Sussin/Jourdain- APES~ Pesticide Periodical

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines a pesticide as “any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest.”

A pesticide may be a chemical substance or biological agent (such as a virus or bacteria) used against pests including insects, plant pathogens, weeds, mollusks, birds, mammals, fish, nematodes, and microbes.  These organisms may compete with humans for food, invade lawns and gardens, destroy wood in houses, spread disease, or just be a general nuisance in our everyday lives.  Pesticides are usually, but not always, poisonous to humans.

There are 5 major types of pesticides you will encounter: insecticides (insect killers), herbidicides (weed killers), fungicides (fungus killers), nematocides (roundworm killers), and rodenticides (rat and mouse killers).  Be aware that although the 5 are listed here, there are many others (e.g. algicides, miticides).

Your school librarian, Mrs. Hatcher, recommends the following information resources that will be helpful.

Library Databases (VRC):

• Gale's Health Reference Center Academic
• eLibrary Science
• Science Online

Print Collection: 

• ebook and print resources available by searching the WMHS library catalog in Destiny

Kunkel~ I-Search Research Paper

For class, you will be required to write a formal research paper. The format of this paper is based on The I-Search Paper (1988) by Ken Macrorie. The I-Search Paper requires you, the researcher and writer, to search for information and write about your findings and search process.

The I-Search Paper requires you to document, interpret, and present information from reliable and credible sources, but it is unique in the sense that it affords you the opportunity to speak directly about your research process and what you’ve learned using the pronoun “I.” This means that you will be allowed to utilize first person narration in certain sections of your research paper.

The paper will have five written components:

1.    My Question   (The essential question you are trying to answer and the reasons why you decided to research this particular question/topic.)  “I” format

2.    My Search Process   (The story of your hunt for information.)  “I” format

3.   What Has Been Learned (Connect your findings to the original question.)

NOT “I” format

4.  What This Means To Me (How has researching this question influenced you?)  “I” format

5.  Works Cited Page (Reference sources in alphabetical order using MLA format.)

MLA info: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl

Recommended Information Resources:    

• SIRS Researcher- located in Pro/Con section of VRC
• Opposing Viewpoints in Context Issues- located in Pro/Con section of VRC

Muller ~ Indigenous Tribes of Latin America Research

Poster Group Project: Qt. 4   Due Date: April 24th

Indigenous Tribes of Latin America



Kaqchikel girls

1.  Research the following Tribes according to your assigned country.  There will be 4 days in the library.
2. Include pictures of the tribe and village.
3. You need to report on the following:

1. language
2. culture
3. history
4. list of 5 indigenous words and their meanings

All information must be done on a poster and presented orally as a group (3-4 people).

Country: Tribes (Click on a tribe's link to get started)

• Panama: Guaymi
• Guatemala: Kaqchikel
• Paraguay: Guarani
• Colombia: Achagua
• Mexico: Amuzgo
• Honduras: Garifuna
• Puerto Rico: Taino
• Venezuela: Akawaio

Additional Information Resources you can consult:

VRC databases: Click on this link to open it up.  Use the username & password provided by your librarian, Mrs. Hatcher

• CulturGrams World Edition (located under History/Geography section)
• World Atlas- World Geography & Culture (located under History/Geography section)
• Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia  (located under Encyclopedia section)