Purpose
The purpose of completing this assignment is to reinforce the concepts presented in this unit and acquaint you with some of the subtleties inherent in the Global Climate Change Discussions and to allow you the opportunity to work collaboratively with some of your class mates.
Directions
Please read the attached Global Climate Change Lab ( ELI GOL 105 Global Climate Change Lab(3).doc ). When you have completed the exercise, submit a single document via the link above.
Grading
Your assignment will be graded according to the following rubric:Statement Determination (FACT/CONSENSUS)8 pts each (32 pts total)Evidence supporting determination9 pts each (36 pts total)links/references8 pts each (32 pts total) Total25 pts each (100 pts total) Northern Virginia Community College
Discussion: Global Warming – Scientific Facts and Scientific Consensus
Global Climate Change Lab
The following four statements about global climate change are all considered true by the
scientific community:
A) Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are rising as a direct result of man-made CO2
emissions from the burning of fossil fuel.
B) Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are rising.
C) Rising carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are causing the earth to get warmer.
D) The earth’s average temperature is presently getting warmer.
Three (3) of these statements are proven scientific facts (proven true). However, one (1) of these
statements is more a scientific consensus (agreed upon as true), and thus more controvertible.
First you will need to figure out which three statements are scientific facts (proven true) and
which one is the scientific consensus (agreed upon as true). Try to find specific data and
references that support each of the statements above. You can use textbooks, internet searches or
other references, but the references must be legitimate scientific sources. Do not use general
encyclopedia-type websites as evidence (Wikipedia, Encyclopedia Britannica, etc,) or
organizational web sites (USGS, EPA, etc.). (You may however find links or references to
appropriate scientific articles at some of these organizational sites!) Try to find original scientific
papers that have been peer reviewed. Do not reference non-peer reviewed books.
You will need to submit 1) a document listing each of the four statements, 2) your determination
on whether each statement is proven true (FACT), or agreed upon as true (CONSENSUS), 3) the
evidence that you have found supporting your determination for each statement, and 4) the
reference or link that you used to support your determination.
This project will be a collaborative effort between you and three or four of your classmates. The
instructor will assign you to a group and notify you of the group’s name and the other members of
your group. Each group will be identified by a number (eg. Group 1, Group 2, etc.). You can
access your group forum in the Menu Bar. Each Group will be able to e-mail, blog, share files,
etc. in this forum. The members of the group will act collectively to find the best reference and
evidence identifying each statement as FACT or CONSENSUS. But only one member of the
group will complete the write up for each statement. The statements will be divided up based on
alphabetic order based on the last name of the group member. For example, if your last name is
the first alphabetically of all your group members, then you will be in charge of the write up for
statement A) Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are rising as a direct result of man-made
CO2 emissions from the burning of fossil fuel. The second member alphabetically will be in
charge of the write up for statement B), and so forth. If there are five members of the group, the
last member will start at the top and help with statement A). Your group will produce one single
document with the determinations (FACT vs. CONSENSUS), the evidence, and the references
for all four statements.
Each group will receive a single grade for the lab based on how well you have completed the
information for each statement. When you have completed and submitted the assignment, each
member is to send a separate e-mail to the instructor grading the participation of the other
members of the group. Each member is to be graded on a 1-10 scale, with 1 representing no or
minimal participation, and 10 representing maximum participation. Please put the Group number
and the word “participation grades”, in the subject line of your e-mail (for example “Group 1
participation grades”). The body of the e-mail should only contain a list of the other members in
your group and the participation grade that you assigned each member. These rankings will only
be taken into consideration if it becomes clear that any group member did not significantly
participate in the laboratory.