The Dilemma of Rapa Nui: An Unsustainable Culture
An examination of Rapa Nui and the reasons why this community was not SUSTAINABLE
STANDARD/SUSTAINABILITY: Students will be able to convey an understanding that interrelationships of organisms may generate
ecosystems that are sustainable for hundreds or thousands of years, that the earth does not have infinite resources, and that increasing
consumption places severe stress on the natural processes that renew some resources and depletes those resources that cannot be renewed.
Learning Target: Student will analyze the event of Rapa Nui and fully and correctly explain what lead to the downfall of the people and
ecosystem of Rapa Nui (i.e. what caused their lack of sustainability). This explanation will include why OVERPOPULATION was the overall cause of
the decline as well as an explanation of all of their associated issues caused by the overarching problem. The explanation will show
understanding of sustainability and man’s affect on an ecosystem.
TASK/Intellectual Investigation: a research-based activity where students study a topic or discrepant event (in this case…Why was Rapa Nui
not sustainable?), analyze the information, draw conclusions, and present the whole of their work (research, analysis, & conclusions) as a written
work. Normally an Intellectual Investigation is comprised of a collection of student research, writing, & a visual (diagrams, graphs, tables, and/or
charts).
PRODUCT to be turned in: Research notes: Use the following page to start taking your notes on. Use additional pages as necessary. All pages
must be submitted with the paper. You must use at least 4 different sources for the written portion of the paper. No particular bibliography format is
required. Just list the four you used. They can be books (class textbook), research based websites (generally only use if .edu or .gov), or research
based videos.  A diagram used as evidence in the essay (draw on bottom of notes page)  Written response to the task: a 5-paragraph TYPED
(i.e. not hand written) essay that answers the question “Why was Rapa Nui not sustainable” and gives support to your argument. The 5 paragraphs
should have the following:
Intro
It should have:
1) The question you are trying to answer
2) What the paper is about
Body paragraphs X3
It should have:
1) Topic sentence
3) Conclusion sentence
Conclusion
It should have:
2) Several sentences supporting the topic sentence (not about unrelated things)
4) Is the Diagram refereed to at some point?
1) The question and an answer to the question you set forth in the intro.
2) Explanation of why the answer is correct using reasoning from the body paragraphs
Rapa Nui Research paper Rubric
Student Name
Section
Focus of essay
Beginning – 1 point
Doesn’t mention
OVERPOPULATION
(the over-arching
problem)
Approaching - 2 points
Incorrectly explains why
OVERPOPULATION is the single
cause/reason for Rapa Nui’s
lack of sustainability (the overarching problem)
Meeting - 3 points
Thoughtfully but incorrectly
explain why OVERPOPULATION is
the single cause/reason for Rapa
Nui’s lack of sustainability (the
over-arching problem)
Exceeding - 4 points
Correctly explains why
OVERPOPULATION is the
single cause/reason for Rapa
Nui’s lack of sustainability
(the over-arching problem).
Content of
Essay
No analysis of any
issues
Pieces of an analysis of some of
the issues created by the
incorrect overarching cause
(what are they, why did they
occur, how did they affect the
people and ecosystem of Rapa
Nui)
A basic analysis of all of the issues
created by the incorrect
overarching cause.
*lacks depth of understanding and
doesn’t explain each problem well
A comprehensive analysis of
all of the issues created by
the overarching cause (what
are the issues/problems, why
did each occur, how did each
affect the people and
ecosystem of Rapa Nui)
Construction
of Essay
Improper format
Essay lacks some part:
introduction, body, and
conclusion
Essay with introduction, body, and
conclusion BUT introduction or
conclusion are ineffective
Essay with a logical
introduction, body, and
conclusion
Research
notes
No research notes
incomplete research notes
Includes cursory research notes
Diagram
Lack visuals
(diagrams, graphs,
tables, and/or
charts)
Includes some form of visuals
(diagrams, graphs, tables,
and/or charts) that is used as
an example and may or may
not be referenced in the essay
Includes some form of visuals
(diagrams, graphs, tables, and/or
charts) that is used as evidence
and referenced in the essay
Notes are based on 4 or more
sources utilized and
referenced in the writing.
Includes comprehensive
research notes
Comprehensive & purposeful
visuals that are referenced in
the essay portion of the
project
Total point
NAME ____________________________
Final score
_______/20
RESEARCH NOTES:
You must complete notes in order to take the Section 1 Exam. Notes must be in your own words or have quote marks
around them. If using a direct quote, you will need to site the source by listing the title, page number, and/or web address.
To get full credit you must have at least 4 different quality sources of information. 1 is your text book plus 3 others.
HISTORY
RESOURCES
BEHAVIORS
DIAGRAM(s): Draw 1 or more diagrams (labeled picture, cycle, graph, or table) that are helpful in understanding the lack of SUSTAINABILITY in
the Rapa Nui problem. You will be required to use a diagram as evidence on your standard exam. This can be a rough draft of that diagram.
Attach additional pages as necessary. You will be able to use all hand written notes (except for
rough drafts of your essay) on the exam.
Updated 10/2015