Project 1 - Rock Report
(Due, Wednesday, January 28)

Over the first few weeks we have been talking about the “language of geology” and learning how to “read the rocks”.  For our first project, I am giving you a bag of 7 rocks.  Your job is to identify the 7 rocks based on what you have learned in class and then write a short (150 - 200 word) summary of the story that each rock tells us about geologic history.  Part of the grade for your project will be based on presentation – how well the rocks are displayed and linked to your text.  This does not have to be fancy (we can discuss some ideas in class).  However, this is your chance to be creative – in addition, I will give some extra credit for rock presentations that go above and beyond the minimum.

For each rock you should be sure to include the following information:

Identification

Name this rock – be as specific as possible. (You may use the tools from the classroom to test different properties.)

Description

Give a one or two line description of the rock – be sure to include comments about its composition and texture.  Note any structures or fossils, too, if they are present.

“Translation”

Give a one or two line interpretation of what this rock tells you about the geologic history of the area it was found. Be as specific as possible.

Additional Information

Describe examples of some places each rock is found and what it is used for (if anything). Include any additional information you find interesting – origin of the name of the rock, etc.

Annotated References

List any resources (books, websites, etc.) to write your interpretation and/or additional information section, be sure to site them as a list of references at the end of the project. Use the reference format illustrated below.  Annotate each reference by writing a 1-2 sentence description of the resource (in other words, what information did you get from this resource). I expect all reports will have at least 2 references.

The format you use for the text can vary depending on your presentation, but should be include 150-200 words for each sample.  Be sure to use your own words – otherwise it is plagiarism! Grammar and spelling are important – so be sure to edit your work. You may also include images or other visuals to help illustrate your answers. Remember, I will reward creativity with extra credit! I will not tell you if your ID is correct or not – that part is up to you – but feel free to ask me questions about your observations and descriptions of the rock samples. I will help guide you in the right direction.

Grade

Rock Report – 42 pts - 6 pts for each rock (including all the sections described above) If you ID a sample incorrectly, I will still give credit for being consistent on the remainder of the description.

Presentation and Bibliography – 10 pts (plus bonus for creative and well-done presentation)

Sample Reference Format

References should be written as follows (and followed by annotation):

For a Magazine or Journal:

Author’s Last Name, First Name, Year of Publication, Title of Article: Title of Journal, v.volume, n.number, p.page numbers.

Example

Alley, Richard A., and Bender, Michael L, 1998, Greenland ice cores - Frozen in time: Scientific American, v. 278, n. 2, p. 80-85.

For a Book:

Author’s Last Name, First Name, Year of Publication, Title of Book, Publisher, Where Published, number of pages.

Example

Chernicoff, Stanley and Fox, Haydn A., 2004, Essentials of Geology (3nd edition), Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, 390 pp.

For the WWW:

Author’s Last Name [if known], First Name, Last Date Updated [if known], Title of Page, <URL> (date accessed).

Example

Viens, Robert, 10 September 2005, Geologylink, http://www.geologylink.com (5 May 2006).