Should the Raven Coal Mine Project proceed?

Use the links found in the right hand column to do some research on the proposed Raven Coal Mine project on Vancouver Island.  Use your research to complete a short opinion essay in which you state clearly whether or not you are in favour of this mine.

Your essay will probably have five paragraphs, an introduction, three body paragraphs and a concluding paragraph.  You may find it easiest to use this outline:

Introductory Paragraph

I.  Brief statment answering what, where, when (about the mine)

1.  A sentence about the main idea in Body Paragraph 1

2.  A sentence about the main idea in Body Paragraph 2

3.  A sentence about the main idea in Body Paragraph 3.

C.  Your opinion about the mining project

Body Paragraph 1

I.  Introduce the history of coal mining on Vancouver Island.

3 separate ideas about that history

C.  A concluding statement that points to why you have the opinion you do.

Body Paragraph 2

I.  Introduce the positive aspects of the mining project.

3 separate ideas showing why the project might be good ir bad

C.  A concluding statement that points to why you have the opinion you do.

Body Paragraph 3

I.  Introduce the viewpoints of the  First Nations, environmentalists, or both

3 spearate ideas showing how their viewpoints may be in agreement

C.  A concluding statement tha points to why you have the opinion you do.

Concluding Paragraph

I.  Restate your opinion (say it in a new way)

1.  Restate the conclusion from body paragraph 1 in a new way.

2.  Restate the conclusion from body paragraph 2 in a new way.

3.  Restate the conclusion from body paragraph 3 in a new way.

C.  Explain why your opinion is important to everyone your age, the people of Vancouver Island, or the future.

Your work will be assessed in four categories:  Concepts (Ideas) 25%, Organization 25%, Expression (your writing) 25%, and Mechanics (spelling and punctuation) 25%.