Your ISU essay tutorial

Periodically over the weekend I will check this thread to see if you have any questions regarding your ISU topics.  i.e. clarification of your topic and/or thesis.  Sources of info, useful examples that might help you to develop or prove your point.  This is a good time to make a sprint to the finish and lock in some decent marks to show on paper how truly capable you all are.  I am proud of your achievements this year.  Keep it up! 

Year end reflection

This is to be a personal reflection on items you have learned in this course.  This is a draft marking scheme.  As always, your input is welcome until it is finalized.

Value: 5%
Format: I am flexible with the format on this one:
- Video
- Computer animation
- Written journal entry
- Powerpoint summary
- Semi-formal (no jeans) essay
- Art piece
- check with me if you aren't sure

Marking Scheme:  I will use a checklist for this one as a score card.
Length:
- Written Format: I will be looking at approx. 5 pgs. typed
- Alternative Format: Presentation approx. 5 mins.
Mechanics:
- Proper grammar and punctuation is necessary in all formats.
Content:
- Refers to a personal experience in the course
- Makes reference to specific events/materials in the course
- Describes strengths/weaknesses of
- Is honest
- Connects personal experiences in course/class to "outside" world experiences.
-Displays evidence of the importance of global issues and being informed on global issues.

Level 4
makes connections between physical geography, human systems and the environment with a high degree of effectiveness
expresses and organizes ideas and information with a high degree of effectiveness

Level 3
 makes connections between physical  geography, human systems and the environment with considerable effectiveness
expresses and organizes ideas and information with considerable effectiveness

Level 2
makes connections between physical geography, human systems and the environment with some effectiveness
expresses and organizes ideas and information with some effectiveness

*if you are having trouble meeting the 5-page requirement then you can break it down into unit by unit and highlight the ones which impacted you the most and draw comparisons from those units to the above systems (in the level 4 category i.e. human systems such as political, social, technology, environment, life support systems, ecosystems, wildlife, etc.)

End of year business.

As per today's discussion we agreed on the following:
10% =In-class exam, essay format. See ISU blog post for updates.          
Date: January 23rd.

15%=Final exam.  Format=50 M/C, some short answer, diagram/political cartoon, covers whole year.
          Date: January 29th.

5%=End of year reflection.  See above blog post for details on marking scheme.
          Due: January 18th or earlier if you wish.





*NOTE:  ABSOLUTELY NO LATES ACCEPTED FOR ANY OF ABOVE.
CASES OF CRITICAL ILLNESS MUST BE DOCUMENTED BY A MEDICAL CERTIFICATE TO SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION.

The Year in Review-Your last "regular" term blogpost

...as the countdowns and reviews are in full force, it makes sense for the first post of January (week of the 6th to 12th) to be what you feel was a significant news story/headline/world event of 2012.

Regular blog rubric.
Remember to seek external references. 
Remember to comment to a classmates post - when you do this much work it's nice to know someone else reads your post.
Substantiate the reasoning as to why the event you selected ranks in the top tier of news headlines for 2012.  Don't worry if someone else chooses the same topic, but be sure you do not repeat word for word another classmates opinions.

You can enter your posts at any time you wish.  They will not be marked until the end of the week January 6th to 12th.

Good news.  There will only be one more blog post after this one. 
It will be a special topic TBA in January and will be summative in nature.

Thank you for sharing your opinions and ideas in 2012.  You are all awesome!
All the best in 2013!

Your ISU

...will be due in just under a month.  As usual, I can prescribe a straight-out-of-the-textbook assignment but would much prefer instead to collaboratively build the assignment expectations based on your learning strengths and needs.  I am thinking that this assignment should comprise a portion of your final exam (the in-class component).   We will discuss the portion you feel it should comprise when we reconvene in January.

So far we have come up:
An essay which will be composed in class time which relies on a minimum of 5 references (all of which you will be permitted to bring in to the class with you.)   You will submit all references along with your essay.

If you require a keyboard or other assistive technology as per your program please set this out with me well in advance.

The focus I would like you to take is in particular the interplay between:
Environment (Sustainability vs.
Economy (Jobs vs. unemployment/poverty)
Technology (new tools, ideas, and their effects)
Society (i.e. people, employment, etc.)
Geopolitics (i.e. the bigger issues)

So for example, you could pick one topic: Natural Gas and set up your entire essay as in the following discusssion thread on Fracking which I have set up this week as an opportunity to practice/observe how these topics can be discussed in various ways.  Note: Fracking will not available as an essay topic for this same reason.

Level 4
5 references (3 peer reviewed, 2 media or other reputable source - not wikipedia)
Exceptional/Excellent use of grammar and spelling
Essay structure is excellent with clearly outline intro, clear points, and conclusion.
Excellent hook/introduction to immediately engage readers

Fracking

We began the film "Gasland" as an introduction to the fracking process.

Today's Globe and Mail headline reads that the natural gas industry could be worth an estimated $1 trillion dollars, rivalling the oilsands.  The article fails to mention how those dollars will be distributed and who they will be distributed to, but does mention how many estimated person years of employment  the gas industry will provide.  This erupting success in the gas industry is largely due to the fracking process.
Article here:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/story/2012/12/17/business-natural-gas.html

You may reference the website or the film, Gasland, as a source but remember to be specific to the details of the film or website (i.e. which page the info is found on).

What is "fracking" ?  Benefits/Downsides?  Explain the connection betweent improvements in technology affect our environment and economy - and lastly the geopolitics (Canada/U.S./Far East).
 

Socially responsible investing...

After the recent shootings an interesting take on what is social "responsible" investing.
Read and comment.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/inside-the-market/sandy-hook-gun-makers-and-the-thorny-ethics-of-investing/article6494087/

Compare the ethics of Smith and Wesson or Ruger (as mentioned in the article) to those of Exxon, or here in Canada; Imperial (Esso), Suncor (PetroCanada).  Are there any differences?  Back up your opinion with facts.

How about infrastructure giants like Enbridge or TransCanada Pipeline?  Any differences here?

What about keeping our money in a savings account in the bank?  What is done with all of our nation's collective savings (Our banks Tier 1 Capital ratio (the cash a bank must have on hand in bill form ready to go) ranges from 11-15%; meaning the other 85% of YOUR own money is tied up at work for them).  Are there any differences in the "ethics" of this investing?