Assingments

SCI 220 Milestone One Guidelines and Rubric

Overview: The Final Project for this course is a research paper on the energy mix of the United States. Throughout this course, we review fossil fuel energies, renewable energies, and the environmental impacts of all energies. Your task is to research and write a paper that looks at the historical and current U.S. energy mix, explains the issues with the current mix, and proposes a viable energy solution that balances the needs of consumers and the environmental impact of current and future use.

In this assignment, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following course outcomes:

 Critically examine current topics in energy production and use

 Demonstrate knowledge of issues associated with energy

 Describe the link between energy use and environmental issues

 Explain how the decisions people make regarding energy impact the environment

Prompt: The most desirable attributes for the future of the U.S. energy supply are:

 Affordability

 Stability of the resources

 The “green” element of the resources (clean both in extraction/development and use)

 Security of the resources (the resource is domestic rather than provided by other countries)

Considering the attributes listed above, write a paper that reviews past and current energy use, and explains the issues with the current energy mix. Incorporate what you have learned in this course, as well as your independent investigation.

Specifically, you must address the critical elements from the final project as listed below:

I. U.S. Energy Mix A. Relate the historical (1950–1990) mix of energy consumption in the United States. As a starting point, visit the U.S. Energy

Information Administration webpage summarizing energy sources for electricity in the United States. Specifically, speak on the non-renewable resources of coal, petroleum (oil), and natural gas, and the renewable resources of solar, wind, and hydropower. Cite your sources.

B. Describe how the U.S. energy mix has adjusted since 2010 to the present with respect to both non-renewable (coal, petroleum, natural gas) and renewable (solar, wind, hydropower) resources. This will be your description of the current U.S. energy mix. Cite your sources.

C. Explain the issues with the current U.S. energy mix and the effect on the environment. Cite your sources.

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Rubric

Guidelines for Submission: Your milestone paper must follow these formatting guidelines: double spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font, one- inch margins, and discipline-appropriate citations. Page length requirements: 3–4 pages, excluding title and reference pages.

Critical Elements Proficient (100%) Needs Improvement (65%) Not Evident (0%) Value

Energy Mix: History

Accurately relates the historical mix of U.S. energy consumption

Relates the historical mix of U.S. energy consumption, but explanation is cursory or contains inaccuracies

Does not relate the historical mix of U.S. energy consumption

30

Energy Mix: Current

Accurately describes the current mix of U.S. energy resources

Describes the current mix of U.S. energy resources, but description contains inaccuracies

Does not describe the current mix of U.S. energy resources

30

Energy Mix: Issues

Accurately explains the issues with the current U.S. energy mix and the effect on the environment

Explains the issues with the current U.S. energy mix and the effect on the environment, but explanation contains inaccuracies

Does not explain the issues with the current U.S. energy mix and the effect on the environment

30

Articulation of Response Submission has no major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization

Submission has major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that negatively impact readability and articulation of main ideas

Submission has critical errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that prevent understanding of ideas

10

Total 100%

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