Nonfiction Newscast Project

The students read a nonfiction book of their choice which they completed a nonfiction newscast project.
They could pick any topics that they were interested in learning more about. The students were going to be
newscasters and would present information to the class in the form of a newscast. The students used
information from their nonfiction book and as well as used a reliable resource to get information for their
newscast. Below I have included information and samples from the students work. Students were able to
bring in props to support their newscast as well as dress up like a newscaster. While students were
presenting, they wrote down 1 thing they learned and 1 thing they did well during the presentation.
Pictures of Students Presentation

Documents Included That Were Given To Students:

- Introduction to Project
- Calendar Schedule
- Outline for Essay Students Completes
- My Sample Outline
- My Sample Essay
- Outline for Speech Students Completed
- My Sample Outline
- My Sample Speech
- Rubric for the Speech and Essay
- Research Notes
- My Sample Research Notes
- Student Feedback Paper
- Student Sample of Notes, Speech & Essay

News Report for Nonfiction IRB

DUE: Thursday, January 14th

Congratulations! You have just been hired as a news broadcaster for The
Washington Team Channel 7 News. You have just been assigned your first
project which is to cover a nonfiction topic. You are going to create a news
report where you discuss the topic you have chosen for your IRB Book.
Your assignment is to show how the
different sources use examples, explanations, or text features to teach the reader about their topic.
Thursday, we are going to begin researching your topic and your focus for your news cast. For example, I do
not want to choose a very broad topic like Princess Dianas whole life. I want to choose a moment from her life,
like the day she married Prince Charles.
Your Grade For The Assignment Will Consist Of:
- Your Research Report Essay
- Your Presentation/Speech
- Visual Aid for Presentation/Speech
RESEARCH REPORT ESSAY:
Your essay will be at least 1 & pages typed double spaced in length. This
research task is written in essay format where you inform the reader about your topic. It is going to be written
in a similar setup of a Literary Analysis. The question you are answering is
How do the different sources use
examples, explanations, or text features to teach the reader about their topic?
PRESENTATION/SPEECH:
You will present an approximately 2 minute speech about your topic. You are not
reading your essay; it is a separate piece. In your speech you will share at least two interesting facts you
learned about your topic (one from each source). Remember this is a newscast so you want to present like you
are a newscaster. You will have note cards to use to help you present, but you cannot read directly from them.
VISUAL AID FOR PRESENTATION/SPEECH:
: All newscasts have a visual aid to aid them in the telling of
their story. You will need to create a slide/or slides that help aid your discussion of the topic. We will use
Google Presentation to create this item. All of the pictures must have something to do with your speech.
*You will receive more detailed information on each of these topics as we begin working on each one.

Outline for Research Report Essay

Name: _________________________________________________
I.

Introduction:

a. Background information about the topic the reader needs to know to understand your newscast.
List at least 3 things.

1.
2.
3.
b. Specific part of your topic you will write about.

c. Thesis: What do the authors use to teach the reader about the topic? (Examples, Explanations, or
Textual Features)

II.

Body Paragraph 1: Information From Source 1 (YOUR IRB)

a. The author uses _______________ to teach the reader about the subject.
(Examples, Explanations, or textual
features)

b. What does the source tell you about the specific part of your subject?

c. Include a piece of text

d. Explain what the piece of text shows the reader

III.

Body Paragraph 2: Information From Source 2

a. The author uses _______________ to teach the reader about the subject.
(Examples, Explanations, or textual
features)

b. What does the source tell you about the specific part of your subject?

c. Include a piece of text

d. Explain what the piece of text shows the reader

IV.

Conclusion:

a. Summarize your essay

b. Connect the texts: What do the texts have in common? Do they have the same information or
different information? Which one provided you with more information on your topic.

c. Why is this important or relevant today?

Outline For The Presentation/Speech

I
.
Introduction of Speech:
Newscaster Greeting:

Background Information About Your Topic: (What does the viewer need to know about your topic?)

II. Interesting Fact 1:

-

Source: ___________________________

What did you learn?

Why is that interesting to you/your viewers?

III. Interesting Fact 2:

- Source: ___________________________
-

What did you learn?

Why is that interesting to you/your viewers?

IV. Conclusion:
Why is this relevant today? Why is this on the news?

Newscaster Ending:

Research Project Schedule

January 2016
Monday
4

Tuesday
5

Introduce Research
Project

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Begin Researching

Finish Researching &

Outline Report

Write Report
Nonfiction Quiz
Final IRB
Assignments Due

11

12

Outline
Presentation/Speech
& Begin Writing
Presentation/Speech

Create Visual Aid for

Presentation & Finish
Writing
Presentation/Speech

13

Homework: Finish
Writing Speech

15

Final Project
Due
&
Class
Presentations

*Bring in Note
Cards
Homework:
Finish
Writing Report

14

Homework:
Practice Speech

*If you are not able to finish the assignments in class, you will need to finish them for homework. It is your
responsibility to ensure you have all the assignments completed by January 14th.

EXAMPLE Outline for Research Report Essay

I.

Introduction:

a. Background information about the topic the reader needs to know to understand your newscast.
List at least 3 things.

1. Involvedinmanycharities
2. MarriedPrinceCharles
3. Sons,WilliamandHarry,continuehercharities
b. Specific part of your topic you will write about.
DianasinvolvementinHALOTRUSTCharity
c. Thesis: What do the authors use to teach the reader about the topic? (Examples, Explanations, or
Textual Features)
Theauthorsofboththesetextsteachthereaderaboutherinvolvementinthecharitythrough
specificexamples.
II.

Body Paragraph 1: Information From Source 1 (YOUR IRB)

a. The author uses

examples
to teach the reader about the subject.
b. What does the source tell you about the specific part of your subject?

QueenofPeoplesHearts
InvolvedinmanycharitiesincludingHALOTrust
Hadanimpactonindividuals
c. Include a piece of text
Therewasntonevictimwhoshedidntleavewithasmileontheirlipsoranewlightintheir
eyes(Krohn86).
d. Explain what the piece of text shows the reader
ThisshowsthatDianawascompassionateandmadeothersfeelbetter.Shewasakindperson
thatwantedtohelpothers.Thisisanexampleofaneyewitnessaccount.

III.

ody Paragraph 2: Information From Source 2

B
a. The author uses
examples
to teach the reader about the subject.

b. What does the source tell you about the specific part of your subject?
-

Dianasinvolvementhighlightthecharity
HersonPrinceHarryisinvolvedinthecharity
c. Include a piece of text


ThelatePrincessDianavisitedminefieldsbeingclearedbyHALOinAngolajustbeforeher
deathin1997,drawingtheworldsattentiontothehorrificlegacyoflandmines(
HALOTrust
Website).
d. Explain what the piece of text shows the reader

Thistextshowssheeducatedthemassesonatopicthatwasunknowntomostoftheworld.
ThiswebsiteshowshowimportantDianawastoinformingothersaboutthistragedy,andthat
PrinceHarrywantstocontinuetosupportthisorganizationinherhonor.

IV.
-

Conclusion:

a. Summarize your essay

ShediedonAugust30,1997
Hersonsarestillinvolvedinhercharities
Sheisrememberedforhercharitablework
b. Connect the texts: What do the texts have in common? Do they have the same information or
different information? Which one provided you with more information on your topic.
ThesetwodifferenttextsinformthereaderaboutherimpactontheHALOTrustcharity
throughspecificexamplesofherinvolvement.
c. Why is this important or relevant today?

ItisimportantbecauseweshouldlearnfromDianaanddocharitableworks.

PrincessDianaResearchReportExample:
Thetwotexts,
BiographyPrincessDiana
and
TheHALOTrustWebsite
,bothhighlightthecharitable
workofthelatePrincessDiana.PrincessDianawasborninEnglandwhereshebecameknownaroundthe
worldbecauseshemarriedPrinceCharles,heirtotheBritishthrone.Throughoutherlifeshewasinvolved
withmanycharitiesandbecameknownastheQueenofPeoplesHearts.PrincessDianassonsWilliamand
Harrycontinuetosupporthercharitiesinherhonor.Dianawasinvolvedwiththischaritythatfocusedonthe
awarenessandremovaloflandminesthroughtheHALOTrust.Theauthorsofboththesetextsteachthe
readeraboutherinvolvementinthecharitythroughspecificexamples.
Inthenovel,
BiographyPrincessDiana
,theauthorfocusesonavarietyofcharities,includingthe
removallandminesinAfricaknownasHALOTrust,Dianawasinvolvedwiththroughoutherlife.Theauthor
teachesthereaderabouthowDianabecameknownastheQueenofpeoplesheartsthroughspecific
exampleslistedinthetext.Forexample,Dianasfriend,RichardAttenborrough,introducedhertotheimpact
activelandmineswerehavingontheworld.Theselandminescausedmanyindividualstobeinjuredorkilled.
Dianabelievedhernotorietywouldhaveapositiveimpactontheawarenessofthiscause.Inthetexta
journalistChristinaLambreflectedonherpresencewiththevictimsoflandminesbysaying,Therewasntone
victimwhoshedidntleavewithasmileontheirlipsoranewlightintheireyes(Krohn86).Thisaccount
informsthereaderthatDianahadasignificantimpactonthevictimsofthecharity.Throughthiseyewitness
account,wecanseethatDianascompassionandkindnessraisedawarenesstothischarity.
Anotheraccount,
TheHALOTrustW
ebsite,reflectsonhowPrincessDianawasinvolvedwiththe
organization.ThewebsiteinformsthereaderthroughspecificexamplesabouthowDianawasanintegralpart
ofraisingawarenessforthisorganization.Theauthorofthewebsitedidthisthroughgivinginformation
focusingonthefactthatPrinceHarryisnowinvolvedintheorganizationinhonorofhismother.Thispress
releaseonthewebsitegivesreadersinformationaboutoneofPrinceHarrysvisitstoAfrica.Inthetextit
states,
ThelatePrincessDianavisitedminefieldsbeingclearedbyHALOinAngolajustbeforeherdeathin
1997,drawingtheworldsattentiontothehorrificlegacyoflandmines(
HALOTrustW
ebsite).Thistextshows

sheeducatedthemassesonatopicthatwasunknowntomostoftheworld.Thiswebsiteshowshowimportant
Dianawastoinformingothersaboutthistragedy,andthatPrinceHarrywantstocontinuetosupportthis
organizationinherhonor.
OverallPrincessDianausedhernotorietyforthegoodofothers.EventhoughDianadiedtragicallyon
August30,1997,herlegacyremainsinthemanycharitableorganizationsshewasapartof.Thesetwo
differenttextsinformthereaderaboutherimpactontheHALOTrustcharitythroughspecificexamplesofher
involvement.ItisimportantthateveryoneoneofusgivesbacktoourcommunityandourworldjustlikeDiana
did.TodaybothWilliamandHarryareinvolvedintheirlatemotherscharitiesasanhonortoher.

EXAMPLE: Outline For The Presentation/Speech

I
.
Introduction of Speech:

Newscaster Greeting:

Goodmorning,andwelcometoTeamWashingtonChannel7News!MynameisMrs.Stauffer,andI
haveanexcitingreportonthelatePrincessDiana.
Background Information About Your Topic: (What does the viewer need to know about your topic?)

MarriedPrinceCharles
KnownasQueenofPeoplesHearts
Hadtwosons:WilliamandHarry

NewgenerationsareexcitedabouttheBritishRoyalFamily
DianawasthebeginningofthenewperspectiveoftheRoyalFamily

II. Interesting Fact 1:

-

Source: Book:
Biography:
Princess Diana
byKatherineKrohn

What did you learn?

PrincessDianadonateditemsfromherwardrobetobesoldforauctioncalledSequinsSave
Lives
-

Why is that interesting to you/your viewers?

Manypeopledonateitemstoavarietyofcharities.Donatingitemsyouarenotusingisagreat
waytogivetoothers.

III. Interesting Fact 2:

- Source:
Press Release: The Halo Trust
- What did you learn?

PrinceHarryhasalotofinvolvementintheHaloTrustnowbecausehismother.Princess
Dianaherselfactuallyvisitedlandminesandhelpremovedthemtomakelandsaferforthe
peoplewholiveandworkthere.
-

Why is that interesting to you/your viewers?

Thischarityhasfoundandremoved1.4millionbombssince1988
IV. Conclusion:
Why is this information in this newscast important?

Needtothinkofothersbeforeourselves.
Challengealltheviewerstothinkofawaytohelpothers
Newscaster Ending:

ThankyoufortuningintoChannel7news.ThisisMrs.Staufferwithyourmorninghistoryreport!

Princess Diana Speech Example:

Goodmorning,andwelcometoTeamWashingtonChannel7News!MynameisMrs.Stauffer,andI
haveanexcitingreportonthelatePrincessDiana.PrincessDianawasborninEnglandwhereshebecame
knownaroundtheworldbecauseshemarriedPrinceCharles,heirtotheBritishthrone.Throughoutherlife
shewasinvolvedwithmanycharitiesandbecameknownastheQueenofPeoplesHearts.
Newgenerations
areexcitedabouttheRoyalsbecauseofthepopularityofhersonWilliamandhiswifeCatherine.Princess
DianawasthebeginningofbringinganewoutlookontheBritishRoyalFamily.Today,Iamgoingtoshare
someinterestingfactsaboutthisiconicindividual.
In
Biography:PrincessDiana
byKatherineKrohn,theauthorgivesinformationaboutamanydifferent
timesPrincessDianawasgivingtowardsothers.OneexamplewaswhenhersonWilliamsuggestedshe
donateitemsfromherfamouswardrobeandauctionthemoffforcharity.DianacalledthisSequinsSave
Lives,andinJune1997,79ofherdressesraised$5.7milliondollarsforcancercharities.Manyindividuals
throughouttheworlddonateitemstoavarietyoforganizationstohelpthoseinneed.
InPressRelease:HaloTrust,theauthorexplainsthatPrinceHarryhasbecomepatrontoacharity
thathismother,PrincessDiana,caredverydeeplyabout.Thischarity,TheHaloTrust,workstoremoveland
minesfromareasinwartorncountrieswherepeopleliveandwork.PrincessDianawasknowntogoto
theselocationsandhelpremovelandminessothatpeoplewouldnthavetoliveinfear.Since1988,this
organizationhasfoundandremovedover1millionbombs.
InconclusionPrincessDianawasagenerousindividualanddeservestoberemembered.Todaymany
individualsfollowthecharitableworksofhersonWilliam,hiswifeCatherine,andhersonHarry.Weshouldall
learnfromtheircharitableworkthatweshouldthinkofothersbeforeourselves.Ichallengealloftheviewersin
2016todonatetheirtimetohelpingacharitableorganization.
ThankyoufortuningintoChannel7news.This
isMrs.Staufferwithyourmorninghistoryreport!

Student Feedback Page

StudentName

1ThingYouLearned

1PieceofPositiveFeedback

NonfictionResearchNotes
Name:
_______________________
Topic:
________________________

Source1:IRBBOOK
Listthetitleandauthorofyourbook:_________________________

Informationfoundinyoursourcethatyouwilluseinyouressay:(Listatleast5things)

QuotationfromtheSource
MLACitation

ExplanationofQuotation

Source2:WebsiteorOnlineDatabase
UsetheDatabasesandWebsiteFoundonDestinythroughtheMediaCenter
Listthetitleandlinktothearticle.

Informationfoundinyoursourcethatyouwilluseinyouressay:(Listatleast5things)

QuotationfromtheSource

ExplanationofQuotation

NonfictionResearchNotes

Name:
Mrs.Stauffer
Topic:
PrincessDianaandTheHALOTrust

Source1:IRBBOOK
Listthetitleandauthorofyourbook:

Biography:PrincessDiana
byKatherine
Krohn

TakeNotesFromtheSource:Includeinformationfoundinyoursourcethatyouwillusein
youressay:(Listatleast5things)
PrincessDianaMarriedPrinceCharlesin1981(51)
Volunteeredforalmost100Organizations(66)
InvolvedintheBritishRedCrossinJanuary1997(84)
Friendscommentedonhereffectonothers(86)
PrincessDianadiedonAugust30,1997inacaraccident(91)

QuotationfromtheSource

ExplanationofQuotation

Therewasntonevictim

Thisaccountinformsthereaderthat

whoshedidntleavewithasmile

Dianahadasignificantimpactonthevictimsof

ontheirlipsoranewlightintheir

thecharity.Throughthiseyewitnessaccount,

eyes(Krohn86).

wecanseethatDianascompassionand

kindnessraisedawarenesstothischarity.

Source2:WebsiteorOnlineDatabase

Listthetitleandlinktothearticle.

http://www.halotrust.org/mediacentre/newspressreleases/pressreleaseprinceharrybecomespatr
onhalotrusts25th

Informationfoundinyoursourcethatyouwilluseinyouressay:(Listatleast5things)

PrinceHarryisinvolvedbecauseofhismother
Dianashowedtheworldthischarity
CharityclearslandminesfromAfrica
Removed1.5millionlandmines
Charityis25yearsold

QuotationfromtheSource

ExplanationofQuotation

ThelatePrincessDiana

Thistextshowssheeducatedthe

visitedminefieldsbeingclearedby

massesonatopicthatwasunknowntomostof

HALOinAngolajustbeforeher

theworld.Thiswebsiteshowshowimportant

deathin1997,drawingtheworlds

Dianawastoinformingothersaboutthis

attentiontothehorrificlegacyof

tragedy,andthatPrinceHarrywantsto

landmines(
HALOTrust
Website). continuetosupportthisorganizationinher

Student Notes Sample:

honor.

NonfictionResearchNotes
Name:
Topic:

BiospheriansjobsinsidetheBiosphere

Source1:IRBBOOK
Listthetitleandauthorofyourbook:
InsideBiosphere2
By,MaryKayCarson

Informationfoundinyoursourcethatyouwilluseinyouressay:(Listatleast5things)
1Biospheriansgardenedandraisedchicken,pigs,andgoatstoeat(17)
2AllBiospherianshadtotraintobecomeplumbers,farmers,electricians,andwater
treatmentexperts(17)
3Biospheriansmonitoredallweatherconditionsandlevelsofgases.(17)
4Biospherianshadnohelpfromtheoutside,theymonitoredalloftheirownmachines.(17)
5Alotoftheplantsthatthescientistsgrewdiedbecauseofthelackofsunlight.(18)

QuotationfromtheSource
MLACitation

ExplanationofQuotation

Theeightbiospherianswere
scientists,engineers,andadoctor.
Buttheyallhadtotraintobecome
plumbers,farmers,electricians,
andwatertreatmentexpertsThe
biospheriansworkedlonghours,
oftenatbackbreakingchores.

(Carson17)

Thisquoteshowssomeofthejobsthatthe
eightbiospherianshadtolearntodoinorderto
beabletoenterBiosphereTwo.Eventhough
someofthescientistshadpriorwork
experiencewiththesejobs,theyallstillhadto
relearnalloftheseskillsinorderfortheir
survival.Foranexample,ifoneofthe
Biospheriansdidn'tknowhowtocorrectlytreat
thewater,thescientistscouldhaveingested
infectedwater.

Source2:WebsiteorOnlineDatabase

UsetheDatabasesandWebsiteFoundonDestinythroughtheMediaCenter
Listthetitleandlinktothearticle.
Sidelights
http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/bic1/BiographiesDetailsPage/BiographiesDetailsWindow?failOverType=&qu
ery=&prodId=BIC1&windowstate=normal&contentModules=&displayquery=&mode=view&displayGro
upName=Biographies&limiter=&u=georgewash_ca&currPage=&disableHighlighting=false&displayGro
ups=&sortBy=&source=&search_within_results=&p=BIC1&action=e&catId=&activityType=&scanId=&
documentId=GALE%7CH1000184404

Informationfoundinyoursourcethatyouwilluseinyouressay:(Listatleast5things)
1Oneofthebiospherianswasinjuredwithinthefirstmonthofstayingthereandshehadto
leavetogetemergencysurgery.(cutoffpartoffingers)
2Manybugsandanimalsthatthescientistsatediedbecauseofthelackofoxygen.
3Manybiospherianshadmentalandsocialbreakdownsbecauseofhowisolatedtheywere
fromtheworldandbecausetheywerekeptinclosequarters.
4Therewasmanyrumorsaboutthisprojectonceitgotout.Manypeoplesaidthattheysaw
thescientistssneakingoutforpizzaatnight,andsaidtherewascultlikepracticinginside
Biosphere2.
5Thebiospherianswerecalledguineapigsbecausetheywerethefirsttestsubjectstolive
inthebiospherefortwoyears.

QuotationfromtheSource

ExplanationofQuotation

Mostnotable,accordingto

Poynter'smemoir,wasamajorsocial
breakdownamongthecrewinthefirstsix
monthsoftheirtwoyearmission.This
resultedintheformationoftwofactionsthat
largelyrefusedtospeaktoeachother.
AccordingtoPoynter,learninghowpeople
copewithextremeisolationand
interdependenceinclosequartersmaywell
constitutethemostsignificantexperimental
findingfromtheproject.

(par.3Poynter)

Student Essay Sample:

Thisquoteshowsthesocialbreakdownsthat
thebiospherianswentthroughwhenthey
enteredthebiospherebetween1991and1993.
Poynterwasoneoftheeightscientiststhat
enteredtheBiosphere,soshewitnessedallof
thesesituationsgoingon.Poynteralsosaidthat
alotofthegroupmemberswouldignoreeach
otherandbecamesociallyisolatedbecauseof
thetightlivingquartersandseeingthesame
thingsandpeopleeveryday.

NewscastReportEssay
Inthetwotexts,
InsideBiosphereTwo,
byMaryKayCarsonandSidelightsbyJanePoynter,both
teachwhatlifewaslikeinsideBiospheretwo.Biospheretwoisalargeglassbuildinginsidethereareall
differenttypesofenvironmentssuchasadesert,rainforest,andevenanocean.In1991,
biospherians(scientiststhatstudyinthebiosphere)enteredtheBiosphereandwereinenclosedinthishabitat
for730days.Thisexperimentwasusedforspaceexplorationtoseeifpeoplewouldbeabletosurviveinan
enclosedandsecludedenvironmentandgrowtheirownfood.Theauthorsofbothofthesetextsusedspecific
examplestoteachthereaderwhatlifewaslikeinsideBiosphere2.
Inthebook,
InsideBiosphere2
,theauthorfocusedonalotofstrugglesthathappenedtothe
biospheriansduringtheirtwoyearintheglassdome.Theauthorusesexamplesonwhatthebiospherianshad
togiveupandlearntobeabletoparticipateinthisexperiment.Forexample,Oneofthebiospherianswasa
doctor,buthehadtolearnallnewjobstobeabletosurvive.Inthebooktheauthorstates,

Theeight
biospherianswerescientists,engineers,andadoctor.Buttheyallhadtotraintobecomeplumbers,farmers,
electricians,andwatertreatmentexpertsThebiospheriansworkedlonghours,oftenatbackbreaking
chores.

(Carson17)Thisquoteshowssomeofthejobsthattheeightbiospherianshadtolearntodoin
ordertobeabletoenterBiosphereTwo.Eventhoughsomeofthescientistshadpriorworkexperiencewith
thesejobs,theyallstillhadtorelearnalloftheseskillsinorderfortheirsurvival.Foranexample,ifoneofthe
Biospheriansdidn'tknowhowtocorrectlytreatthewater,thescientistscouldhaveingestedinfectedwater.
Theauthorteachesthesethingsbyusingspecificexamplesbecausehetoldthereadersexactlywhatthe
Biospherianshadtodoandwhy.

Anothersourcethereaderusedwas,S
ideLightsbyJanePoynter.Theauthorofthisarticletaught
abouttheBiospherethroughexamplestoshowhowthebiospheriansreactedwhentheyfirstenteredthe
Biosphere.Manyofthescientistshadbreakdownsbecausetheyweregoingtobestuckthereforanothertwo
yearsInthearticletheauthorstates,

Mostnotable,accordingtoPoynter'smemoir,wasamajorsocial
breakdownamongthecrewinthefirstsixmonthsoftheirtwoyearmission.Thisresultedintheformationof
twofactionsthatlargelyrefusedtospeaktoeachother.AccordingtoPoynter,learninghowpeoplecopewith

extremeisolationandinterdependenceinclosequartersmaywellconstitutethemostsignificantexperimental
findingfromtheproject.

(par.3Poynter)
Thisquoteshowsthesocialbreakdownsthatthebiospherianswent
throughwhentheyenteredthebiospherebetween1991and1993.Poynterwasoneoftheeightscientiststhat
enteredtheBiosphere,soshewitnessedallofthesesituationsgoingon.Poynteralsosaidthatalotofthe
groupmemberswouldignoreeachotherandbecamesociallyisolatedbecauseofthetightlivingquartersand
seeingthesamethingsandpeopleeveryday.
Intheend,allbiospheriansleftwithnoharmexceptfortheirsevereweightloss.Thetwotextsboth
showthingsthatthebiospherianswentthroughduringthecourseoftwoyears.Thebookandarticlehadmany
similarities,butthereweremoredifferences.Thearticlehadmanyofthesimilarthingsthatthebookhad,butit
extendedonthoseideasandlistedalotmoreinformationabouttheBiosphere.Theexperimentwasasuccess
anditprovidedtheknowledgeofscientiststodayfornewspaceexplorations.Also,thisshowedwhatcould
possiblyhappentopeopleiftheyareextremelysecluded.Thistopicisimportanttodaybecausethestudies
recordedbetween1991and1993canhelpwiththefuturespaceexplorationtotheplanetMars.The
informationfromthesestudiescaninformpeoplewillingtotakethistriponwhattoexpectwhentheywereto
arrive.Also,itwillhelpnarrowthesearchonwhotobringbecausepeoplewhoaresocialandcantlivewithout
theirfriendswouldhaveaneasierchanceofhavingasocialbreakdownthansomeonewhoisnotassocial
anddoesnthavemanyfriends.ThesearesomeofthethingsaboutBiosphereTwoandwhathappensinside.

Students Sample Speech:

NewscastSpeech
Good morning! Im ____________ and thank you for tuning in to Channel Seven News. During this
segment, I will be discussing the topic of Biosphere 2, an Earth on our very planet Earth. Biosphere 2 is an
enclosed glass building in Oracle, Arizona. The outside looks quite normal but the inside is what sets it apart
from other buildings. Inside biosphere 2 is 5 different areas that are all around the world. There is an ocean,
a rainforest, a savannah, a wetland and its very own desert. In 1991, 8 biospherians entered the biosphere
for a scientific experiment, but the catch was that they were not allowed to leave for 730 days (2 years).
Biospherians were also forced to grow all of their own food, and had to kill animals living in Biosphere 2, all
for a means of survival.
In the book
Inside the Biosphere by Mary Kay Carson, The author gives information on all of the
different jobs that the biospherians had to learn in order to be able to enter the biosphere. Some of the
jobs that the Biospherians had to learn was to be a plumber, a farmer, an electrician, and a water treatment
expert. Also, one of the biospherians was a doctor, so in order to keep everyone safe, he had to go back to
medical school and learn more possible situations that could happen. Originally, I thought that one person
would have to know how to farm, and one person had to be a plumber, but really, each one of them had to
learn each thing precisely to stay alive.
In the article
Sidelights by Jane Poynter, the author talked from a first hand experience about what
happened to the Biospherians during their time inside Biosphere 2. During the first six months, some of the
scientist started to stop talking and became socially isolated, because of the lack of mingling. The
biospherians even teamed up against each other, so one team would only supply food for themselves.
When I first read this, thought that it was interesting because I thought that some of the Biospherians
would have started to isolate themselves prior to their journey in the biosphere, to plan for what it would
be like inside Biosphere 2, but it seems like some of them didnt take the isolation well.
In todays research this will help improve for the trip to mars. Thats right- a study from 1991 will
benefit NASA on their one way trip to mars in 2030. This will help because the Biospherians actions, and
survived will help them in trying to create a new living situation on Mars. These studies will help ordinary
people understand what life will be like on mars and what you would need to do everyday. In conclusion, I
found this scientific topic to be very interesting because It was something that I had never heard about, so I
thought that this would be a very interesting topic. Once again, Im __________________ and thanks for
tuning in to Channel seven news, have a great day!