DDT: To D or not to D? [WLOs: 1, 2] [CLOs: 1, 2, 3]
Prior to beginning work on this discussion forum, read Chapter 7 from the course text, Essentials of Environmental Health (3rd ed.). Additionally, read the following chapters from Silent Spring:
- Chapter 3: Elixirs of Death
- Chapter 12: The Human Price
Silent Spring, the classic work by Rachel Carson, is credited with sensitizing the public to the potential hazards of chemicals that were being disseminated into the environment. One of these chemicals was dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, or DDT. What were some of the concerns that led to the banning of DDT in the United States and other developed countries? Do you believe that the hazards associated with DDT outweigh the pesticide’s benefits? Here is one way to crowd-source an effort to find out:
- In your initial posting, make two columns using the discussion editor’s insert table button, or just create two numbered sections in your post.
- In the Pro column or section, provide a single complete sentence argument for banning DDT.
- In the Con column or section, provide a single complete sentence argument against banning DDT.
- Each argument sentence must be accompanied by a citation along with a reference back to your source or sources.
- If the source utilized is from the required readings, list the document name and page number.
- If you are the first person to post in this discussion, place your original pro and con sentences into the table you have created.
- If you are not the first person to post in this discussion, please do the following:
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- In a new reply, open the most recent initial post in this discussion.
- Copy your peer’s pros and cons (with citations) to your own initial post.
- Place your original pro and con short arguments after those copied from your peer.
- Since your peer did the same thing (unless that individual was the first to post) the most recent initial post at the bottom of the discussion will contain all the crowdsourced work of all who have posted. The last of these posts MUST be finished by the end of Day 3 so you can get to the interesting part!
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Guided Response: No classmate replies earlier than Day 4. In your replies,
- Find the last of your classmates’ initial postings, which should contain a pro and con from every member of the class.
- Copy and paste this complete pro and con table into your reply.
- Evaluate each argument and assign a numerical importance to it.
- Do not use the importance levels listed by your peers—this is a very personal process based on what you know and feel about this important issue.
- Do not add up your numbers for your pro and cons list (yet).
- Now, before you add up the numbers, state whether you are for or against banning DDT.
- Briefly justify your decision.
- Next, hypothesize before adding, whether you believe pro or con will be the winner in the class.
- Last, add the numbers for pro and con against using DDT. Did you reach the same conclusion as without numbers? If not, share with us why you think your hypothesis and objective evaluations differed.
You are encouraged to post your required replies earlier in the week to promote more meaningful and interactive discourse in this discussion forum. Continue to monitor the discussion forum through Day 7 (Monday), and respond to anyone who replies to your initial post.
