1️⃣ Pick an Endangered Species
Go to the Fish and Wildlife Service website and choose one species (animal or plant) from their endangered or threatened list.
You can pick a mammal, bird, insect, plant, or even an invertebrate.
➡️ Tip: It’s easiest to choose a species found in the United States, because more information is available under U.S. laws like the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
2️⃣ Research and Describe the Species
In this part of your paper, tell me about the species. Include:
- Its scientific name
- Whether it’s endangered or threatened
- A short summary that covers:
- Scientific classification (kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species)
- Closest living relative
- Where it used to live vs. where it lives now
- What kind of environment it lives in (habitat), what it eats, and how it reproduces
- How many individuals are left now vs. in the past
- Is its population going up, staying stable, or going down?
- What caused this species to become endangered?
3️⃣ Explain How It Got Listed and What’s Being Done to Protect It
Find out:
- When it was officially listed as endangered or threatened
- Then, look for these four specific types of protections:
- Critical Habitat Designation
- Recovery Plan
- Habitat Conservation Plan (or similar, like Natural Communities or Candidate Conservation Plans)
- Safe Harbor Agreement
➡️ If you don’t find some of these plans, that’s okay — but say clearly that you searched and could not find them.
Example:
“I searched multiple sources, but found no Critical Habitat Designation or Safe Harbor Agreement for this species.”
4️⃣ Discuss the Politics and Social Impact
Research how protecting this species affects people and politics. Include:
- How much money (if any) has been spent on protecting it
- Any laws or government decisions made to protect it
- Who is affected (like farmers, companies, local communities)
- Are there any public disagreements or political controversies about protecting this species?
➡️ If none exist, just say you looked and didn’t find any.
5️⃣ Wrap It Up: Share What You Learned and What You Think
Finish your paper with a summary that includes:
- Why this species is biologically important
(e.g. it plays a key role in the food chain, or lives in a rare habitat) - Whether the species has cultural or symbolic meaning
➡️ If not, say you checked and found none. - Your personal opinion:
➤ Do you think efforts to protect this species are worth it? Why or why not? - Your prediction for its future:
➤ What do you think will happen to this species in the next 100 years?
6️⃣ Use and List Your Sources
- You need at least 4 sources.
- Make a bibliography page at the end (MLA style).
- You don’t need in-text citations unless you quote someone directly.
- Do not use Wikipedia as a source.
7️⃣ Final Format Requirements
- The paper must be at least 5 full pages, typed, and double-spaced.