Can more domestic oil drilling reduce the price of gasoline and U.S. dependence on foreign oil?

High gasoline prices are rapidly providing incentives for people to make individual decisions on conservation independent of any government action.

The solutions emerging focus on reducing the need for expensive gasoline by driving less. The most common alternatives are the use of public transportation where available, car-pooling, riding a bicycle or walking when appropriate, eliminating driving vacations, and buying hybrid and electric vehicles instead of gas guzzling SUVs and trucks.

Collectively these decisions will create a new American lifestyle. Businesses will be quick to create "greener" products and services. The government will be forced to debate strategies and create new laws that will make America "greener" and encourage rapid development of alternative and renewable energy.

The role of government toward a greener America and world is a major topic of debate between the two candidates for President: John McCain and Barack Obama. The strategies at this level focus on increased drilling for domestic oil as a major solution by McCain; and creating incentives for business to develop a variety of alternative and renewable energy sources by Obama.

Which of these strategies will result in lower gasoline prices? When would this happen? How would it affect the jobs and prosperity of Americans? Our ProQuest editors have created a BookCart that includes a variety of learning resources that students can use to explore possible solutions to rising gasoline prices, our continued dependence of foreign oil, and the impact on global warming through development of "greener" energy sources. The name of the BookCart is: "Gas Prices--More Drilling, or More Conservation and Alternative Energy?"

This BookCart has more than 30 articles and websites that explore all sides of this critical debate. It also includes five essential questions for critical thinking and suggested student directions for a report with model formats for a PowerPoint and written report.

You can copy this BookCart and almost 800 other models from the ProQuest Carts collection. (Learn more.)

• Logon to the eLibrary CE Teacher Edition.
• Click the BookCart Admin link at the top right of the Teacher Edition.
• Click the ProQuest Carts tab.
• Scroll down list of Folders and click "SS--Government & Civics."
• Scroll to page 4, then click the Copy Icon in the Actions column next to "Gas Prices--More Drilling, or More Conservation and Alternative Energy?"
• Return to My Local Carts.

To edit the BookCart for your students to use:

• Click the new BookCart Title (it will include the prefix "Copy of").
• Delete "Copy of" and then type your first and last name in the Author boxes.
• Type any brief and specific directions for your students to use in the Description box and create a new essential question or modify the examples.
• Scroll down and click Save.

Pathfinder #1:
Type Gasoline and Oil Prices in the Search box, then sort results by date to get the most current results.

Pathfinder #2:
Type Renewable Alternative Energy Sources in the Search box, then sort the results by date.

Pathfinder #3:
Type Offshore Drilling for Oil, then sort the results by date.

Students should cite at least three articles and one website in a report of about 200 words or a PowerPoint of at least two minutes spanning seven slides. Each report should address at least three of the following essential questions for critical thinking (you can create others):

• Will more drilling in the U.S. bring gasoline prices down and why/why not?
• Will conservation bring oil prices down and why/why not?
• How can alternative energy sources bring prices down?
• How can alternative energy end our dependence on foreign oil?
• How does more drilling impact on global warming?

Don't miss our custom ProQuest models for written and PowerPoint-style reports.

One of the major problems associated with drilling for domestic oil is the threat to the environment both in the drilling process and shipping process, and then again when it is burned for energy (mostly in automobiles) and produces acid rain, pollution, and Greenhouse gasses that enhances global warming.

What are some of the environmental attitudes that could be associated with increased oil drilling?

Pathfinder:
Type Environment in the Search box, scroll down to Criticism, then click More. This will give you access to 100+ resources on the Environmental Movement.

Assign a report of about 200 words that uses at least three resources on a common topic about the environment that could be linked to energy and oil.

Students should address these examples of essential questions for critical thinking (your can create others):

• Why did you choose this particular environmental topic/issue?
• What are the basic points being made on this topic/issue?
• What are your thoughts and ideas that would support this topic/issue?
• What are your thoughts and ideas that would oppose this topic/issue?

Pathfinder #1:
Type Middle East Oil in the Search box, the click American operations in the Middle East.

Pathfinder #2:
Type Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries in the Search box, then select Saudi Arabia 1932-.

Assign a report of about 200 words, citing at least three resources, and addressing at least three of the following examples of essential questions for critical thinking (you can create others):

• Why is the U.S. dependent on importing oil from mostly Arab countries in the Middle East?
• What is OPEC and how does it control the price of oil in the world?
• What is the best way of reducing our dependence on Middle East Oil?
• Can domestic drilling replace the supply of oil needed by the U.S.?

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