Global Warming Essay

You are to write a 1000 1500 word essay on global warming. DO NOT EXCEED THE
WORD COUNT (or write fewer than 1000). The following questions are to be answered
and you must use at least one book (e.g. encyclopaedia) or magazine (e.g. New Scientist) as
well as the Internet as your research sources. The books or magazines MAY be ebooks (i.e.
sourced and read on the internet).
You must use the Inquiry Booklet (on Moodle) format to guide your research. You can
either print out a copy and write in it (and hand it in when you upload the essay) or you can
record all your research notes in Evernote (but make sure you have shared the notebook
with your teacher). You cannot achieve a Level 6 if your teacher cant access your research
notes.
Also, an important part of your essay:

Devise an experiment that could be a model for global warming (e.g. to show the effect
of greenhouse gases on the temperature of an environment). Explain how you would set it
up, what measurements you would take and what results you would expect. YOU WILL
NEED TO RESEARCH THIS.
You will not be awarded a grade higher than a 4 if you have not described a suitable experiment. Do
NOT write it up like a lab report describe the experiment and possible results in essay format.

You are to upload the essay to Managebac, which will automatically upload it to Turnitin
you dont have to do it.
You have two lessons and two homework periods for research. You may use the second
period to write up the essay if you are efficient.
Science questions to be answered:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

What is global warming?

What are the greenhouse gases and where do they come from?
How do greenhouse gases trap heat energy?
Why is global warming essential for life on the earth?
What is enhanced global warming?
It is a fact that the average annual temperature of the earth is gradually
increasing. What other causes could there be for this effect (apart from an
increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases)?

One World:
1.

How has science helped us understand the processes causing global warming,
and the implications and impact of global warming on our world? (Choose a One
World factor, see over) Environmental
2. What are the benefits and limitations of science in dealing with global
warming? (Choose a One World factor, see over) Ethical
Note: Diagrams are essential when explaining the theory behind global warming.

One or two examples of questions you could research to help with the One World aspect
(remember, you are to choose TWO factors only):
Environmental: How will climates change as enhanced global warming takes effect? How will this
affect food crops such as wheat? What effect will global warming have on sea levels?
Political: Why are some important politicians against the idea that human activity is the cause of
global warming? What else could be causing it? Why do they want to believe this?
Social: What effect will global warming have on specific populations, for example, Pacific Island
people? Are there any positive social effects?
Cultural: As the climate changes what possible effect could that have on the food a population
eats? On its recreational pursuits? On the plants and animals the people grow / breed for food?
Ethical: If global warming is caused by the over use of fossil fuels, should countries who use most
of the fossil fuels pay for the devastation it is likely to cause in the future in the developing
countries (like Bangladesh or the Maldives)? Should countries like China or India increase their
use of fossil fuels to catch up with the standard of living in western countries?
Moral: Should we do something about it like bike to school or work? What can individuals do to
help?
Economical: What would be the economic effect on countries or individuals if the use of fossil
fuels was banned? If the wheat belt of the US turned to desert, what would be the effect on the
world?