To illustrate the threat that volcanic hazards pose to humans, write about a recent volcanic eruption and how it impacted people living nearby. In the United States, the 1980 Mt. St. Helens volcano eruption impacted travel and commerce in the U.S. for several weeks. The Iceland volcanic eruption of Eyjafjallajokull in April 2010 grounded airplane travel in Europe for several weeks and impacted University of Evansville students trying to fly home after a semester at Harlaxton College in England. The eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991 caused “global cooling” for two years.
use at least half of your paper to describe volcani hazards, then use the rest of your paper to describe a recent (within the past 100 years) volcanic eruption that occurred and how it impacted people living in the area.
- Format the paper using either APA style or MLA style; do not mix the two styles. Please visit the Purdue Owl website for APA and MLA style criteria (https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/resources.html). It is important that you list all sources correctly on your Reference page (APA) or Works Cited page (MLA). All sources that are listed must be cited correctly in the paper. Cite sources in the paper by author’s name and date.
- It is important that your paper is well organized. The first paragraph of your paper needs to include your thesis statement. The thesis statement is usually the last sentence of the first paragraph.
- Each paragraph in the paper should address a single topic that supports your thesis. Feel free to insert figures (photos, maps, diagrams) and tables in the paper. Each figure and table must have a caption and cite the source of the information in the figure or table.
- The summary paragraph should reiterate key points from the body of the paper that support the thesis. New information should not be placed in the summary.
- Proof read your paper carefully for grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors. One of the best ways to proofread your paper is to read the entire paper out loud, word-for-word. If there are errors, you will find them. I also encourage you to have friends or family proofread your papers to assist you in eliminating grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors.
Summer 2021
Environmental Geology
GEOL 130
Technical Paper Guidelines:
An environmental geology paper is required in GEOL 130 which will be worth 75 points. A list of
general topics is shown below. You are responsible for selecting a term paper topic and submitting it on
Blackboard on Friday, May 21. You are advised to perform a preliminary literature review on the topic of
your choice before completing your selection. Your final paper is due on Wednesday, June 19.
The GEOL130 paper must be 1000-1500 words in length (not including the works cited page),
typewritten (12 point font), double spaced, and prepared in accordance with either APA or MLA
guidelines (specify style when the paper is uploaded to Blackboard. Papers must include a minimum of
five sources. A minimum of two of the five sources must be from state or federal government agencies.
An electronic copy of your technical paper (docx file) shall be uploaded to Blackboard by 11:59 p.m. on
Wednesday, June 19. Late papers will be accepted within 24 hours of the due date with a 50% penalty.
After 24 hours, no late papers will be accepted.
GEOL 130 Paper Grading Rubric
Levels of Student Achievement
Writing Criteria
Level 4
Level 3
Level 2
Level 1
Context of and purpose for Demonstrates a thorough Demonstrates adequate
Demonstrates awareness of Demonstrates minimal
writing
understanding of context, consideration of context, context, audience, purpose,
attention to context,
Includes considerations of audience, and purpose that is audience, and purpose and a and to the assigned task audience, purpose, and to
audience, purpose, and the responsive to the assigned clear focus on the assigned (e.g., begins to show the assigned task (e.g.,
circumstances surrounding the task(s) and focuses all elements task (e.g., the task aligns awareness of audience’s expectation of instructor
writing task(s).
of the work.(14-15)
with audience, purpose, and
perceptions and
or self as audience) (1-6)
context) (11-13)
assumptions) (7-10)
Uses appropriate, relevant, and Uses appropriate, relevant, Uses appropriate and Uses appropriate and
Content Development
compelling content to illustrate and compelling content to relevant content to develop relevant content to
mastery of the subject,
explore ideas within the and explore ideas through develop simple ideas in
conveying the writer’s
context of the discipline and most of the work. (11-20) some parts of the work.
understanding, and shaping the shape the whole work.
(1-10)
whole work. (28-30)
(21-27)
Demonstrates detailed attention Demonstrates consistent use Follows expectations Attempts to use a
Disciplinary convention to and successful execution of a of important conventions appropriate to a specific consistent system for
Formal and informal rules wide range of conventions particular to a specific discipline and writing task basic organization and
inherent in the expectations for particular to a specific
discipline and writing task for basic organization, presentation (1-4)
writing in particular form discipline and writing task including organization, content, and presentation.
and/or academic field.
including organization, content, content, presentation, and (5-6)
presentation, formatting, and stylistic choices. (7-8)
stylistic choices. (9-10)
Demonstrates skillful use of Demonstrates consistent use Demonstrates an attempt to Demonstrates an attempt
Sources and evidence
high quality, credible, relevant of credible, relevant sources use credible and/or relevant to use sources to support
sources to develop ideas that to support ideas that are sources to support ideas ideas in the writing (1-4)
are appropriate for the
situated within the discipline that are appropriate for the
discipline of the writing. (9-10) of the writing. (7-8)
)
discipline of the writing (5-
6)
Uses graceful language that
Control of syntax and
Uses straightforward Uses language that
Uses language that
mechanics
skillfully communicates language that generally generally conveys meaning sometimes impedes
meaning to readers with clarity conveys meaning to readers.
to readers with clarity, meaning because of
and fluency, and is virtually The language in the paper although writing may errors in usage. (1-4)
error free. (9-10)
has few errors. (7-8)
include some errors. (5-6)
MECBOOK