CIS Unit
Ecology:
Cost and Benefits of Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources
(APES, Biology, Earth Space, Ecology, Physical Science)
NGSS Performance Expectations
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HS-LS2-7: Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.
HS-LS4-6: Create or revise a simulation to test a solution to mitigate adverse impacts of human activity on biodiversity.
HS-ESS3-1: Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the availability of natural resources, occurrence of natural hazards,
and changes in climate have influenced human activity.
HS-ESS3-2: Evaluate competing design solutions for developing, managing, and utilizing energy and mineral resources based on
cost-benefit ratios.
HS-ESS3-3: Create a computational simulation to illustrate the relationships among management of natural resources, the
sustainability of human populations, and biodiversity.
HS-ESS3-4: Evaluate or refine a technological solution that reduces impacts of human activities on natural systems.
NGSSS Benchmarks
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SC.912.L.17.11: Evaluate the costs and benefits of renewable and nonrenewable resources, such as water, energy, fossil fuels,
wildlife, and forests.
SC.912.L.17.20: Predict the impact of individuals on environmental systems and examine how human lifestyles affect sustainability.
o What is the relationship between resource use and sustainable development?
o What are examples of renewable and nonrenewable resources?
o What are the pros and cons of various renewable and nonrenewable resources including environmental impacts?
o What are the most significant threats to biodiversity?
English Language Arts Standards » Science & Technical Subjects » Grade 9-10
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CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.9-10.1 Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts, attending to the
precise details of explanations or descriptions.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.9-10.7 Translate quantitative or technical information expressed in words in a text into visual form (e.g., a
table or chart) and translate information expressed visually or mathematically (e.g., in an equation) into words.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.9-10.10 By the end of grade 10, read and comprehend science/technical texts in the grades 9–10 text
complexity band independently and proficiently.
English Language Arts Standards » Writing » Grade 9-10
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CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.1 Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid
reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and
information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.9 Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and
research.
CIS Lesson
Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources
(Ancillary materials and student exemplar developed by Karen Fullam and Troy Suarez.)
1. Hook Engage: 300 Years of FOSSIL FUELS in 300 Seconds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJ-J91SwP8w
2. Question #1 How are natural resources related to energy production?
3. Distribute article.
4. Pre-teach vocabulary:
a. Compromising
b. Replenishing
c. Inorganic
d. Seams
e.
f.
g.
h.
Radioactive
fissionable
Implementation
Redundant
i.
j.
Organic
Felling
5. Text-marking:
A = Energy comes or came from an abiotic source
B = Energy comes or came from an biotic source
6. Question #2 Explain why Earth’s resources are limited and will not last forever.
7. Note-taking: What are the advantages and disadvantages of renewable and nonrenewable
resources?
8. What is the most critical factoring affecting the widespread adoption of renewable energy
sources?
Individual
Group
Recount Individual
Supply
Pollution/Greenhouse
Gas
Dependence on Foreign
Countries
Efficiency
9. Task #3
The government of Gondwanaland, a large, wealthy island nation similar in size and climate to
Australia, is having an energy crisis and is seeking the input of experts. They are quickly running
out of nonrenewable resources and have not yet heavily invested in renewable energy sources.
You have been commissioned to submit your position on the production of energy and resource
consumption for Gondwanaland. Propose a plan for the sustainable use of energy that satisfies
current and future energy needs while protecting the environment. Consult the exemplar for the
proper way to use and cite sources.
Unit 1 Ecology CIS: Sustainable Energy
1
Simply stated, energy is the capacity for doing work. It can have many forms: kinetic, potential, light, and nuclear
among others. According to the law of conservation of energy, any form of energy can be converted into another
form and the total energy will remain the same. When you charge your mobile phone, the electrical energy is
converted into the chemical energy which gets stored in the battery. Energy can be classified into two main groups:
Nonrenewable and Renewable.
2
Over the last 200 years an ever-increasing proportion of our energy has come from non-renewable sources such as
oil and coal. While demand for energy rises, these resources are running out and scientists are exploring the
potential of renewable sources of energy for the future.
3
All life on earth is sustained by energy from the sun. Plants, directly through photosynthesis, and animals, indirectly
through heterotrophy, can store energy; some of this energy remains with them when they die. It is the remains of
these ancient animals and plants that make up fossil fuels: fuels such as coal, gas and oil which are mined from the
earth and burned to produce energy.
4
Fossil fuels are non-renewable; that is, the rate at which they are consumed far outpaces the rate at which they are
created. Moreover, burning fossil fuels generates greenhouse gases (naturally occurring gases in the atmosphere
such carbon dioxide CO2, methane CH4, and nitrous oxide N2O) which may contribute to climate change. Therefore,
the use of fossil fuels is unsustainable and we need to find renewable, sustainable ways of generating energy.
Sustainable energy is defined as the production of energy that meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Renewable or infinite energy resources are
sources of power that quickly replenish themselves and can be used again and again. The advantages and
disadvantages of both renewable and nonrenewable energy resources are discussed below.
Non-renewable Energy Resources
5
There are reasons for both using nonrenewable energy sources, such as fossil fuels, and for making a timely change
in energy infrastructure to phase out their use. The reliability of energy derived from nonrenewable resources has
provided an abundance of electricity and transportation for modern industrial nations, but concerns over the safety
and sustainability of these power systems have also arisen.
Table 1: Advantages and Disadvantages of Nonrenewable Sources of Energy
6
Type of fuel
Where it is from
Advantages
Disadvantages
Coal
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(fossil fuel)
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Formed from fossilized plants and
consisting of carbon with various
organic and some inorganic
compounds.
Mined from seams of coal, found
sandwiched between layers of rock in
the earth.
Burnt to provide heat or electricity.
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Ready-made fuel.
It is relatively cheap to mine and
to convert into energy.
Coal supplies will last longer
than oil or gas.
Well-developed technology.
Efficient distribution system.
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When burned coal gives off
atmospheric pollutants,
including greenhouse gases.
Limited and decreasing supply.
7
Type of fuel
Where it is from
Advantages
Disadvantages
Oil
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A carbon-based liquid formed from
fossilized animals.
Lakes of oil are sandwiched between
seams of rock in the earth.
Pipes are sunk down to the reservoirs
to pump the oil out.
Widely used in industry and transport.
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Oil is a ready-made fuel.
Relatively cheap to extract and
to convert into energy.
Well-developed technology.
Efficient distribution system.
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Methane and some other gases
trapped between seams of rock under
the earth's surface.
Pipes are sunk into the ground to
release the gas.
Often used in houses for heating and
cooking.
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Gas is a ready-made fuel.
It is a relatively cheap form of
energy.
It's a slightly cleaner fuel than
coal and oil.
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Radioactive minerals such as uranium
are mined.
Electricity is generated from the energy
that is released when the atoms of
these minerals are split (by nuclear
fission) in nuclear reactors.
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A small amount of radioactive
material produces a lot of
energy.
Raw materials relatively cheap
and can last quite a long time.
Sufficient supplies of fissionable
material exist to satisfy energy
demands for a long time.
It doesn't give off atmospheric
pollutants.
Low environmental impact when
running efficiently.
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(fossil fuel)
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Natural gas
8
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(fossil fuel)
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Nuclear
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9
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When burned, it gives off
atmospheric pollutants,
including greenhouse gases.
Increases dependency on
foreign countries.
Limited and decreasing supply.
When burned, it gives off
atmospheric pollutants,
including greenhouse gases.
Limited and decreasing supply.
Extraction side-effects.
Highly combustible.
Nuclear reactors are expensive
to run.
Nuclear waste is highly toxic,
and needs to be safely stored
for hundreds or thousands of
years (expensive storage).
Leakage of nuclear materials
can have a devastating impact
on people and the
environment.
How long will fossil fuels last?
10
Table 2: Remaining Time
Estimates from international organizations suggest that if the world's demand for energy
from fossil fuels continues at the present rate that oil and gas reserves may run out within
some of our lifetimes. Coal is expected to last longer.
11
Renewable Energy Sources
12
Fossil fuel
Time left
Oil
50 years
Natural gas
70 years
Coal
250 years
Renewable energy sources quickly replenish themselves and can be used again and again.
For this reason they are sometimes called infinite energy resources.
Table 3: Advantages and Disadvantages of Renewable Sources of Energy
13
Type of energy
Where it is from
Advantages
Disadvantages
Solar
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Energy from sunlight is
captured in solar panels and
converted into electricity.
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Potentially infinite energy
supply.
Single dwellings can have own
electricity supply.
No greenhouse emissions.
Provides electricity to rural
areas.
Reduces dependency on foreign
countries.
High startup costs.
Low efficiency.
Requires frequent sunshine.
Energy must be stored in batteries.
Can require large areas.
Type of energy
Where it is from
Advantages
Disadvantages
Wind
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Can be found singularly, but
usually many together in wind
farms.
Potentially infinite energy
supply.
High efficiency.
No greenhouse emissions
Can exist as both land and
ocean farms
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Ideal for countries with large
coastlines.
Potential to generate a lot of
energy.
Tidal barrage can double as a
bridge, and help prevent
flooding.
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14
Wind turbines (modern
windmills) turn wind energy
into electricity.
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Tidal
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15
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Construction of barrage is very costly.
Only a few estuaries are suitable.
Opposed by some environmental
groups as having a negative impact on
wildlife.
May reduce tidal flow and impede
flow of sewage out to sea.
Wave
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The movement of seawater in
and out of a cavity on the
shore compresses trapped air,
driving a turbine.
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Ideal for an island country.
More likely to be small local
operations, rather than done on
a national scale.
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Construction can be costly.
May be opposed by local or
environmental groups.
Geothermal
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In volcanic regions it is
possible to use the natural
heat of the earth.
Cold water is pumped
underground and comes out
as steam.
Steam can be used for heating
or to power turbines creating
electricity.
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Potentially infinite energy
supply.
Used successfully in some
countries, such as New Zealand
and Iceland.
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Can be expensive to set up and only
works in areas of volcanic activity.
Geothermal and volcanic activity
might calm down, leaving power
stations redundant.
Dangerous elements found
underground must be disposed of
carefully.
Energy harnessed from the
movement of water through
rivers, lakes and dams.
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16
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17
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18
The movement of tides drives
turbines.
A tidal barrage (a kind of dam)
is built across estuaries,
forcing water through gaps.
In future, underwater
turbines may be possible out
at sea and without dams.
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Manufacture and implementation of
wind farms can be costly.
Visual pollution - some local people
object arguing that it spoils the
countryside.
Noisy.
Dangerous to birds
Requires steady wind
Hydrological or
Hydroelectric
Power (HEP)
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Creates water reserves as well
as energy supplies.
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Costly to build.
Can cause the flooding of surrounding
communities.
Dams have major ecological impacts
on local ecosystem.
Renewable or Nonrenewable
19
Some resources can be either renewable or non-renewable depending on how quickly the resources are replaced.
For example, wood can be used for fuel and is renewable if trees are replanted. Biomass, which is material from
living things, also can be renewable if they are replanted or regrown.
Table 4: Advantages and Disadvantages of Renewable Sources of Energy
Type of fuel
Where it is from
Advantages
Disadvantages
Biomass
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20
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Biomass energy is generated from
decaying plant or animal waste.
It can also be an organic material
which is burned to provide energy.
An example of biomass energy is
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It is a cheap and readily available
source of energy.
If the crops are replaced, biomass
can be a long-term, sustainable
energy source.
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When burned, it gives off
atmospheric pollutants, including
greenhouse gases.
If crops are not replanted, biomass is
a non-renewable resource.
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Wood
21
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algae that produce biodiesel.
After treatment with chemicals it
can be used as a fuel in diesel
engines.
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Obtained from felling trees,
burned to generate heat and light.
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Low in sulfur, reducing effect of
acid rain
Easy to convert to portable fuel
such as alcohol or gas.
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Moderate to high environmental
impact.
A cheap and readily available
source of energy.
If the trees are replaced, wood
burning can be a long-term,
sustainable energy source.
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When burned it gives off atmospheric
pollutants, including greenhouse
gases.
If trees are not replanted wood is a
non-renewable resource.
Moderate to high environmental
impact.
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22
This article examined the advantages and disadvantage of renewable and nonrenewable energy, but every
resource, from the abundance of wildlife in our ecosystems to the water we use, falls into these categories. For
example, water is plentiful on the blue planet, but only about 1% is accessible fresh water. Although water is
constantly being cleaned and recycled through the earth’s water cycle, we use it far faster than it can naturally be
replenished. With the exponentially increasing human population, these issues will only become more pressing.
The time is now to preserve our environment for ourselves and future generations.
This article was synthesized from the following 3 sources by Troy Suarez:
1. "Conserve Energy Future." Conserve Energy Future. Web. 03 May 2013.
(available: http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/ )
2. "Energy." BBC News. BBC. Web. 03 May 2013. (available:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/energy_resources/energy_rev1.shtml
http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/ )
3. Nasir, Sarfaraz. "Pros and Cons of Renewable and Nonrenewable Energy Sources." Web. 3 May 2013.
(available: http://www.iecycle.org/blog/index.php/2010/02/pros-and-cons-of-renewable-and-nonrenewableenergy-sources )
#1 How are natural resources related to energy production?
#2 Explain why Earth’s resources are limited and will not last forever.
Directed Note-Taking
Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources
Directions: Record notes containing the most important information relevant to the guiding question.
Guiding Question: What are the advantages and disadvantages of renewable and nonrenewable
resources?
Efficiency
Dependency on
Foreign Countries
Notes
Pollution /
Greenhouse Gas
Page/
Paragraph#
Supply
Check Relevant Categories
Collaborative Work: After completing your chart, be prepared to compare your notes with others.
Efficiency
Dependency on
Foreign Countries
Notes
Pollution /
Greenhouse Gas
Page/
Paragraph#
Supply
Additional Notes Page
Question Generator
Directions: Carefully review the text for words, phrases or statements that create questions in your mind. Discuss
these questions in your group, and then document your group’s questions below.
Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources
Collaborative Work:
After completing your chart, be prepared to compare your notes with others.
Efficiency
Dependency on
Foreign Countries
Notes
Pollution /
Greenhouse Gas
Page/
Paragraph#
Supply
Do your questions pertain to any of the categories on the right? If yes, place a check in the appropriate box.
Directions: Write your answer to the question using information you learned in this unit. Respond to the following prompt
using the claim, evidence, reasoning framework for constructing a scientific explanation. Support your claim with evidence
and explain how the evidence supports your response.
#3 The government of Gondwanaland, a large, wealthy island nation similar in size and climate to
Australia, is having an energy crisis and is seeking the input of experts. They are quickly running out of
nonrenewable resources and have not yet heavily invested in renewable energy sources. You have been
commissioned to submit your position on the production of energy and resource consumption for
Gondwanaland. Propose a plan (claim) for the sustainable use of energy that satisfies current and future
energy needs while protecting the environment. Consult the exemplar for the proper way to use and cite
sources.
Exemplar Essay Model
Writing Task: The government of Gondwanaland, a large, wealthy island nation similar in size and climate to Australia, is having an
energy crisis and is seeking the input of experts. They are quickly running out of nonrenewable resources and have not yet heavily
invested in renewable energy sources. You have been commissioned to submit your position on the production of energy and
resource consumption for Gondwanaland. Propose a plan for the sustainable use of energy that satisfies current and future energy
needs while protecting the environment.
One of the most important advances for the betterment of society over the last several hundred years has been the
production and use of energy. Horse drawn carriages have given way to the automobile, while air-conditioning and in-house lighting
has contributed to a more comfortable house. Because Gondwanaland has become so accustomed to these modern conveniences,
the resources used to generate this energy—coal, crude oil, and natural gas—are quickly disappearing. In order to continue to meet
their energy requirements in the future, they must begin to phase out the use of nonrenewable resources while adopting and
investing in alternative energy sources.
Gondwanaland must decrease its use of fossil fuels not only because they are rapidly depleting, but also because they
release atmospheric pollutants. The first step in the plan, therefore, must be for Gondwanaland to speedily phase out the use of
these nonrenewable resources. According to chunk 11 in Table 2, oil and natural gas resources will be exhausted within the next 70
years. If these resources run out before Gondwanaland adopts new technologies, the country will face an unimaginable crisis. Not
only will they have depleted their current supply of energy, but they will have nothing to fall back on. Furthermore, the production of
energy through the use of fossil fuels releases pollutants some of which create greenhouse gases such as CO 2 and CH4 (Paragraph 4).
According to paragraph 4, these greenhouse gases have also been linked to climate change. Over the past decade, a significant
number of catastrophic climate-related events such hurricanes, tsunamis, and tornados have devastated countries around the globe.
If Gondwanaland reduces the emission of greenhouse gases, scientists theorize that there may be a reduction in these events.
Because Gondwanaland has not yet invested in renewable resources, they cannot immediately reduce dependence on fossil
fuels; therefore, a bridge between use of fossil fuels and renewable energy will be necessary. Table 4 discusses the use of biomass and
wood in a renewable fashion. It stresses that they are “cheap and readily available sources of energy.” For those biotic resources that
are renewable, it is imperative that they be replenished at least as quickly as they are consumed. Although this can bridge energy
needs, caution is necessary as the burning of wood can “give off atmospheric pollutants, including greenhouse gases” (Table 4). An
additional bridge between current energy supply and future energy demands can be found in nuclear technology. Chunk 9 of Table 1
states that, “sufficient supplies of fissionable material exist to satisfy energy demands for a long time.” Moreover, this resource
“doesn’t give off atmospheric pollutants” (Chunk 9, Table 1). Though nuclear energy may be costly initially and it is not sustainable
forever, the technology will provide large amounts of energy to bridge between Gondwanaland’s current use of fossil fuels and a
more sustainable future using renewable energy such as solar, wind, tidal and wave.
The final step in the process is for Gondwanaland to adopt and invest in alternative energy sources. Chunks 15 and 16 of
Table 3 state that tidal and wave resources are ideal for countries with large coastlines. Gondwanaland is a large island country
surrounded by coastlines, so it will be an ideal location for wave and tidal resources. Some critics of the plan might argue that
construction of generators will be costly (Table 3), but investing in these sources of energy today will produce abundant sustainable
energy in the future. Another widely available resource to Gondwanaland is the sun. Chunk 13 of Table 3 indicates that the sun
supplies a potential “infinite energy supply”. Solar energy even “provides electrical energy to rural areas” (Table 3, Chunk 13).
Because Gondwanaland has a large desert biome and frequent sunshine, the sun can serve as a massive and sustainable energy
source. Currently solar energy is not highly efficient, but technology is always improving. A final solution to Gondwanaland energy
crisis is the construction and use of wind farms. According to Table 3, wind energy is one of the most efficient renewable sources of
energy and can be used on land or in the ocean. The benefits of being both a large and island nation provide Gondwanaland with
excellent resources for harnessing wind energy now and into the future.
In order for Gondwanaland to solve its energy crisis it must build a bridge from its current dependence on fossil fuels to
more sustainable, renewable sources of energy. Adoption of this plan will prevent the catastrophic events which could accompany
resource depletion. Looking to the welfare of its people today and tomorrow, a wealthy nation like Gondwanaland can afford to
invest heavily in the these energy sources.
Common Core Writing Evaluation for Writing in Content Areas
Designed to support the PARCC Analytical Writing rubric
For each question below, if the answer is yes, proceed to the next question. Stop when the answer is “no” to
assign the score in each category.
Completion of Assignment
 Did the student write a response to the prompt?
If No, this paper is Unscorable
If Yes, proceed through the next 6 categories to assign a score
1. Science Content
No = ___
 Does the writing identify a few of the necessary science elements relative to the essential
question?
 Does the response identify most of the necessary elements relative to the essential question? No = ___
 Does the response accurately identify the relationships between the elements relative to the No = ___
essential question?
No = ___
 Does the response evidence an understanding of the relationship of this system to other
systems?
YES to all = _____
Science Content Score: ____
2. Reading: Comprehension of Key Ideas and Details
 Does the writing demonstrate some understanding of what the text says?
 Does the response include some text support (quotes or paraphrases) that support a basic
level of comprehension?
 Does the textual evidence support an accurate analysis of the text?
 Does the response show that the student fully comprehends the complex ideas expressed in
the text(s)?
YES to all = 4
No = 0
No = 1
No = 2
No = 3
Reading: Comprehension of Key Ideas and Details Score: _____
3. Writing: Written Expression - Development of Ideas
 Does the writing include a claim/thesis or statement of findings with details that address the
prompt in some way?
 Does the response include evidence or reasoning that is appropriate to the task, purpose, and
audience?
 Is the evidence clear, and does it support the student’s claim/thesis or findings effectively?
 Does the response provide clear and convincing development of an appropriate response to
the prompt?
YES to all = 4
Writing: Written Expression - Development of Ideas Score:
CCSS: Content Area Literacy Support
Evaluating Writing v. 1.0
11/2012
No = 0
No = 1
No = 2
No = 3
_____
4. Writing: Written Expression - Organization
 Is the reader able to follow the writer’s progression of ideas through the response in any
way?
 Does the response include an introduction, conclusion, and supporting ideas that are grouped
in some logical way?
 Is the response clearly organized with introduction, conclusion, and ideas presented in a
logical progression?
 Does the response demonstrate a purposeful organization of elements and details within the
elements of the paper (e.g. compare-contrast, chronological, order of importance) that make
it easy to follow the writer’s progression of ideas?
YES to all = 4
Writing: Written Expression - Organization Score:
5. Writing: Written Expression – Clarity of Language
 Does the response include some content-related vocabulary and meet some of the norms
(e.g. headings, lists, or internal citations) of the assigned task?
 Does the response conform to the norms of the assigned task while including some precise
language (descriptive words, sensory details, and transitional words) or content-specific
vocabulary?
 Does the response effectively respond to the prompt within appropriate norms and
conventions of the task using precise language (descriptive words, sensory details, and
transitional words) and/or content-specific vocabulary?
 Does the student use precise language (descriptive words, sensory details, and transitional
words) consistently to support an effective style that attends to all the norms of the task?
No = 0
No = 1
No = 2
No = 3
_____
No = 0
No = 1
No = 2
No = 3
YES to all = 4
Writing: Written Expression – Clarity of Language Score: _____
6. Writing: Written Expression - Knowledge of Language and Conventions
Note: Questions in this category proceed until the answer is YES.
 Does the response demonstrate a clear command of the conventions of standard English with
few minor errors?
 Is the response generally clear, demonstrating a command of the conventions of standard
English with some distracting errors?
 Does the response include inconsistent command of the conventions of standard English
with a few patterns of errors that may impede meaning?
 Does the writing demonstrate a limited command of the conventions of standard English
with multiple errors that distract the reader and impede understanding?
NO to all = 0
Yes = 4
Yes = 3
Yes = 2
Yes = 1
Writing: Written Expression - Knowledge of Language and Conventions Score: _____
Final Writing Score*
Total Score: ___/___
Average Score for Sections 2 - 6: ___/5
*Note: Teachers may opt to use either method to calculate a writing score. A Total Score may be easiest to convert
for grading purposes, while the Average Score provides a common score for conversations with grade level PLC’s or
cross-content teams. Some teachers may wish to add a multiplier to the Reading Comprehension section to
emphasize the importance of text-dependent writing outcomes.
Content Area Writing Definitions
CLAIM: an arguable, debatable statement
a belief you have about a topic
SpringBoard: a position statement (or thesis) that asserts an idea or makes an argument
Thesis: an expression of a claim; this is how you will argue your claim
CLAIM EVIDENCE:
SpringBoard: information that supports or proves an idea or claim; forms of evidence include facts, statistics
(numerical facts), expert opinions, examples and anecdotes.
Use of facts, figures, details, questions or other sources of data and information that provide support towards claim
CommonCore (Appendix A page 23):
Language Arts: They [students] defend their interpretations or judgments with evidence from the text(s) they are
writing about.
History/Social: students analyze evidence from multiple primary and secondary sources to advance a claim that is best
supported by the evidence, and they argue for a historically or empirically situated interpretation.
Science: students make claims in the form of statements or conclusions that answer questions or address problems.
Using data in a scientifically acceptable form, students marshal evidence and draw on their understanding of scientific
concepts to argue in support of their claims.
COMMENTARY:
explanation of why or how the evidence supports the claim; the underlying assumption that connects your evidence
to the claim
reasoning (or chain of reasoning) that connects the evidence to the claim
CLAIM CONNECTORS:
transitions establishing logical connections between sentences, paragraphs, and sections of the writing
CONCLUSION/
CONCLUDING STATEMENT
Literal: Restate the main point(s).
Answer the question: What did you say?
Interpretive: Explain the significance of your main point(s)
Answer the question: What does it mean?
Universal: Give your reader something to think about, a way to use your ideas in the “real world”.
Answer the question: Why does it matter?
Note-taking Guide Option #4a
CENTRAL CLAIM
How am I responding to the prompt?
CLAIM
How am I supporting my central claim?
EVIDENCE
How am I proving the claim?
REASONING
How does the evidence connect with the
claim?
Note-taking Guide Option #4a
CENTRAL CLAIM
How am I responding to the prompt?
In order to continue to meet their energy requirements in the future, they must begin to quickly phase out the use of nonrenewable resources
while quickly adopting and investing in alternative energy sources.
CLAIM
How am I supporting my central claim?
Gondwanaland must decrease its use of
fossil fuels not only because they are
rapidly depleting, but also because they
release atmospheric pollutants.
EVIDENCE
How am I proving the claim?
REASONING
How does the evidence connect with the
claim?
Fossil fuels are quickly diminishing.
According to chunk 11 in Table 2, oil and
natural gas resources will be exhausted
within the next 70 years.
If these resources run out before
Gondwanaland adopts new technologies,
the country will face an unimaginable
crisis. Not only will they have depleted
their current supply of energy, but they
will have nothing to fall back on.
Over the past decade, a significant
number of catastrophic climate related
events such hurricanes, Tsunamis, and
tornados have devastated countries
around the globe. If we reduce the
emission of greenhouse gases, scientists
theorize that there may be a reduction in
these events.
The production of energy through the
use of fossil fuels releases pollutants
some of which create greenhouse gases
such as CO2 and CH4 (Paragraph 4).
According to paragraph 4, these
greenhouse gases have also been linked
to climate change.
Concluding Commentary (if needed):
Because Gondwanaland has not yet
invested in renewable resources, they
cannot immediately reduce dependence
on fossil fuels; therefore, a bridge
between use of fossil fuels and
Table 4 discusses the use of biomass and
wood in a renewable fashion. It stresses
that they are “cheap and readily
available sources of energy.”
For those biotic resources that are
renewable, it imperative that they be
replenished at least as quickly as they are
consumed. Although this can bridge
energy needs, caution is necessary as the
renewable energy will be necessary.
Chunk 9 of Table 1 states that “Sufficient
supplies of fissionable material exist to
satisfy energy demands for a long time.”
Moreover, there is a low environmental
impact when running efficiently (Chunk
9, Table 1).
burning of wood can “give off
atmospheric pollutants, including
greenhouse gases” (Table 4).
Though this may be costly initially, is not
renewable nor sustainable forever, the
technology will provide large amounts of
energy to bridge between their current
use of fossil fuels and a more sustainable
future using renewable energy such as
solar, wind, tidal and wave.
Concluding Commentary (if needed):
The final step in the process is for
Gondwanaland to adopt and invest in
alternative energy sources.
Chunks 15 and 16 of Table 3 state that
tidal and wave sources are ideal for
countries with large coastlines.
Gondwanaland is a large island country
surrounded by coastlines with wave and
tidal resources. Construction of
generators will be costly initially (Table
3), but investing in these sources of
energy today will produce abundant
sustainable energy in the future.
Table 3, Chunk 13 indicates that there is
Gondwanaland, having a large desert
a potential “infinite energy supply”: the
biome, has frequent sunshine. As a
sun. Solar energy can even “provides
result, the sun can serve as a massive
electrical energy to rural areas” (Table 3, and sustainable energy source. Currently
Chunk 13).
solar energy is not all that efficient, but
technology is always improving.
According to Table 3, wind energy is one The benefits of being both a large and
of the most efficient renewable sources
island nation provide Gondwanaland
of energy and can be used on land or in
with excellent resources for harnessing
the ocean.
wind energy now and into the future.
Concluding Commentary (if needed): The benefits of being both a large and island
nation provide Gondwanaland with excellent resources for harnessing wind energy
now and into the future.