Biodiversity Project - West Ranch High School

Biodiversity Project
You might wonder why ecologists work so hard to study what seem to be small
environmental changes. We only have one world, human activity is changing it, so we
need to take care of it. Biologists are concerned that human activities might affect the
biosphere in unexpected ways. In order to help keep our planet healthy there are many
things that we can do, we can plant trees to replace the ones we cut down, we can cut
down on our waste production and we can conserve our energy. Many things are being
done to help conserve our only planet. What are we doing
In a 2-3 page research paper, with a partner, you will discover and report what is being
done. The paper will be due to Turnitin.com by 11:59pm Saturday May 15 th .
You may chose to write about any of the following, or you can find your own
conservation effort on any of the topics provided. You must obtain teacher approval of
your topic before you begin writing.
Laws, Organizations, and Events
• National Park Services Act
• Endangered Species Preservation
Act
• Shark Conservation Act
• Food, Conservation, and Energy
Act Clean Air Act
• National Environmental Policy
Act
• Clean Water Act
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• United States Environmental
Protection Agency
• Office of Surface Mining
• Civilian Conservation Corps
• Earth Day
• Earth Summit
• World Wildlife Fund
Topics
• Solar Energy
• Climate Change
• Ozone Hole
• Food Production
• Management of Soil Erosion
• Water Purification
• Air Purification
• Endangered Species
o Tigers
o Giant Panda
o Rhinoceros
o Polar Bear
o Marine Turtles
o Great Apes
o Etc.
You must provide the following:
• Introduction and Conclusion (5 pts.)
• History- Why was the Act needed, why was the organization/program
created/how did the species or part of the environment get to the point it is today
(20 pts.)
• Current- What is being done today (10 pts.)
• Future- What can be done in the future (10 pts.)
• Works Cited (5 pts.)
Project will be worth a total of 50 Lab/Activities Points

Works Cited Performance Rubric- Grades 9-12
Performance Task: Students will attach a complete and accurate works cited page for
their research project/paper.
Library Information Standard
1.3: Identify and locate a variety of resources using multiple search strategies
3.1: Demonstrate ethical, legal and safe use of information
Minimum number of sources for this project:
Books ______ OR Database______
Grand Total____3
(***Databases are electronic books, periodicals, newspapers, primary sources)
Criteria
1. Variety of
Media
2. MLA
Format &
Content
3. Identity
format
0(Far Below
Basic)
No Variety of
Media
used/cited,
and/or does not
include the
minimum
required
sources
No works cited
page at all
and/or no MLA
format used
Title “Works
Cited” or
“Bibliography”
on top center of
page, Missing
four or more
details of
identity: Name,
class title,
period,
Teacher’s
name, room
number & date
clearly
identified in
upper left hand
corner
1-2= 1 Points
3-4= 2 Points
6-5 = 3 Points
7-9= 4 Points
10-12 = 5 points
1(Below Basic) 2(Basic) 3 (Proficient) 4(Advanced) Rubric Score
Little variety in
media formats
used/cited.
Heavy reliance
on one type of
resource. Must
have the
minimum
required
sources
MLA format
has not been
used accurately
in most of the
works cited.
There are many
punctuation
errors &
significant
content errors.
Title “Works
Cited” or
“Bibliography”
on top center of
page, Missing
any three of the
following:
Name, class
title, period,
Teacher’s
name, room
number & date
clearly
identified in
upper left hand
corner
Some variety in
media formats
used/cited.
Leans too
heavily on 1
type of
resource. Must
have the
minimum
required
sources
MLA format
has been used
accurately in
some of the
works cited.
Some
punctuation &
content errors.
Title “Works
Cited” or
“Bibliography”
on center page
Missing any
two of the
following:
Name, class
title, period,
Teacher’s
name, room
number & date
clearly
identified in
upper left hand
corner
Total__________
Many media
formats were
used/ cited.
Must have the
minimum
required
sources.
MLA format
has been used
accurately in
most of works
cited.
Occasional
punctuation
errors. Any
content errors
are
insignificant.
Title “Works
Cited” or
“Bibliography”
on center page
Missing any
one of the
following:
Name, class
title, period,
Teacher’s
name, room
number & date
clearly
identified in
upper left hand
corner
NOTES:
A superior
variety of media
formats were
used/ cited.
Includes more
than the
minimum
required
sources.
MLA format
has been used
accurately in all
works cited. No
content or
punctuation
errors.
Title “Works
Cited” or
“Bibliography”
on center page,
Name, class
title, period,
Teacher’s
name, room
number & date
clearly
identified in
upper left hand
corner
_____(x1)
(4)
_____(x1)
(4)
_____(x1)
(4)