Question Description

Directions: Be sure to make an electronic copy of your answer before submitting it to Ashworth College for grading. Unless otherwise stated, answer in complete sentences, and be sure to use correct English spelling and grammar. Sources must be cited in APA format. Your response should be four (4) pages in length; refer to the “Assignment Format” page for specific format requirements.

In your course, turn to Lesson 4. Skim through it to refresh your memory. Next, carefully study and review the section titled, “Ecological Challenges Facing Humanity.” Skim through that and then focus on the topic of deforestation.

Relying solely on the material in your course and using your own words, write a short descriptive essay that defines and explains selected environmental impacts of deforestation. As you write, imagine you are talking to a friend who has no knowledge of this topic. In short, write the way you speak, using a conversational tone. Also, try to alternate short sentences and longer sentences to make your writing more readable.

Be sure to create a title and cite yourself as the author. For example:

Environmental Impacts of Deforestation
Jennifer Croft

Your essay should include five paragraphs, as follows:

  • Paragraph 1 is your lead paragraph. It will contain an overview of what you have to say about these three topics: disruption of the carbon cycle, disruption of the hydrologic (water) cycle, and the reduction of species diversity.
  • Paragraphs 2, 3, and 4, are your body paragraphs.
    • Paragraph 2 should describe how deforestation disrupts the carbon cycle.
    • In paragraph 3, you’ll write about how deforestation disrupts the hydrologic (water) cycle.
    • In paragraph 4, you’ll explain how deforestation is related to declining species diversity.
  • Paragraph 5 is your conclusion paragraph. Here, you can describe how you feel about the three effects of deforestation discussed, and what we might do about it.

It’s permissible to use direct quotes from your reading, but don’t use too many. One to three such quotes should be your limit. Be sure to put a direct quote in quotation marks. For example: According to Smith, “Carbon dioxide is both our friend and our enemy.”

Begin by writing a first draft. Then, edit and rework your material to make it clear and concise. After you have reached a final draft, proofread the essay one last time to locate and correct grammar and spelling errors.

Hide Rubrics

Rubric Name: Assignment 4 Rubric

This table lists criteria and criteria group name in the first column. The first row lists level names and includes scores if the rubric uses a numeric scoring method.CriteriaExemplary

Satisfactory

Unsatisfactory

Unacceptable

Lead Paragraph

10 points

Student provides a clear, logical overview of the disruption of the carbon cycle, disruption of the hydro (water) cycle, and the reduction of species diversity.

8 points

Student provides a mostly clear, logical overview of the disruption of the carbon cycle, disruption of the hydro (water) cycle, and the reduction of species diversity.

5 points

Student provides a weak or unclear overview of the disruption of the carbon cycle, disruption of the hydro (water) cycle, and the reduction of species diversity.

0 points

Student provides a poor overview of the disruption of the carbon cycle, disruption of the hydro (water) cycle, and the reduction of species diversity.

/ 10

Paragraph 2: How deforestation disrupts the carbon cycle

20 points

Student provides a clear, logical description of how deforestation disrupts the carbon cycle.

15 points

Student provides a mostly clear, logical description of how deforestation disrupts the carbon cycle.

10 points

Student provides a weak or unclear description of how deforestation disrupts the carbon cycle.

0 points

Student provides a poor description of how deforestation disrupts the carbon cycle.

/ 20

Paragraph 3: How deforestation disrupts the hydro (water) cycle

20 points

Student provides a clear, logical description of how deforestation disrupts the hydro (water) cycle.

15 points

Student provides a mostly clear, logical description of how deforestation disrupts the hydro (water) cycle.

10 points

Student provides a weak or unclear description of how deforestation disrupts the hydro (water) cycle.

0 points

Student provides a poor description of how deforestation disrupts the hydro (water) cycle.

/ 20

Paragraph 4: How deforestation is related to declining species diversity

20 points

Student provides a clear, logical description of how deforestation is related to declining species diversity.

15 points

Student provides a mostly clear, logical description of how deforestation is related to declining species diversity.

10 points

Student provides a weak or unclear description of how deforestation is related to declining species diversity.

0 points

Student provides a poor description of how deforestation is related to declining species diversity.

/ 20

Paragraph 5: Conclusion

10 points

Student provides a clear, logical explanation of how he/she feels about the three (3) effects of deforestation and what could be done about it.

8 points

Student provides a mostly clear, logical explanation of how he/she feels about the three (3) effects of deforestation and what could be done about it.

5 points

Student provides a weak or unclear explanation of how he/she feels about the three (3) effects of deforestation and what could be done about it.

0 points

Student provides a poor explanation of how he/she feels about the three (3) effects of deforestation and what could be done about it.

/ 10

Mechanics – Grammar, Punctuation, Spelling

5 points

Student makes no errors in grammar, punctuation, or spelling that distract the reader from the content.

4 points

Student makes 1-2 errors in grammar, punctuation, or spelling that distract the reader from the content.

2 points

Student makes 3-4 errors in grammar, punctuation, or spelling that distract the reader from the content.

0 points

Student makes more than 4 errors in grammar, punctuation, or spelling that distract the reader from the content.

/ 5

Writing Style – Organization, Transitions, Tone

5 points

The assignment is written with excellent organization, thoughtful transitions, and the appropriate tone.

4 points

This writing assignment is adequately organized, but has some errors in the transitions or the tone.

2 points

This writing assignment is poorly organized, or it contains ineffective transitions and/or inappropriate tone.

0 points

This writing assignment displays little to no organization or transitions, and/or does not use the appropriate tone.

/ 5

APA Format – Margins, Font, Spacing, Headings and cover page.

5 points

The margins, font, spacing, headings, and cover page are all formatted properly.

4 points

There are 1-2 errors in the formatting of the margins, font, spacing, headings, or cover page.

2 points

There are 3-4 errors in the formatting of the margins, font, spacing, headings, or cover page.

0 points

There are more than 4 errors in the formatting of the margins, font, spacing, headings, or cover page.

/ 5

APA Format – Citations and References

5 points

All sources used for quotes and facts are credible and cited, and the references and in-text citations are all properly formatted. Each reference has an in-text citation and in-text citation has a reference.

4 points

All sources used for quotes and facts are credible and cited, but slight errors are present in the format of the in-text citations or references. Or there may be one in-text citation or reference missing.

2 points

Some sources used for quotes and facts are either not credible or there are significant errors in the in-text citations and/or references. Or there are multiple missing in-text citations or references.

0 points

The sources used for quotes and facts are not credible and/or not cited. The in-text citations and/or references are not present.

/ 5

Total

— / 100