Preliminary Vocabulary Assignment
The following are words that you will need to know. We will use these so much that they are to be expected as common knowledge. Rather than teaching them to you individually, here they are as a group.
Environment, Environmental Science, Sustainable, Sustainability, Ecological Footprint, Abiotic, Biotic, Competition, Parasitism, Symbiosis, Energy Transfer, Trophic Level, Native Species, Invasive Species, Endangered Species
Some of these words you probably already know a definition. BE CARFUL! Some of the common definitions are not the same as their “ecological” definition. (Ex: Competition)
Assignment:
Write a short story that uses ALL of these words, at least once in the story. As you write your story, underline each vocabulary word. Write the words in their correct context. DO NOT include definitions in your story. Only use the word in a sentence and treat it just like any other word.
Story rules:
You must select animal(s) for your story. Personify them. (Let them speak – use dialogue, think of cartoons.) Make a concerted effort to write a good story. Try and limit sentences to containing only one vocabulary word at a time. Otherwise, your story will sound like this:
Clyde, the diurnal squirrel ran out from his habitat only to be symbiotically attracted to a nocturnal endangered species named Sally. (This is not a story, this is a crammed sentence)
Given that each sentence contains no more than one vocabulary word; your story should be at least 15 sentences long, or about a half a page. More length will provide a well- rounded story, which is much more entertaining.
Grading:
Story contains all 15 words, used in their correct context (15 pts, one for each word) Story is written to the best of the writer’s ability – grammar, spelling, etc. (10 pts)
Total 25 points.