APES Summer Assignment

In case you did not receive it or lose it or whatever...

1. Read The World Without Us by Alan Weisman and an environmental science themed novel of your choice (see below for suggestions). Then use what you have learned from these books to develop and support (with textual evidence) a nuanced claim in response to this question, “Is humankind bad for the Earth?” Think about the impacts that humans have had on Earth, its environments, and the other organisms that inhabit them. Is the impact good? Bad? Somewhere in between? Are there efforts that humans can make to change their impact upon the Earth? Keep these questions in mind while reading and writing. NOTE: The fictional selections below don’t always take place on Earth so feel free to interpret “Earth” as “the planet humans are living on.”

Your essay should be at least three pages in length and contain APA/MLA formatted citations as well as a bibliography. A paper copy of the completed essay is due in class on Thursday, September 4^th. Look for a rubric on the class website relatively soon. Parallels can be drawn between fiction and reality and predictions can be made, but remember that when discussing a work of fiction the evidence is at best speculative (though some novels are very thoroughly researched) and more reflective or indicative of humanity’s attitudes, values, etc.

Options/suggestions for Environmental Science Fiction novels:

Dune by Frank Herbert	Shipbreaker by Paolo Bacigalupi
Tuf Voyaging by George R. R. Martin	The Precipice by Ben Bova
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood	Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson
Forty Signs of Rain by Kim Stanley Robinson	Ecotopia by Ernest Callenbach
The Color of Distance by Amy Thomson	The Quiet War by Paul McAuley
Energized by Edward M. Lerner	Antarctica by Kim Stanley Robinson

I suggest that you research these titles and choose one that seems most interesting and appropriate for you. Some of these are personal favorites while others are books about which I have heard great feedback and am looking forward to reading. If you have another choice that is not listed, then feel free to email me about it.

2. Brush up on your knowledge of geography. Environmental science involves discussing environmental issues throughout the world, so a good working knowledge of world geography is crucial. You must know the names of and approximate locations on a map of the following:

·      All 7 continents (North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Antarctica)

·      All oceans (Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Arctic)

·      Major seas and lakes (Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Mediterranean Sea, Arabian Sea, Black Sea, all 5 Great Lakes, Caspian Sea, and Aral Sea)

·      Major rivers and river systems (Amazon, Nile, Mississippi (also Missouri and Ohio rivers), Yangtze, Ganges, and Yellow)

·      Major mountain chains (Rockies, Andes, Appalachians, Alps, Urals, and Himalayas)

·      Major world cities (New York, Istanbul, Mexico City, London, Tokyo, Johannesburg, Beijing, Santiago, Mumbai, Sao Paulo, Moscow, Lagos, Bogotá, Cairo, and Shanghai)

·      Students should also be able to find the equator and discern latitude from longitude

Below is a world map that you can fill out as you see fit in order to serve as a reference. There will be a geography quiz within the first few days of school.

3. Review and sharpen basic math skills. See the reminder information and practice problems. There will be a quiz on the metric system, percentages, units and converting, and scientific notation during the first few days of school. Calculators will not be allowed as they are not allowed AP Environmental Science exam.

In addition, the supplies that you will need for science class are as follows:

- 3 ring binder (1” in width should suffice)           - Writing utensils (obviously)

- A set of dividers                                                    - Ruler

- Looseleaf                                                               - Quad ruled (graph paper) composition book*

NOTE: It is completely acceptable (and environmentally friendly!) to continue to use your quad ruled composition book from last year provided that you can find it and it is in useable condition.

Completing these assignments and entering next semester in the right frame of mind and with some background knowledge is very important. You need to be reading, thinking, working, and writing over the summer in order to be prepared for class and to build better habits for college. Failure to complete the summer assignments or prepare for class in September could result in dismissal from AP Environmental Science. If you can’t read two books over the summer, learn/relearn some geography, and make sure you are competent with basic math, then are you really ready for a college level class?

Enjoy your summer!