GEO 315 Earth's Fury

Spring 2007

Paper and Final Exam Scores

Who is teaching your class?

Dave Valentino, Professor of Geology

Course Disclosure 

Review Questions

Review Questions 1

Review Questions 2

Review Questions 3

Reading Assignments

Reading List 1 - Tectonics

Reading List 2 - Seismicity

Reading List 3 - Great Earthquakes

Reading List 4 - Volcanology

Reading List 5 - More volcanology

Reading List 6 - Mass Wasting

Graphical Materials

Topic 1 - Energy of Disasters

Topic 2 - Plate Tectonics

Topic 3 - Seismology

Topic 4 - Volcanology

Topic 5 - Landslides

Topic 6- Volcanic case studies

Term Project Instructions

(Due November 12, 2007 at the beginning of class)

During this assignment, you are responsible for researching the term project topic provided (find your name in the list). It should not be terribly difficult to find an abundance of information about these topics. I have hand-picked them for that purpose. Once you have collected information, then you need to write a term paper. The paper will include data about the event (maps, graphs, etc.) with explanation. You should focus on the technical content of the event. Think about the root cause and the geology of the event, and present data that clearly illustrates your points. Once you have summarized the geology of the event, then you need to include the human impact of the event. This can be done in a variety of ways, but you definitely need to present factual information. Many students in the past have used photographs, destruction impact maps, statistical charts and graphs, and other interesting ways to show how people were impacted by the event. Finally, each project should focus on how the event changed human behavior (if at all). For example, some events have led to regulatory policy and others have resulted in new codes for building and land-use. You may not find this material for every event, but you need to try. Each project needs an introduction and bibliography, and the body of the paper is up to you. All writing must be original, even figure captions. All material must be referenced. I want you to use the reference format that is used by the Journal of Structural Geology or Tectonics. Visit Penfield Library and take a look at the Journal of Structural Geology or Tectonics, and follow that format for referencing.

This project as a term paper and it should be written and compiled in such a way as to "tell the scientific story" of your project topic. It should be written for the non-geologists, so you need to explain all terms. Please read the course policy concerning use of Paraphrased material and Plagiarism. If you have questions, please send them to me. I urge everyone to start early. Projects are due Monday, November 12, 2007 at the beginning of class. A penalty of one letter grade for per day that the paper is late will be assigned.

PAPER INFORMATION AND FORMAT

Paper Format: 12 point Times Roman font, Double spaced, 1" margins all around (top, bottom and sides).

Paper length: Minimum of 7 pages of text (this does not include figures, figure captions, title page, abstract page, or bibliography pages).

Number of references: Minimum of eight sources, and only 50% can be reputable internet sources. Use Penfield Library resources.

Required paper components:

Title page: An original title and your name.

Abstract page: A one page abstract that summarizes the paper (see examples in the Journal of Structural Geology or Tectonics).

Body of paper: This is up to you to organize.

References cited: You must use the Journal of Structural Geology or Tectonics format as explained above. Journal of Structural Geology, Guide for Authors

STATEMENT CONCERNING PLAGIARISM

The act of taking published material or ideas and submitting them for written assignments is plagiarism, and a serious academic offense. During this assignment you will be required to write about technical subjects in geology. It is important that ALL written material is your own writing and not copied or paraphrased from published literature of any source. If you submit written material that contain plagiarized material, you will immediately receive a failing grade for the entire course (not just the assignment) and your name will be submitted to the Dean for disciplinary action. Plagiarism is a very serious issue that can lead to very serious consequences besides failing a course. If you have questions about this policy please submit them to me for clarification. Please refer to your Student Handbook and the Undergraduate Catalog in addition to asking me for clarification.

STATEMENT CONCERNING USING DIRECTLY QUOTED MATERIAL

Although you may be instructed to use directly quoted material (with proper references) in other college classes, the writing you do for this assignment with not contain any material that is directly quoted from other sources, even with proper references. The act of using direct quotes in essays and papers in NOT considered plagiarism. However, there is very little science literature that is so well written that it is worthy of direct quotation. Utilization of published figures (maps, photos, graphs, charts) is permitted and encouraged because that constitutes data that you will need for the assignment. So, when constructing the written material for this assignment, make sure that every written word is your own. If you have questions about this policy please submit them to me. Directly quoted accounts of geological disasters are permitted, but must be followed with analysis and not used extensively.  This will be discussed in class.

STATEMENT CONCERNING PARAPHRASED MATERIAL

You are not permitted to paraphrase published work in this assignment. Every written word should be your own. If a piece of information is sufficiently important to include in part of the term project, then read it, understand it, integrate it with other sources, and then write about it with proper references. Assignments that contain paraphrased material will receive zero credit.

Term Paper Assignments

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This information is made available by the Department of Earth Sciences at SUNY Oswego. Copyright © 2007 by D.W. Valentino. For further information contact:  Department of Earth Sciences, 307 Piez Hall, SUNY Oswego, Oswego, NY 13126. 315-312-2798.  Send questions or comments to dvalenti@oswego.edu.  This page was last updated September 10, 2007.