Important…for these extra credit opportunities,
INTERNET DATA MUST BE BASED AT A REPUTABLE COLLEGE OR RESEARCH
FACILITY, AND BY RESEARCHERS THAT CAN BE EASILY VERIFIED
Geology 300, Physical Geology
Geology 301, Physical Geology
Lab
Geology 305, Earth Science
Geology 306, Earth Science Lab
Instructor: Arthur Reed
Extra credit – Multiple Options available
(Points
may vary depending on course)
These subjects have limited
availability and may be removed as options if they are chosen by too many
students. In all cases, get instructor
permission before proceeding on any of the following options!
Option I, Research Paper (see also
“informal instruction” below)
Up to 25 points (may vary depending on class) may be earned by doing an extra
credit mini research paper. The paper
will be on a subject/article approved by the instructor (only one student per
article). It will consist of a
discussion of the evidence supporting and/or refuting a current geology or
other Earth science issue. A typical
subject could be:
·
Click
here for more topic suggestions.
·
A discussion of the evidence that global
warming is impacting coral reefs.
·
A discussion of the evidence that dinosaurs
became extinct as a result of massive volcanic activity rather than impact of a
meteor.
·
Is it realistic to think humans can exist on
Earth without having a major impact on the Earth’s atmosphere and water?
·
Is it possible to “waste” water? (after all,
it still remains ‘water’ after use)
·
Etc.
Requirements:
·
Due by the last day of lecture before final.
·
Write a minimum 3-page type-written 1½ spaced
paper using 12 point Times New Roman or similar size font. Turn-in both the printed version and the
digital MS Word version.
·
Current popular viewpoints must be questioned
and validated or refuted.
·
A discussion of current news items.
·
A critical look at the information/facts in
related articles.
·
A critical look at the opinions in related
articles.
·
A summary with the author’s supported
opinion.
·
The paper must include:
o
References (facts or substantiated opinions)
from CRC library books (or equal) or peer reviewed papers (studies). References can include websites so long as
they are closely affiliated with a reputable college or research facility. You may use websites to locate information
but the information itself must have a physical location that can be
referenced, such as a “research paper by Dr. X at the University of Wisconsin.”
o
No unsupported facts.
Informal instruction (open
letter in response to a subject request):
Hello M..,
Your subject sounds fine.
But, keep in mind I am not
looking for a conventional “report” type paper. It is easy to find news
articles and books stating all the standard beliefs about pollution, oil
companies, and harm being done to the environment. I am looking for the more difficult to find
information that supports ideas most people would not consider. I am looking for the writer to be daring in
questioning conventional and popular ideas, opinions, and/or causes. Perhaps the public is incorrect when they
assume oil drilling damages the environment.
The oil companies are easy and popular targets; it can be difficult to
keep an open mind under such conditions. The emphasis is to question and find
flaws in conventional thinking. There
are many opinions on oil drilling, oil companies, and the environment that do
not have a scientific foundation. These
often are based on assumptions, current popular crusades, or people’s “gut”
feelings (instincts). Could an oil
drilling platform off the coast of California actually be beneficial to the
environment rather than harmful? Try to
find evidence to support this view. If
it is harmful, whose fault is it actually? ...yours when you drive your car to
the store? Is seeing an oil platform off
the coast an “eyesore”? …by whose standards?
Is global warming bad? …some people living further north where the
weather is colder may not agree that global warming is bad. The intent here is to start with (and keep)
an open mind and make a fair evaluation of both sides of an issue, particularly
an issue in which few people would think of supporting an opposing position
because it appears to go against something most people feel is sacred...like
the environment.
In summary, your chosen subject
is fine, just do your best to daringly question some aspects of popular
thinking.
Good luck,
Arthur Reed
Option II, Google Earth Flight
Up to 25 points (may vary depending on class) extra may be earned by creating a
Google Earth “flight” to a series of related surficial features in
California. The flight will be to a set
of features approved by the instructor (only one student per set of
features). The features must be ones studied
in this course or equal. The project
deliverables will include a finished paper version and the digital file
containing the Google flight. A typical feature group may include:
·
Drainage patterns
·
Coastal features
·
River features
·
Geologic structures
·
Other suggestions?
Requirements:
·
Due by the last day of lecture before final.
·
Part 1 is a 3-page type-written paper using
12 point Times New Roman or similar size font that includes:
o
A summary
o
The name of each feature
o
The likely surface and underlying materials,
structures, etc.
o
The likely history of the features and the
processes that created them.
o
The likely future evolution of the features
·
Part 2 is the Google flight (movie) file:
o
Include the written material for each
surficial feature in the flight so it displays on the screen while viewing the
feature (condensed version is OK).
o
Include arrows and outlines where useful for
clarity so it displays on the screen while viewing the feature.
o
Make sure your name is contained in the file
name and displayed somewhere in the presentation.
·
Turn-in either the paper copy and digital
media containing the Google file, or turn-in digital copy of both by email.
Option III, Google Earth Placemarks
1 point placemarks, maximum possible is 10
points
Using
Google Earth (it's a free download) find
surface features similar to those described in chapters: 10-Streams, 13 Deserts, and 14 Coasts. The feature should be located in California
and easy to recognize. Features in
neighboring state are alright if that feature cannot be found in
California.
With
the feature positioned in the center of your screen, choose the “Add Placemark”
tool (pushpin icon). In the appropriate
area of the dialog box add a name for the feature and a description of the
feature you selected. When finished,
click OK. then find the Placemark in the
area on the left of your screen, right-click on the placemark, and choose
“Email”. Send each properly located and
described feature to me. Maximum of 10
placemarks/features for this assignment.
Due by the last class before final.
UPDATE NOTE: Do not use the same features chosen
for your Google Earth homework assignment!
Option IV, find features using Google Earth
5 point placemarks, maximum per student is 10
points
Find
the exact location and view angle of any features listed (click to view link)
below. Email your saved image and
‘placemark’ to me.
NOTE:
Once credit is given for a found feature, it will no longer be available in the
current class (click to see linked Google Earth aerial photo). All in California unless noted otherwise.
·
Abandoned
excavation for a PG&E nuclear power plant site
·
Active
open pit rare earth mine
·
Extreme
example of coastal straightening
·
Uplifted
wave-cut platform (marine terrace)
·
The
location of the aerial photo on page 239 of the lab manual (9e). (not
California)
·
(more to come)
Option V, Coal to Diamonds
This
extra credit is worth up to 10 points depending on its quality.
Assignment:
Up to 10 points extra credit for answering the question: How much coal would be needed to make a diamond (both diamonds and coal are composed of nearly 100% carbon atoms)?
This question will likely lead to other questions or problems about this concept. You must explain any problems encountered and do your best to answer this question taking those issues into account. Research must be wide-ranging. If web research is used, it must be education based or be the work of a verifiable expert in the field. All turned-in work is to be that of one individual…as with all extra credit, no joint efforts and no similar papers. Due by the last class before final.
Option VI, Highway 50 1983 Landslide
This
extra credit is worth up to 25 points depending on its quality.
Up to 25
points may be earned by doing an extra credit mini research paper. The paper will be on the highway 50 landslide
of 1983 in El Dorado County (not the 1997 slide).
Requirements:
·
Due by the last day of lecture before final.
·
Write a 3-page type-written paper using 12
point Times New Roman or similar size font.
·
A description of the event.
·
A description of the underlying geology.
·
An explanation of the accepted cause, and
your own possible differing viewpoint.
·
A critical look at the information/facts in
related articles.
·
Actions taken since the slide to prevent
another slide in the same area.
·
Other findings that may be of interest to a
reader such as:
o
Have people rebuilt homes in the area?
o
Is there on-going monitoring of the site?
o
Were there urban myths about “underground
river” in the aftermath?
·
The paper must include:
o
References (facts or substantiated opinions)
from CRC library books (or equal) or peer reviewed papers (studies). References can include websites so long as
they are closely affiliated with a reputable college or research facility. You may use websites to locate information
but the information itself must have a physical location that can be
referenced, such as a “research paper by Dr. X at the University of Wisconsin.”
o
No unsupported facts.
Option VII, Red Bricks
This
extra credit is worth up to 5 points depending on its quality.
Up to 5
points may be earned by finding what materials are used to make red bricks (the
common type of which many older houses and building are made) and explaining
why they are always colored red.
Requirements:
·
Due by the last day of lecture before final
exam.
·
Research may be by book or the internet, but the
source must be clearly given. And, include a personal evaluation of the reliability
of each of your sources.
·
All turned-in work is to be that of one
individual…as with all extra credit, no joint efforts.
Option VIII, Deep Drilling Project in Russia
This
extra credit is worth up to 10 points depending on its quality.
Up to 10
points may be earned by finding and reporting on the “Kola Superdeep Borehole”
project in Russia, including reporting on any more recent attempts to drill
into the mantle.
Requirements:
·
Include in the write-up:
o
Details of this projects history, current
status, and future plans (if any)
o
What problems did they encounter during this
deep drilling?
o
Details of discoveries made as a result of
the project.
·
Due by the last day of lecture before final
exam.
·
Research may be by book or the internet, but all
sources must be clearly given. And,
include a personal evaluation of the reliability of each of your sources.
·
All turned-in work is to be that of one
individual…as with all extra credit, no joint efforts.
Option IX, Class Binder (Portfolio) (NOTE: Available to
Geology 301 only)
This
extra credit is worth up to 10 points depending on its quality.
The Lab
Binder consists of a packaging of all lab exercises from the entire
semester. Organize the binder
chronologically with the exercises separated by dividers, and with some type of
appropriate cover page. This is something
of an informal ‘portfolio’ of your work done in Geology lab. It must have the high quality of a ‘college’
assignment!
It is due at
the beginning of the last class
meeting before the final.
Alternative
method…
Scanning
your exercises, organizing into some type of presentable digital
document with a cover & dividers then submitting electronically, is an
acceptable alternative. Again, this must
have a high quality and creative appearance.
Suggestions for other ideas are welcomed!