To some, that we are in 2013 and still debating the very existence of climate change is ludicrous—and dangerous. Others are only too happy to cast doubt on what they perceive to be a deliberate (and expensive) hoax. And for a large swath of the American public, climate change often illicitness a collective “meh.” For a variety of reasons, Americans generally believe they have more pressing needs than melting polar ice caps. For this assignment, you will create an infographic illustrating the climate change debate in America today. This snapshot should give your viewer—whom you should assume has no prior knowledge of the issue—a clear idea about the current state of the debate in America. Just as in traditional essays, you will require a central argument (thesis) to guide your design.
To populate your graphic, draw from at least ten of the
following sources:
- “Why on Earth Do We Listen to Those Who Cry Wolf?”
(OnEarth)
- "Why a Watermelon Tells You What's Wrong with the
Climate Debate" (Guardian)
- “How Green are Millennials?” (NewGeography)
- “Why Republicans Doubt Global Warming” (The Week)
- “We Are All Climate Change Deniers” (Time)
- “Global Warming & Climate Change Myths”
(SkepticalScience)
- "Christianity and Climate Change: The Relationship between
God and Green" (Guardian)
- “Climate Change: Key Data Points from Pew Research” (Pew
Research Center)
- “News Agencies Begin Ignoring Climate Change, Because America
Doesn't Care” (PolicyMic)
- “Climate Change: 'Hoax' or Crime of the Century?” (Forbes)
- “Al Gore: Climate of Denial” (Rolling Stone)
- “Climate Change: How Do We Know?” (NASA)
- “Peer-Reviewed Survey Finds Majority of Scientists
Skeptical of Global Warming Crisis” (Forbes)
- “Winter 2013 Freezes Growth of American Acceptance of
Global Warming” (Brookings Institute)
- “Poll: Majority of Republicans Believe Global Warming a
Hoax” (The Hill)
- “No Need to Panic about Global Warming” (Wall Street
Journal)
All sources are located in the eR.
To create your infographic, you may utilize any one of
the following programs:
Requirements:
- Ten sources minimum
- Include a works cited page
A well-executed infographic will:
- Have a title that articulates the goal of the assignment
- Have a concise controlling argument outlining the current
climate change debate
- Visually translate perspectives and facts in a clear and
enlightening manner
- Stay within the parameters of the climate change debate
Due: DRAFT 1—TH 09.19 (BRING THREE COPIES); FINAL DRAFT—TU
09.24 (ATTACH DRAFT 1 TO BACK)*
*For up to five points extra credit: Please attach a one
paragraph summary of your experience completing this assignment. Have you ever
done anything like this before? What were the most challenging parts? What were
the least challenging aspects? What changes would you recommend for me in the future?
What should stay the same? Finally, which program worked best for you?
