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Science & Modern History
Natural Science Implications from September 11, 2001
Prior to beginning this assignment, students should become familiar with general historical facts of the terrorist attacks taken against the United States of America on September 11, 2001. School history classrooms are recommended to cover the topic from those important perspectives. Short videos appear below to assist in further familiarizing students with 9/11 terrorist attack.
Assignment
This assignment is best executed with the extensive use of internet-enabled laptop, desktop, Chromebook, or similar research tool.
Launch and print Student Handout (6 pages. pdf).
As individuals, or in small teams of two-three students per team, students develop a research paper and/or a slide presentation to present for student peers.
- Write a research paper
- Create a presentation (PPT or equal) based on research
- Present presentation to the class
Guidelines for writing a research paper are found at Activity 17 and Technique 19. All research should appropriately cite sources as described on this site’s Technique 05.
Teachers (and Students, also)
Find suggested “Rubric Items” or grading criteria toward the bottom of this page.
Specific Instructions
- Form a small group of 2-3 students – or, you may work by yourself.
- Select a topic – see topic suggestions on the student handout.
- Review the assignment timeline and work to meet the deadline.
- Review techniques listed below for writing research and citing resources.
- Launch and skim (or, read) external sources of information.
- Keep track of sources of information as the research progresses.
- Avoid copy/paste plagiarism – use correctly formatted citations.
- Use high-school level ELA methods for developing & improving the paper.
- Aim for a 5 minute presentation (optional for the “4-day path”).
- Submit completed, assigned work on time.
Resources from this site:
- Technique 05 Ways to cite sources from research
- Technique 15 How to make a creative Presentations
- Technique 17 Tips for Public Speaking
- Technique 19 Techniques for writing research papers.
External sources for content research:
- 9/11 Environmental Issues (NBCI)
- 9/11 Human Health Issues (NBCI)
- 9/11 Ecological Impacts (NRDC)
Special Note
This (science-research) assignment should be conducted only AFTER students have become familiar with the 9/11 event as a recent, historical terrorist event. This assignment focuses on issues resulting from the attack from a natural-science perspective. This assignment does not include emphasis on loss-of-life, economic impacts, and other important issues resulting from the attack. Rather, this assignment reviews the resulting negative-impacts on our atmosphere, ground water and drinking water issues, refuse and waste issues, contamination, wildlife and domestic animal disease, and similar impacts on the ecosystem, life, and physical surroundings of New York City.
September 11, 2001 Wikipedia article.
Video: 2:11 Being a Child on September 11, 2001
Video: 5:09 Students learn about Sept. 11, 2001
Video: 2:19 Kinnelon High School 911 Tribute
Possible Grading Criteria for the Research Papers
Count the number of (N)eeds improvement. Multiply N by 5. Subtract that number from 105. The maximum score using this technique is 105% … the lowest is 50%. Each criteria will be EITHER a (P)ositive or a (N)egative. For example the paper will be EITHER P1 or N1. The paper will be EITHER P2 or N2 … and so on.
P1 This appears as like team collaboration or, a solid individual effort.
P2 Your work includes references to September 11, 2001.
P3 Your work includes science-related impacts due to the terrorist attack.
P4 Your work includes citations.
P5 The citations appear to be sufficiently consistent with APA or MLA.
P6 Good job on having multiple references cited.
P7 The formatting of your overall paper looks good.
P8 General punctuation looks good.
P9 Spelling errors are absent. You did a nice job on spelling.
P10 The language used in your test appears as if you put it in “teenage language.” Thank you.
P11 I like your insights regarding the “science part” of your research.
N1 This work may have been a team effort. I’m uncertain though if equal work contributions were made.
N2 Your work doesn’t appear to directly refer to the September 11 terrorist attack.
N3 Your work doesn’t directly include natural science impacts due to the attack.
N4 Your work doesn’t include properly formatted citations.
N5 The citations your paper has are the URL only. They are not in APA or MLA format.
N6 One citation is provided. In the future, strive for multiple sources and citations.
N7 Overall formatting of the paper could be improved.
N8 Punctuation is incorrect in some areas.
N9 There are spelling errors. These errors are among the easiest to avoid. In the future, eliminate obvious spelling errors.
N10 The language and words used do not immediately appear as if you summarized the non-cited portions of your paper.
N11 The “science-part” of your paper is somewhat lacking.