Writing!
We will be writing short, long, and in between compositions. Always have your notebooks with you. Label and divider "Writing" and be prepared to add to it as the year goes on.
Geojournals!
This is your opportunity to explore and explain some of the phenomenon around the world. You should read about the areas we are studying every day and then choose a topic that interests you to investigate. Once you have found a topic, question, phenomenon, etc., talk to me about it. You will then begin your geojournal. Remember, this is not a "report." This assignment involves "seeing" something in the area of study and creating something that will show your discoveries!
Read below for more information!
Geojournal Instructions
Welcome to the wonderful world of Geojournals featuring research and analysis! Geojournals are intended to help you organize your thinking, develop analytical skills, and make connections between your life and the lives of people we are studying. Your Geojournals must clearly show that you have been “thinking on paper” to receive full credit. You should have a minimum of two every three week which will count as major grades!! All entries must include INTERNAL CITATION for any source used. It is NOT ACCEPTABLE to cut and paste from the internet.
How does it work? FOR EACH UNIT WE COVER FROM UNIT II ON you will choose a topic or subject that you are interested in, catches your eye, is in the news, hits on the “strange but true” category, etc. You will form a research question or position and begin to analyze it. Then you will present it in the form of one of the following. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE! This should be an interested assignment for you, so don’t procrastinate. You must consult with me beforehand.
GEOGJOURNALS SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST TWO SOURCES CITED OR IT WILL NOT BE ELIJIBLE TO RECEIVE AN “A.”
Here are some Geojournal options, but you can use your imagination as long as you check with me first. I am always willing to consider new ideas.
Although not mandatory, your grade can benefit from including a visual.
1. Geography of a Novel – The format for this follows this information. This format is different from the novel analysis we will complete during second semester. Click this link to get the instruction for Novel Review (same as movie review only for a book!)
2. Movie Review – The format for this is much the same as the geography of a novel. I know Hollywood is NOT very accurate when presenting history, but I will recommend movies throughout the course. See me for movie approval. This is not acceptable for the first Geojournal! Click this link to get the instruction for Movie Review
3. Letter to the Editor – you may write a letter to the editor about a current issue. Include with it an extensive paragraph of analysis. As with the political cartoons, good letters will be sent to the editor (school paper). If it is published you will receive one free 100 on a Geojournal.
4. Analyze an Environmental Issue – See the explanation that follows. Be sure an include all parts of the analysis listed.
5. Analyze an Economic Issue – See the explanation that follows. Be diligent with statistics and all parts of the analysis.
6. Analyze one or more articles – Depending on the length of the article I might be willing to bargain here. Your analysis can contrast two differing points of view or you may use one source to reinforce the other. Some examples are The Economist, Foreign Policy, National Geographic, and Saudi Aramco World. See me for more sources.
7. “What If” questions – You may pose a “what if” question and write a detailed answer based on analysis and research.
8. Primary Sources – You may choose to create diary entries, newspapers, letters, or speeches from our current region of study giving eyewitness accounts of an important event or what daily life is like in a particular region for a specific class of people.
9. Collage/Photojournalism – You may choose to create a collage or scrapbook representing a facet of a culture, the geography of a region, or an issue facing a group we are studying.
10. Website Design – You may design a website complete with information, graphics, and CITATIONS for multiple Geojournal credit, depending on how extensive the website is and how much information/analysis is included. NOTE: This is not to be a report stuck on a website template. Analysis is necessary!!
ANALYZING AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE (from #4 above)
PROBLEM: A condition in which something is at risk. Environmental problems involve the interaction of humans and the environment and the threat or risk associated with that involvement.
Write out the problem as a neutral/non-biased statement
ISSUE: A problem, or its solution, for which differing values exist, usually involving two or more parties who don’t agree. You cannot understand the concept of an environmental issue if you don’t understand the beliefs and values of the disagreeing parties.
Write out the issue as a question.
PLAYERS AND POSITIONS: The individuals/groups that are involved in an issue and where they stand on the issue. Just list the players and their positions on the issues.
VALUES/BELIEFS: A value is the worth an individual places on something. Some examples used in labelingenvironmental values are: aesthetic, ecological, cultural, egocentric, political, religious, scientific, recreational, and social. A belief is the idea concerning the issue, whether true or not, held by the players. A belief is strongly tied to a person’s values.
State these using the versus/vs. symbol, i.e. economic concerns vs. recreational and ecological concerns.
SOLUTIONS: The strategies proposed to resolve the issue. Write out the proposal in a clear and convincing way. This should be the largest section.
Could you use this method of analysis on other types of issues?
ANALYZING AN ECONOMIC ISSUE (from #5 above)
PROBLEM: A condition in which something is at risk. Economic problems involve the interaction of humans through trade and they
can be impacted by environment and the threat or risk associated with that involvement.
Write out the problem as a neutral/non-biased statement
ISSUE: A problem, or its solution, for which differing values exist, usually involving two or more parties who don’t agree. You cannot understand the concept of an environmental issue if you don’t understand the beliefs and values of the disagreeing parties.
Write out the issue as a question.
PLAYERS AND POSITIONS: The individuals/groups that are involved in an issue and where they stand on the issue. Just list the players and their positions on the issues.
VALUES/BELIEFS: A value is the worth an individual places on something. Some examples used in labeling environmental values are: aesthetic, ecological, cultural, egocentric, political, religious, scientific, recreational, and social.
A belief is the idea concerning the issue, whether true or not, held by the players. A belief is strongly tied to a person’s values.
State these using the versus/vs. symbol, i.e. economic concerns vs. recreational and ecological concerns.
SOLUTIONS: The strategies proposed to resolve the issue. Write out the proposal in a clear and convincing way. This should be the largest section.
Could you use this method of analysis on other types of issues?
RUBRIC!!
Explanation
15 - Complete/OnTime This includes formatting as well as completion and on-time turn in
40 - HIGH level of analysis This is weighted most heavily because it is the point of the assignment.
10 - Mechanics It is important to include proper grammar – I do read English!
10 - 2 Citations Multiple and varied sources are what I am looking for – evidence of real research
15 - Visuals Support
5 - Research Question Did you clear it ahead of time with me?
5 - Overall Impression
100 - Total possible points
We will be writing short, long, and in between compositions. Always have your notebooks with you. Label and divider "Writing" and be prepared to add to it as the year goes on.
Geojournals!
This is your opportunity to explore and explain some of the phenomenon around the world. You should read about the areas we are studying every day and then choose a topic that interests you to investigate. Once you have found a topic, question, phenomenon, etc., talk to me about it. You will then begin your geojournal. Remember, this is not a "report." This assignment involves "seeing" something in the area of study and creating something that will show your discoveries!
Read below for more information!
Geojournal Instructions
Welcome to the wonderful world of Geojournals featuring research and analysis! Geojournals are intended to help you organize your thinking, develop analytical skills, and make connections between your life and the lives of people we are studying. Your Geojournals must clearly show that you have been “thinking on paper” to receive full credit. You should have a minimum of two every three week which will count as major grades!! All entries must include INTERNAL CITATION for any source used. It is NOT ACCEPTABLE to cut and paste from the internet.
How does it work? FOR EACH UNIT WE COVER FROM UNIT II ON you will choose a topic or subject that you are interested in, catches your eye, is in the news, hits on the “strange but true” category, etc. You will form a research question or position and begin to analyze it. Then you will present it in the form of one of the following. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE! This should be an interested assignment for you, so don’t procrastinate. You must consult with me beforehand.
GEOGJOURNALS SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST TWO SOURCES CITED OR IT WILL NOT BE ELIJIBLE TO RECEIVE AN “A.”
Here are some Geojournal options, but you can use your imagination as long as you check with me first. I am always willing to consider new ideas.
Although not mandatory, your grade can benefit from including a visual.
1. Geography of a Novel – The format for this follows this information. This format is different from the novel analysis we will complete during second semester. Click this link to get the instruction for Novel Review (same as movie review only for a book!)
2. Movie Review – The format for this is much the same as the geography of a novel. I know Hollywood is NOT very accurate when presenting history, but I will recommend movies throughout the course. See me for movie approval. This is not acceptable for the first Geojournal! Click this link to get the instruction for Movie Review
3. Letter to the Editor – you may write a letter to the editor about a current issue. Include with it an extensive paragraph of analysis. As with the political cartoons, good letters will be sent to the editor (school paper). If it is published you will receive one free 100 on a Geojournal.
4. Analyze an Environmental Issue – See the explanation that follows. Be sure an include all parts of the analysis listed.
5. Analyze an Economic Issue – See the explanation that follows. Be diligent with statistics and all parts of the analysis.
6. Analyze one or more articles – Depending on the length of the article I might be willing to bargain here. Your analysis can contrast two differing points of view or you may use one source to reinforce the other. Some examples are The Economist, Foreign Policy, National Geographic, and Saudi Aramco World. See me for more sources.
7. “What If” questions – You may pose a “what if” question and write a detailed answer based on analysis and research.
8. Primary Sources – You may choose to create diary entries, newspapers, letters, or speeches from our current region of study giving eyewitness accounts of an important event or what daily life is like in a particular region for a specific class of people.
9. Collage/Photojournalism – You may choose to create a collage or scrapbook representing a facet of a culture, the geography of a region, or an issue facing a group we are studying.
10. Website Design – You may design a website complete with information, graphics, and CITATIONS for multiple Geojournal credit, depending on how extensive the website is and how much information/analysis is included. NOTE: This is not to be a report stuck on a website template. Analysis is necessary!!
ANALYZING AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE (from #4 above)
PROBLEM: A condition in which something is at risk. Environmental problems involve the interaction of humans and the environment and the threat or risk associated with that involvement.
Write out the problem as a neutral/non-biased statement
ISSUE: A problem, or its solution, for which differing values exist, usually involving two or more parties who don’t agree. You cannot understand the concept of an environmental issue if you don’t understand the beliefs and values of the disagreeing parties.
Write out the issue as a question.
PLAYERS AND POSITIONS: The individuals/groups that are involved in an issue and where they stand on the issue. Just list the players and their positions on the issues.
VALUES/BELIEFS: A value is the worth an individual places on something. Some examples used in labelingenvironmental values are: aesthetic, ecological, cultural, egocentric, political, religious, scientific, recreational, and social. A belief is the idea concerning the issue, whether true or not, held by the players. A belief is strongly tied to a person’s values.
State these using the versus/vs. symbol, i.e. economic concerns vs. recreational and ecological concerns.
SOLUTIONS: The strategies proposed to resolve the issue. Write out the proposal in a clear and convincing way. This should be the largest section.
Could you use this method of analysis on other types of issues?
ANALYZING AN ECONOMIC ISSUE (from #5 above)
PROBLEM: A condition in which something is at risk. Economic problems involve the interaction of humans through trade and they
can be impacted by environment and the threat or risk associated with that involvement.
Write out the problem as a neutral/non-biased statement
ISSUE: A problem, or its solution, for which differing values exist, usually involving two or more parties who don’t agree. You cannot understand the concept of an environmental issue if you don’t understand the beliefs and values of the disagreeing parties.
Write out the issue as a question.
PLAYERS AND POSITIONS: The individuals/groups that are involved in an issue and where they stand on the issue. Just list the players and their positions on the issues.
VALUES/BELIEFS: A value is the worth an individual places on something. Some examples used in labeling environmental values are: aesthetic, ecological, cultural, egocentric, political, religious, scientific, recreational, and social.
A belief is the idea concerning the issue, whether true or not, held by the players. A belief is strongly tied to a person’s values.
State these using the versus/vs. symbol, i.e. economic concerns vs. recreational and ecological concerns.
SOLUTIONS: The strategies proposed to resolve the issue. Write out the proposal in a clear and convincing way. This should be the largest section.
Could you use this method of analysis on other types of issues?
RUBRIC!!
Explanation
15 - Complete/OnTime This includes formatting as well as completion and on-time turn in
40 - HIGH level of analysis This is weighted most heavily because it is the point of the assignment.
10 - Mechanics It is important to include proper grammar – I do read English!
10 - 2 Citations Multiple and varied sources are what I am looking for – evidence of real research
15 - Visuals Support
5 - Research Question Did you clear it ahead of time with me?
5 - Overall Impression
100 - Total possible points