Demonstrate your understanding of geologic features and processes.
The character of a place is determined in large part by its geology. You will report on the geologic setting of your chosen location in enough depth to explain not just how the location’s geology was shaped, but how the geology shapes the location.
Physical Setting Report: Describe your location’s tectonic context and surface landforms. Explain how its landscape was formed.
Physical Setting Drafts Feedback: Describe what you found in your group mates’ drafts and identify what you suggested to improve them.
Composition and Special Feature Report: Identify prominent exposed rocks and explain how they formed. Report on a specific geologic feature of your area.
Special Feature Drafts Feedback: Describe what you found in your group mates’ drafts and identify what you suggested to improve them.
Oral Presentation: Describe the geology of your location to your classmates.
| Oct 4 | Project introduced |
| Oct 20 | Physical setting drafts due |
| Oct 25 | In-class feedback on physical setting drafts |
| Oct 27 | Physical setting reports due, feedback reports due |
| Nov 1 | Composition and special feature drafts due |
| Nov 3 | In-class feedback on special feature drafts |
| Nov 8 | Composition and special feature reports due, feedback reports due |
| Nov 10 | Oral presentations |
Describe the area’s large-scale features and the processes that made it what it is today.
Identify the location’s tectonic plate. Where is the nearest plate margin and how close is it to the location? What kind of margin is it, what processes occur there, what other plates are involved, and which plate does what? Where is the nearest hot spot?
| +7 | Identifies tectonic plate correctly. |
| +3 | Correctly describes location on plate. |
| +3 | Identifies nearest plate margin and the adjoining plate(s) there. |
| +3 | Identifies the type of margin and the behavior of each plate there. |
| +4 | Identifies nearest hot spot. |
Identify the current land forms (mountain ranges, valleys, rivers, oceans, bays, glaciers, plains, deltas, volcanoes, lava flows, basins, lakes, craters, fault scarps, dune fields) immediately in or adjacent to your area. Describe how and when the features were formed. Explain the history of their subsequent alteration and evolution.
| +10 | Identifies and describes land forms. |
| +10 | Describes how and when features formed. |
| +10 | Explains history of land forms since their formation. |
The score for this section of the report is the average of the scores for the landforms of the location. Omitting a prominent landform yields a zero for that feature.
This is a record of all the sources from which you obtained the information in your report. It contains:
At least one source must be outside the internet. The course textbook and class lectures should be listed if used, but do not fulfill the non-internet source requirement. On the other hand, journal articles accessed on the web do qualify as non-internet sources.
| +3 | Cites at least three sources. |
| +4 | At least one source is outside the internet. |
| +1 | Citations are complete. |
| +1 | Describes contents of all sources. |
| +1 | Organization, accessibility, appeal, and utility of all sources are evaluated. |
The report must meet the highest standards of Edited Standard Written English (ESWE). Consequently, the score for the written report is adjusted by its ESWE multiplier. See the separate document for description of the ESWE rules and the application of the ESWE multiplier.
Provide feedback on your group mates’ rough drafts. Identify errors and omissions, and offer constructive suggestions for improving the content and its presentation. It is not necessary to address specific grammar or usage issues—these are rough drafts.
The feedback report you submit to me contains separate write-ups for each draft that you evaluate. It does not need to be long or formal. It need only be a list of the specific problems you found and your specific suggestions to correct them.
| +3 | Identifies all errors and omissions of content. |
| +3 | Identifies all errors and omissions of organization and presentation. |
| +4 | Offers constructive suggestions for all problems identified. |
Since you will provide feedback on several group members’ reports, the score you receive for this item will be average of their scores.
This report describes the geology of your location both beneath the ground and back in time, and describes in detail a significant local geologic feature.
Describe the exposed surface rocks. Date the geologic formations they represent and explain how and when they formed.
| +5 | Identifies the type(s) of rock(s) in each formation. |
| +10 | Describes how each formation was created. |
| +5 | Identifies the geologic period when each formation was created. |
Report on a specific geologic feature in or near to your location. This can be a volcano, a lava flow, a valley or canyon, a mountain range or peak, a beach, a prominent river, a basin, a rift zone, a mine, a quarry, a mineral deposit, a meteor crater, a fault, a specific geologic formation, a fossil find, or anything else geologically noteworthy. You should name the feature, explain how and when it formed, and note something important or interesting about it.
| +5 | Names and describes the feature. |
| +5 | Explains how the feature formed. |
| +5 | Identifies the geologic period(s) in which the feature formed and was modified. |
| +5 | Relates an important or interesting characteristic. |
Format and the grading scale are the same as for the bibliography of the physical setting report.
The score for the written report will be adjusted by its ESWE multiplier.
Scoring for the composition and special feature drafts feedback is the same as for the physical setting drafts feedback. Since you will provide feedback on several group members’ reports, the score you receive for this item will be average of their scores.
Identify the tectonic plate, describe the creation of the prominent local land forms, and describe the special feature on which you reported.
Your presentation shall be understandable and factually correct. Speak audibly and with animation, and maintain eye contact with your audience.
| +3 | Locates region on plate. |
| +3 | Identifies and describes prominent local land forms. |
| +2 | Identifies and describes specific feature. |
| +1 | Identifies the process(es) that created the specific feature. |
| +1 | Identifies the geologic periods of key events in the feature’s history. |
| +2 | Identifies an important or interesting fact about the feature. |
| +5 | Presentation is understandable, organized, and concise. |
| +1 | Speaks clearly and audibly. |
| +1 | Maintains eye contact with class. |
| +1 | Conveys enthusiasm. |
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Copyright © 2005, Richard Barrans
Revised: 28 September 2011. Maintained by Richard Barrans.
URL: http://www.barransclass.com/astr1070/projects/geology/A1070_geol_proj_F11.html