Writings and Linked Resources

Future Impact | Solutions | Call to Action | Questionnaire | Quiz | Book Reviews | Editing Handouts

Overview/Introduction

Question: What are the main issues / controversies about your topic?

"Why Save the Rainforests?", provided by the Rainforest Action Network.

Causes of the Problem

Question:What are the factors contributing to the problem you'd like to solve?

"One Family's Path to Homelessness" might surprise you about how quickly "normal" people can become homeless.

This is an extended overview/introduction to your topic. As such, several students could work together to create this.

Fact or Fiction?

Question: What are the realities and/or the stereotypes about your topic?

54 Ways You Can Help the Homeless gives an extensive list of Myths and Facts about the Homeless.

Profiles

Several possibilities exist here:

1. Describe the lives of some real people who confront the problem you're studying (example profile of Deepa Isac and his "Fear of Vegetarianism").

2. Interview someone involved in your topic (example interview with Kevin Nealon of Saturday Night Live about his interest in Animal Rights).

3. Analyze a specific place and how it is affected by your topic (example of the Solomon Islands, a location underging heavy logging).

Comparison

"Survivors", by Michelle Salob makes the comparison between farm animals and World War II victims.

The Cycle of Abuse: analyzes the similarities between exploitation of women and exploitation of animals.

Future Impact

"Bio-prospecting in the Amazon", an analysis of drug companies' efforts to create new products based on medicinal plants identified by natives. Written by Edward Hammond.

Solutions

"Eco-Tourism", an attempt to preserve the rainforests through tourism is assessed for both its strengths and weaknesses as a solution to deforestation.

"Don't Buy that Doggy in the Window" is another example that comes from the world of animal rights activism.

"Soyfoods: Better Than Sliced Bread", by Leena Isac, comes from a vegetarian perspective.

Call to Action

"Alberta activists declare 'State of Emergency'", provided by the Rainforest Action Network, is one good example.

Eight Steps for Kids to Take that can help save the rainforest (also from the Rainforest Action Network).

Questionnaire / Statistics

"Rates of Rainforest Loss." The numbers behind the destruction of the rainforests are presented in ways that people can relate to.

Quiz

You'll need to ask the right questions and provide answers and suggestions when users get questions wrong.

"What do You Know About the Rainforest?" is an excellent example from the Rainforest Action Network. You can use the WebMark site to create a True/False quiz and then have the programming code/script e-mailed to you.

Book Review

"Wisdom of Our Elders", an editorial/review of "Let the Mountains Talk, Let the Rivers Run," by Randall Hayes.

Animal Rights Resource Site provides more examples of book reviews.

Editing Handouts for Writers Available on the Internet

• Basic Prose Style and Mechanics, by Craig Waddell of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a nicely arranged and written one-stop shop for writing help. It is written for college students, though, so you might need some help understanding. Make use of what makes sense to you.

• A Collection of Online Worksheets for punctuation, mechanics, style, etc. from the Purdue University On-line Writing Lab.

• More Grammar/Usage Handouts online from the University of Illinois.

• Stylistic Examples and Non-Examples from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

• A Handout on "Wordiness" for when you are in the revision phase.

• Understand Apostrophes, finally, with this clear handout.

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