Analyzing Viewpoints

The Lesson Activities will help you meet these educational goals:

21st Century Skills—You will employ online tools for research and analysis, use critical-thinking skills, and assess and validate information.

Directions

Please save this document before you begin working on the assignment. Type your answers directly in the document.______

Teacher-Graded Activities

Write a response for each of the following activities. Check the Evaluation section at the end of this document to make sure you have met the expected criteria for the assignment. When you have finished, submit your work to your teacher.

  1. Analyzing Viewpoints

In this activity, you will write a letter to the editor of an online newsletter or prepare a multimedia presentation for your Ecology Club on the issue of ecotourism.

  1. Read this article on ecotourism to familiarize yourself with the topic and the issues. Use the Internet to find a few additional articles on this topic. Read the articles and take notes in the provided table. Be sure to cite your online sourcesin APA format.

Type your response here:

Source(APA Format) / Notes
  1. As you read, draft a brief response that critically evaluates the pros and cons of ecotourism.

Type your response here:

  1. Choose one of these two activities:
  • Write a letter to the editor of Ecotourism News,a fictitious online journal dedicated to all aspects of the ecotourism industry.
  • Prepare a presentation for your Ecology Club explaining the ecological and financial impact of ecotourism.

For either activity, take a stand on the issue and defend your stance by including examples and citations from the articles that you found.

If you choose to create a presentation, use software such as PowerPoint or Keynote for the presentation. If you are unfamiliar with this kind of software, look for tutorials for the software available to you(e.g.,PowerPoint or Keynote).Be sure to attach the file when you submit your work to your teacher for grading.

Type your response here:

Evaluation

Your teacher will use these rubrics to evaluate the completeness of your work as well as the clarity of thinking you exhibit.

Activity 1, parts a and b

Criteria
Distinguished
(4 points) /
  • Provides five articles on ecotourism from reliable and authentic sources
  • Accurately notes useful information
  • Lists online citations using accurate APA format
  • Effectively evaluates pros and cons of ecotourism
  • Thoroughly analyzes topic, covering all major social and environmental impacts of ecotourism

Proficient
(3 points) /
  • Provides four articles on ecotourism from reliable and authentic sources
  • Notes useful information
  • Lists online citations using APA format
  • Evaluates pros and cons of ecotourism
  • Analyzes topic, covering social and environmental impacts of ecotourism

Developing
(2 points) /
  • Provides three articles on ecotourism from reliable sources
  • Adequately notes useful information
  • Lists online citations for some links using APA format
  • Evaluates pros and cons of ecotourism
  • Partially analyzes topic, covering some social and environmental impacts of ecotourism

Beginning
(1 point) /
  • Provides two articles on ecotourism
  • Does not note useful information
  • Does not list any online citation using APA format
  • Marginally evaluates pros and cons of ecotourism
  • Incomplete analysis includes nosocial and environmental impacts of ecotourism

Activity 1, part c

Letter / Presentation
Distinguished
(4 points) /
  • Focuses on the selected topic throughout the letter
  • Entire letter is organized well
  • Uses appropriate vocabulary throughout
  • Uses correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation throughout
  • Citations well documented and highly relevant
/
  • Examines issue thoroughly, elaborating onimpacts
  • Thoroughly analyzes role of ecotourism in preserving natural resources, economic growth, and betterment of local citizens
  • Organizes ideas logically throughout the presentation
  • Takes a stand on the issue and justifies it with examples

Proficient
(3 points) /
  • Generally focuses on the selected topic
  • Letter isgenerally wellorganized
  • Generally uses appropriate vocabulary
  • Generally uses correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation
  • Citations adequately documented
/
  • Examines the issue, but just touches on impacts
  • Adequately analyzes role of ecotourism in preserving natural resources, economic growth, and betterment oflocal citizens
  • Organizes ideas logicallythroughout most of the presentation
  • Takes a stand on the issue but is able to cite just a few examples in its favor

Developing
(2 points) /
  • Addresses selected topic but sometimes strays from it
  • Attempts to organize the letter
  • Sometimes uses words that do not fit the context
  • Occasional grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors
  • Struggles to document sources
/
  • Examines the issue, mentioning some impacts
  • Partially analyzes role of ecotourism in preserving natural resources, economic growth, and betterment of local citizens
  • Tries to organize ideas in the presentation
  • Takes a stand on the issue but fails to justify it with examples

Beginning
(1 point) /
  • Partially or marginally addresses the selected topic
  • The letter is not organized
  • Frequently uses words that do not fit the context
  • Frequent grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors
  • Sources not documented
/
  • Mentions a few impacts of ecotourism
  • Analysis does not include role of ecotourism in preserving natural resources, economic growth, and betterment of local citizens
  • Ideas are not organized
  • Does not take a stand on the issue

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