Name Recitation Number Assignment 5 Debate on Wolves This assignment needs to be 1 page no more than 2 pages typed double or one and one half spaced 11 or 12pt font It needs to be completed for recitation the week of November 14th This assignment will also serve as a basis for a debate to be held in your recitation that same week You will be graded both on the quality and content of your written answers as well as your performance in the debate The question Should we reintroduce wolves into Rocky Mountain National Park in order to bring ecological balance to the system similar to how wolves were reintroduced into Yellowstone The puzzle There is currently a very high elk population in Rocky Mountain National Park RMNP Wolves are the natural predators of elk and without a wolf population in the park the elk are overgrazing and changing the composition of the park One of the most devastating effects has been the loss of aspen trees In response the park has started different management strategies one of which is fencing off aspen groves Another response is the managed culling the elk herd by park officers The idea of wolf reintroduction was not previously mentioned as a management strategy because the park was considered too small and it was decided that the plan needed to be approved by multiple stakeholders Wolves surely would not stay within park boundaries and might kill livestock which would be an issue for landowners and ranchers living near the park You can use your textbook and any additional websites news articles or journal articles to support your position Some additional questions to think about include should wolves still be protected as an endangered species What should happen if they get out of the park and kill livestock If ranchers are to be compensated who should pay for the compensation The positions Hunters Grand Valley Ranchers West side of RMNP Homeowners There were already moutain lions on campus this year ready for wolves Ecologists park managers Conservationists What you need to do Name Recitation Number To explore this question you will use the concepts and ideas brought up in lecture and in your textbook since the beginning of the course This is another opportunity to apply conceptual tools you learned in the first part of the course to a real life puzzle You should review and start your research for this debate by reading Chapter 11 Wolves You may also need to draw from other chapters to review perspectives we have read about such as the market approach institutions ethics or population You may also want to explore additional material from books scholarly journals newspapers Internet sources or magazine articles to answer the following questions You will need to cite at least 2 sources in addition to your textbook You should come to recitation prepared to present and defend the position assigned to you by your TA You should directly answer or have these points in mind when you write your paper you MUST address point 4 10 in your paper 1 Does reintroducing wolves in to RMNP present a viable and natural means of managing the elk population in RMNP 2 What sorts of problems are presented for your group by the reintroduction of wolves into RMNP 3 If wolf populations stabilize in certain locations should decisions about wolf hunting be allowed to be handled at the state level Or should it remain a more locally managed activity Keep the Endangered Species Act in mindand what it means for how a species can be managed http www fws gov endangered esa library pdf ESA basics pdf 4 Which perspective s best represents your position 5 Is there a market based solution in this puzzle What roles do political economy or institutions play in wolf management 6 How does a risks and hazards approach inform your position Are all the risks and rewards being shared equally among the stakeholders 7 What ethical approaches are accepted or rejected by your position 8 Does Colorado s fast growing population mean there will be no room for wolves in the near future if indeed there is now 9 If we assume our understanding of wolves has been socially constructed can we re manufacture the underpinning narrative to make space for wolves Name Recitation Number 10 Anticipate 1 or 2 counter arguments to your position using the approaches learned in the class How would you defend against them A good paper needs to Lay out your team character s perspective using the perspectives we have learned to explain how you see what is going on and what needs to happen Talk about forest ecology when laying out and supporting you argument Use at least 3 references Talk about how at least one other team may adopt a different perspective and why that perspective is flawed in relation to your team s position and in relation to the wolves and national park ecology USEFUL LINKS FOR STARTING YOUR RESEARCH http www nationalparkstraveler com 2009 02 another yellowstone national park wolf reaches colorado http www hcn org issues 314 16046 http gazetteoutthere blogspot com 2008 03 sueing for wolves in rmnp html http www thewildlifenews com 2009 02 16 point counterpoint wolf reintroduction in rockymountain national park http watch montanapbs org video 1496470213 http www nps gov yell naturescience wolves htm http en wikipedia org wiki History of wolves in Yellowstone http www nationalparkstraveler com 2011 04 latest studies yellowstone national parks wolf packsshows stable population7900 http howlingforjustice wordpress com 2010 02 09 wolves in colorado http www publicbroadcasting net kunc news newsmain article 1 0 1664048 Regional Biologist Studi es Wolves Possible Return to Colorado http www denverpost com perspective ci 14385321 http www defenders org wildlife and habitat wildlife wolf gray php HOW TO WRITE A QUALITY PAPER AND RECEIVE AN A Name Recitation Number A quality paper will include the following structural elements 1 Thesis stating your position at the beginning of your paper 2 Following your thesis should be the supporting points for your perspective which will also address the 3 4 5 6 questions above you should have at least 3 supporting points Each supporting point should draw from sources including the book and outside sources Argue from your perspective against at least one other perspective Closing statement that returns to your thesis statement to show how it is true Include references in your paper and attach a bibliography using a consistent reference style More on how to write a quality paper 1