What is a Vaquita?

It is not a
disease!
Vaquitas and dolphins are very similar but their physical
appearance including size is very different.
To start off, A vaquita is not a disease but it is a very rare
type of porpoise that is close to extinction. You may wonder what a Vaquita is and why
does it sound so weird. Well a vaquita is a type of porpoises that like a dolphin but has
some differences. For example the size is different and the physical appearance is a
little different. Swimming for their lives, Vaquitas are close to extinction. They are very
close to becoming extinct there are about 30 vaquitas left in the wild and are predicted
to becoming extinct in 2018 (worldwildlife.org).The vaquita escaped but is still nearing
extinction.

Continuing with that, Vaquita dolphins are actually very small, smaller than the
average human were most dolphins are bigger than the average human. It can reach
4.6 to 5 feet in length and up to 120 pounds of weight. Females are larger than males
(softschools.com). They are mostly grey and black, Vaquitas use echo-location because
they have trouble seeing in the ocean when the water is murky. Vaquita is very small
animal. It can reach 4.6 to 5 feet in length and up to 120 pounds of weight. Females are
larger than male (softschools.com).

In addition, The Vaquita, a porpoise, similar to a dolphin. Dolphins and porpoises

are very similar and different. Dolphins have longer noses, bigger mouths, more curved
dorsal fins, and longer, leaner bodies than porpoises (Oceanservice.noaa.gov) if you
didnt know Vaquitas are a type of porpoises. also stated,Dolphins and porpoises have
many similarities, one of which is their extreme intelligence. Both have large, complex
brains and a structure in their foreheads, called the melon, with which they generate
sonar (sound waves) to navigate their underwater world (Oceanservice.noaa.gov).

Furthermore, Body Squirming, water roaring, the dolphin struggled to swim. It is

sad but Vaquitas are about to become extinct explained here, According to a new
report, there are less than 30 vaquitas left in the world. That means that half of the
population has disappeared since the last survey in 2015 and this alarming drop
means they soon could be gone forever(The Verge). Vaquitas, tired and scared,
struggle to escape fishnets through the ocean. Vaquitas are slowly dying due to us and
mostly because fishing ,Nearly one out of every five vaquita get entangled and drown
in gillnets intended for other marine species like the totoaba, a critically endangered fish
also found in the upper Gulf of California(WorldWildLife.org).

In conclusion, Vaquitas are similar to dolphins and are very close to becoming
extinct which is sad. Vaquita can survive 21 years in the wild, (softschools.com) which
is interesting because now they are almost extinct. So, now when you think dont think
about a disease, think about an endangered creature.

Works Cited:
OceanService. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Feb.
2017.<http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/dolphin_porpoise.html>.

SoftSchools. Softschools. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2017.

<https://docs.google.com/document/d/136HdFYoEfF12m6Q8wXH-
7SwSx0jQ7B9FInUXnXulOdk/edit>.

WorldWildLife. "WWF." N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Feb.

2017.<http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/vaquita>.

Name: Grace Gay Period: 2

Step One: Topic

Choose your topic (be VERY specific): Interesting facts about the Vaquita dolphin

What interesting title will you use? Vaquita dolphins are very similar to regular dolphins
they are just smaller and have similar face features.

Subtitle? Dolphins and Vaquitas are very similar but on is

almost extinct.

Author name (Thats You): Grace Gay

Photograph (Include source): http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/blog/featured-

creature-vaquita/

Photograph caption: This shows that a dolphin is bigger in size and that a
Vaquita dolphin is smaller than a human.

Step Two: Complete Research

 Source Website Direct or Paraphrased Quote

Be sure its a credible source. List the website
here to later make a works cited. You can use a
source more than once, but use at least 2
sources!
Use quotes if you are directly quoting the source.
Reference the the Author/Source no matter what!
Sample: More than 80 percent of middle school students
couldnt distinguish between legitimate news stories and ads
disguised as news, according to a recent Stanford University
Study.

http://www.softschools.com/facts/animals/vaq Interesting facts

uita_facts/591/

http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/dolphin_po Difference and similarities

rpoise.html

http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/vaquita Threats and harms to vaquitas

Step Three: Outline

Compose a brief outline here to organize your work. In your final draft, dont forget to include
transition words and brush strokes! Then, compose your final draft at the top of this document.
Be sure to format your writing like an actual news article that could appear in Upfront.

I. Introduction
II. Facts and Information about Vaquitas
A. Appearance
B. Diet
C. Behavior
III. Difference of Vaquita and Dolphins
A. Problem solution/cause and effect
B. Information about both dolphins and Vaquitas
IV. Endangered
A. Main threats
B. Amount left, 30 left
C. Stats
V. Conclusion
A. Facts and summary

Step Five: Revise Based on the Rubric/Standards

Task Student Response
 Rubric/Standard
CCSS.ELA- Copy and paste your What is a Vaquita? It is not a disease!
Literacy.W.8.2.a lead/hook sentence to
Introduce a topic clearly, the right. Vaquitas and dolphins are very similar but
previewing what is to Why is it engaging? their physical appearance including size is
follow; organize ideas,
concepts, and information very different.
into broader categories;
include formatting (e.g.,
headings), graphics (e.g., Copy and paste the A vaquita is not a disease but it is a very
charts, tables), and sentence that details the
purpose of the article rare type of porpoise that is close to
multimedia when useful to
(like a thesis). extinction. You may wonder what a Vaquita
aiding comprehension.
is and why does it sound so weird. Well a
vaquita is a type of porpoises that like a
dolphin but has some differences. For
example the size is different and the
physical appearance is a little different.
CCSS.ELA- Provide an example It is sad but Vaquitas are about to
Literacy.W.8.2.b where you smoothly
Develop the topic with integrate evidence. become extinct explained here,According
relevant, well-chosen to a new report, there are less than 30
facts, definitions,
concrete details, vaquitas left in the world. That means that
quotations, or other half of the population has disappeared
information and
since the last survey in 2015 and this
examples.
alarming drop means they soon could be
gone forever(The Verge).
Provide an example Vaquitas are slowly dying due to us
where you elaborate on
this evidence further. and mostly because fishing ,Nearly one
out of every five vaquita get entangled and
drown in gillnets intended for other marine
species like the totoaba, a critically
endangered fish also found in the upper
Gulf of California(WorldWildLife.org).
Vaquitas are similar to dolphins and are
very close to becoming extinct which is sad.
Vaquita can survive 21 years in the wild,
(softschools.com) which is interesting
because now they are almost extinct.

CCSS.ELA- Provide examples of 4 To start off, A vaquita is not a disease but it

Literacy.W.8.2.c transition words you
Use appropriate and included.
varied transitions to
create cohesion and
clarify the relationships
among ideas and
concepts.
CCSS.ELA- Provide an example of
Literacy.W.8.2.d each brush stroke you
Use precise language and included.
domain-specific Appositive
vocabulary to inform My dog, Rufus, is a Golden
about or explain the Doodle.
topic. Absolute
Tail wagging, Rufus met me
at the door.
Adjectives Out of Order
Rufus, big and fluffy, is a
giant teddy bear.
Participle
Panting, Rufus searched for
the water.
Action Verb
Rufus tumbled in a pile of
fuzz at my feet.
CCSS.ELA- Does the article include:
Literacy.W.8.2.e
Establish and maintain a
formal style.
CCSS.ELA- Reread your conclusion.
Literacy.W.8.2.f If it summarizes, how
is a very rare type of porpoise that is close
to extinction.
Continuing with that, Vaquita dolphins are
actually very small, smaller than the
average human were most dolphins are
bigger than the average human.
In addition, The Vaquita, a porpoise, similar
to a dolphin. Dolphins and porpoises are
very similar and different.
Furthermore, Body Squirming, water
roaring, the dolphin struggled to swim. It is
sad but Vaquitas are about to become
extinct explained here, According to a new
report, there are less than 30 vaquitas left
in the world.
Appositive: The Vaquita, a porpoise, similar
to a dolphin.
Participle :Swimming for their lives, Vaquitas
are close to extinction.
Absolute: Body Squirming, water roaring,
the dolphin struggled to swim.
Adjectives Out of Order: Vaquitas, tired and
scared, struggle to escape fishnets through
the ocean.
Active Verb: The vaquita melted away from
its troubles at the moment but is still
endangered.
TITLE? YES NO
SUBTITLE? YES NO
AUTHOR NAME? YES NO
PHOTO? YES NO
CAPTION? YES NO
DID YOU REREAD TO FIX CONVENTIONS
MISTAKES? DID YOU SPELLCHECK? YES
NO
So, now when you think dont think
Provide a concluding could you end with about a disease, think about an
statement or section something catchy or
that follows from and meaningful? Copy and endangered creature.
supports the paste your final line to
the right.
information or
explanation presented.

CCSS.ELA- For this step, be sure Works Cited:

Literacy.W.8.8 you have created and
Gather relevant included a works cited. Softschools: SoftSchools. Softschools.
information from Have you incorporated N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2017.
multiple print and at least 2 sources? <https://docs.google.com/document/d/136H
digital sources, using dFYoEfF12m6Q8wXH-
search terms
effectively; assess the
7SwSx0jQ7B9FInUXnXulOdk/edit>.
credibility and
accuracy of each WorldWildLife. "WWF." N.p., n.d. Web. 16
source; and quote or Feb.
paraphrase the data 2017.<http://www.worldwildlife.org/specie
and conclusions of
s/vaquita>.
others while avoiding
plagiarism and
following a standard OceanService. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Feb.
format for citation.
2017.<http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts
/dolphin_porpoise.html>.