Exxon Valdez Oil Spill & Environmentalism

It's been twenty years since the Exxon Valdez oil tanker ran aground in Prince William Sound, Alaska. The accident is considered one of the most devastating human-caused environmental disasters ever to occur at sea. It damaged about 730 miles of coastline and Exxon spent over $1 billion in trying to clean up the damage.

Prince William Sound's remote location (accessible only by helicopter and boat) made government and industry response efforts difficult and severely taxed existing plans for response. The region was a habitat for salmon, sea otters, seals and seabirds. The vessel spilled 10.8 million U.S. gallons of Prudhoe Bay crude oil into the sea, and the oil eventually covered 11,000,000 square miles of ocean.

Both the long- and short-term effects of the oil spill have been studied comprehensively. Thousands of animals died immediately; the best estimates include 250,000 to as many as 500,000 seabirds, at least 1,000 sea otters, approximately 12 river otters, 300 harbor seals, 250 bald eagles, and 22 orcas, as well as the destruction of billions of salmon and herring eggs.

The effects of the spill continue to be felt today. Overall reductions in population have been seen in various ocean animals, including stunted growth in pink salmon populations. Sea otters and ducks also showed higher death rates in following years, partially because they ingested prey from contaminated soil and from ingestion of oil residues on hair because of their grooming habits.

Assign students to explore the Pro or Con side of one of two issues on environmentalism: "Pollution" or "Drilling for Oil." Students should address the essential question for critical thinking included with both issues and cite at least three resources. Reports should be at least 150 words and presentations at least seven slides.

SIRS Issues Researcher provides students with many tools that help develop critical thinking and a variety of models to present their Pro or Con reasoned conclusions:

• Report/Presentation Models: Click the Research Guides icon within each issue—Research Guide for Critical Thinking; Writing a Mini-Research Paper; Creating a PowerPoint Presentation; Creating a Debate Outline
  
  
• Critical Thinking Support: Click within the Research Guides option > iThink: 21st Century Skills Tutor—An engaging interactive tutorial with built in instruction, assessment and critical thinking prompts
  
  
• Notes Organizer: Click the Notes Organizer icon

Issue 1: Click SIRS Issues Researcher link > Visual Browse > Environmentalism > Pollution

Issue 2: Click the Visual Browse in Issues Researcher > Environmentalism > Drilling for Oil

PROQUEST SUPPORTS EDUCATION | TOOLS & RESOURCES