Alternative energy

Task

President Obama and the U.S. Department of Energy are looking for student help in promoting and educating others about renewable energy resources, but they need some help with the research.  They have called on us to do this for them.  Your task is to research the renewable resource assigned to you and write a letter to the President and the U. S. Department of Energy secretary persuading them to address the need for this resource based on your findings or design a pamphlet, poster, or media presentation to be used by the President and the U. S. Department of Energy secretary at the national level to inform the public about the need to use your renewable resource to reduce our dependence on nonrenewable energy resources.  You should use information we have learned in class on nonrenewable resources to prove your point.

  1. Research the alternative resource for energy to replace the dependence on nonrenewable resources that was assigned to you.
  2. Identify the source of this resource and how it can be effectively produced.
  3. Describe the ways this resource can be used in our society.
  4. Determine the benefits and drawbacks of using this renewable resource versus the nonrenewable resources.
  5. Make a pamphlet, poster, or media presentation to persuade others to use this type of renewable energy.

and

  1. Write a letter to a government official, local, state or national, persuading them to address the need for this resource based on your findings and ask for their help to get everyone involved.
Process

Process

Step 1:  You will be working in groups of four to complete this task, so you must determine what role each of you will take on.

Role 1&2:  Environmental Experts – You are responsible for determining the impact using the renewable resource will have on our environment.   Questions you may want to consider are:

  1. How does the use of non-renewable resources affect our environment?
  2. What are some environmental reasons for using renewable energy instead of fossil fuels?
  3. How can we save energy so we do not use up our resources too fast?
  4. What are some alternative energy sources that are currently being used by the American people?
  5. What are the benefits and drawbacks to using this form of renewable resource?

Role 3&4:  Technical Experts – You are responsible for finding out how feasible it is to use this energy source and the background of where it comes from and how it can work.  Questions you may want to consider are:

  1. Where does my energy source come from and how can it be produced?
  2. How does my energy source work?
  3. Has it been tried before in the past?
  4. What are the costs?
  5. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the energy source?

Step 2:  Research the energy source assigned to you using the teacher approved resources found in the Resources section of the Web Quest.  Be sure to try to answer the questions from each role and answer any questions you may consider on your own.

Resources:

Hydroelectricity

http://www.tva.gov/power/hydro.htm

http://new.wvic.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7&Itemid=44

http://www.darvill.clara.net/altenerg/hydro.htm

http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/index.html

Solar Power

http://www.chevron.com/deliveringenergy/

http://www.darvill.clara.net/altenerg/solar.htm

http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/chapter15.html

http://www.evergreensolar.com/app/en/technology/item/49

Wind Power

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/

http://www.darvill.clara.net/altenerg/wind.htm

http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/chapter16.html

http://windturbinecompany.com/windenergy/index.html

Geothermal Power

http://www.chevron.com/deliveringenergy/

http://www.darvill.clara.net/altenerg/geothermal.htm

http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/chapter11.html

http://www.ormat.com/businesses.php?did=29

Biomass Power

http://www.chevron.com/deliveringenergy/

http://www.darvill.clara.net/altenerg/biomass.htm

http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/chapter10.html

http://biomasssolution.com/renewabletypesdefinition.shtml

For all:

http://www.darvill.clara.net/altenerg/index.htm

http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/index.html

http://www.nrel.gov/learning/

http://www.need.org/EnergyInfobooks.php

http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/sources/renewable/renewable.htmlhttp://www.sustainablemobility.org.vt.edu/index.php

 

Step 3:  After you have completed steps 1 and 2, work together to gather the information you have found to complete the task of informing the President and the Department of Energy by choosing to complete a persuasive letter or make a pamphlet, poster, or media presentation to persuade others to use this type of renewable energy.  Be sure to answer the questions found in the task and under each role to effectively argue your point.  Use the information provided to write your letter using Microsoft Word or to make your pamphlet.

Process Guide #8: Persuasive Arguments

So you want to get people to think like you? One of the best ways to do this is to present your argument in a way that convinces them your way is the right way.

In order to successfully argue your point, it is important that you not only show how good your idea is, but you need to refute the opposition. Research done needs to include topics and ideas that go against your argument.

Setting up a persuasive argument for either a presentation or paper can take many different forms. The following outline is simple, yet effective strategy to present and defend a persuasive argument.

  1. Introduction - Inform the reader/listener about the issue at hand. State the facts that surround the situation.
  2. State your case - Discuss why your way is the best way. Share evidence and expert opinions supporting your position.
  3. Examine and refute the opposition - It is vital that you recognize and discredit opposing views. Look for flaws, loopholes, and reasons to reject other suggestions. If there are positive aspects of the opposing view, point them out, but compare them to the overall benefit of your case.
  4. Reconfirm your position - Now it is time to review the main points of your arguments. Be sure to address any items that may have come while refuting the opposition.
  5. Conclude that your position is superior - Be confident in your closing that your way, is indeed, the only way based upon all the information just provided.