Geology (and other Earth Sciences)

1. Step 1: Pick a topic from the topic list below (or find a geology-related paper of interest to you).
2. Step 2: Find information on this topic utilizing the campus library (or any other library), periodicals, magazines,
books, or any other source. You must use a minimum of 5 resource references. Two or three may be internet
sources, but they must have an author. Many internet information sources are anonymous and can-not be used.
All sources must be referenced at the end of your paper in a legible bibliography. Wikipedia reference can be
used but it is not recognized in scientific literature so you have to use at least 5 more references.
Exam Conduct Requirement: Consequence for Violation of Exam Conduct:
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Correct placement of webcam Letter Grade Deduction if Cheating is not Apparent
Complete environment scan Exam not accepted, 0
Microphone turned on and recording Letter Grade Deduction if Cheating is not Apparent
Sufficient lighting of the testing environment
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Student is in seated position with computer
on hard surface (desk, table, TV tray etc.)
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Student remains in webcam view during
exam
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No unauthorized materials near desk area Exam not accepted, 0
No talking with others during the exam or
playing of music or other audio recordings.
Letter Grade Deduction if Cheating is not Apparent
Version: 10/2018 4
3. Step 3: Write the paper. Use a standard format such as an English composition with an introduction, body, and
summary-comment section. Note you will be using the 4 steps of the Scientific Method as a basis for structuring
the paper. It must be clear, concise, and have included in it a full description/discussion of your chosen topic. The
paper must be at least 3 pages long (not including references), double-spaced typed, have a cover page containing name, date, course, etc., and stapled together. Handwritten papers or loose pages will not be accepted.
Loose pages will not be accepted.
Topic List:
1. Plate Tectonics: looking for details over and above what presented in lecture. details about specific features we
see today, how are they explained by Plate Tectonics: choose one of these-e.g. the Galapagos Islands, New England Seamount Chain, Cape Verde Islands, New Zealand Plateau, Kerguelen Plateau, etc (ages, how formed, etc.).
2. Volcanoes: Compare volcanic activities of recent times (i.e. in the “Ring of Fire”) of at least three eruptions during the past few years. Compare information on the types of volcanoes, what tectonic plates were involved, any
damage done, and any pertinent information concerning human interaction in the areas of the eruptions.
3. The Sea: Find current geologic (and biologic if you wish) information on the exploration of the seafloor concerning topics such as life at the Mid-Oceanic Ridges, manganese nodules, tsunamis, or any other geologic topic concerning the sea.
4. Fossil Fuels: Find current information on the status of the world’s fossil fuel (oil, coal, and gas) energy supply.
Give the current estimates of each and measures governments are taking in order to conserve energy reserves.
5. End Cambrian Mass Extinction: what geologic time range did this occur, what animals went extinct, what caused
this extinction event? Need map/charts/tables illustrating this-place at end of text, not within it!
6. Cretaceous-Tertiary Extinction: did an asteroid impact really lead to demise of the dinosaurs? Was it instantaneous, or did it take a while? What information does the Chicxulub crater in Yucatan tell us?
7. Cambrian Explosion: what happened here in terms of biological evolution? What conditions changed that might
have impacted this event? What organisms developed during this event, why is it important to Life as we know
it? Need charts/tables illustrating this-place at end of text, not within it!
8. Emeisham Traps: see Rampino and Shen paper in Historical Biology; mass extinction event: time-age, impact on
climate, which organisms become extinct, etc.
9. Kerguelen Plateau: where is it located, what type of basement rocks are found, what rock type sits directly on
top of basement, what is age of rocks above basement, etc. Need map/charts/tables illustrating this-place at
end of text, not within it!
10. Climate Change: a hot topic of interest in recent years. Investigate both sides of the issue, present evaluation of
the importance of global warming. Relate trends in past 5-6 centuries to geologic past. Ice cores from Antarticawhat do they tell us? Need charts/tables illustrating this-place at end of text, not within it!
11. Permian Mass Extinction or Guadalupian mass extinction (choose one): what are possible causes of mass extinction event in Earth’s history.