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Important Information on Doing an Extra Credit Report

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Eligibility & Picking a Topic

Report Rules & Formatting Information

Citations

Bibliography

More Help on Writing A Bibliography and Citations.

How It Will Be Graded

Sample Rubric

Possible Topics (In Alphabetical Order)

Possible Topics

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Eligibility & Picking a Topic

To do an extra credit report, you must do the following:

  1. Be eligible for extra credit.  (A good student who does all of their work, all of their homework, participates in class, is not a distraction or hindrance in class, has good attendance, is not missing any tests or labs, and wants to try to increase their grade.)

  2. Get permission from Mr. A. to do an extra credit assignment.

  3. Pick an Earth science topic that you find interesting.  Some topics have already been approved.

  4. Have that topic approved by Mr. A.

  5. Each topic can only be reported on once during the year.  (First come, first served:  The first students to pick a topic gets the first choice!  Choose early!)

  6. You cannot do more than one extra credit assignment per marking period, more than two per semester, or more than four per year.

  7. You cannot do an extra credit assignment for the first marking period of the semester (This includes both the Fall and Spring semesters).Go to the top!

 

 

 

 

Report Rules & Formatting Information

  1. Your report MUST be typed.

  2. It should have a clear introduction and summary.

  3. It should be in your OWN words.

  4. All information should be cited where necessary.

  5. There must be a bibliography with NO LESS than 5 references.

  6. References should be from reputable and trustworthy sources.

  7. Try to vary your resources!  All of them should NOT be from the internet.  You can use books (including your text), magazines, encyclopedias, and so on as well as the internet.  For some good internet resources, look at my links.

  8. AT LEAST ONE of your sources should be a book, magazine article, or newspaper article.

  9. You do not need a cover page, but can include one if you like.

  10. The report should be AT LEAST 3.5 PAGES of TEXT. 

  11. Pictures, headings, titles, the bibliography, a cover page, etc. DO NOT COUNT AS PART OF THE 3.5 PAGES, but are useful.

  12. Pictures are o.k. to add if you feel it is important.  The easiest thing to do is add the pictures at the end (before the bibliography), give them titles, and make reference to them in the text.  For example, you could write something like this:  "Picture #1 shows...."  "As  you can see in picture #2...."  "For more information on this, see table A."

  13. Your margins should NOT be more than 1 inch on all four sides.

  14. Headings and footnotes (including page numbers) counts as part of the margin, NOT part of the text.

  15. The text should NOT be more than double spaced.  Less is fine.

  16. If you skip a line (double return/enter) between paragraphs, single space your lines.

  17. It must be in a normal, easy to read font.

  18. It must be in an easy to read font color.  (NO YELLOW PLEASE!!!)

  19. The font size must be NO LESS than 10 point and NO MORE than 12 pt.

  20. It is recommended that you try to answer all of the questions related to your topic (click on the topic of your choice to see these questions!), but they do not have to be answered in the order shown.

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Rules To Bibliographies

These are some of the rules and examples related to writing papers.  It includes how to cite a reference and how to write you bibliography. 

When writing your bibliography, there are a few rules that you always have to follow:

  1. Each reference is written last name, first.
  2. The first names (and middle names, if given) are abbreviated to the first letter and a period.
  3. Each reference is written out continuously.  Do not hit “enter” at the end of a line.
  4. Each reference has a “hanging indent.”  This means that the first line is not indented, but each line underneath is indented.  Please note that this is when the line naturally “breaks.”
  5. When listing the names in a reference, list them in the order that they are written on the book or article.
  6. When more than one author appear, use “&” instead of “and.”
  7. The references are listed in alphabetical order by the last name of the first author on each reference.
  8. When an author appears more than once, you use the next author in the reference to alphabetize it.
  9. If the author that is used to alphabetize the reference appears more than once, both as the only author in one reference and part of multiple authors in another reference, the single author is listed before the multiple authors.
  10. If a single author is listed more than once, and is listed by alone each time, the reference with the most recent date is listed first.  The same applies to when multiple authors appear more than once, as long as all of the authors are on both references.
  11. If the authors and the dates match exactly, you alphabetize by the title.
  12. If there is no author listed, list the publisher.  If the publisher is not listed also, list the title first and put the date after it.  Then, alphabetize this reference as if the book were the author (by the first word of the book).
  13. The first letter in any titles of books, articles, web pages, etc., you only capitalize the first letter.  If there is more than one sentence, it can be capitalized.  Also, it can be capitalized if it is a proper name or if there is a sentence ending punctuation in front of it.  Examples:   . ? ! : ; –
  14. Journals are one of the exceptions to rule #14.  Journals will have all of the major words capitalized.
  15. The titles of books, journals, and other long works are written in italics.
  16. Do not underline, italicize, or put quotes around the shorter written works.
  17. Newspaper articles need to have the month and day along with the year.  Magazines and other written periodicals are also written this way when possible.
  18. The state should always be listed along with the city if it is an unfamiliar city or one that can get confused.  For example, “Los Angeles” can stay alone, but “Long Beach” (which is both in New York – or California) or Medford (which many people outside of the area probably have never hear of) need to have the state included.
  19. If the reference has more than 6 authors, you can write “et al.” for the rest of the authors after the sixth one.  You can also use the “et al.” when citing a reference in your writing when you list a cite with the same authors and dates when there are more than two authors, but this can only be used from the second time on.  The first time it must be written out, providing there are 6 or less authors.
  20. If there is no date, just put “n.d.” in its place.Go to the top!

 

 

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Rules to in-text citations

  1. Anytime you want to cite a reference in-text, it should be written like this:  (Author, Year)
  2. Every reference should be cited.  Even when you put it into your own words.
  3. Always try to put the information in your own words. 
  4. If it is a “common knowledge” statement or fact, you do not have to site it if it is in your own words.  (Common knowledge is something like "the sky is blue," "we get our light from the Sun," and so on.  It is something that most people reading your paper would already know.)  If in doubt, cite it!
  5. If it is a clichι that did not originate in a written work or a quote, you do not have to cite it.
  6. If you are directly quoting something, then you need to add the page number or numbers.  (Author, year, pp)
  7. If no author is listed, then use the title in quotation marks.  (“Title,” year)
  8. If there is no date, just put “n.d.” in its place.  (Author, n.d.)
  9. If you use the name of the author in your writing, you just have to use the year.  For example:  “Alfred Wegener (1915) stated that all of the continents were once joined together.”

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For more information and examples you can go to these websites:

        Library Instruction Office, The. (2005, February 22). APA citation guide.  Retrieved April 3, 2006, from http://library.osu.edu/sites/guides/apagd.html.

        Purdue University. (2004). Using American Psychological Association (APA) format (updated to 5th edition).  Retrieved April 3, 2006, from http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_apa.html.Go to the top!

 

 

 Grading

Grading is specific to the report, but all reports follow these guidelines when graded:

  1. Quality of information = out of 25 points.  This score is an average of the independent topics that should be covered, which are marked out of 5 points for each topic, and then multiplied by 5.

  2. A clear and understandable introduction = out of 10 points.

  3. A clear and understandable summary = out of 10 points.

  4. Quality of the report.  (Was it well written?  Does it make sense?) = out of 25 points.

  5. Spelling = out of 5 points.

  6. Grammar = out of 5 points.

  7. Punctuations = out of 5 points.

  8. Citations = out of 5 points.

  9. Bibliography = out of 5 points.

  10. Formatting = out of 5 points.  This is based upon the 5 formatting rules (see below).

Below is a sample of an old rubric which I used in an astronomy class.  The assignment was to write a report on a specific planet.  Your report does not have to be about a planet, but the a relatively close format should be followed.  Try to think of all of the important pieces of information that your report should include BEFORE you start to write it.  These could be used to replace the "Quality of information" topics shown below on your report, but many could be similar.Go to the top!

 

 

Sample Rubric Used For Grading An Extra Credit Report

Written Report Grading Rubric For: ______________________________________________Topic:  ______________________

Report Criteria

Pnts

Grading

Score

o     Name of the planet

N/A  –  0  –  1  –  2  –  3  –  4  –  5

 

o     Planet number (in order from the Sun)

N/A  –  0  –  1  –  2  –  3  –  4  –  5

 

o     Distance from the Sun

N/A  –  0  –  1  –  2  –  3  –  4  –  5

 

o     Distance from the Earth

N/A  –  0  –  1  –  2  –  3  –  4  –  5

 

o     Diameter

N/A  –  0  –  1  –  2  –  3  –  4  –  5

 

o     Number of known moons

N/A  –  0  –  1  –  2  –  3  –  4  –  5

 

o     Names of the moons

N/A  –  0  –  1  –  2  –  3  –  4  –  5

 

o     Information about the moons

N/A  –  0  –  1  –  2  –  3  –  4  –  5

 

o     Number of known rings

N/A  –  0  –  1  –  2  –  3  –  4  –  5

 

o     Type of planets

N/A  –  0  –  1  –  2  –  3  –  4  –  5

 

o     Atmosphere composition

N/A  –  0  –  1  –  2  –  3  –  4  –  5

 

o     Information about the surface of the planet, including composition

N/A  –  0  –  1  –  2  –  3  –  4  –  5

 

o     Rotational period

N/A  –  0  –  1  –  2  –  3  –  4  –  5

 

o     Angle of axis

N/A  –  0  –  1  –  2  –  3  –  4  –  5

 

o     Orbital period

N/A  –  0  –  1  –  2  –  3  –  4  –  5

 

o     Information about the orbit  (Eccentricity/Angle of orbit compared to other planets)

N/A  –  0  –  1  –  2  –  3  –  4  –  5

 

o     Temperatures

N/A  –  0  –  1  –  2  –  3  –  4  –  5

 

o     Gravity

N/A  –  0  –  1  –  2  –  3  –  4  –  5

 

o     How was it discovered

N/A  –  0  –  1  –  2  –  3  –  4  –  5

 

o     Date of discovery

N/A  –  0  –  1  –  2  –  3  –  4  –  5

 

o     Who discovered it

N/A  –  0  –  1  –  2  –  3  –  4  –  5

 

o     Can it be seen from Earth?  If so, what does it look like, and how do you see it (naked eye, telescope)?

N/A  –  0  –  1  –  2  –  3  –  4  –  5

 

o     Should it be considered a planet?  Why or why not?

N/A  –  0  –  1  –  2  –  3  –  4  –  5

 

o     Additional facts and details

N/A  –  0  –  1  –  2  –  3  –  4  –  5

 

Quality of information about the planet (listed above)

[Up to 24 possible sections]

25

Average:             /             X 5 =

           

A clear and understandable introduction

10

0 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10

 

A clear and understandable summary

10

0 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10

 

Well-written report (Is it understandable?  Does it make sense?)

25

N/A - 0 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9  10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18 - 19 - 20 - 21 - 22 - 23 - 24 - 25

 

Spelling

5

N/A – 0 – 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5

 

Grammar

5

N/A – 0 – 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5

 

Punctuation

5

N/A – 0 – 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5

 

Citations*

5

N/A – 0 – 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5

 

Bibliography*

5

N/A – 0 – 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5

 

o        3.5 pages or more (w/out titles, names, & pictures)?

 

0 – 1

 

o        1 inch margin or less (Each page)?

 

0 – 1

 

o        Easy to read font?

 

0 – 1

 

o        10 to 12 point font?

 

0 – 1

 

o        Single to Double space?

 

0 – 1

 

Formatting  (Above 5 sections)

5

Total:

 

Each plagiarized line (Copied without quoted or being cited.)*

-1

# of lines =                   x –5 =

–

Number of Days LATE

-1

# of days late =            x –2 =

–

� � �

 

Total/Grade =

 

 *  These are related topics.  The bibliography clearly states where the information came from and the citations show which information in your report is from one of these sources.  Plagiarism is considered a serious academic crime, which could lead to expulsion from a college or university.  Be careful when writing reports.

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possible topics (In alphabetical order)

Click on each topic below to see what should be included in your report.

Note:  This symbol This is a Difficut Topic! shows relatively difficult topics. 

This symbol Students learned something from this! It gave their brains a workout. shows a topic that students say they have learned from while working on it.

This symbol Students claimed to have enjoyed working on this topic. Well, as much as a student can enjoy working on something. shows a topic that students said they have enjoyed learning about in the past.

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Information To be covered in the topic

Click on the heading to go back to the Topics.

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  • What is it?

  • Types of beach erosion.

  • Factors of beach erosion.

  • Features created from beach erosion.

  • Problems related to beach erosion.

  • Predictions related to beach erosion.

  • Why is it a problem?

  • Possible solutions/man-made solutions.

  • If you had the money or political power, how would you try to solve this problem?

  • Additional facts and details.

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  • XXX

  •  

  • Additional facts and details.

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  • How do clouds form?

  • Factors affecting cloud formation (moisture, temperature, etc).

  • The different types of clouds.

  • Elevation of formation.

  • What makes them different?  (Why do they look that way?)

  • What do they tell us (weather predictions, hazards, etc.)?

  • What is fog?

  • How is fog related to other clouds?

  • Types of fog.

  • Factors affecting the formation of fog.

  • What are "contrails?"

  • What is "contrail" short for?

  • How do they form?

  • Factors affecting contrail formation.

  • It is debated weather or not contrails should be considered clouds.  What do you think (and why)?

  • Additional facts and details.

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  • What is a comet?

  • Their formation.

  • Composition.

  • What characteristics are necessary for an object to be considered a comet?

  • The anatomy of a comet.

  • How does a comet changes as it orbits the Sun?

  • How does a comet change over time?

  • What comets can be seen from Earth?

  • orbital periods.

  • What are some of the shapes that a comet's orbit can take?

  • Their first documentation.

  • Who has credit for their discovery?

  • How do comets affect us?

  • How were they thought to affect us in ancient times?

  • What type of studies were done regarding comets?

  • What were their results?

  • What studies would you suggest doing if you were in charge of NASA?

  • What are some thing that we should try to find out about comets?

  • Additional facts and details.

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  • Who was he?

  • Where did he live?

  • When did he live (Born? Died?)

  • What did he do (job) before or during his discoveries?

  • What did he discover?

  • How did he discover it?

  • How did he prove (or try to prove) it?

  • Was it excepted in his life time?  (If not, when was it excepted?)

  • Did anything happen to him because of his discoveries?

  • About his discoveries?

  • How did it compare to the accepted theories of the time?

  • Is it still accepted to day?  (Is it still accepted as is, was it modified or disproven?)

  • Did anyone continue his research?

  • Who was it/who were they?

  • What did they find?

  • What would be different today if he did not make his discoveries?

  • How did his discoveries effect your life?

  • How would your life be different if he did not make his discoveries?

  • If you were to continue his research today, what would you do?

  • Additional facts and details.

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  • Additional facts and details.

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  • Additional facts and details.

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  • Additional facts and details.

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  • Additional facts and details.

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  • Additional facts and details.

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  • Who was he?

  • Where did he live?

  • When did he live (Born? Died?)

  • What did he do (job) before or during his discoveries/inventions?

  • What did he discover or invent?

  • How did he discover it (or think it up to invent it)?

  • How did he prove it (or build it, if it was an invention)?

  • Was it excepted in his life time?  (If not, when was it excepted?)

  • Did anything happen to him because of his discoveries/inventions?

  • About his discoveries/inventions?

  • How did it compare to the accepted theories of the time?

  • Is it still accepted to day?  (Is it still accepted as is, was it modified or disproven?)

  • Did anyone continue his research?

  • Who was it/who were they?

  • What did they find?

  • What would be different today if he did not make his discoveries/inventions?

  • How did his discoveries/inventions effect your life?

  • How would your life be different if he did not make his discoveries/inventions?

  • If you were to continue his research today, what would you do?

  • Additional facts and details.

  • XXX

  •  

  • Additional facts and details.

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  •  

  • Additional facts and details.

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  • Additional facts and details.

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  • Additional facts and details.

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  • Additional facts and details.

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  • Who was he?

  • Where did he live?

  • When did he live (Born? Died?)

  • What did he do (job) before or during his discoveries/inventions?

  • What did he discover or invent?

  • How did he discover it (or think it up to invent it)?

  • How did he prove it (or build it, if it was an invention)?

  • Was it excepted in his life time?  (If not, when was it excepted?)

  • Did anything happen to him because of his discoveries/inventions?

  • About his discoveries/inventions?

  • How did it compare to the accepted theories of the time?

  • Is it still accepted to day?  (Is it still accepted as is, was it modified or disproven?)

  • Did anyone continue his research?

  • Who was it/who were they?

  • What did they find?

  • What would be different today if he did not make his discoveries/inventions?

  • How did his discoveries/inventions effect your life?

  • How would your life be different if he did not make his discoveries/inventions?

  • If you were to continue his research today, what would you do?

  • Additional facts and details.

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  • XXX

  •  

  • Additional facts and details.

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  • Additional facts and details.

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  • Additional facts and details.

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  • Additional facts and details.

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  • Additional facts and details.

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  • Who is she?

  • Where does she live?

  • What did she work before she retired?

  • What did she do?

  • About the comets she discovered.

  • About the asteroids she discovered.

  • What is a NEA?

  • What are the 3 categories of NEAs?

  • About each of the 3 categories.

  • What is NEAT?

  • About NEAT.

  • Why is it important?

  • What are PHAs?

  • About PHAs.

  • What is a NEO?

  • How is a NEA different from a NEO?

  • What is the Torino Impact scale?

  • What would be different today if she did not make her discoveries?

  • How did her discoveries effect your life?

  • How would your life be different if he did not make her discoveries?

  • If you were to continue her research today, what would you do?

  • Additional facts and details.

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  • Who was he?

  • Where did he live?

  • When did he live (Born? Died?)

  • What did he do (job) before or during his discoveries/inventions?

  • What did he discover or invent?

  • How did he discover it (or think it up to invent it)?

  • How did he prove it (or build it, if it was an invention)?

  • Was it excepted in his life time?  (If not, when was it excepted?)

  • Did anything happen to him because of his discoveries/inventions?

  • About his discoveries/inventions?

  • How did it compare to the accepted theories of the time?

  • Is it still accepted to day?  (Is it still accepted as is, was it modified or disproven?)

  • Did anyone continue his research?

  • Who was it/who were they?

  • What did they find?

  • What would be different today if he did not make his discoveries/inventions?

  • How did his discoveries/inventions effect your life?

  • How would your life be different if he did not make his discoveries/inventions?

  • If you were to continue his research today, what would you do?

  • Additional facts and details.

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  • XXX

  •  

  • Additional facts and details.

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  • XXX

  •  

  • Additional facts and details.

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  • Who was he?

  • Where did he live?

  • When did he live (Born? Died?)

  • What did he do (job) before or during his discoveries?

  • What did he discover?

  • How did he discover it?

  • How did he prove it?

  • Was it excepted in his life time?  (If not, when was it excepted?)

  • Did anything happen to him because of his discoveries?

  • About his discoveries?

  • How did it compare to the accepted theories of the time?

  • Is it still accepted to day?  (Is it still accepted as is, was it modified or disproven?)

  • Did anyone continue his research?

  • Who was it/who were they?

  • What did they find?

  • What would be different today if he did not make his discoveries?

  • How did his discoveries effect your life?

  • How would your life be different if he did not make his discoveries?

  • If you were to continue his research today, what would you do?

  • Additional facts and details.

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  • Additional facts and details.

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  • Additional facts and details.

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  • Additional facts and details.

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  • Additional facts and details.

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  • Additional facts and details.

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  • Additional facts and details.

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  • Who was he?

  • Where did he live?

  • When did he live (Born? Died?)

  • What did he do (job) before or during his discoveries/inventions?

  • What did he discover or invent?

  • How did he discover it (or think it up to invent it)?

  • How did he prove it (or build it, if it was an invention)?

  • Was it excepted in his life time?  (If not, when was it excepted?)

  • Did anything happen to him because of his discoveries/inventions?

  • About his discoveries/inventions?

  • How did it compare to the accepted theories of the time?

  • What is gravity?

  • What is his Universal Law of Gravity?

  • How is gravity effected by the distance between objects?

  • How is gravity effected by the mass between objects?

  • In what ways does gravity effect us, according to his theories?

  • About gravity.

  • Is it still accepted to day?  (Is it still accepted as is, was it modified or disproven?)

  • Did anyone continue his research?

  • Who was it/who were they?

  • What did they find?

  • What would be different today if he did not make his discoveries/inventions?

  • How did his discoveries/inventions effect your life?

  • How would your life be different if he did not make his discoveries/inventions?

  • If you were to continue his research today, what would you do?

  • Additional facts and details.

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  • XXX

  • Additional facts and details.

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  • How do planets move?

  • What is revolution?

  • Why does a planet revolve?

  • What is rotation?

  • Why does a planet rotate?

  • How is revolution and rotation the same?

  • How are they different?

  • What is retrograde motion?

  • How does it work/relate to revolution?

  • What is a conjunction?

  • Types of conjunctions.

  • What is an occultation?

  • Types of occultations.

  • What is precession?

  • How do these motions effect us (Earth)?

  • Additional facts and details.

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  • Name of the planet.

  • Origin of the name.

  • Planet number (in order from the Sun).

  • Distance from the Sun.

  • Distance from the Earth.

  • Diameter.

  • Number of known moons.

  • Names of the moons.

  • Information about the moons.

  • Number of known rings.

  • Type of planets.

  • Atmosphere composition.

  • Information about the surface of the planet, including composition.

  • Rotational period.

  • Angle of axis.

  • Orbital period.

  • Information about the orbit  (Eccentricity/Angle of orbit compared to other planets).

  • Temperatures.

  • Gravity.

  • How was it discovered?

  • Date of discovery.

  • Who discovered it?

  • Can it be seen from Earth?  If so, what does it look like, and how do you see it (naked eye, telescope)?

  • Should it be considered a planet?  Why or why not?

  • Additional facts and details.

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  • Origin of the name.

  • Distance from the Sun.

  • Distance from the Earth.

  • Diameter.

  • Number of known moons.

  • Names of the moons.

  • Size of the moons.

  • Other information about the moons.

  • Number of known rings.

  • Atmosphere composition.

  • Information about the surface of the planet, including composition.

  • Rotational period.

  • Angle of axis.

  • Orbital period.

  • Information about the orbit  (Eccentricity/Angle of orbit compared to other planets).

  • Temperatures.

  • Gravity.

  • How was it discovered?

  • Date of discovery.

  • Who discovered it?

  • What is the definition of a planet?

  • Why was it demoted from planet to planetoid?

  • Should it be considered a planet?  Why or why not?

  • Additional facts and details.

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  • Name of the planet.

  • Origin of the name.

  • Planet number (in order from its star).

  • Distance from its star.

  • Distance from the Sun.

  • Distance from the Earth.

  • Diameter.

  • Number of known moons/satellites.

  • Names of the moons/satellites.

  • Information about the moons/satellites.

  • Number of known rings.

  • Type of planet.

  • Atmosphere composition.

  • Information about the surface of the planet, including composition.

  • Rotational period.

  • Angle of axis.

  • Orbital Period.

  • Information about the orbit (Eccentricity/Angle of orbit compared to other planets).

  • Temperatures.

  • Gravity.

  • How was it discovered?

  • Date of Discovery.

  • How do we know it is there?

  • Who discovered it?

  • Can it be seen from Earth?  If so, what does it look like, and how do you see it (naked eye, telescope, etc.)?

  • Should it be considered a planet?  Why or why not?

  • Additional facts and details.

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  • Name of the planet.

  • Origin of the name.

  • Planet number (in order from its star).

  • Distance from its star.

  • Distance from the Sun.

  • Distance from the Earth.

  • Diameter.

  • Number of known moons/satellites.

  • Names of the moons/satellites.

  • Information about the moons/satellites.

  • Number of known rings.

  • Type of planet.

  • Atmosphere composition.

  • Information about the surface of the planet, including composition.

  • Rotational period.

  • Angle of axis.

  • Orbital Period.

  • Information about the orbit (Eccentricity/Angle of orbit compared to other planets).

  • Temperatures.

  • Gravity.

  • How was it discovered?

  • Date of Discovery.

  • How do we know it is there?

  • Who discovered it?

  • Can it be seen from Earth?  If so, what does it look like, and how do you see it (naked eye, telescope, etc.)?

  • Should it be considered a planet?  Why or why not?

  • Additional facts and details.

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  •  

  • XXX

  • Additional facts and details.

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  •  

  • XXX

  • Additional facts and details.

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  • What is reflection?

  • How does it work?

  • What are some examples of reflection?

  • How is reflection used in Earth science?

  • How is reflection used in other areas?

  • What is refraction?

  • How does it work?

  • What are some examples of refraction?

  • How is refraction used in Earth science?

  • How is refraction used in other areas?

  • What is diffraction?

  • How does it work?

  • What are some examples of diffraction?

  • How is diffraction used in Earth science?

  • How is diffraction used in other areas?

  • What is the difference between reflection and refraction?

  • How is reflection like refraction?

  • What is the difference between diffraction and refraction?

  • How is refraction like diffraction?

  • What is the difference between reflection and diffraction?

  • How is reflection like diffraction?

  • Origin of each word (word roots).

  • Additional facts and details.

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  •  

  • XXX

  • Additional facts and details.

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  • What is the "Ring of Fire?"

  • What features define the Ring of Fire?

  • List the tectonic plates involved, and how they are involved.

  • List the countries effected by these events, and how they are effected.

  • Why do these events occur (remember your Earth science)?

  • What are volcanic arcs?

  • Where are the volcanic arcs located that are related to the ring of fire?

  • Why do these events occur?

  • List and describe historic events related to the ring of fire.

  • Additional facts and details.

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(Hint:  There are multiple locations to write about, so be specific in your report!)

  • What are the "Ringing Rocks?"

  • Why did they get that name?

  • Composition.

  • Type of rock and rock name.

  • When did they form?

  • Where are they located?

  • Give details about their location/formation (i.e. The size of the field.).

  • Theories on how they get there.

  • When do they ring?

  • What are "living" and "dead" rocks?

  • What percentage of them ring?

  • Theories on why they ring.

  • List, describe, and explain some of the other strange/mysterious characteristics that have been claimed of the ringing rocks and surrounding area.

  • Which of those are false (explain and site evidence).

  • Would these rocks ring if they were removed from their field?

  • Would these rocks ring if they were broken in half?

  • How do you think they formed?

  • What do you think causes these rocks to ring?

  • Additional facts and details.

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  • What is a river?

  • How does water flow?  (Be sure to include the terms upstream, downstream, and elevation.)

  • Sources of water for a river.

  • Anatomy of a river.

  • List and describe types of rivers (and items related to formation, such as landscape).

  • Names and descriptions of different sizes of rivers/streams.  (I.e. rivers, streams, brooks, creeks, etc.)

  • What is a meander?

  • List the different velocities of water flowing through a straight channel.

  • Explain where the fastest and slowest moving water is (describe why this is so).

  • List and explain where deposition and erosion occurred (and why).

  • List the different velocities of water flowing through a meandering stream.

  • Explain where the fastest and slowest moving water is (describe why this is so).

  • List and explain where deposition and erosion occurred (and why).

  • Ages of the river (including changes).

  • The progression of a river as it ages (relating to the bed, banks, shape/meander, etc.).

  • Changes in landscape features due to streams as they age (i.e. flood plains, natural levies, etc.).

  • List, describe, and explain the different types of stream drainage patterns (and the areas in which they form).

  • About braded streams.

  • About yazoo streams.

  • How do streams effect the landscape of an area?

  • List, describe, and explain types of measurements relating to streams and water flow (i.e. gradient, velocity, discharge, etc.).

  • How streams affect us.

  • Additional facts and details.

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  • Who was he?

  • Where did he live?

  • When did he live (Born? Died?)

  • What did he do (job) before or during his discoveries?

  • What did he do?

  • How did he projects did he participate in?

  • What were they?

  • Why were they used?

  • What did he discover?

  • How did he discover it (or think it up to invent it)?

  • How did he prove it (or build it, if it was an invention)?

  • Was it excepted in his life time?  (If not, when was it excepted?)

  • Did anything happen to him because of his discoveries/inventions?

  • About his discoveries/inventions?

  • How did it compare to the accepted theories of the time?

  • Is it still accepted to day?  (Is it still accepted as is, was it modified or disproven?)

  • Did anyone continue his research?

  • Who was it/who were they?

  • What did they find?

  • What would be different today if he did not make his discoveries/inventions?

  • How did his discoveries/inventions effect your life?

  • How would your life be different if he did not make his discoveries/inventions?

  • If you were to continue his research today, what would you do?

  • Additional facts and details.

  • What is S.E.T.I.?

  • What does the term "Extra-Terrestrial" mean?

  • When was S.E.T.I. founded?

  • What is Arecibo, where is it, and what does it do?

  • What is the Rio Scale?

  • How do they plan on reaching intelligent extraterrestrials?  What methods do they use?

  • How close is the nearest star?

  • How close are the nearest Sun-like stars (or stars that are thought to be able to support life)?

  • What is the speed of light?

  • How long will it take for the planets around those stars to receive our radio signals (keep in mind that radio waves are part of the electromagnetic spectrum, or a form of light.)?

  • What is the "Drake Equation," and how does it relate to S.E.T.I.?

  • What is likelihood of contacting life on another planet (explain)?

  • Discuss, describe, and explain any possible extraterrestrial signals that were received.

  • What are some possible reasons why we might not receive signals (and how we can fix that, if possible)?

  • What are the possible benefits of the S.E.T.I. Project?

  • What are some possible dangers of the S.E.T.I. Project?

  • Do you think it is a good idea to try to contact alien life forms?  Why or why not?  (Keep in mind that we are sending thousands of hours of radio and television signals out into space anyway.)

  • Do you think that we will ever contact an alien species in our lifetime?

  • How do you think society will be effected by alien contact?

  • If we contact an alien species, do you think we will ever be able to meet in person?

  • Additional facts and details.

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  • Where is the Sun in our galaxy?

  • The Sun's size.

  • The Sun's mass.

  • The Sun's composition.

  • The Sun's layers.

  • The Sun's temperatures.

  • How do we know what the inside of the Sun looks like?

  • Missions to the Sun or to observe the Sun.

  • The Sun's atmosphere.

  • The temperature of the layers of the Sun's atmosphere.

  • The Sun compared to other stars.

  • The Sun's formation.

  • The Sun's rotation.

  • The Sun's rotational rate.

  • The Sun's revolution.

  • The Sun's orbital speed.

  • The distance from the Sun to the nearest star.

  • About the Sun's features (sunspots, solar flares, solar prominences, solar winds, etc.).

  • The Sun's life cycle.

  • The Sun's effect on the Earth at the end of its "life."

  • The Sun's effect on the Earth (currently).

  • The Sun's effect on living things.

  • The Sun as an energy source.

  • Additional facts and details.

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  • What is a super volcano?

  • Where is Yellowstone National Park?

  • Evidence of volcanic activity at Yellowstone National Park.

  • What is a caldera?

  • How deep below the surface is the magma chamber?

  • How wide is the magma chamber?

  • Evidence that it might be ready to erupt (list and explain).

  • What is "nuclear winter?"

  • How can it be caused?

  • How does it relate to the super volcano?

  • What effect would it have on us?

  • What could happen in the case of an eruption?

  • How could it effect us?

  • Information on other super volcanoes around the world (present and past) and how they effect (or effected) society.

  • What can we do to prepare?

  • Additional facts and details.

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  • What is a telescope?

  • Origin of the word (word roots).

  • How does a telescope work?

  • Who is credited with inventing the telescope?

  • What is an optical telescope?

  • What is a refracting telescope (and how does it work)?

  • What is a reflecting telescope (and how does it work)?

  • What is a newtonian telescope (and how does it work)?

  • What is a catadioptric telescope (and how does it work)?

  • What is a refracting telescope (and how does it work)?

  • What is a radio telescope (and how does it work)?

  • What is a x-ray telescope (and how does it work)?

  • What is a gamma ray telescope (and how does it work)?

  • What is a solar telescope (and how does it work)?

  • What are some other types of telescopes (and how do they work)?

  • What are the advantages of each type of telescope?

  • What are the disadvantages of each type of telescope?

  • List, describe, and explain the use of each of the parts of each type of telescope.

  • If you had unlimited funds to purchase any type of telescope for your home, which would it be and why?

  • Additional facts and details.

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  • What is a tsunami?

  • Origin of the word (word roots).

  • Anatomy of a tsunami.

  • What is the average height of a tsunami?

  • What is the typical range of a tsunami (low to high)?

  • What is the tallest recorded tsunami to date?

  • What are the causes?

  • Discuss each cause and how it creates a tsunami?

  • Why is a tsunami NOT a tidal wave?

  • What is a megatsunami?

  • What are some pieces of evidence of megatsunamis?

  • Historic events - The largest tsunamis, most damage, most recent.

  • What is a "meteotsunami?"

  • What is a "rogue wave?"

  • What is a "sneaker wave?"

  • How are they (meteotsunami, rogue wave, sneaker wave) different from a tsunami?

  • Warning signs of a tsunami.

  • Tsunami preparedness and safety.

  • Additional facts and details.

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  • What is a U.F.O.?

  • What is some evidence of the existence of U.F.O.s?

  • When was the first recorded sightings?

  • What are some famous sightings?

  • Who are some famous people who have reported sightings?

  • What are some possible explanations?

  • What are parhelia (or sundogs), and how do they relate to U.F.O.s?

  • What are lenticular clouds, and how do they relate to U.F.O.s?

  • What was Project Blue Book?

  • What are some U.F.O. categories (shapes, etc.)?

  • What is the Hynek System?

  • What is the Vallee System?

  • Do you think that U.F.O.s exist?

  • Do you think they are alien spacecraft?

  • Do you think that the government covers up U.F.O.s (conspiracy theories)?

  • How would society be different if U.F.O.s were proven to be true?

  • How would society be different if an alien life form was contacted?

  • Do you think alien life forms would be hostile, friendly, helpful, etc?

  • Additional facts and details.

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  • What is a volcano?

  • Origin of the word (word roots).

  • Anatomy of a volcano.

  • Types of volcanoes.

  • Types of eruptions.

  • Types of magma/lava.

  • Locations of volcanoes.

  • About hot spots.

  • Volcanic activity (Comparing and contrasting Active, Dormant, and Extinct).

  • Effects of volcanoes.

  • Volcanic hazards.

  • Famous volcanoes and famous volcanic eruptions.

  • Volcanoes in the United States (names/locations).

  • Recent and current eruptions.

  • Volcanic activity as a geological time marker.

  • Eruptions as causes of tsunamis.

  • Warning signs of an eruption.

  • Volcano safety.

  • Extraterrestrial volcanoes (volcanoes located at places other than on Earth).

  • Additional facts and details.

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  • The parts of the water cycle.

  • About evaporation.

  • About condensation.

  • About precipitation.

  • Conditions needed for evaporation.

  • Conditions needed for condensation.

  • Conditions needed for cloud formation.

  • About runoff.

  • Conditions needed for runoff.

  • About infiltration.

  • Conditions needed for infiltration.

  • About groundwater.

  • Types of aquifers.

  • About the types of aquifers.

  • About porosity.

  • About permeability.

  • About surface water.

  • Impact on climates.

  • Relation to weather/Earth science.

  • Formation of precipitation.

  • How was it discovered?

  • Date of discovery.

  • Who discovered it?

  • Additional facts and details.

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  • What is water pollution?

  • What are common pollutants?

  • What are some natural pollutants?

  • What are some industrial pollutants?

  • What are the known side effects of these pollutants (related to the environment, people's health, wildlife, etc.)?

  • What are suspected side effects of these pollutants (related to the environment, people's health, wildlife, etc.)?

  • What are other dangers of water pollution?

  • How do they clean up these pollutants?

  • What are some issues related to water pollution (political, personal, business, etc.)?

  • What needs to be done to solve these problems?

  • What would you do to prevent water pollution if you were the president of the United States?

  • What would you do to clean up water pollution if you were the president of the United States?

  • How can you be safe relating to water pollution?

  • Additional facts and details.

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  • What is a wave?

  • Anatomy of a wave.

  • Causes of waves.

  • Factors effecting waves.

  • Measurements of a wave.

  • Types of waves.

  • The motion of molecules affect by waves.

  • The motion the waves (How do they move?).

  • What is Surf?

  • What is a Breaker?

  • How is surf and breakers different?

  • How do waves shape a landscape?

  • How are tsunamis different from ocean waves?

  • Waves as an alternate form of energy.

  • Additional facts and details.

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  • What is weathering?

  • What is the difference between physical (or mechanical) and chemical weathering?

  • What is physical (or mechanical) weathering?

  • What environmental factors affect physical weathering?

  • What are types of physical weathering?

  • About the different types of physical weathering.

  • Evidence of the different types of physical weathering.

  • What is chemical weathering?

  • What environmental factors affect chemical weathering?

  • What are types chemical weathering?

  • About the different types of chemical weathering.

  • Evidence of the different types of chemical weathering.

  • How is weathering related to weather?

  • What are some features or landscapes formed due to weathering?

  • What is erosion?

  • How is erosion different from weathering?

  • What are the agents of erosion?

  • How do these agents work?

  • What is the evidence that sediment was eroded by these agents?

  • What environmental factors affect erosion?

  • What are some features or landscapes formed due to erosion?

  • What is deposition?

  • What are the agents of deposition?

  • How do these agents work?

  • What is the evidence that sediment was deposited by these agents?

  • What environmental factors affect chemical weathering?

  • What are some features or landscapes formed due to deposition?

  • Additional facts and details.

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  • What is wind?

  • What causes local winds?

  • How are local winds measured (instruments, scales)?

  • What is a breeze?

  • What is a gust?

  • What is a gale?

  • What is a sea breezes form, and how/why/when do they form?

  • What is a land breezes form, and how/why/when do they form?

  • What is a mountain breezes form, and how/why/when do they form?

  • What is a valley breezes form, and how/why/when do they form?

  • What are global winds (wind belts)?

  • How are winds related to different pressure gradients?

  • How are winds effected by solar energy?

  • How is wind affected by the Coriolis Effect?

  • What is the jet stream, and how does it effect us?

  • What are other types of winds?

  • About other winds (not on Earth).

  • What are dangers of wind?

  • What are benefits of wind?

  • Additional facts and details.

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