Assignment:  You are to present a local environmental issue or problem, solutions to the problem, the costs/benefits associated with the solutions to the problem, and a determination of the best solution, based on your analysis of the costs and benefits.  Be sure to not make your topic too broad. It should cover a specific town or area, not the entire world or a country, but does not have to be the particular town or area you live – it can be anywhere in the world. Please stay away from global warming issues. This is an extremely difficult area to narrow down locally and present reasonable solutions. It is simply much too broad for this type of presentation.

As an example, runoff from a coalmine may be contaminating the groundwater of a nearby town. A solution to abating the contaminated groundwater could be to shut down the coalmine, but at the cost of everyone losing their jobs. A benefit to this solution could be clean drinking water for the community.

There are a host of other costs and benefits associated with the solution to the above example. There are also many alternatives for solutions, none of which would make everyone happy. It is your job to find these costs and benefits for whatever solutions you choose.  Then, analyze each solution’s costs and benefits to determine which is the best solution.  Remember when considering costs and benefits, they go far beyond dollar values (e.g. loss or gain of jobs, land use, recreation, convenience, public health, habitat loss or gain, pollution, etc.).

Include a slide with the title of your presentation, then an introduction slide describing the environmental problem.  The main body of the presentation should describe the solutions and the costs/benefits to the proposed solution and give recommendations based on your cost/benefit analysis.  Be sure to use APA style citations and include a reference slide.

A PowerPoint presentation is really just an outline (with topics, subtopics, and bulleted statements), so it only contains the main points (just like you make an outline when writing a research paper). If you have never used PowerPoint, there are many tutorials on the internet, such as http://www.actden.com/pp/, that explain how to create a presentation. It is better to have a short well-organized and well-written presentation, than a lengthy one that rambles off topic. 

Grading rubric:  Review the attached file for the grading rubric. 

EVSP180 Presentation Rubric
100 % Exemplary
4 pts Accomplished
3.2 pts Developing
2.8 pts Beginning
2.4 pts Did not attempt
0 pts

ILO
5 %

Illustrates core concepts of the field while executing analytical, practical or creative
tasks.

Exemplary Student uses core concepts of the field as a foundation for analytical,
practical, or creative tasks.
Accomplished Student illustrates core concepts of the field appropriately while
executing analytical, practical, or creative tasks.
Developing Student uses core concepts of the field while executing analytical,
practical, or creative tasks, but may not appropriately implement the tasks or
illustrate the core concepts.
Beginning Student demonstrates a lack of understanding of core concepts and/or
their relationship to analytical, practical, or creative tasks.
Did not attempt Not included or did not attempt.

Quick feedback: (recent)
0

Title slide and Introduction
10 %

Exemplary Includes title slide and 2-3 introduction slides with clear focus on local
topic. Student demonstrates a definite understanding of the problem.
Accomplished Includes title slide and 2-3 introduction slides with focus on local
topic. Student demonstrates an understanding of the problem.
Developing Includes title slide and 2-3 introduction slides with focus on a global
topic. Student demonstrates somewhat of an understanding of the problem.
Beginning Includes title slide and 2-3 introduction slides with focus on a global topic.
Student demonstrates unclear understanding of the problem.
Did not attempt Not included or did not attempt.

Quick feedback: (recent)
0

Solutions
15 %

Exemplary Includes 2-3 solution slides describing 2 clearly written solutions to the
problem. Student demonstrates a definite understanding of the solutions.
Accomplished Includes 2-3 solution slides describing 2 solutions to the problem.
Student demonstrates an understanding of the solutions.
Developing Includes 2-3 solution slides describing 2 solutions to the problem.
Student demonstrates somewhat of an understanding of the solutions.
Beginning Includes 1-2 solution slides describing 1 solution to the problem. Student
demonstrates unclear understanding of the solution.
Did not attempt No included or did not attempt.

Quick feedback: (recent)
0

Costs/Benefits
15 %

Exemplary Student includes 3-4 cost/benefit slides with at least 4 costs and 4 benefits
associated with both solutions. Demonstrates a clear understanding of the
costs/benefits.
Accomplished Student includes 3-4 cost/benefit slides with at least 3 costs and 3
benefits associated with both solutions. Demonstrates an understanding of the
costs/benefits.
Developing Student includes 2-3 cost/benefit slides with at least 2 costs and 2
benefits associated with both solutions. Demonstrates a somewhat clear
understanding of the costs/benefits.
Beginning Student includes 2-3 cost/benefit slides with at least 2 costs and 2 benefits
associated with the solution. Does not demonstrate a clear understanding of the
costs/benefits.
Did not attempt No included or did not attempt.

Quick feedback: (recent)
0

Recommendations
15 %

Exemplary Includes 1-2 recommendations slides with a clear, concise argument for
the recommended solution. Argues for better solution based on analysis of costs and
benefits.
Accomplished Includes 1-2 recommendations slides with an argument for the
recommended solution. Argues for better solution based on analysis of costs and
benefits.
Developing Includes 1-2 recommendations slides with a somewhat clear argument for
the recommended solution. Argues for better solution based on analysis of costs and
benefits.
Beginning Includes 1-2 recommendations slides but does not provide a clear
argument for the recommended solution.
Did not attempt No included or did not attempt.

Quick feedback: (recent)
0

References and Citations
10 %

Exemplary Includes references slide with correct APA format and 5 or more sources.
Appropriately uses in-text citations for all quotes, paraphrases, graphics, and data.
Accomplished Includes references slide with correct APA format and at least 4
sources. Appropriately uses in-text citations for all quotes, paraphrases, graphics, and
data.
Developing Includes references slide with somewhat correct APA format and at least
3 sources. Uses in-text citations for most quotes, paraphrases, graphics, and data but
1-2 errors are found.
Beginning Includes references slide with errors in the APA format and 1-2 sources.
Uses in-text citations for most quotes, paraphrases, graphics, and data but at least 3
errors are found.
Did not attempt No included or did not attempt.

Quick feedback: (recent)
0

Organization & Writing Standards
15 %

Exemplary Clearly, concisely presented as a detailed outline with slide titles,
headings, subheadings, bulleted lists. Uses concise bullet points – not written as an
essay and does not use paragraphs. No grammatical/spelling errors.
Accomplished Presented as an outline with slide titles, headings, subheadings,
bulleted lists. Mostly uses concise bullet points – not written as an essay and does not
use paragraphs. No more than 2 grammatical/spelling errors.
Developing Somewhat presented as an outline with slide titles, headings,
subheadings, bulleted lists. Some use of concise bullet points but partially written as
an essay with paragraphs. No more than 3 grammatical/spelling errors.
Beginning Not presented as an outline with slide titles, headings, subheadings,
bulleted lists. Presented more as an essay with paragraphs rather than as an outline.
No more than 4 grammatical/spelling errors.
Did not attempt Did not attempt.

Quick feedback: (recent)
0

Use of Technology
15 %

Exemplary Strongly demonstrates ability to use PowerPoint software to create a slide
presentation with many creative ideas incorporated. Includes 5 or more graphics.
Slides are easily read with consistent use of appropriate background, text size, and
font color.
Accomplished Demonstrates ability to use PowerPoint software to create a slide
presentation with some creative ideas incorporated. Includes at least 4 or more

graphics. Slides are easily read with at least 2 but no more than 3 errors in the use of
appropriate background, text size, and font color.
Developing Demonstrates somewhat of an ability to use PowerPoint software to
create a slide presentation with few creative ideas are incorporated. At least 3
graphics are used. Slides are easily read with at least 4 but no more than 5 errors in
the use of appropriate background, text size, and font color.
Beginning Does not demonstrate ability to use PowerPoint software to create a slide
presentation and no creative ideas are incorporated. At least 1 graphic is used. Slides
are difficult to read with inconsistent use of appropriate background, text size, and
font color.
Did not attempt Did not attempt.

Quick feedback: (recent)
0