals
can thrive. Collect a minimum of six
pages of notes.
5. Essential Questions
• Use the following essential questions to help guide your
research.
• 1. What impact has human activity had on animal
populations?
• 2. In what ways might animals and human benefit each
other in the same ecosystems?
• 3. How can the introduction of invasive animal species be
destructive in an ecosystem?
• 4. What role do animals play in maintaining the
ecosystems of the planet?
• 5. What changes can humans make to protect animal
species?
6. Begin Your Internet Research
• Consulting different sources about your topic
requires the use of critical reading skills to
help determine the reliability of each source.
• Identifying an author’s main points and
evaluating supportive evidence is an
essential task in verifying the importance
and validity of an author’s argument.
Complete the following assignment and turn
it in with your research notes before you
begin writing your 2-3 page proposal.
7. 5 Reasons we may all become extinct
3 min
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=on8dI8t5ATY
8. Why Animals Become Extinct
3 min Excellent
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mlT0HeVLv4
10. Evaluation of Sources Assignment
In order to complete the research
requirement, you will need to read and review
8-12 of the following internet sources and
take notes. As you read your sources
carefully, use the essential questions that
have been provided to gather relevant
information about your topic. After reviewing
your 8-12 sources, select three of them and
provide a thorough analysis of each by
completing the following questions.
11. As you read your internet
articles, look for supportive
evidence. Do not accept the
author’s argument or point of
view unless strong supporting
evevidence is provided.
13. Evaluating Sources Assignment
Select three articles and answer 5 of the 9 questions for each article.
• 1. Is there a message or main idea presented in the text?
What in the text led you to that conclusion?
• 2. Is the author trying to convince the reader of
something? What? How do you know this?
• 3. If the author is comparing something, what is being
compared and what makes the comparison effective?
• 4. Has the author used any words, phrases, or sentence
structures to create a particular effect or convey a
meaning? Explain and give examples from the text.
• 5. Does the author use any words that may have more
than one meaning? Identify the words and their multiple
meanings.
14. • 6. Read between the lines and select a point that you
think the author is making without directly saying it. How
do you know you can infer this meaning from what the
author is saying?
• 7. Is there anything missing from the text that you
expected to find? Why might the author have left that out
of the text?
• 8. Do you have any reason to question the validity or
reliability of the author’s supporting evidence? Explain
your concerns about the evidence presented by the
author.
• 9. Does the author make a claim that is supported by a
source that is considered credible by the academic
community at large? How do you know this?
15. Animals with Bite:
National Geographic
•http://newswatch.nationalgeograph
ic.com/2014/07/07/ask-your-weird-
animal-questions-bites-reptiles-
spiders/
17. Trophy Hunting in Africa
•http://www.africanskyhunting.co.
za/trophies/lion-hunting.html
18. Lions Bred to Be
Hunted in Africa
•http://www.theecologist.org/N
ews/news_analysis/1951574/li
ons_bred_to_be_shot_in_south
_africas_canned_hunting_indu
stry.html
19. Rescuing Lions and Tigers
from Human Abuse
•http://bigcatrescue.org/abuse-
issues/issues/canned-hunting/
34. Seven Very Dangerous Animals
•http://www.ratestogo.com/blo
g/most-dangerous-animals/
35. Dangerous Animals of the Sea
•http://www.coolthingsworl
d.com/top-10-most-
dangerous-animals-in-the-
sea/
36. Beware of These Animals
•http://www.top10stop.com/wo
rld/top-10-most-dangerous-
animals-to-humans
37. The ten Most Dangerous Animals
•http://amazinganimalstories.c
om/4484/top-10-dangerous-
animals-world/
38. Write a Proposal
Use your notes to write a two or
three page proposal to
recommend How Humans
and animals can coexist
and thrive together on
planet earth.. Provide
specific information to support
your proposed ideas with clearly
articulated arguments and
sufficient evidence.
38
39. Your Proposal
• Define the
issue/problem
• Outline the details of
your argument
• Cite supporting
research
• Project possible
roadblocks
• Specify contingency or
back up plans
39
40. Evaluate and Verify Research Sources
• Internet sources will vary greatly in accuracy
and reliability
• Consider the expertise and reputation of each
website
• Compare facts and information of different
internet sources
• Select information that is supported on
several reliable websites
• Question or refute information that lacks
consistent support
41. Develop a Writing Plan
• Determine what your
main point will be, and
write a topic sentence
that provides focus for
your essay.
• Choose several main
ideas that support your
topic sentence.
• Sort your information
into supporting details
with facts and
examples.
41
44. Details Must Support the Main Ideas
Provide specific
facts, examples,
and reasons for
each main idea
in the body of
your essay
45. Prepare to Write
•Use your outline and
write a five paragraph
essay on your topic.
•As you write your rough
draft, it will be very
important to use special
words that enable you to
transition smoothly from
one idea to the next.
45
46. Transition Words
As you view these
words, select the words
that help you make
transitions smoothly
from one idea to the
next.
• as a result
• such as
• for example
• nevertheless
• for that reason
• finally
• at this time
• therefore
• furthermore
• in addition
• in conclusion
• as well as
46
47. Review, Edit, and Rewrite
1. Re-read your essay several
times.
2. How can you improve your
sentences to communicate more
clearly?
3. Are your main ideas supported
by examples and details?
4. Exchange papers with another
student and read each other’s
essay out loud.
5. Make final corrections and write
the final draft of your polished
essay. 47
48. Once you have completed your independent
research and written your paper, you will
demonstrate your knowledge of the topic by
creating a PowerPoint that illustrates the main
points of your research. Begin your powerpoint
by stating your topic and presenting your main
points with supporting evidence.
Convert your Knowledge
into Action
48
49. Creating Your PowerPoint
•Use some of the following slides or
find your own on the internet to
create an illustrated PowerPoint
presentation about your research
topic. Change the images and content
of the slides as needed. Use a
minimum of ten slides with
illustrations and text.
