Human Impact Paper Outline and Grading Requirements

Human Impact Paper Outline

Introduction:  Introduce your resource to your reader. 

• What is your resource?
• How is it used?
• How much is used?
• Where is it found?

Body Paragraph #1:  Explain how your resource has been used historically using evidence to show that use and the environmental impacts of the use.

• Where was it used in the past?
• How was it used?
• How was the use monitored?
• Were there negative environmental impacts of this use? Explain.
• What is the evidence showing this use?

Body Paragraph #2:  Explain the current uses and impacts of the use of your resource on the environment using evidence. 

• Has the way your resource is used changed?
• How much do we use now per capita?
• What are the environmental impacts of that use? Explain using evidence.
• How is the use monitored? 
• What is the evidence showing the use?

Body Paragraph #3:  Explain how your resource may be used in the future and the environmental impacts that use may have. 

• How might it be used in the future?
• Will there be enough for continued use?
• What will the environmental impacts of continual use be? Use evidence.
• Do we need to limit the current use (per capita) to make sure it is available in the future?

Body Paragraph #4:  Explain how your resource should be monitored and how the use of your resource should be minimized.   

• How is the use of your resource currently being monitored? Show evidence.
• Should we continue to monitor it? Why or why not?
• Are we monitoring it effectively? Explain.
• How would you recommend we monitor the resource in the future?
• Should we be maintaining our use or reducing our use (per capita) of the resource? Explain.

Conclusion:  Call your reader to action. 

• What do we need to use your resource sustainably in the future?
• What do individuals need to do to minimize the impact of the resources use on the environment? What evidence supports this?
• What do businesses need to do to minimize the impact of the resources use on the environment? What evidence supports this?
• Should the government be involved? Explain. What evidence supports this?
• Should the global community be involved?  Explain. What evidence supports this?

Grading:

Level 3 (4 points)	Meets all of the level 2 requirements.  Each paragraph is complete and covers all the criteria listed above.
Level 2 (3 points)	Meets most of the criteria from above but is not complete.  Each paragraph includes a hook to keep the reader interested. Writing conventions are correct: Spelling Punctuation Capitalization Writing formatting is correct: Paper follows MLA format.   Resource citations are in MLA format. Indented paragraphs. Heading (name, date, period)