Part 1: Initial Blog Post on Diversity of Plants

There are more than 300,000 species of plants that have been identified thus far in the world today; many new species are being discovered each year. In addition to providing most of the oxygen for land animals, plants do many other things for us. For Week 2, after you have completed the readings (Chapters 18-21) you will research the Internet and use reliable and credible scientific websites to investigate a specific plant species and choose a way (other than providing oxygen) that plants are useful to humans. 

*[NOTE: Hot topic plants like Marijuana and Opium are off limits and cannot be discussed.]

Please select a specific plant species which has not been blogged about by another student. This will diversify our Week 2 Blog with information on different species of plants. Controversial topic plants like Marijuana and Poppy (source of Opium) are off limits and cannot be discussed in the Week 2 Diversity of Plants Blog.
 

*[NOTE: Duplicate topic initial blog posts will have a 10 point deduction for not discussing a specific plant species that has not been discussed].

Writing a full paragraph (a 150-words minimum) for your initial blog post discussing a specific species of plant and the benefits of this plant species. Be sure to describe what type of plant it is. Where is it found? How does it impact humans or other species? What role does it play in the ecosystem, etc.? Also required within the initial blog post is sharing the website (specific URL) and what you have learned from this resource and/or have found particularly helpful when reviewing the website. Do not copy and paste directly from the website. This blog should be written in your own words.  Any content and paraphrased information from the resource (URL) must be properly cited per APA including the specific URL (website) you are recommending.  The blog post must be directly posted in the classroom; please do not upload a Word document only. 

Part 2: Blog Response Post

Peruse some of the Blog entries made by your fellow classmates. Choose at least one that you found useful and comment on how the website helped you with your understanding of a specific plant species and its impact. The comment should be 100 words minimum.

For Part 2 – posting the Blog Response Post to a fellow classmate, click the “Week 2 Assignment – Diversity of Plants Blog” to enter the assignment.  The screen will refresh and on the right side will be a black bar with “Blog details” on it and below that will be your name and a down arrow. Click the arrow and all the people who have posted blog posts will be listed. Read through the post by selecting the fellow student’s name and the screen will refresh – scroll to bottom and on the bottom left will be the student’s blog post. When ready to respond, click “Comment” at the end of the blog post and then a space will open below the blog post you are responding to. When done with the response blog post, click “Add”. Then the response blog post is posted.