Climate Change Essay

In this assignment you will learn about climate change, carbon dioxide, and trees, and then you will write an explanatory/expository essay connecting these three concepts.

Part 1: Research and Plan for Your Essay

Climate Change Essay assignment.

View Past Student Essay Samples.

Research:

Source Information:

• Reading #1: Climate Change and Forests: Capturing Carbon Dioxide Excerpt from Project Learning Tree, Focus on Forests, 2011

• Reading #2: Sustainable Forestry Carbon Cycle, Washington Forest Protection Association

• Video #1: Global Warming 101 3 min. 3 sec.

• Video #2: Forest Fast Breaks: Carbon Capture 2 min. 11 sec.

• Video #3: What’s the Deal with Carbon? 3 min. 5 sec

Data Charts:

• Carbon Dioxide Concentration; NASA Global Climate Change Website

• Global Surface Temperature; NASA Global Climate Change Website

Notes:

While you research, complete notes on the forms provided in the Climate Change Essay assignment.

Rough Draft:

Plan for your essay by completing the three body paragraph pages and one introduction/conclusion page in your Climate Change Essay assignment.

Part 2: Write Your Essay

Editing:

Before you begin your final draft, use a red pen or pencil to make edits on your rough draft pages. Get this approved by the teacher.

Then, complete the final draft as instructed in the Climate Change Essay assignment.

Color-Code your Essay:

Here are the essay color-coding guidelines.

• Green = topic sentence/thesis statement

• Yellow = paragraph topic sentences (key ideas)...these sentences usually have transition words/phrases

• Red/Pink = elaboration, examples, description, supporting details...

• Blue = background information

• Green = conclusion statement

Part 3: Climate Change Movie

Watch the Bill Nye Climate Change Documentary.

In the movie, Bill Nye works through the five stages of grief and adds a sixth, hope.

During the movie, in your journal, write each stage and two facts (bits of evidence) for each of the six stages, making 12 total facts.

Pause the movie after each stage and discuss the facts that students have come up with.

1. Denial

2. Anger

3. Bargaining

4. Depression

5. Acceptance

6. Bonus: Hope