Problem-based Evaluation
*This is not group work; you are to work on your own to generate your final product.*
This project may be done to make up missed labs due to explained absences.
Assignment - You are to create a Chart with the Headings PLUS, MINUS, and INTERESTING. Within the chart you will create points that agree (plus), disagree (minus) or that you simply find intersting about the topic/problem.
Along the Way (Research Process) - You are required to keep a research journal throughout the process of completing the chart that includes thoughts, personal communications, websites visited, books read, information discovered, newspaper/ magazine/ journal articles read that related to the topic.
Goal: To critically think about a problem currently facing society, potential solution(s) to that problem and generate the positives and negatives of that solution.
Steps
1. Select a topic that interests you from the available problems.
2. Read the problem carefully and brainstorm some positive (pluses), negatives (minuses) and concerns (interesting) with the potential solution provided.
3. You may find it useful to research your problem and potential solution on the internet, in books, or through discussion with friends, family and teachers.
4. Record your ideas in the chart provided
5. Check your work for spelling and grammar errors.
You will hand in a completed plus, minus, interesting, (PMI) chart that is a minimum of 1 page long.
Format:
• 1 page single spaced (minimum)
• Times New Roman, 12 point font
• 1 inch margins all around
• May be in point form but remember spelling and grammar still matter
Problems for Student Selection
1. Hair dressers are exposed to high levels of toxic chemicals on daily basis. These chemicals are found in hair colouring, perming, straightening solutions and in hair sprays. These chemicals result in an increase in health problems for hair dressers and clients (those getting their hair dyed)
Potential Solution: Eliminate these products.
2. Metals are very valuable for technology today. However, we are running out of metals around the world. Most jewellery is made from a mixture of various metals. We need metals to manufacture computers, medical equipment, and communication devices such as cell phones.
Potential Solution: Jewellery is not an essential part of human life and should be banned to conserve metals.
3. Polymers such as plastics are widely used in every day life. Plastics may be used as substitutes for human bones, to manufacture cars, aircraft, CD’s and even to make the chair you are sitting on right now. However, the waste products of polymer manufacturing are very toxic. Example (vinyl chloride)
Potential Solution: Plastic manufacturing should be restricted to life saving devices and non-essential products such as CD’s should be banned.
4. New polymers are being created that are indestructible. This would prevent materials from being destroyed by the environment. Example Space shuttle, STS107 (The Columbia) was destroyed on re-entry into the earth’s atmosphere because part of the shuttle broke off causing it to burn up. Seven astronauts died in the Columbia STS107 explosion. Indestructible polymers will also not break down in landfills causing a build up of waste materials.
Potential Solution: Ban manufacture of indestructible polymers.
5. When batteries are manufactured, arsenic from factories is released into the environment. Batteries are used for portable electronic devices, and for backing up life saving devices (example respirators) in cases of power failures.
Potential Solution: Close the battery factories
6. Metal Mining impacts the environment by pollution (eg. aluminum) through acid rain, and disruption of natural wildlife habitats.
Potential Solution: Close the mines
7. Corrosion is a major problem in transportation due to the metals used to make cars, buses, airplanes.
Potential Solution: Use of new materials such as ceramics for engines, fibreglass for car body parts.
8. The pulp and paper mills in Ontario (Cornwall, Dryden, Espanola) generate mercury (Hg). This is released into our waters. Mercury is a heavy metal.
Potential Solution: Stop making paper.
9. Smoking contains many carcinogens and leads to cancer for both people who smoke and those around them. Cancer costs Canada billions dollars each year in healthcare.
Potential Solution: Smokers must pay for their own health care.
10. Research shows sunburns early in life increase skin cancer. One sunburn in a lifetime can increase your risk of developing skin cancer by as much as 50%.
Potential Solution: Parents must by law put sunscreen on their child whenever outside.
For Additional Problems - see Ms. Wiens in Class
Exemplar: (click the link for the chart)
Topic: Fireworks are a dangerous industry which pollutes the environment in the manufacturing process and their use. They can be dangerous to the factory workers and to the consumers if they are mishandled.
Solution: Fireworks should be banned.
See Ms. Wiens in class for Rubrics - coming soon online.
