Environmental science
Environmental Science assignment 1, assignment 2 and assignment 3
Assignment 1:
In the news recently there have been stories about “scientists discover an enzyme that eats plastic”. For this discussion you will be split into random groups of 4 to 6 fellow ESCi01 Students.You do not need to do anything special to get into your group, just post your piece like normal and Canvas will put you into a group.
Before you begin, make sure you have a good definition of what an enzyme is (https://www.britannica.com/science/enzyme (Links to an external site.))
For this assignment:
Step 1: find and review a reputable source that covers the story on “scientists discover an enzyme that eats plastic”. For this discussion it can be any media type, as long as it is reputable/reliable. Not sure what reputable/reliable resources are? Check out these quick guides at https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/588/02/ (Links to an external site.) and http://www.press.uchicago.edu/books/turabian/tcc/topicsheet10.pdf(Links to an external site.)
Step 2: After you have consumed (read/watched/listened) to your source, write a brief summary that you will share with your group of what you found here and cite your source in CSE Name Year Style. (Not sure how to cite in CSE Name Year Style? Check out https://www.marypoffenroth.com/cse (Links to an external site.) ) – in addition to summarizing the content of your chosen piece, Your summary should include a line about why you specifically believe the source you chose to share is reputable.
As a final quick note, please make sure that you are using your most professional and respectful language here in our class. This is a great place to explore, discuss, debate, and disagree – but we must all do it with a culture of equality and respect. This means there is a zero tolerance policy of abusive language of any kind.
(Assignment 1 will be a shot paragraph, follow the requirement)
Assignment 2:
Start by watching the TEDed video at : https://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-to-spot-a-misleading-graph-lea-gaslowitz (Links to an external site.)
Then submit your answers, in your own words, to the following questions. Do not remove the questions from your submission.
Question 1: Analyze this graph on Environmental Waste. Please view or download the graph HERE
.
1a. Explain at least three problems with this graph?
1b. In what year was the amount of waste trashed closest to the amount recycled?
Question 2: Analyze this graph on rainfall in Atlanta, GA. Please view or download the graph HERE.
2a. The two graphs above show very different pictures of the rainfall in Atlanta. Explain how each graph is distorted.
2b. What information might help you decide if the variance in amount of rain in Atlanta is unusual? This is an open ended question designed to get you thinking like a scientist. If you were a senior scientist and your lab assistant brought you those graphs. What would you tell them to do to them to make them clearer and easier to understand?
All graphs should be looked at carefully and not just taken at face value. Distortion of the horizontal and vertical axis is just one of the many ways graphs can be misleading. When trying to make a point, people sometimes cherry pick data that supports their points, graph two totally different types of data measured in different units on the same graph, or ignore other variables that would explain the results. Even when someone is not trying to mislead you, his or her graph can be misleading by accident. Three-dimensional and picture graphs look nice, but often distort our perception of the data.
To learn more about other types of misleading graphs check out Misleading Graphs at FrontPorchMath.com (Links to an external site.). There you will find other examples along with an activity to help you practice finding problems in different graphs.
(Assignment 2 will be an essay, follow the requirement)
Assignment 3:
This assignment has two parts. You must complete both parts in order to get full credit.
Part 1:
Watch: http://ww2.kqed.org/quest/2010/04/27/science-of-taste/ (Links to an external site.) then answer the following
A. Bullet point 3 facts from the video.
B. In a minimum 150 words, summarize the highlights of this video. Think who, what, where, why?
C. Is this video reputable and trustworthy? Why or why not. Be specific.
Part 2:
Watch http://ww2.kqed.org/quest/2014/11/13/the-sweet-science-of-chocolate/ (Links to an external site.)
then answer the following (yup – similar questions, different video).
A. Bullet point 3 facts from the video.
B. In a minimum 150 words, summarize the highlights of this video. Think who, what, where, why?
C. Do a little research on tropical rainforest destruction and its impact on chocolate. Write a 150 word summary of what you find and cite your sources in CSE Name-Year style.
(Assignment 3 will be an essay, follow the requirement)
Answer preview to environmental science
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