The 2000 World Rainforest Summit: A Role Playing Debate & Portfolio

(Midterm Examination Activity & Assignment)

 

The Scenario

It has been estimated that by the year 2050, virtually all of the world=s rainforests will be deforested.  As the Athe lungs of the planet,@ the world=s rainforests are crucial to the survival and health of all humankind and of the species of plants and animals with whom we share this fragile planet.  At the beginning of the new millennium, scientists around the world have come to the realization that we must act together on a global basis to decide upon the future of the world=s rainforests.  Will we decide to save them and the species and potential medicines they contain?  Will we decide to exploit them to spur on the global economy and provide resources to the world?  Will we decide an alternative strategy?  Whatever actions are taken, we must choole a global solution.  Whatever actions are taken must be implemented within the next 50 years.

 

The Persona or Character You Will Become

You will assume the persona of a ARainforest Character@ who represents a special interest group with ties to the rainforest.  For example, you could be a Rubber Tapper, an Indigenous Person, a Representative of an International Timber Company, a Miner of Raw Materials, and Anti-Narcotics Officer, or a Pharmaceutical Company Drug Developer.  The list is almost endless.  You must take on the persona of your chosen character through reading and research of the issues involved with the rainforest and your character=s relationship to it.  You will represent your character=s special interest group and views at The 2000 World Rainforest Summit in a debate to decide upon the fate of the rainforests of the world.

 

The 2000 World Rainforest Summit: A Role Playing Debate

The 2000 World Rainforest Summit is a role playing debate in which students, representing ARainforest Characters,@ must represent the views and interests of their characters and/or special interest groups at a world summit to decide upon the fate of the world=s rainforests.  The student must: 1) read the assigned readings on Forests & Biodiversity, 2) assume a character, 3) research the role and its special relationship to the rainforest, 4) represent the character and the character=s interests by participating verbally and electronically in the classroom and online portions of the summit and contributing substance and meaning to the debate, 5) create a 5-page written Portfolio which describes the character and his/her special interests and relationship to the rainforest; the Portfolio may be looked upon as your character=s Position Statement, 6) post your Position Statement to the online discussion board the week before the actual summit and engage in an online discussion about the various postings.

 

The Portfolio

The Portfolio is a 5-page (double-spaced, 1" margins) typewritten document containing the following information: 1) character & place of origin, 2) description of the character=s role & relationship to the rainforest, 3) character=s position on thhe rainforest debate, 4) items on which the character is willing & unwilling to compromise, 5) description of the character=s positive & negative relationships with at least two other characters or interest groups, 6) results of outcomes, both positive and negative, for the fate of your character.  In your Portfolio, you must make use of mult-disciplinary resources-part of what you will be evaluated on is your ability to integrate different perspectives and resources.  All information in the Portfolio must be based on original research & must contain clear bibliographical references AND website URLs that are documented at the end of the Portfolio following a standard citation format.

The Rainforest Debate and Portfolio Grading Procedure

 

Attendance at Rainforest Debate in Class (9 pts)

 

Participation in Rainforest Debate in Class (9 pts)

 

Character & Place of Origin (9 pts)

 

Description of the character=s role & relationship to the rainforest (9pts)

 

Character=s position on the rainforest debate (9 pts)

 

Items on which the character is willing & unwilling to compromise (9 pts)

 

Description of the character=s positive & negative relationships with at least two other characters or interest groups (9 pts)

 

Results of outcome, both positive and negative, for the fate of your character (9 pts)

 

Multi-disciplinary resources-part of what you will be evaluated on is your ability to integrate different perpectives and resources (9 pts)

 

Portfolio must be based on original research (9 pts)

 

Clear bibliographical references AND website URLs that are documented at the end of the Portfolio following a standard citation format (9 pts)

 

Name on Paper (1 pt)

 

Total (100 possible pts)