Task:
How have humans impacted the Colorado River?
After reading and analyzing informational texts, write a report for Water Wise Wednesday that
addresses the question and analyzes municipal, industrial, and agricultural uses and impacts on the
river, providing examples to clarify your analysis. What conclusion or implications can you draw? A
bibliography is required.
Exemplary: Conclusions or implications are supported with evidence from text.
Paragraph #1: Thesis Statement states your position or opinion.
Answers the question: How have humans impacted the Colorado River?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph #2: Analyzes municipal, industrial, and agricultural uses and impacts on the river,
providing examples to clarify your analysis.
Topic Sentence: _______________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Municipal ___
Definition of use: _________________________________________________________
Real life Example of this use: ________________________________________________
Source: _________________________________________________________________
How does this use effects the water cycle and water distribution: _______________
_______________________________________________________________________
Source: _________________________________________________________________
Agricultural
Definition of use: _________________________________________________________
Real life Example of this use: ________________________________________________
Source: _________________________________________________________________
How does this use effects the water cycle and water distribution: _______________
_______________________________________________________________________
Source: _________________________________________________________________
Industrial
Definition of use: _________________________________________________________
Real life Example of this use: ________________________________________________
Source: _________________________________________________________________
How does this use effects the water cycle and water distribution: _______________
_______________________________________________________________________
Source: _________________________________________________________________
Paragraph #3: Impacts on organisms.
Topic Sentence: _______________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
What organisms are affected by the Colorado River Changing:____________________________
What changed in the river: __________________________________________________
Why did it change: ________________________________________________________
How does it affect the organism:______________________________________________
Source: _________________________________________________________________
Paragraph #4: What conclusion or implications can you draw?
____Thoroughly discusses relevant and salient implications or consequences
___ Connect back to your thesis statement:
Restate your thesis statement in a new way: _____________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
What does this mean for the natural environment? _____________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
What does this mean for human environment? ___ _____________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
What advice do you have to be a steward of the environment? ___________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Exemplary
 Conclusion or implications about GLOBAL water circulation and/or distribution
 Multiple pieces of evidence are used appropriately to support your position.
Municipal use
 Definition of municipal use
 Example of municipal use
 Impacts on water flow
 Impacts on ecosystems
 Supporting Evidence from text
Agricultural use
 Definition of Agricultural use
 Example of Agricultural use
 Impacts on water flow
 Impacts on ecosystems
 Supporting Evidence from text
Industrial use
 Definition of Industrial use
 Example of Industrial use
 Impacts of industrial use on water flow
 Impacts of industrial use on ecosystems
 Supporting Evidence from text
Conclusion
 Implications about water circulation and/or distribution in Colorado.
Task:
How have humans impacted the Colorado River?
After reading and analyzing informational texts, write a report for Water Wise Wednesday that
addresses the question and analyzes municipal, industrial, and agricultural uses and impacts on the
river, providing examples to clarify your analysis. What conclusion or implications can you draw? A
bibliography is required.
Exemplary: Conclusions or implications are supported with evidence from text.
Paragraph #1: Thesis Statement and opening paragraph
Paragraph #2: analyzes municipal, industrial, and agricultural uses and impacts on the river,
providing examples to clarify your analysis.
Paragraph #3: analyzes municipal, industrial, and agricultural uses and impacts on the river,
providing examples to clarify your analysis.
Paragraph #4: analyzes municipal, industrial, and agricultural uses and impacts on the river,
providing examples to clarify your analysis.
Paragraph #5: What conclusion or implications can you draw?
Bibliography:
Rubric for Colorado River Task:
 FOCUS: Addresses prompt appropriately and maintains a clear, steady focus
 CONTROLLING IDEA: Establishes a controlling idea with a clear purpose maintained throughout the
response.
 READING/RESEARCH: Presents information from reading materials relevant to the prompt with accuracy
and sufficient detail.
 DEVELOPMENT: Presents appropriate and sufficient details to support the focus and controlling idea.
 DEVELOPMENT Explains relevant and plausible implications or consequences
 ORGANIZATION: Maintains an appropriate organizational structure to address the specific requirements of
the prompt.
 CONVENTIONS: Demonstrates a command of standard English conventions and cohesion, with few errors.
 CONVENTIONS: Response includes language and tone appropriate to the audience, purpose, and specific
requirements of the prompt.
 CONVENTIONS: Cites sources using an appropriate format with only minor errors.
 CONTENT: Accurately presents disciplinary content relevant to the prompt with sufficient explanations that
demonstrate understanding.
Exemplary
 Conclusion or implications about GLOBAL water circulation and/or distribution
 Each type of use is supported with evidence
Municipal use
 Definition of municipal use
 Example of municipal use
 Impacts on water flow
 Impacts on ecosystems
Agricultural use
 Definition of Agricultural use
 Example of Agricultural use
 Impacts on water flow
 Impacts on ecosystems
Industrial use
 Definition of Industrial use
 Example of Industrial use
 Impacts of industrial use on water flow
 Impacts of industrial use on ecosystems
Conclusion
 Implications about water circulation and/or distribution in Colorado.