Plate Tectonics:

The purpose of this writing assignment is to help you understand how convergent and divergent plate boundaries differ and how to use earth data to determine the boundary type.

Preparation for the assignment:
1) Carefully read this description. You can print it out by clicking the "Print" icon below this text field.
2) Read the textbook on plate tectonics. You can also watch the Virtual Lecture in the "Our Dynamic Planet" module. This shows animations of how plates move on the earth. Next, read the "Plate Tect Summary" file. You can access this file from the help files list on the right. This document emphasizes the data that can be used to develop your interpretation, so is very pertinent to this assignment.
3) You will also need to become proficient with annotating the figures that you capture from the "Our Dynamic Planet" module. The Guide has several tutorials about annotating figures, and they will save you time on this and future writing assignments, as well as improve your grade.

To begin the assignment:
1) Select "Our Dynamic Planet" from the "Data" dropdown list that is visible on the Assignment Index screen.
2) Go to the MAP module.
3) Select "Small Area Maps" from the "Data" dropdown menu.
4) The two regions you will focus on will be the Tonga region at about 29deg S, 180degW (region A), and the East Pacific Rise at about 50deg S, 115deg W (region B). You can find these places on the MAP by clicking on a location and noting the lat/lon in the location field.

Your task(s):
1) Use the data available in the MAP module of the "Our Dynamic Planet" module to characterize the plate boundaries at the two specified locations specified above. Make a "model" of each location. This must be a simple sketch that you draw yourself. It doesn't have to be pretty, but does have to include the most important features that characterize the particular plate boundary. Use as many different data types as are appropriate (and available on the CD) to support your model.

2) Follow the structure given in "Anatomy of a Science Paper". This resource is in your lab book, or can be downloaded from here from the Resources list (here it's called "Science Writing Styles").

Ways students improve their grade:
1) Start early so there is time to interact with the TA and Prof., and recover from any computer problems.
2) Read the instructions.
3) Write clearly and briefly. If you were telling your non-science friend about this, how would you express it to him/her?
4) Explicitly demonstrate how the data that you illustrate lends support to the model figure that you draw. It is not enough to just show a data plot. You must describe the salient features and show how it agrees with your model's features and predictions.
5) Attend class, where these issues are often discussed.

Ways students sometimes lower their grade:
1) Don't read the instructions for the assignment
2) Don't read "Anatomy of a Science Paper", in your lab book, which clearly spells out how to write this paper.
3) Use too many figures
4) Use too few figures
5) Scan your model figure from the book, rather than drawing your own.
6) Write a "book report" where no data are used.
7) Don't use a location map
8) Don't annotate figures
9) Don't start until the last evening before the due time
10) Don't interact with your TA or professor when questions arise. This can happen when you start so late that they are not available.

Detailed instructions for how to write this assignment can be found in "Anatomy of a Science Paper", which is in your lab book. Note: these instructions should also be followed for the other writing assignments in this course, even though the examples in the document refer to plate tectonics.