Iditarod Webquest

Introduction

Congratulations,

Your team has just been hired by a major company that makes dog food to find a musher that they can sponsor in the upcoming Iditarod race in Alaska.

The company will pay all of the musher's expenses if he or she promises to have their dogs eat only their dog food.

You will decide which musher would be best for the company to sponsor based on the following:

1) How well he/she takes care of their dogs.

Your boss does not want to support a musher who treats animals inhumanely.

2) The experience and averages of the musher

Once you have made a decision you are to make your recommendation to the class.

Task

Your team is to research the mushers participating in the Iditarod race on the Internet and decide which musher your company will sponsor.

Your goal is :

A. to find a musher who treats their dogs humanely and include that information in a persuasive letter.

B.  to evaluate your musher's standings and progress in the Iditarod races over time to determine if he has the potential to win.

C. Propose a projected budget as to how much sponsoring a musher might cost your company.

D. Finally, you are to create a campaign slogan on a poster,

Process

 Begin researching the mushers participating in the Iditarod race. Pay particular attention to how well they care for their dogs. Include that information along with the reason for your recommendation for sponsoring that musher in the Iditarod race. You may use the links below.

Official Site of the Iditarod Race

Meet the 2014 Iditarod Mushers

2014 Checkpoints

2014 Current Race Standings

2014 Iditarod Photo Gallery

2014 Iditarod Weather Center

2014 Race Map - Northern Route

Iditarod Trivia and Facts

Rules and Forms for Mushers

History of the Iditarod Race

Most Common Questions about the Iditarod Trail

Mushing Terminology

Iditarod Information from Scholastic Books

Calendar of Events

 
 

Next write a persuasive letter to the president of your company, your teacher , recommending that musher. Make sure you tell why you are recommending that musher and tell how he/she treats their dogs humanely because that is very important to your company. Use the links below to review how to write a persuasive letter.

Explanation of what Persuasive Writing Is 

Information about Writing a Formal Friendly Letter 

Letter Format of a Friendly Letter 

Friendly Letter Format 

Parts of a Friendly Letter

Writing Detective - Friendly Letter

Sample Friendly Letter 

Arrange the Parts of a Friendly Letter

How to Write a Friendly Letter

Parts of a Friendly Letter 

Then you will propose a projected budget as to how much sponsoring a musher might cost your company.  Figure out the number of dogs on the team, the cost of the dog food, and how much it would cost to feed that team of dogs for one year. Include this information in your letter.

What do the Dogs Eat During the Iditarod Race

Dog Food 

Cost of Dog Food Per Bag 

Cost of Dog Food Per Year 

Cost of Dog Food Per Day 

Include in your letter the average veterinary costs for a dog for a year. Your company wants to sponsor healthy dogs and pay for their care. They also want to pay for the dog booties, jackets, and other gear to keep them warm during the race. Use these links to determine the cost for these items.

Required Gear for the Iditarod

Veterinary Costs for a Dog for One Year

Costs of Owning a Dog

What Dogs Cost

Dog Booties

Dog Harnesses

Thermal Lined Dog Jackets

Thermal Lined Dog Jackets

Cost of Sponsoring a Dog Sled Team

Finally, you are to create a campaign slogan on a poster, to advertise your company's dog food and the musher they are sponsoring in the Iditarod race. Don't forget to include facts and opinions about the musher, dogs, and cost.

Advice on How to Write a Good Slogan 

How to Write a Slogan that Sticks 

 

 

 

 

Have your team ready with a presentation by the company's next board meeting two weeks from today. The president of the company will be in attendance. 

Click here to go to the evaluation page

Evaluation

 

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3

 

2

 

1

Layout/

Design 

The letter is creatively designed with easily read text.  The letter is attractive with easily read text.  The letter is busy or the text may be difficult to read.  The letter is unattractive and/or the text is difficult to read. 

Content

The letter presents a convincing, persuasive argument for sponsoring the musher.  The letter possess some persuasive arguments for sponsoring the musher.  The letter presents one or a few persuasive arguments for sponsoring the musher.  The letter presents no convincing arguments for sponsoring the musher. 

Accurate Parts of the Friendly Letter 

Letter is accurate and complete with all required parts.  Letter is almost accurate and complete with only a few required minor things missing.  Letter is missing an important part and is not complete.  Letter uses improper form and is not accurate or complete. 

Word 

Choice 

The writer's word choice persuades the reader to sponsor the musher. The writer's 

word choice usually persuades the reader to sponsor the 

musher.
The writer's word choice seldom 

persuades the reader to 

sponsor the musher.
The writer's word choice does not persuade the reader to sponsor the musher.

Grammar

and

Punctuation

Letter is written with careful attention being made to its accurate grammar and punctuation.  Letter is written with only a few minor errors in grammar and punctuation.  Letter is written with some errors in grammar and punctuation.  Letter is written with many errors in grammar and punctuation. You may lose your job because this letter is so poorly written.

Professional

Behavior

at 

Work

Your work ethic and profession-alism on the job

is a credit to your team. The boss is considering giving you a raise. 
Your work ethic and profession-alism on the job

was good most of the time, but not outstanding enough for a raise. 
Your work ethic and profession-alism on the job faltered at times. You will probably not get promoted or be offered a raise. Your work ethic and profession-alism on the job was nonexistent. You will probably be fired from your job. 

Scoring Guide for Budget

 

Heading

 

4

 

3

 

2

 

1

Appropriate-ness of

Information

Information you used in your budget was appropriate.  Information you used in your budget was usually appropriate. Information you used in your budget was sometimes

inappropriate.
Information you used in your budget was inappropriate.

Accuracy of

Information

Information you used in your budget was accurate. Information you used in your budget was usually accurate. Information you used in your budget was sometimes

inaccurate.
Information you used in your budget was inaccurate.

 

       

Creativity

Information was creatively presented in the Excel spreadsheet.  Information was attractively presented in the Excel spreadsheet.  Information was simply presented in the Excel spreadsheet.  Information was unattractively presented in the Excel spreadsheet. 

Professional

Behavior

at 

Work

Your work ethic and profession-alism on the job is a credit to your team. The boss is considering giving you a raise.  Your work ethic and profession-alism on the job was good most of the time, but not outstanding enough for a raise.  Your work ethic and profession-alism on the job faltered at times. You will probably not get promoted or be offered a raise. Your work ethic and profession-alism on the job was nonexistent. You will probably be fired from your job. 

Scoring Guide for Poster with Slogan 

 

Heading

 

4

 

3

 

2

 

1

Poster 

Slogan on poster is creatively written and will sell the product.  Slogan on poster is well- written and will sell the product. Slogan on poster is questionably written and may not sell the product. Slogan on poster is questionably written and may not sell the product.

Layout/

Design

The layout and design of the poster is creatively done and will sell the product.  The layout and design of the poster is attractively done and will sell the product.  The layout and design of the poster is complete and may or may not sell the product.  The layout and design of the poster is unattractive and will not sell the product.

Purpose

and 

Intent

The purpose and intent of the poster is clear and obvious and does an excellent job of persuading the audience to buy the dog food with the right amount of facts and opinions. The purpose and intent of the poster is clear and obvious and does a satisfactory job of persuading the audience to buy the dog food with the right amount of facts and opinions. The purpose and intent of the poster is somewhat clear and does not do a satisfactory job of persuading the audience to buy the dog food because it lacks enough facts or opinions. The purpose and intent of the poster is unclear or it is not obvious and will not persuade the audience to buy the dog food because it does not have any facts or opinions.

Professional Behavior 

at Work 

Your work ethic and profession-alism on the job is a credit to your team. The boss is considering giving you a raise.  Your work ethic and profession-alism on the job was good most of the time, but not outstanding enough for a raise.  Your work ethic and profession-alism on the job faltered at times. You will probably not get promoted or be offered a raise. Your work ethic and profession-alism on the job was nonexistent. You will probably be fired from your job.

Conclusion

Your team has successfully recommended a musher that your company can sponsor in the upcoming Iditarod race. Your team should feel very proud that they are helping to keep the "Last Great Race" alive in Alaska.