Investigative Mini-Homework #1: Recent Disasters
The investigative mini-homework assignments require you to investigate an assigned topic using any means at your disposal, with an emphasis on popular culture. No written report is required for a mini-homework; however, there will be some sort of product to demonstrate that you have completed the homework. This may involve emailing a response to the instructor, being involved in class discussions (you WILL be called upon), or presenting electronic materials in class (including images, videos, etc.). Mini-homeworks cannot be handed in late.
Your first mini-homework will involve establishing the facts of a few of the more recent disasters that afflicted various nations around the world. You will be required to find at least one news article available online that describes the event. Read the article and summarize it into a "newsbite" (a few sentences) that capture the main aspects of the "story." Do not copy text directly from any website you read. You MUST put the newsbite into your own words.
Your response must be submitted to Blackboard BEFORE CLASS on Thursday, August 26th. There will be in-class discussion on these events during class that day.
Recent Disaster Events:
* EARTHQUAKE: M7.0 Haiti earthquake (12 January, 2010) - 222,570 fatalities. The Big Picture Image Gallery
* MUDFLOWS: Northwestern China, Gansu Province (August 2010) - 1700 fatalities. The Big Picture Image Gallery
* FLOODS: Pakistan during the 2010 monsoon season (July-August, 2010) - 1400 fatalities. The Big Picture Image Gallery | Gallery 2
* WILDFIRES: Russian wildfires and air-quality hazard (July-August, 2010) - 50 fatalities. The Big Picture Image Gallery
* VOLCANIC ERUPTION: Eyjafjallajökull volcano, Iceland (March-April, 2010) - zero fatalities. The Big Picture Image Gallery
This mini-homework will be worth 10 points.
DUE DATE: Due before class on Thursday, August 26th.
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