"Paper or Plastic?"

Shoppers all over the country hear this question at checkout stands every day. Many people prefer one type of bag over the other, but they usually base their selection on their own convenience rather than on an informed decision regarding which type of bag is better for our planet.

This investigation will provide a procedural framework to help you conduct research on which type of bag is better. The five steps outlined in these pages will help you focus on a wide variety of factors affecting the issue. You will follow a plan for evaluating the issue to determine if one type of bag is better than the other for the Earth system.

You won't do the actual research while viewing these pages. You'll receive guidelines and suggestions for conducting your own research; then you'll proceed in whatever direction you or your group decides.