Framing & Evaluating the Task

            I found this chapter to be very helpful in evaluating the framework of my first big writing assignment/ individual project for students in my Earth Science class. Many students are unfamiliar with how an essay should logically be structured, what individual paragraphs should contain, and how to write a conclusion. I found most students were initially concerned with length rather than content, or the ability to do good research, or how to cite information. From the day I gave the assignment to the due date of the first draft, tomorrow, I have had to teach students how to: develop helpful search terms, differentiate between fact and opinion, how to cite information, how to find main ideas in text and pull out supporting details, and how to create valid persuasive arguments. Because my project task requires both opinion and factual support evidence, I have tried my best to outline the essay structure down to the paragraph and sentences within the paragraph so students do not copy directly from a source, nor give me a rant of opinion.

I am in full support of Benjamin’s steps to frame and evaluate given tasks in order to receive on task student work that both teacher and student can recognize. Where length is concerned in asking students to downsize, combine sentences, and to use proper content terms, students should be given a list of examples prior to starting the assignment. As we discussed in other chapters/ readings, it is important to give students alternatives to the corrections you make. I have asked students to create a first draft of their work so that I can see common class errors, and afterwards address writing problems, and give new examples, techniques, or alternatives from problem areas.

  

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I’ve attached a copy of my Planet Project Relocation Task, in hopes that other people can evaluate it according to Benjamin’s framework. I tried to use as many of the processes as possible. Please let me know!

Relocating Planets Project

The year is 2212. Earth is overpopulated. More than 30 billion people inhabit the planet. Food is scarce and wars for water supplies erupt on a regular basis. Global governments are calling for planetary evacuation and human relocation. We must choose a new planet to inhabit, establishing a space colony and creating a new life for ourselves.

As an Earth Science student, you know the Solar System and its planets. You also know that life is only known to exist on Earth. Your task is to decide which planet in the Solar System you would move to and to then explain your decision. You must plan how you will change the planet to make it inhabitable, or ways humans can adapt their lifestyles to remain alive on their new planet.

Part A: Your Task (80 Points)

Which planet will be your new home? How will you make this planet a place humans can live? What changes will humans have to make in order to live on their new planet? Write a proposal evaluating a planet in our solar system and argue for why you think it will make the best place for a space colony.  Support your position with evidence from the texts provided.  All sources must be cited in MLA format within your writing.

	Role:	Audience:	Format	Topic
Option #1	You are a KAPPA Scholar and Earth Science student.	Friends and family	Persuasive letter	You must convince your friends and family that you have chosen the best planet for them and that it will be a great new place to live.
Option #2	You are a real estate agent.	Potential buyers	Persuasive letter	You must argue that your chosen planet makes an excellent future home for humans. Persuade potential buyers to buy property and move to your planet.
Option #3	You are the Earth	Humans	Persuasive letter	You must argue that humans should move to a new planet. You do not want to remain overpopulated, so you need to convince humans to move somewhere else.

Your persuasive letter must be double spaced, 12 point Arial or Times New Roman font, and at least 3 pages long. The outline of your letter must match this:

·      Paragraph 1-Introduction. Introduce yourself and why you are writing.  Why do you need to move planets? State your chosen planet and the reasons you will be discussing for moving there.

·      Paragraph 2: Describe characteristics of your planet (What size is it? Does it have an atmosphere? Are there any interesting facts you learned? etc. ).

·      Paragraph 3: State reasons why humans CANNOT live on your planet currently. Why do humans not already live there? What do you need to change to move and live there?  

·      Paragraph 4: Reason #1 Why your planet is the best new home for humans. Support with evidence.

·      Paragraph 5: Reason #2 Why your planet is the best new home for humans. Support with evidence.

·      Paragraph 6: Reason #3 Why your planet is the best new home for humans. Support with evidence.

(If you have more reasons…great! Keep going.  The more reasons you can come up with, the stronger your argument will be.  In addition, you could think of another planet people might choose to move to and then explain why it would NOT be a good place to live [+10 points for a well-written counterpoint])

·      Last Paragraph: Conclusion. Restate your opinion, and review the reasons you chose for your argument.

 

Part A Points Breakdown

30 Points Persuasiveness	Your letter clearly argues for one planet, and your argument is supported with scientific evidence. Your letter follows the outline.
30 Point: Science content is accurate.	You include accurate, scientific information.
10 Points In Text Citations	All information is referenced with in text citations in the proper format. A Works Cited page is included.
10 Points: First Draft	The first draft is submitted on time.

Part B: (20 Points)

Choose one of the following options to accompany your persuasive letter.

(Artistic/ Creative) Option #1: Create a colorful cartoon or comic strip that clearly shows your opinion about the planet that you explained in your letter.

(Artistic/Creative) Option #2: Create a colorful magazine advertisement or travel brochure with a creative slogan that that clearly shows your opinion about the planet that you explained in your letter.

(Technology) Option #3: Imagine: other humans can now visit you new space colony. You must prepare a 6-8 slide Power Point travel presentation for one of the other 7 planets in our solar system (besides Earth), convincing travelers to visit.  Information should include the planet’s geography, climate, atmosphere, distance form the Sun, size, cost it would take to get there, pictures, and any other interesting facts.

Part B Points Breakdown

10 Points Creativity	You clearly put in effort and thought into your presentation.  It is creative and imaginative.
10 Points Presentation	It is colorful, neatly completed, and visually appealing.

Category	Project Checklist
Paragraph 1: Introduction	¨ Introduce yourself and why you are writing ¨ Why do you need to find a new planet to call home? ¨ Clearly state the planet where you will move. ¨ List the reasons for your opinion that you will be discussing in your letter.
Paragraph 2	¨ Describe in detail at least 5 characteristics of your planet ¨ Include in text citations ¨ Citations are in the correct format
Paragraph 3	¨ State reasons why humans CANNOT live on this planet right now. ¨ Describe how you will change the planet to make it livable for humans. ¨ Include in text citations ¨ Citations are in the correct format
Paragraph 4	¨ Describe your Reason #1 Why your planet is the best new home for humans. ¨ Support with evidence from the text. ¨ Includes in text citations ¨ Citations are in the correct format
Paragraph 5	¨ Describe your Reason #2 Why your planet is the best new home for humans. ¨ Support with evidence from the text. ¨ Include in text citations ¨ Citations are in the correct format
Paragraph 6	¨ Describe your Reason #3  Why your planet is the best new home for humans. Support with evidence from the text. ¨ Includes in text citations ¨ Citations are in the correct format
Conclusion	¨ Restate your opinion. ¨ Summarize the reasons and evidence you chose for your argument. ¨ End with a great closing sentence.
Overall Presentation	¨ Project is must be double spaced, 12 point Arial or Times New Roman font, and at least 3 pages long. ¨ Correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation are used ¨ Heading is on every paper submitted ¨ Project is neatly stapled