Flora and fauna of Réunion
Task | Process | Content | Assessment | Research notes sheet | Weekly log | Evaluation Form
Introduction
You will adopt two roles during this research. The first role is that of an entrepreneur who wishes to clear one of the few remaining tracts of natural vegetation in order to introduce a new crop to the island. The second role is that of a member of a local protection association who wishes to preserve this habitat.
The Task
Your task is to write a debate from the point of view of both Greenies and Industrialists with regards to endemic, introduced and extinct species on Réunion island.
The Process
In order to complete your task you will need to:
- Brainstorm the topic. Use this time to organise your ideas.
- Write guiding questions for the different aspects of the content that you plan to cover. (Check the guide to doing a research task if you are not sure how to write guiding questions. Use the Research notes sheet to record your questions.)
- Search the online resources (text pages, web links) provided in this course
- Check through the optional extras pages to see if any are relevant to your topic.
- Use the Research notes sheet to record and organise your facts and the sources you have used. It would be a good idea to print off this sheet and get it enlarged to A3 size.
- Write a Weekly log to keep a record of what you have accomplished and to list your next steps.
- Show this log to your teacher each week. (You will need to copy the log to a Word page and save it: Ctrl c to copy and Ctrl v to paste. You can add to your entries each week.)
- Write the text of a debate (about 4-8 pages).
- Fill out the Evaluation Form and give it to your teacher with your research assignment.
Content
Your debate should include a description of the:
- endemic, introduced and extinct species of flora and fauna
- positive and negative impact of man on Réunion’s systems
LearningTips
In each of your roles as debater, you should:
- Select facts that support your point of view and discredit your opponent.
- Consider the history of settlement on the island.
- Consider the impact that introduced species have on the island.
- Consider the economic sustainability of the island.
- Consult with other students researching the same topic so that you can share your findings.
Think about the software you might wish to use (eg Power Point, Publisher etc).
Assessment
You are required to write a 4-8 page debate, devoting equal attention to both sides. You must include a bibliography that lists all of your sources of information.
General assessment criteria
You will be assessed on how well you demonstrate the ability to:
- select information that is relevant to the task
- combine and order information in a logical manner
- deliver a balanced content that makes sense grammatically
- distinguish between fact and opinion in web texts
- make connections between the history and geography of Réunion and present day practices
- demonstrate creativity – original ideas, imagination, presentation
Conclusion
Participating in this research task should enhance your understanding of the flora and fauna of Réunion. You should develop a better understanding of the connectedness and interdependence of ecological systems in Réunion. You will gain experience in using the computer as a research tool and may develop further skills in using technology to present your work.
Credits & References
See the weblinks for a summary of Online references.
Offline references (used in creating the text pages).
- La Réunion: le guide touristique et encyclopédique, EncycloGuide 1999
- Histoire, Géographie: Programmes pour la Réunion, Hatier International 2001
- Le guide île de la Réunion, Éditions Noor Akhoun
- En parcourant la Réunion, Éditions clin d’œil 1999
- Clin d’œil de la Réunion, Éditions clin d’œil
- Mauritius , Réunion & Seychelles, Lonely planet publications 2001
Research notes sheet
It’s a good idea to note the source of any facts that you locate. You can use it to list your sources in the bibliography. You might also need to go back to a web site to check up on details.
Guiding questions |
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Weekly log
Name: ________________________________________________________________________________ Partner: _______________________________________________________________________________ Directions: Once a week, while you are working on your research task, make an entry in this log detailing what you have accomplished. Then plan what you need to accomplish the following week. Date: _______________________ This week, I ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ My plan for next week: __________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ Date: _______________________ This week, I ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ My plan for next week: __________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ Date: _______________________ This week, I ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ My plan for next week: __________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ Date: _______________________ This week, I ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ My plan for next week: __________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ Date: _______________________ This week, I ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ My plan for next week: __________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ |
Evaluation Form
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Very well done |
Well done |
Satisfactory |
Unsatisfactory |
Step 1: Defining
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Step 2: Locating
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Step 3: Selecting
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Step 4: Organising
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Step 5: Presenting
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Answer the following questions: |
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