1. End of the Year- District Writing Essay Do the benefits of fracking outweigh the costs? In a well-developed essay, analyze the texts provided and develop a claim. To support your claim, consider the varied information expressed in each video and transcript. Be sure to include specific details from the texts to support your thesis.

2. What is Fracking? Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is the process of extracting natural gas from shale rock layers deep within the earth. Fracking makes it possible to produce natural gas extraction in shale plays that were once unreachable with conventional technologies. Recent advancements in drilling technology have led to new man-made hydraulic fractures in shale plays that were once not available for exploration. In fact, three dimensional imaging helps scientists determine the precise locations for drilling.

4. What is Fracking? Horizontal drilling (along with traditional vertical drilling) allows for the injection of highly pressurized fracking fluids into the shale area. This creates new channels within the rock from which natural gas is extracted at higher than traditional rates. This drilling process can take up to a month, while the drilling teams delve more than a mile into the Earth’s surface. After which, the well is cased with cement to ensure groundwater protection, and the shale is hydraulically fractured with water and other fracking fluids. http://www.what-is-fracking.com/

6. Passage 1: To Frack or Not to Frack http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=30002 49813 http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=30002 49813 (2:36 minute clip) After watching the video, read the passage to prepare to write your essay.

7. Passage 2: Drilling Frenzy Fuels Sudden Growth in Small Texas Town http://www.npr.org/2014/04/10/295332292/ drilling-frenzy-fuels-sudden-growth-in-small- texas-town http://www.npr.org/2014/04/10/295332292/ drilling-frenzy-fuels-sudden-growth-in-small- texas-town (Only play first 5 minutes of clip) After watching the video, read the passage to prepare to write your essay.

8. Passage 3: Light Your Water On Fire from Gas Drilling, Fracking http://youtu.be/rtKRrVr582c (3:39 minute clip) After watching the video, read the passage to prepare to write your essay.

9. Prompt: To Frack or Not to Frack Do the benefits of fracking outweigh the costs? In a well-developed essay, analyze the texts provided and develop a claim. To support your claim, consider the varied information expressed in each video and transcript. Be sure to include specific details from the texts to support your thesis. WHAT DO I DO? After reading the 3 passages, determine your claim (Do you think we should frack? Yes or no?) Using QUOTES and EXAMPLES from the 3 sources…support your claim in your essay!