Global Warming Essay

Format (10 points):

- Cover page with name, class period, date, and title
- At least three full pages typed, double-spaced, not including cover page.
- 12-point Times New Roman font.
- 1-inch margins
- Works cited page must be included and formatted correctly (use easybib.com)

Background Section (40 points):
- Explain the overall process of global warming.
o How does it work?
o What are the major greenhouse gases and where do they come from? Include
both natural and manmade sources.

- Explain historical temperature changes
o How many ice ages have we had? When did they occur?
o Explain the Medieval warming period and the little ice age
o Describe how global temperature, carbon dioxide, and methane levels have
changed over the course of human history. Explain reasons for these changes.

- Explain consequences that are occurring right now as a result of global warming.
These should include:
o Coral reef bleaching
o Increased droughts
o Longer and stronger hurricanes
o Sea level rising
o Ocean temperature increasing
o Ocean acidification

Opinion Section (50 points)

- What effects have humans had on the atmosphere? How does this relate to
temperature change and climate?

- How fast is the global temperature rising? Is this part of a normal cycle or due to
human influences?

- What other factors, besides the greenhouse effect, could account for some of the
climate and temperature variations weve seen? Example: Increased solar activity

- During the Inconvenient Truth movie, Al Gore describes global warming as a moral
issue and our carbon dioxide emissions as deeply unethical. Do you agree? Is this a
moral issue? What should we as humans do about it?


Objective Articles To Read for a Background on Global Warming

Earth 2100: The Effects of Greenhouse Gases
Excellent article about global warming, its causes and effects.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/indepth_coverage/science/globalwarming/map.html

Wikipedia
Good summary of the global warming controversy. Dont use this as a direct source, but a starting point.
Take a look at some of the articles they reference and footnote.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming_controversy

US EPA Global Warming Site
The official website on global warming from the EPA. Contains the most recent facts and figures about
climate change.
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/

Global Warming Frequently Asked Questions
This is a last of FAQs published by NOAA, a government agency that is in charge of much of the global
climate change research.
http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/globalwarming.html

Videos To Watch for Ideas From Both Sides

The Most Terrifying Video You Will Ever See
Presents arguments for and against taking early action against global climate change.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zORv8wwiadQ

20/20 John Stossel The Global Warming Debate
ABC news special about the opposing views of global warming.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOvCCTEfypk

CNN Debate: Bill Nye vs. Richard Lindzen
Bill Nye the Science Guy debates Richard Lindzen, a meteorology professor and global warming skeptic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McsZ1U20W0M

Persuasive Articles (Global warming is completely caused by human actions)

Global Warming Myths and Facts (Environmental Defense Fund)
http://www.edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=1011

Official Inconvenient Truth Website: Facts & Evidence
http://www.climatecrisis.net/thescience/index.html

Persuasive Articles (Global warming is a hoax or due to natural causes)

Top 10 Global Warming Myths
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=19468

Global Warming Hoax: Facts and Fictions of Al Gores Inconvenient Truth
www.globalwarminghoax.com/news.php?item.11.4