Today, more than any other time in history, there is growing support to move away from nonrenewable resources towards developing renewable resources to meet current and future energy needs. Fossil fuels are nonrenewable resources that continue to negatively impact the environment. It is important to learn how these resources are formed since this process of formation is at the very heart of why fossil fuels are considered to be nonrenewable.
Using the readings for this module, the Argosy University online library resources, and the Internet, research the nonrenewable resource assigned to you:
Coal
Natural gas
Petroleum (oil)
Note: You are assigned a resource based on the first initial of your last name. Last names beginning with A?J research coal, names beginning with K?R research natural gas, and names beginning S?Z research oil.
Respond to the following:
Describe how this nonrenewable resource was initially formed.
Briefly explain where the major reserves of this nonrenewable resource are located and how it is extracted.
Examine the environmental impact caused by the extraction process.
Explain how this nonrenewable resource is used to produce energy, and identify the pollution problems that are caused from this energy source.
Support your statements with appropriate examples and scholarly references.
Write your initial response in approximately 350?400 words. Apply APA standards to citation of sources.
By Saturday, December 3, 2016, post your response to the appropriate Discussion Area. Through Wednesday, December 7, 2016, review and comment on at least two peers? responses. Address the following:
Given the environmental issue or issues the use of this particular resource causes, why do think society relies so heavily on it?
What kind of a role do you think governmental politics plays in current energy demands?
If in fact society were to change to an environmentally friendly fuel source, what do you think would be the political or economic ramifications?

Discussion Grading Criteria Maximum Points
Initial Discussion Response 16
Discussion Participation 16
Writing Craftsmanship and Ethical Scholarship 8
Total: 40

Unsatisfactory

Emerging

Proficient

Exemplary

Initial Discussion Response * Initial response:
? Did not relate to the concepts or ideas presented in the discussion topic(s)
? Claims were not supported.

Initial response:
? Lacked substance
? Was not original
? Relied on personal experience only to support ideas

Initial response was:
? Original and accurate
? Substantive
? Demonstrated basic understanding of concepts
? Discussed key theories and concepts from the readings
Initial response was:
? Insightful
? Original and accurate
? Substantive and
? Demonstrated advanced understanding of concepts
? Compiled/synthesized theories and concepts drawn from a variety of sources to support statements and conclusions.
Discussion Participation *
Discussion Responses:
Were off-topic or irrelevant to discussion.

Discussion Responses:
Contributed a few points of view but mostly repeats information posted by others.

Discussion Responses:
? Contributed to the discussion offering points of view and/or opinions,
? Did not make clear connections between one or more points in the discussion. Discussion Responses:
? Offered points of view supported by research
? Asked challenging questions that promoted discussion
? Drew relationships between one or more points in the discussion.
Writing Craftsmanship and Ethical Scholarship *
? Demonstrated little attempt to organize thoughts
? Writing was not clear, concise and formal.
? Writing contained numerous errors in spelling, grammar, and/or sentence structure that severely interfered with readability and comprehension.
? Information from sources was not paraphrased and attribution of sources was lacking.
? Demonstrated some attempt to organize thoughts
? Writing was not clear, concise and/or formal.
? Errors in spelling and grammar somewhat interfered with readability and/or comprehension.
? Information from sources was paraphrased and cited, but major errors were present.

? Wrote in a clear and organized manner
? Writing was not concise or formal in language.
? Writing followed conventions of spelling and grammar throughout. Errors were infrequent and did not interfere with readability or comprehension.
? Information from sources was paraphrased and cited, but minor errors were present. ? Wrote in a clear, concise, formal and organized manner.
? Responses were error free.
? Information from sources was paraphrased appropriately and accurately cited.