Last week, we started to look at analogies. Let’s finish analogies this week. We will watch a few videos that make arguments with analogies. This will show us how analogies can be used to make very strong arguments. Then we will finish the analogy worksheets.
Here is the schedule for the rest of the semester:
Week 11, November 11 – case study analysis using fallacies
Week 12, November 18 – critical thinking test
Week 13, November 25 – oral presentations and quiz #2
Week 14, December 2 – review
Week 15, December 9 – make up week
Week 16, December 16 – oral exams
CLIMATE CHANGE ANALYSIS PART 1
In this class we will take a quick look at climate change by understanding in basic terms how the earth stays warm. And, why it might be getting warm. That discussion begins with this greenhouse gas graphic.
In small groups, students will discuss and develop answers for these questions.
- What are greenhouse gases?
- What is the greenhouse gas effect?
- What is changing and what are the consequences?
- How do deforestation, burning fossil fuels and population growth contribute to the greenhouse gas problem?
SOME GREENHOUSE GAS DATA
Here are some figures. These tables come from this environmental website.
Table 3 shows us what greenhouse gas is. Basically, it shows that water vapor is 95% of all the greenhouse gas around the earth. it also shows that CO2 is about 3% of the total. It also shows the total for all gases if we do not include water vapor. In that case CO2 (72%) look very important.
Role of Atmospheric Greenhouse Gases
| Based on concentrations (ppb) adjusted for heat retention characteristics | Percent of Total | Percent of Total –adjusted for water vapor |
| Water vapor | —– | 95.000% |
| Carbon Dioxide (CO2) | 72.369% | 3.618% |
| Methane (CH4) | 7.100% | 0.360% |
| Nitrous oxide (N2O) | 19.000% | 0.950% |
| CFC’s (and other misc. gases) | 1.432% | 0.072% |
| Total | 100.000% | 100.000% |
Table 4a shows us the impact of human activity on the amount of greenhouse gas around the earth. It shows that human activity (like burnign oil) is about 0.28% of all greenhouses gas.
Anthropogenic (man-made) Contribution to the “Greenhouse
| Based on concentrations (ppb) adjusted for heat retention characteristics | % of Greenhouse Effect | |
|
| Water vapor | 95.000% |
94.999% |
0.001% |
| Carbon Dioxide (CO2) | 3.618% |
3.502% |
0.117% |
| Methane (CH4) | 0.360% |
0.294% |
0.066% |
| Nitrous Oxide (N2O) | 0.950% |
0.903% |
0.047% |
| Misc. gases ( CFC’s, etc.) | 0.072% |
0.025% |
0.047% |
| Total | 100.00% |
99.72 |
0.28% |