In this reading and writing unit, students are asked to answer the question. “Should nuclear energy be generated from nuclear power or fossil fuels?" Specifically, for this module, students will focus on coal and natural gas as the fossil fuels in question. First, students are introduced to their task through an entry event in which they are given time to “tour" pictures of disasters that relate to each generation method. They will then be given readings that have information about each method. Students will be asked to organize evidence from each of the readings. In a Socratic seminar, students will be asked to speak to each of the three methods and identify the chemistry that speaks to the benefits and drawbacks of each of the methods. Finally, in the writing, students will be asked to select two methods and compare the chemistry between the two, while making a claim as to which of the two is the best method to generate electricity.
