Edit and fix the mistakes in you second draft. Focus on your hypothesis area and use instructor feedback from your previous draft.

My issue:

In this paper, I have chosen to examine rising sea levels and their effect on living creatures and the Earth. In recent decades, sea levels have been rising rapidly, and are expected to continue this trend. Unfortunately, many coastal areas and land masses bordering the sea will experience erosion and flooding. Global warming is also a factor that is likely to contribute to rising sea levels. There have been many warnings regarding the dangers of icebergs melting due to global warming. The release of many diseases that have been sealed in these icebergs for a very long time is one example, although not related to geology, though still significant.

My question:

​​ How will rising sea levels affect states located on the coast, such as California? ​

My science resources:

1. The title of my source is “Constraints on the adjustment of tidal marshes to accelerating sea level rise”

This source discusses the effects, and possible dangers, of rising sea levels on marshes and their ecosystems. It also talks about how this will affect parts of the United States coast. It has given me information on not only the dangers of rising sea levels, but the areas not affected as of yet. This will allow me to compare data and provide more information on the effects of changing water levels. This source is from a peer reviewed journal and is relevant because the information provided is not older than two years. This source is also accurate and reliable, as the journal is well-respected in the field of climate science. It is also a reliable source because it provides data from authoritative sources.My second source is titled, “To move or stay? A cellular automata model to predict urban growth in coastal regions amidst rising sea levels.”

I chose this article because it has a basic explanation of what rising sea levels mean as well as the cause of this issue. It also discusses how this trend will affect the population and some of the coasts it will affect. This information will also be relevant on the affects to the environment as the population migrates inward towards higher land. This source is peer reviewed and provides information that is relevant to my paper. The article also provides valuable insight into the potential solutions that could help mitigate the effects of rising sea levels.

3. My final source is titled, “Climate Change: Global Sea Level”.

In spite of not being peer reviewed, this source is credible, relevant to my topic, and filled with relevant information about the cause of rising sea levels: climate change. It contains data on how sea levels have risen in the past few decades. It also contains predictions about how much they will rise. Furthermore, the source provides a clear explanation of how climate change contributes to rising sea levels. It provides a list of potential solutions to address rising sea levels.

My audience and message:

In my article, I discuss rising sea levels with the goal of making the general public aware of the risks associated with rising sea levels. I also discuss what they can do to mitigate them. There is scientific evidence that sea levels are rising, and this has a negative impact on coastal communities. As part of my presentation, I provide information on how individuals can make small changes to reduce their environmental impact and mitigate the effects of rising sea levels. It is my hope that my article will encourage individuals to take action and contribute to the creation of a sustainable future for our planet. I also discuss the importance of protecting coastal ecosystems, such as coral reefs, and preserving wetlands.

Identify principles:

One principle I can relate to my topic is the principle of uncertainty. Scientists are trying to predict how sea levels will rise in the next few decades. This may be especially difficult since there is no way to measure global warming. If everything stays as it is today and nothing changes, I expect substantial temperature rises. This will make the polar ice caps melt more quickly and thus water levels will continue to rise as well, very fast I might add.

Explain principles:

This principle will help me to explain the seriousness of this issue. Climate change is a major factor in the rising sea levels. There are many people who are changing their ways by recycling, composting, and trying to leave a smaller carbon footprint. It a majority of people make these same changes, we as humans might stand a chance, If they don’t, as bad as things are they will continue to get much worse. Thus, this is why the principle of uncertainty is so relevant.

My experimental question and hypothesis:

Since it is suspected that global warming is the cause of warming temperatures around the world, will the melting polar ice caps continue to drastically raise sea levels? If global temperatures continue to rise, then yes, the polar ice caps will melt more quickly.

My explanation:

A natural scientist would explain evidence by measuring the water levels in a specific area. They would then use this information to determine the cause of the change and any potential hazards. They may also use mathematical models to simulate different scenarios and predict the effects of any proposed changes.

References

Saintilan, N. et al., (2022, July 28). Constraints on the adjustment of tidal marshes to accelerating sea level rise. Science. https://www-science-org.ezproxy.snhu.edu/doi/10.1126/science.abo7872

Wang, S., Liu, Y., Feng, Y., & Lei, Z. (2021). To move or stay? A cellular automata model to predict urban growth in coastal regions amidst rising sea levels. International Journal of Digital Earth, 14(9), 1213–1235. https://doi-org.ezproxy.snhu.edu/10.1080/17538947.2021.1946178

Lindsey, R. (2022) Climate Change: Global Sea Level. Climate.gov. https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-global-sea-level

Instructor feedback: 

Thank you for submitting the first draft of your planning document. You have a good start here. I appreciate your organization and thoughtful analysis. 

Be sure to include in-text citations to support your audience, message, and principles sections in the second draft of your planning document.

For the audience and message sections, these could be sources about how to best communicate with your specific audience or they could be citations from your scientific resources as the information relates to your audience. For example: 

Research has shown that the best way to reach an audience about science topics is to….(Source, 2024)

or

Sea level rise has been linked to …list impacts to audience here… (Source, 2023). I will present this information to my audience in order to…..(explain how this may help you reach your audience here)…

Similarly, please include in-text citations in the identify principles and explain principles sections.

Rubric:

You have identified an issue in the natural sciences and developed an initial research question. In Modules Three and Four, you will practice evaluating scientific sources and then identify and describe sources related to your topic. As you investigate your topic through these sources, you will revisit your research question and make adjustments.

Prompt

In this first draft, you will identify appropriate resources related to your issue and begin to analyze them and compile your reference list. You will complete the first two critical elements (introduction and body) of Project Part One, and you will complete a draft of the conclusion in Modules Five and Six. You will also begin building critical element IV, the reference list, in this draft.

Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:

1. Introduction: In this section, you will discuss your natural science issue and select resources that you can use to research the issue. This will lead you to the development of a research question related to your issue. Specifically, you should:
   1. Describe the issue in the natural sciences that you have selected to investigate. Why is this issue significant? (You identified this issue in Module One, but how would you revise this piece now that you have received instructor feedback and investigated your sources?)
   2. Describe at least three science resources that you could use to investigate the issue you selected. Your sources must be relevant to your issue and must be of an academic nature appropriate for the issue. In your description, consider questions such as: What are the similarities and differences in the content of your sources? What makes them appropriate and relevant for investigating your issue? What was your thought process when you were searching for sources? How did you make choices?
   3. Based on your review of science resources, develop a specific question related to the issue you selected. In other words, what would you like to know more about?
2. Body: In this section, you will use the natural science resources that you selected to investigate your question, focusing on an appropriate audience and the scientific principles related to the issue. Make sure to cite your sources. Based on your research:
   1. Identify an audience that would be interested in your issue and the question you developed. For example, who would benefit most from hearing your message, or who could best help in addressing the issue?
   2. Describe how and why you can tailor your message to your audience, providing specific examples. For example, will your audience understand scientific terminology and principles, or will you need to explain them? How will you communicate effectively with your audience?
   3. Identify the natural science principle(s) that apply to your question and issue. For example, if your issue is global climate change, the principle you might identify is that the sun is the primary source of energy for Earth’s climate system.
   4. Explain how the principle(s) you identified apply to your issue and question. In other words, how are the natural science principle(s) you identified relevant to your question and issue?

1. IV. Provide a reference list that includes all of the science resources you used to investigate your issue and question so far. Ensure that your list is formatted according to current APA guidelines (or another format, with instructor permission).

What to Submit

The first draft of your planning document should be 2–4 pages, double spaced, with 12-point Times New Roman font and one-inch margins. You should use current APA guidelines (or another format approved by your instructor) for your citations and reference list.