Assignment: Geology Project

Purpose

The purpose of this course project is to study one aspect of geology and have fun doing it!

Your study is to be a personal choice based on your interest. If you live near the San Andreas Fault, for instance, you may be interested in investigating the local geology. On the other hand, if you live near Washington, D.C., you might investigate the occurrence of minerals in the Smithsonian Institution's museum complex. Some of you may wish to study geology outside of your local setting. Maybe you have always wanted to go on a road trip to visit Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky. Now's your chance! (If you have the time and it's not too far.) If you aren't into caves, you could study the geology of a country that has always fascinated you. You could do that without leaving your computer! Another angle for your study is to take a look at geology and industry. Industries as varied as roadway engineering and cosmetics all rely on geologic materials to make decisions and products that are used by the general public.

Goal of the Project

In your individualized study of geology, your goal is to dig into one geologic principle as seen in a real geological setting. This principle will ideally be one covered in your assigned study for this course. After you collect your research, present your findings as a paper. (If you choose another format, it still must be submitted online and approved by your Instructor.)

So, have you picked out your favorite mountain, rock, earthquake site, or cave to explore for your course geology project?

Several possibilities for exploration must be stirring in your mind. Your final choice of topic is not due until next week - so you have time. This week, all you need to do is write a brief paragraph describing your thoughts about possible topic areas of interest. An important part of your decision-making is to skim through your geology text for ideas. As for narrowing your topic and deciding on the geologic principle to apply, you can work on those aspects next week. Your Instructor will be helping you along the way.

You spent time reflecting on some general areas of interest for your geology topic. This week you actually choose your topic. Your topic selection should be presented in one paragraph, describing the project you have selected and the reason for your selection. Topics should begin to gain focus. For example, if you wanted to research volcanoes for your Geology project, narrow this topic to the Cascade Range Volcanoes. You could give it even more focus by studying a specific aspect of those volcanoes.

Thesis and Outline

Submit your geology project thesis and outline by the end of this week. (Refer to your original project assignment in Week 02, which provides a model outline.) Your thesis or hypothesis, the concept that you are interested in testing, should be provided as a sentence at the beginning of your outline. Your instructor will use your outline to evaluate your progress and current understanding of your topic.

Rough Draft

Submit the rough draft of your geology project. Included in your rough draft should be the text as close as possible to the way you intend on submitting it as well as data tables and rough sketches of figures.

Project

Submit the finished product for your Geology Project. Please include all figures, data tables, and text in the same document.

Technical Requirements

Your project is to be an original 7-10 page research paper based on a comprehensive outline. (If your Instructor has approved a different format for your project, please discuss requirements as early as possible.) Your task is to prepare an outline as seen here - and then develop your paper from the outline:

Title Page - Captivating title, your name, title of the course, date

Body of Paper - 7-10 pages in length (including any illustrations). Here is a rough outline that you can adapt or follow:

I. Introduction - introduce topic- . Bring focus to your study through dramatic opening, leading into thesis statement. Your thesis is your hypothesis - the main point you want to make about a geologic principle.

II. First Point coming out of thesis statement

a. Support #1 from research
b. Support #2 from research
c. Personal observation, backed by facts/text passages
d. Transition to next point.

III. Second Point coming out of thesis statement

a. Support #1 from research
b. Support #2 from research
c. Personal opinion, backed by facts/text passages
d. Transition to next point.

IV. Third Point coming out of thesis statement

a. Support #1 from research
b. Support #2 from research
c. Personal opinion, backed by facts/text passages
d. Transition to conclusion.

V. Conclusion - restate thesis (hypothesis) and close with striking point or quotation.

References page - in APA format.