Final Project Guidelines and Rubric

PHY 205L: Final Project Guidelines and Rubric

Overview Understanding geology is important for more than just academic reasons. Determining the geologic history of a geographic area can have implications for economic deposits, conservation, and future land use. As the demand for alternative energy sources continues to increase, there is more and more need for geoscience professionals to effectively apply geology concepts to identify geographic areas suitable for future economic development activities such as mining and extraction as well as for conserving wetlands and other protected areas.

The final project will require you to choose a specific geologic concept from the course. You will research this geologic concept and apply your knowledge of that concept to a geographic location of your choice. You will develop a story map illustrating how your chosen geologic concept applies to a geographic location. In other words, you will tell the story of your geologic concept through geography.

This assessment addresses the following course outcome:

 PHY-205L-01: Apply fundamental principles of geology and plate tectonics theory for visualizing and interpreting geologic settings using maps and virtual globes

You will need to sign up for a free ArcGIS account to use the Story Map Tour app. More information on story maps can be found on this website. It is important that you familiarize yourself with the website and its function as soon as possible. The following sections of the website may be particularly helpful as you create your story map:

 How to Make a Story Map

 Story Map Tour

 Before You Start

Prompt Imagine that you have been asked to present on a geologic concept to a group of people who are interested in geology but who lack in-depth knowledge of geologic concepts. This group could be, for example, a class of elementary school students or an interest group at your local public library. You know that storytelling can be an effective way to communicate, so you have decided to create a story map that will provide the prompts and outline for your presentation.

For this assessment, create a story map that illustrates a geologic concept in a geographic location. You must choose a concept that is discussed in the course, but you may choose any location. For example, you could choose earthquakes as your geologic concept, and you could apply this concept to the New Madrid fault zone in Missouri. Once you select a concept, you will research it and provide information beyond what you learned in the course, applying this knowledge to your chosen geographic location. Finally, you will create a story map using a template from the ArcGIS website.

The following critical elements must be addressed:

I. Images or Videos Begin your story map by selecting at least 10 images or videos (or a combination of these) that apply to your geologic concept and geographic location.

II. Descriptions Each image or video that you include in your story map should have a content description. Listed below are the topics that you must describe in your story map.

A. Geologic Concept: Describe the geologic concept you have chosen. Why is it important? What impact does it have on society? B. Geographic Location: Describe the location you selected. How is it impacted by the geologic concept that you chose? C. Geologic Setting: Describe the basic geologic and plate tectonic setting of the location. What geologic processes affect the location? What is the

tectonic environment of the location? D. Geologic History: Describe the geologic history of the location. How have past geologic events impacted the location? E. Conclusion: How did creating the story map help you interpret the geology of your location? What did you learn through the process of creating

your story map?

Final Project Rubric Guidelines for Submission: Submit a link to your story map. In your story map, be sure to cite your sources (when appropriate). Follow APA style for citations.

Critical Elements Exemplary (100%) Proficient (85%) Needs Improvement (55%) Not Evident (0%) Value

Images or Videos Meets “Proficient” criteria, and image and video selection demonstrates nuanced understanding of relationship between geologic concept and geographic location

Selects at least 10 images or videos that apply to the geologic concept and geographic location

Selects at least 10 images or videos, but not all images apply to the geologic concept and geographic location

Does not select at least 10 images or videos

15

Descriptions: Geologic Concept

Meets “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates nuanced understanding of importance of geologic concepts, or description is exceptionally clear and contextualized

Accurately describes the geologic concept and explains why it is important

Describes the geologic concept and explains why it is important, but description is cursory or inaccurate

Does not describe the geologic concept

15

Descriptions: Geographic Location

Meets “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates nuanced understanding of impacts caused by geologic concept

Accurately describes the geographic location and explains how it is impacted by the geologic concept

Describes the geographic location and explains how it is impacted by the geologic concept, but description is cursory or inaccurate

Does not describe the geographic location

15

Descriptions: Geologic Setting

Meets “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates nuanced understanding of relationship between location and geology that affects it

Accurately describes the geologic setting, tectonic environment, and geologic processes that affect the location

Describes the geologic setting, tectonic environment, and geologic processes that affect the location, but description is cursory or inaccurate

Does not describe the geologic setting, tectonic environment, and geologic processes that affect the location

15

Descriptions: Geologic History

Meets “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates nuanced understanding of geologic history of location

Accurately describes the geologic history of the location and explains how past geologic events have impacted the location

Describes the geologic history of the location and explains how past geologic events have impacted the location, but description is cursory or inaccurate

Does not describe the geologic history of the location

15

Descriptions: Conclusion

Meets “Proficient” criteria, and explanation is exceptionally clear and contextualized

Clearly explains how the story map creation helped in interpretation of the location’s geology

Explains how the story map creation helped in interpretation of the location’s geology, but explanation lacks clarity or detail

Does not explain how the story map creation helped in interpretation of the location’s geology

15

Articulation of Response

Submission is free of errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, and organization and is presented in a professional and easy to read format

Submission has no major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization

Submission has major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that negatively impact readability and articulation of main ideas

Submission has critical errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that prevent understanding of ideas

10

Earned Total 100%