Fracking

CHEM100 – Issue Assignment
Purpose: Through the use of an issue common to society and chemistry, students will critically think about a controversial issue and use resources to construct a logical argument.
Issue: Fracking involves blasting huge amounts of water, sand and chemicals deep into underground rock formations to access valuable petroleum. While process allows access to petroleum that could not be extracted by any other means, it also has harmful environmental implications including air pollution, earthquakes and water pollution. The issue at hand is whether the increased supply experienced by fracking and the resulting lower prices are worth the risk of environmental problems.
Scope: Through this activity, you will gain experience in learning how to think critically, how to find reliable sources of information in print and online, and applying this information to make rational arguments. The learning will culminate in a capstone-like project towards the end of the semester where you will be asked to synthesize this information into a larger issue that has multiple dimensions. You will be asked to present your findings in a written essay. In the essay, you should address the following:
What ethical/moral issue is faced?
Why is this an important issue
Why is it controversial
What are the positions that were/could have been taken on this moral issue
What are the two extreme positions
What are the grey area positions
What are the factors that support each of the positions identified?
What are the factors that are negatives to the positions identified?
What factors (social, educational, political, economic…) could have led to the positions identified on the issue in question 2 and how do those factors apply to the positions.
Which of the eight key questions of ethical thinking apply best to this issue? There can be, and usually is, more than one question that applies.
What core beliefs apply
What are the different perspectives
What are assumptions that are made in developing the ethical perspective
What are the implications of the ethical perspective
What values would be upheld
What values would be compromised
Do you believe that we should continue fracking?
What factors led you to this position
What are the advantages of this position
Are there aspects of this position that would concern you?

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