Writer’s Notebook

Student Name:_______________________________

Science Section:___________

Task: L1: After researching informational texts and articles on the electromagnetic spectrum and telescopes, write an informational essay that describes the electromagnetic spectrum and how astronomers use telescopes and the electromagnetic spectrum to study objects in space. Choose one part of the electromagnetic spectrum and research a telescope that is used for that frequency. Support your discussion with evidence from your research.

You have been introduced to the task for this writing unit. In your own words, summarize what is expected of you as the writer.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Create a list of characteristics that need to be taken into consideration when writing a good response:

Define plagiarism:

How are you going to avoid plagiarism?

Type of energy Definition Examples from WavestownRadio waves have the longest wavelength in the electromagnetic spectrum.

These waves carry the news, ball games, and music you listen to on the radio. They also carry signals to television sets and cell phones.

Microwaves have shorter wavelengths than radio waves. These heat the food we eat. They are also used for radar images, like the Doppler radar used in weather forecasts.

Infrared Infrared with long wavelengths can be detected as heat. A radiator or heater gives off these long infrared waves. We call these thermal infrared waves. The Sun gives off infrared waves with shorter wavelengths. Plants reflect these waves.

Visible Light are the only electromagnetic waves we can see. We see these waves as the colors of the rainbow. Each color has a different wavelength. Red has the longest wavelength and violet has the shortest wavelength. These waves combine to make white light.

Ultraviolet (UV)

have wavelengths shorter than visible light waves. These waves are invisible to the human eye, but some insects can see them. Of the Sun’s light, the ultraviolet waves are responsible for causing our sunburns.

X-Rays As wavelengths get smaller, the waves have more energy. X-Rays have smaller wavelengths and therefore more energy than the ultraviolet waves. X-Rays are so powerful that they pass easily through the skin allowing doctors to look at our bones.

Gamma have the smallest wavelength and the most energy of the waves in the electromagnetic spectrum. These waves are generated by radioactive atoms and in nuclear explosions. Gamma rays can kill living cells, but doctors can use gamma rays to kill diseased cells.

Vocabulary DefinitionsDefine the following words. Use the context of the articles or websites when you can or you may use a dictionary. Make sure the definition pertains to how the word was used in the article and that it is written in your own words. If you come across other words that you do not know the definitions for, please add them to the list.

electromagnetic spectrum-

radiation -

radio waves –

microwaves –

infrared –

visible light –

ultra-violet –

x-ray –

gamma –

frequency –

wavelength –

telescope –

Web Resources (must use at least 3)

EarthSky: What is the electromagnetic spectrum?http://earthsky.org/space/what-is-the-electromagnetic-spectrum

Space Today Online: What is the Electromagnetic Spectrum?http://www.spacetoday.org/DeepSpace/Telescopes/GreatObservatories/Chandra/ElectromagneticSpectrum.html

NASA: Electromagnetic Spectrum – Introductionhttp://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/science/know_l1/emspectrum.html

NASA’s Great Observatorieshttp://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/postsecondary/features/F_NASA_Great_Observatories_PS.html

Amazing Space: An Introduction to NASA’s Great Observatorieshttp://amazing-space.stsci.edu/resources/explorations/groundup/lesson/basics/g38/

Views of the Universe: Telescopes, Starlight and the Electromagnetic Spectrumhttp://serc.carleton.edu/sp/mnstep/activities/35083.html

NASA: Mysterious Objects at the Edge of the Electromagnetic Spectrumhttp://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/16mar_theedge/

Light and Telescopeshttp://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/Contexts/Space-Revealed/Science-Ideas-and-Concepts/Light-and-telescopes

Major Space Telescopeshttp://www.space.com/6716-major-space-telescopes.html

Telescope Typeshttp://www.kidsastronomy.com/telescopesB.htm

*Hubble Essentialshttp://hubblesite.org/the_telescope/hubble_essentials/

Scientists Find the Light of the Earliest Stars Using Black Holeshttp://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2012/11/02/scientists-find-the-light-of-the-earliest-stars-using-black-holes/

Cool Cosmos: What is the Spitzer Space Telescope?http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/cosmic_kids/learn_sirtf/index.html

Radio Telescopeshttp://www.astronomynotes.com/telescop/s4.htm

How Radio Telescopes Workhttp://www.nrao.edu/index.php/learn/radioastronomy/radiotelescopes

Cool Cosmos: NASA’s Great Observatorieshttp://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/cosmic_classroom/cosmic_reference/greatobs.html

*Hubble Picture Albumhttp://hubblesite.org/gallery/album/

Chandra Photo Albumhttp://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/

Spitzer Telescope Imageshttp://www.space.com/11985-spitzer-space-telescope-photos-infrared-universe.html

* these cites are off-limits to most students

Video Resources (must use at least 1)

National STEM Center: The Electromagnetic Spectrumhttp://www.nationalstemcentre.org.uk/elibrary/resource/5416/the-electromagnetic-spectrum

Mysterious Objects at the End of the Electromagnetic Spectrumhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ec70qC5wmnI

Electromagnetic Spectrum Basicshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snNwE6txxP0

The Great Observatories Origins Deep Surveyhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HkmRmElyK0

Layout and Content of ParagraphsParagraph #1: Opening

This paragraph should be an overview of what the reader can expect in the rest of your report. A definition of the electromagnetic spectrum must be included, but not an explanation. It should “touch” on each of the remaining paragraphs.

Paragraph #2: The Electromagnetic SpectrumThis paragraph must include an explanation of the electromagnetic

spectrum. You will include two supporting points as well as details for each point.

Paragraph #3: The Electromagnetic Spectrum and Telescopes

Use this paragraph to introduce the idea of how telescopes are generally used in conjunction or combination with the electromagnetic spectrum, to view and study distant objects in space.

Paragraph #4: Specific Telescope/WavelengthIn this paragraph you will choose a telescope that uses one part of

the electromagnetic spectrum and explain that telescope. The visible light portion of the electromagnetic spectrum is off-limits since it will be used as an example.

Paragraph #5: SummaryYou will summarize all of the information from your preceding

paragraphs. Restate your thesis, but be sure to word it slightly different.

you must use in-text citations; at least one per paragraph the last page must be a work cited page in MLA format transitions must be included indent your paragraphs

Paragraph #1 – Provide a thesis statement as well as an overview of what the reader can expect in the rest of your essay.

Thesis Statement:___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Preview of Paragraph #2:___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Preview of Paragraph #3:

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Preview of Paragraph #4:___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Paragraph #2 – Explain what the electromagnetic spectrum is.

Topic Sentence: (basic definition of the electromagnetic spectrum)___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Supporting Details: (provide a real-world example for each)

A. low energy (harmless energy with longer wavelength)

1.

2.

3.

4.

B. high energy (harmful energy with shorter wavelength

1.

2.

3.

Transition to next paragraph:

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Paragraph #3 – Introduce the idea of how telescopes are used in conjunction with the electromagnetic spectrum to view and study distant objects in space.

Topic Sentence: (general statement of how telescopes use the electromagnetic spectrum)___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Supporting Details: (provide one general detail of a telescope for each type of energy on the spectrum)

A. low energy1. 2.3.4.

B. high energy1.

2.3.

Transition to next paragraph:

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Paragraph #4: (Choose one part of the electromagnetic spectrum and a telescope that uses it.)Topic Sentence: (name the type of energy you chose and the telescope that utilizes it)___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Supporting Details:

A. History and general information of the telescope1. When was it built?

2. Who built it?

3. Who launched it and when?

4. How long has it been used?

B. Discovery in space1. Describe what was discovered.

2. Describe when the discovery was made.

3. What contribution did this discovery make to the scientific community?

Paragraph #5 – Summarize the findings of your research.

Reword your thesis:

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Summarize a point or detail from each preceding paragraphs:

Paragraph #2___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Paragraph #3___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Paragraph #4___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Note-taking Graphic Organizer for Paragraph #2

Resource(s) Information gainedName of resource:

Resource(s) cited:

Note-taking Graphic Organizer for Paragraph #3

Resource(s) Information gainedName of resource:

Resource(s) cited:

Note-taking Graphic Organizer for Paragraph #4

Resource(s) Information gained

Name of resource:

Resource(s) cited: