InformationQuest

Scenario | Task | Product | Rubric

Scenario

For the Christmas Drive, your class has raised $500. Your teacher said that half of the money will go to local needy families and the other half will go to a different worthy cause. Your job is to persuade your teacher that your pet cause is the worthiest to receive a donation. Research information about a cause you feel strongly. Write a one page essay to convince your teacher that your cause is the one worthiest to receive the classes' hard earned cash. Your teacher will choose the winning cause.

Task

1. Choose a cause which interests you. Some ideas follow:

Gambling addiction
Clean water
Anti-smoking
Drunk driving
Human rights
Humane treatment of animals
AIDS research
Abolish the death penalty
Save the rain forests
Endangered species
Or one of your choice approved by your teacher

2. Research your topic using the following resources:

Step 1:
Go to
The Benet Library Web Page
http://www.benet.org
Click on Students Resources, then Library.
Under library you will find many different resources. For this assignment click on
EbscoHost. Find two magazine articles about your topic.

Step 2:
Also on the Benet web page, go to Internet Search Engines. Click on FindSpot. Click on AltaVista. Type in your search statement. Find two Web sites.

Step 3:
Reduce Netscape Navigator by clicking on the minus sign in the upper right hand corner.

Step 4:
Click on Student Programs, then Library Programs to access the Benet CD-ROM programs and Benet Card Catalog.
Go to SIRS. Find one magazine article.
Go to The Chicago Tribune. Find two newspaper articles.
Go to Benet Card Catalog. Find one book.

Product

Type a one page essay convincing your teacher that your cause is the worthiest.

Answer the following questions in your essay:

Why is this a problem?
Why do you feel strongly about it?
What kind of research/work is being done to remedy the problem?
To what organization can you send the donation?
What will the organization do with the money?

You must use a variety of resources, including books, magazine articles, and Web sites.

All articles, books, and Web sites used must be cited in proper bibliographic form following the Benet Style Manual.

Fill out a Web site evaluation form, available from your teacher or the librarian, for each Web site used.

Rubric

Explanation full Explanation ok Explanation vague Explanation absent

Why is this a problem?

Why do you feel strongly about this?

What is being done to remedy problem?

To what organization will the donation be sent?

What will the organization do with the donation?

Teachers: Download a copy of the student worksheet that accompies this MineQuest. You will need Adobe Acrobat to view this file.

	For the Christmas Drive, your class has raised $500. Your teacher said that half of the money will go to local needy families and the other half will go to a different worthy cause. Your job is to persuade your teacher that your pet cause is the worthiest to receive a donation. Research information about a cause you feel strongly. Write a one page essay to convince your teacher that your cause is the one worthiest to receive the classes' hard earned cash. Your teacher will choose the winning cause.

	Explanation full	Explanation ok	Explanation vague	Explanation absent
Why is this a problem?
Why do you feel strongly about this?
What is being done to remedy problem?
To what organization will the donation be sent?
What will the organization do with the donation?