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UNDERSTANDING
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
This assignment
can be completed individually or in groups of 3 - 4 people. One copy per
group will be handed in. The assignment must be hand-signed by all group
members.
1. Write
a paragraph on the definition of the term "environment". Your
discussion should include:
- Origin
of the word
- Alternate
definitions
- Your
view on the definition
2. Define
the phrase "environmental problem."
3. Why are
environmental problems currently on the forefront of the news?
4. List
ten environmental problems that concern you.
5. Criteria
are often established to define, classify, and prioritize environmental
problems.List at least five criteria that you would use to classify environmental
problems.
6. What
are some of the values or attitudes these criteria express?
7. Rank
the criterion importance as follows in a summary table:
- List
the criterion.
- Provide
a brief description of the criterion.
- Describe
how the criterion can be measured.
- Rank
each criterion by assigning a weight to represent its importance. (You
have 100 points to divide up among the criteria to decide which should
get the most attention. Criteria with higher points are considered more
important.)
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Criterion
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Description
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Measurement
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Weight
(sum
= 100)
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| 1.
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| 2. |
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8. Based
on the above criteria importance weights, rank the ten environmental problems
as follows:
- List
the environmental problem.
- Identify
the criteria that apply.
- Describe
how the criteria can be measured.
- Based
on the criterion importance ranks, calculate a weighted rank. (The weighted
ranks should be calculated on a 100-point scale. A value of 100 would
indicate that the environmental issue was assigned the highest possible
amount of points for each of the identified criteria.)
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Environmental
Problem
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Applicable
Criteria
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Criteria
Measurement
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Weight
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| 1.
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| 2. |
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9. Which
three of these environmental problems would you consider most important
for the President of the United States? What are your reasons for choosing
these?
10. Now,
suppose you have been elected as the Mayor and the city's environment
is one of your priorities for taking action. Would the above answers change?
Briefly describe how and why.
Go
to Understanding Environmental Issues Supplement
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