JohnsonTopicTalk1


 * Topic Choice:** BP Oil Spill effects on wildlife

__List five facts that you already know about this topic:__ 1. 16,000 total miles of coastline have been affected, including the coasts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.

2. Over 1,000 animals (birds, turtles, mammals) have been reported dead, including many already on the endangered species list. Of the animals affected by the spill that are still alive only about 6% have been reported cleaned, but many biologists and other scientists predict they will die too.

3. Over 30,000 people responded to the spill in the Gulf Coast working to collect oil, clean up beaches, taking care of animals and performing various other duties.

4. Even though the gushing well was capped in July 2010, oil is still washing up on shores, which might do long-term damages to humans affected.

5. Of the 400 miles of Louisiana coast, approximately 125 miles have been polluted by the oil spill.

__1. How did it/will it impact the world?__ The BP Oil Spill has had and will continue to have a lasting impact on the surrounding ecosystems. Oil has been found in wetlands and is now contaminating bird and fish nurseries, along with many other places. It will continue to impact the lives of marine life and other native animals in this area for years to come.
 * Answer these questions about this topic:**

__2. Why is there still interest in it today, or why will there continue to be interest in it?__ There is still interest in the BP Oil spill today and in the future because oil is still being cleaned up and having negative effects on the environment and the wildlife in the spills’ areas. __3. Why are you interested in researching this topic?__ I’m interested in this topic because deep down I am an avid marine life and coastline life lover. These animals have always captivated me and the fact that they are hurting and we may lose some of our endangered species because of this accident is just devastating. I feel like people don’t really care anymore because it happened a year ago now, but the effects are still as big as ever.

4. __How do you personally connect with this topic?__ I personally connect with this topic because I would do anything to go down and be a part of the research on the affected wildlife and see what I could do to help. I’ve wanted to be a marine biologist or an environmentalist my whole life. Unfortunately, I was unable to follow this dream, so every little thing I can do to learn about marine life and the coastal wetlands and how they are being affected is a lot of fun for me and is as close to following my dream as I can get.

__What resources do you think will be useful to you? Specific books? Series of books? Magazines? Periodicals? Interviews? Internet sites? Films? Other?__
 * Resources**
 * 1) Internet
 * 2) Magazines


 * Topic Choice:** Benefits of Animal Assisted Therapy

__List five facts that you already know about this topic:__ 1. Animals used for therapy are not considered service animals. Service animals are protected by the American Disabilities Act, live with owners who have physical and emotional disabilities and assist them solely with daily living. Therapy animals work with professionals and clients.

2. Animal assisted therapy does not just include dogs and horses. Rather it includes anything and everything from dolphins to llamas.

3 . They help individuals with a wide variety of problems. Therapy animals assist therapists in helping clients with goals such as improving self-esteem and developing social skills, as well as providing help for anxity and post-traumatic stress disorder. They also work in a wide variety of clinical settings from psychiatric hospitals to nursing homes. They help children as well as adults.

4. Animal Assister Therapy is a goal directed intervention in which an animal is the integral part of the treatment process.

5. Animal Assisted therapy is largely used with children with autism.

__1. How did it/will it impact the world?__ Animal assisted therapy becoming increasingly more important in today’s society as more research is being done with it.
 * Answer these questions about this topic:**

__2.Why is there still interest in it today, or why will there continue to be interest in it?__ There will always be interest in this type of therapy because it’s not the most common, its different, and parents are always looking for a way to find a therapy geared toward children. __3. Why are you interested in researching this topic?__ I like this topic because I would love to be able to be a therapist and work alongside these animals and see the impact that they have on their patients and it would be a great experience to see the patients have a breakthrough.

__4. How do you personally connect with this topic?__ Personally, I just find it amazing that animals have such a way with people and can help them in so many ways.

__What resources do you think will be useful to you? Specific books? Series of books? Magazines? Periodicals? Interviews? Internet sites? Films? Other?__ 1. Internet
 * Resources**

__1. Of your two topic choices, which one do you think you will find the most information about? Please explain.__ I think I can get the most information about the BP Oil Spill. When researching the two topics, I struggled to find new information about the animal therapy. The majority of it was redundant. The oil spill happened just a year ago and the affects are still prevelant and affecting us today, so there is an over abundance of information on the spill.
 * Once you have completed worksheets for __TWO__ topics, please answer these two questions; be prepared to discuss your answers in class:**

__2. Of your two topic choices, which one do you really like the best? Please explain.__ I really like the BP oil spill topic the best just beacuse it has more of my interest in it. The animal therapy I really only like when it concerns dolphins and horses, but there really isnt a lot of information out there on those to topics. Also, the BP oil spill is affecting us today so it has more revelance in our lives.