Learning Experience 1.8
The Alternative Energy Debate
Name:
Date:
Class:
Your task is to plan and present an essay on the following topic:
To reduce Australia’s current dependence on fossil fuels, compare the potential of solar
energy with another alternative energy source to meet our energy needs.
You need to consider both the advantages and disadvantages of both alternative energy
sources. You need to justify a viewpoint on which alternative energy source offers the best
potential to meet future energy needs in Australia. Use the framework below to gather and
organise your information to support both viewpoint statements, then write the essay.
Introductory Information:
Solar Energy
Other Alternative Energy Source:
____________________________
Consider the advantages and
disadvantages of solar energy. Assess
these to form a viewpoint on the
potential solar energy offers to reduce
our current dependence on fossil fuels.
Consider the advantages and disadvantages of
one other alternative energy source, such as LNG
or wind. Assess these to form a viewpoint on the
potential the energy source offers to reduce our
current dependence on fossil fuels.
Introductory Information - Solar
Energy:
Introductory Information - Alternative Energy
Source:
Advantages:
Advantage 1:
Advantage 1:
Supporting Evidence:
Supporting Evidence:
Advantage 2:
Advantage 2:
Supporting Evidence:
Supporting Evidence:
Advantage 3:
Advantage 3:
Supporting Evidence:
Supporting Evidence:
Disadvantages
Disadvantage 1:
Disadvantage 1:
Supporting Evidence:
Supporting Evidence:
Disadvantage 2:
Disadvantage 2:
Supporting Evidence:
Supporting Evidence:
Disadvantage 3:
Disadvantage 3:
Supporting Evidence:
Supporting Evidence:
Viewpoint
Viewpoint:
Viewpoint:
Supporting Evidence:
Supporting Evidence:
Conclusion:
Concluding Information:
Concluding Information:
Rubric
Level
2
3
4
Earth and Beyond
Identify uses for solar
energy and one other
alternative energy source.
Relate the location of
alternative energy sources
to its importance to
Australia.
Recognize that solar and
one other alternative
energy source are energy
sources that have many
different requirements.
Resources
Categorise energy
resources.
Identify ways energy
resources are used.
Recognise that people
engage in different
activities, utilising energy
resources.
Understand that different
energy resources and
activities can be grouped
into categories.
Relate emissions to the
changes they cause to the
atmosphere.
Explain how people
manage and use energy
resources.
Understand that natural
resources can be used to
provide energy
requirements.
Categorise different
forms of activities people
engage in, utilising
energy resources.
Examine alternative
choices to utilising
available energy
resources.
Predict the changes in
emission levels with the
widespread use of solar
energy and one other
alternative energy source.
5
Energy and Change
Describe the different
ways solar and one other
alternative energy source
can be used
Understand the link
between emission levels
and the greenhouse
effect.
Assess solar energy and
one other energy source
as an alternative energy
resource to oil and coal.
Explain how solar energy
and one other alternative
energy source are utilized
now and how it might be
utilized in the future.
Use a greenhouse model
to describe how human
activity and resource use
can impact our global
environment.
Predict possible trends in
global warming if changes
are made to the way solar
energy and one other
alternative energy source
are used.
Compare different
sources of energy in
terms of their ease of use,
cost and effects on living
things and the
environment.
Analyse the efficiency of
applications that use solar
energy and one other
alternative energy source
in terms of energy input
and output.
Explain how people’s
circumstance and
decisions reflect their
choices in accessing
energy resources.
Examine how access to
energy resources can be
managed more
effectively.
Examine the link between
energy resource
availability and usage.
Evaluate the factors that
determine the availability
of energy resources.
Examine how people can
manage their available
energy resources more
effectively.