Discussion Topic: Week 8 Discussion: Second Human Impact Week 8 Discussion: Second Human Impact
Getting Started
This discussion follows the same format as your Week 6 Discussion: First Human Impact, but it will focus on a different set of impacts.
- First, go to the , and carefully read the Directions and Guidelines and Policies sections.
- Choose an impact under the Approved Human Impacts to Choose From list for Week 8, observe the impact in your surroundings, and take the two required original photos.
- Write a cohesive 2 to 3-paragraph reflection that fully meets all expectations outlined in the Directions and the Guidelines and Policies.
Directions for Initial Post (15 points): Due Wednesday
Share Your Reflection in a New Reply
Before posting, review the Key Remindersbelow. Then select Reply and use the Rich Content Editor to format your post.
- Include a heading that clearly identifies your impact from the list (for example, Impact: Urbanization)
- Below the heading, paste your full written reflection.
- Embed your photo(s) directly into your reply: select the Images icon, choose Upload Image, and select your JPG photo(s).
- Bold your module page references.
Photo 1 must be visible in your discussion post for credit. Photo 2 (showing your face) is required for credit but does not need to be shared with the class. If you prefer, you may attach Photo 2 to an assignment comment for Prof. Kokorowski only. Both photos are required for credit by the assignment deadline, and photos cannot be accepted through the Canvas Inbox or email.
Except for Photo 2, all text and images must be visible in your post.
Directions for One Peer Reply (5 points): Due Thursday
After you post your initial reply, you can view your classmates posts. Please reply directly to one classmate. Choose someone who has not yet received a reply so that everyone is included. If all posts already have at least one reply when you submit yours, you may respond to anyone.
- Identify one or two specific environmental effects that your classmate discussed that concern you the most and explain why.
- Choose two specific mitigation strategies from the relevant module page that you think would help reduce the environmental effect(s) that you identified as being the most concerning. Depending on their impact, you will refer to Module 13: What Can We Do About Marine Pollution? or Module 15: What Can We Do About Climate Change?
- Briefly explain what your two strategies involve and why you think they would be effective.
- Reference the specific mitigation page that you used.
Build on the conversation rather than repeating what has already been stated.
Only reply to posts that analyze an impact from the approved list for this assignment. Replies to impacts not on the approved list cannot earn credit because the impact does not meet the assignment requirements.
Key Reminders and Grading
Work that relies on outside wording or explanations, even if edited, often introduces language or descriptions that do not match how concepts are presented in our course. This can result in the submission earning a zero on the assignment, even when some of the original ideas come from class content.
The simplest way to meet all requirements is to refer only to our course content, do all of the writing on your own, and support your explanations with at least three bolded, specific module page references.
These reminders highlight the most common reasons students lose credit. Review them carefully before submitting.
- You must choose an impact from the list of Approved Impacts to Choose From. Reflections that focus on an impact not included in the approved list will earn a zero because they are not relevant to the assignment.
- You must include at least three bolded, specific module page references that directly support your explanations.
- Module page references that do not directly support your explanations do not meet assignment requirements and may result in reduced credit or a zero.
- Including a module reference that does not correspond to our course content will result in a zero on the assignment.
- Posts that include no specific module page references will earn a zero on the post because they do not demonstrate the use of course concepts or allow verification of where the information came from.
- Photo 1 and Photo 2 (showing your face) are required to earn credit on the assignment. Missing one or both photos by the deadline will result in a zero on the assignment. Aside from Photo 2, all text and images must be visible in your post; do not attach files or links. Posts that include links or attachments instead of embedded text and images will earn a zero unless corrected before the discussion closes.
- Use only concepts and explanations from our course modules. This is not a research assignment. Use of terms, concepts, or details not covered in class and not cited will result in a zero on the assignment.
- If you use any external sources or AI tools, you must cite them in APA format. External sources must include in-text citations and a full reference at the end. If you use AI tools, include a brief statement explaining how the tool supported your writing.
- AI tools may only be used to support your writing process. Submissions that include language or explanations that are not consistent with how concepts and processes are presented in our course materials will result in a zero on the assignment.
Once you submit your post, you will not be able to edit it. If you need to add something, reply to your post. Submissions will be graded using the attached rubric. To view the rubric, select the Options icon in the upper-right corner of the discussion assignment. Detailed feedback will be provided in Assignment Comments.
Links to Useful Resources
Each link will open in a new tab.
- If your images appear as links (such as HEIC), convert them to JPG. See