Dr. Blaisdell

Cut_away Earth Model and paper

Cut-Away Earth

The purpose of the cut-away earth project is to assess your understanding of the Plate Tectonics unit.  Each student or group must complete a scale model that represents the layers of the Earth’s interior.  This model should also include at least three of the (dozen or so) plates and plate boundaries that form the Earth’s surface and two landmasses or continents. 

You should be able to show how the plates push together, pull apart, or slide past each other.  You should also indicate the direction of movement of these plates.  You must clearly label all the features on your model.  In order to show all of these features your model must be 3-dimensional.  You are permitted to build or construct more than one model, and you may include a poster to assist you in showing these features, but part of your model MUST be 3-dimensional.  If you have different ideas clear them with me before proceeding. 

Each individual will be responsible for a paper describing the characteristics of the Earth’s layers and the processes responsible for plate tectonics and continental drift.  This paper must be at least 500 words and spelling and grammar count so please proofread carefully.    Each student must do this independently and it must be your own original work.  You may certainly use your textbook or any other relevant material at home or from the library for your research, but you may NOT simply copy material from the book or from a website (that is plagiarism), and you may not submit one paper for your whole group, even if you provide me with multiple copies.

Things you might want to include:

            Earth’s layers (to scale with the scale included)

            Plates and Plate Boundaries with directional arrows (convergent, divergent,

transform)

            Landmasses and Continents

Seafloor spreading/MidOcean Ridge/Rift Valley

Trenches/subduction

Volcanic activity

Remember the two main rules, too:

1.         It must fit in the room and

2.         I must be able to read the labels and distinguish the features.

Use your imagination, be creative, and have fun!!!

Cut-Away Earth rubric

Writing-to-Inform Rubric

My paper is well developed and I have more than enough information to inform the reader about the topic. The information is clearly presented with lots of elaboration.

There are plenty of specific details that more than adequately explain the topic.

I have a clear organization, and I don't stray from it.

I wrote for the intended audience.

I frequently use language choices to maintain a scientific and informative style or a tone.

My paper is fairly well developed and I have enough information to inform the reader about the topic. The information is clearly presented with some elaboration.

There are some specific details that adequately explain the topic, but some of the details may not really help explain.

I have an organization, and I try to stick to it.

I wrote for the intended audience.

I use language choices to maintain a scientific and informative style or a tone.

My paper has little development and a minimum amount of information. The information does not clearly explain the topic, and some of it might even interfere with my explanation.

I used details, but they may be the wrong details or they may not help to explain the topic.

My organization seems confused and poorly structured; it does little to help me make my points or present information.

I wrote for the intended audience.

I did not really make any language choices to help with my style or tone.

I saw the assignment and I tried to write an appropriate essay. I wrote very little and what I wrote is confusing or inaccurate.

If I have details, they are not enough to explain the topic.

If I do have an organization, it is not clear, or I stray far from it.

I may not address the intended audience.

I did not use any language choices to help with style or tone.

Each student is responsible for an informative paper that describes the characteristics of the Earth’s layers and the processes responsible for plate tectonics and continental drift.  In addition to this information, you may want to discuss the complexities and difficulties you encountered in constructing your 3-D scalar model of the earth’s layers and tectonic plates. 

This paper must be, at an absolute bare minimum, 500 words, and spelling and grammar count so please proofread carefully.    Each student must do this independently, and it must be your own original work.  You may certainly use your textbook or any other relevant material at home or from the library for your research, but you may NOT simply copy material from the book or from a website (that is plagiarism), and you may not submit one paper for your whole group, even if you provide me with multiple copies.