Roads in a Rainforest

Part One: Graphic Organizer
For this assignment, you will take a close look at your research, and then summarize ideas about the
question: Should we build roads in the rainforests?
1. Use the table to record the effect of building roads in the rainforest. Consider the effects on each
group or part of Earth affected.
2. For each group or part that is affected, decide whether the effect of building the roads is positive
or negative. Record that information in the chart.
Who or what is affected?
How will building a road through the
rainforest affect the people or
system?
Is the effect positive, negative,
or both? Explain why.
People who live in the
rainforest
Rainforest ecosystem
Plants and animals
Earth’s climate
Logging companies
Tourists
Student Guide (continued)
Copyright © Edgenuity Inc.
Part Two: Position Paper
What’s your position about building roads in the rainforest? Write a paper that explains your position. Use
facts from your research to support your position. How would humans and different parts of Earth be
affected by the construction? Is there any argument against your position? You should write two
paragraphs. One paragraph gives background about the problem, and the other tells your position and
supports it. Your work should be free from spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammatical errors.
Student Guide (continued)
Copyright © Edgenuity Inc.
Part Three: Group Discussion and Evaluation
General guidelines for group discussion:
 Prepare for the group discussion by reviewing the notes from your research, your graphic
organizer, and your position paper.
 Think of a question you could pose to the group that would help you understand more about
why they took the position they did.
 Be respectful of your group members, listening carefully when they speak and asking good
follow-up questions.
 Encourage all group members to participate. You don’t need to read your papers to each
other. Instead, summarize the most important points.
 Take notes during the discussion to help you respond to the prompts that follow.
To evaluate your discussion, answer the following prompts and questions. Responses should be two
to three complete sentences that are free from spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammatical
errors.
1. Describe a time in the group discussion when you referred to the notes you took, the graphic
organizer you filled out, and your position paper.
2. Describe a time in the group discussion when someone cited evidence from their research to
make a point.
3. Describe a time in the group discussion when someone provided an argument against your
position. What arguments could be made against your position?
4. Explain how the graphic organizer helped you formulate your decision and participate in the
discussion.