Using NewsHour Extra Feature Stories

Overview: NewsHour Extra features stories can help students identify and interpret key issues in current events. This activity anticipates one class period, but the follow-up essay might be assigned as homework, or in another period.

Warm Up: Use initiating questions to introduce the topic and find out how much your students know.

Main Activity: Have students read NewsHour Extra's feature story and answer the questions on the reading comprehension handout.

Discussion: Use discussion questions to encourage students to think about how the issues outlined in the story affect their lives and express and debate different opinions.

Follow-up: Students can write an 500-word editorial on the topic expressing their views and send it to NewsHour Extra [extra@newshour.org] for possible publication.

Evaluation: Students are graded on their answers to reading comprehension questions and/or their editorial.

Story: Oil Drilling in Alaska Becomes Focus of Political and Environmental Debate, 03/23/05
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/jan-june05/anwr_3-23.html

Initiating Questions:

1. Where does the United States get its oil?

2. Does the U.S. drill oil at home or only abroad?

3. What is a wildlife refuge?

Reading Comprehension Questions: (click here for printout)

1. What did the Senate vote on recently that affects the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge?

Members of the U.S. Senate last week struck down a proposal banning oil exploration in the coastal region of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a remote area of land in northern Alaska that serves as a haven to animal and plant species and is believed to house billions of barrels of oil beneath its surface.

2. Why was the vote important to President Bush?

The vote, which angered many environmentalists, was a victory for President Bush who has pushed to open the area to drilling as part of his plan to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil. In addition to providing heat in millions of American homes, oil is processed into the gas that fuels millions of cars.

3. Why is ANWR a wildlife refuge?

The refuge known as ANWR, was created in 1960 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower who placed the land and its wildlife under federal protection. The area, mostly frozen tundra, lies north of the Arctic Circle and is home to more than 45 species of land and marine mammals. Millions of migratory birds nest along its coastal plains, and polar bears, grizzly bears, moose and caribou roam free. The refuge also houses a tribe of 220 Native Alaskans.

Environmentalists refer to the region as "North America's Serengeti," after the fertile plains of East Africa where thousands of animal species travel during an annual migration.

4. Why is ANWR attractive to many oil companies?

But ANWR also sits above one of the countries largest untapped oil reserves, according to government geologists. In 1998, the U.S. Geological Survey, the government agency that studies natural resources, estimated that the region could contain about 10.4 billion barrels of undeveloped oil.

5. What reasons do Republicans give in favor of opening ANWR to drilling?

According to the mostly Republicans who voted to allow drilling in ANWR, the amount of oil present in the region could have a significant impact on U.S. oil production. American oil companies currently produce 2.1 billion barrels of oil a year, mostly from Alaska, California and Texas. However, that output is only 30 percent of total U.S. consumption - 7 billion barrels a year. The remaining oil is imported from countries in the Middle East and Africa. Unrest in that region and skyrocketing oil prices have left U.S. companies demanding other alternatives.

"ANWR, with the potential for 1 million barrels of oil a day, will be the most significant onshore production capacity of any onshore area in the United States," said New Mexico Republican Sen. Pete Domenici.

6. What is the argument against drilling in ANWR?

The Sierra Club, a non-profit environmental group, has argued that even if American companies were allowed to drill oil from ANWR, the small amount they would get, would not benefit consumers.

"With only 5 percent of the world's population, the U.S. consumes 26 percent of the world's oil," the organization reported.

"At its peak of production, Arctic Refuge oil could supply perhaps 1 percent of America's energy needs at any given time -- not enough to put a dent in our dependence on foreign oil."

7. What is the Sierra Club's answer to high gas and oil prices?

The organization has called on President Bush to revise his energy plan to include other sources of energy.

"Our nation needs a comprehensive energy policy based on conservation, alternative energy sources, and improved efficiency standards -- such as making our cars go farther on a gallon of gas."

If the government does allow companies to begin drilling in the refuge, it could take up to 12 years for oil to reach the market.

Discussion Activity (more research might be needed):

1. Given the arguments from Republican lawmakers and environmentalists, do you think the government should allow oil companies to drill in ANWR? Why or why not?

2. Do you think maintaining the Alaska refuge is more important than keeping gasoline prices low for American consumers and possibly helping the economy as a whole?

3. What are other sources of energy the government should consider to help lower gas prices?

4. The Sierra Club has said, "With only 5 percent of the world's population, the U.S. consumes 26 percent of the world's oil." Is this a problem? Are Americans consuming too much oil or is the consumption justified because it is a large industrialized nation?

Write a 500-800 word essay on any of these topics providing clear examples. Send your completed editorial to NewsHour Extra [extra@newshour.org]. Exceptional essays might be published on our Web site.