ASSIGNMENT 04
SC260 Introduction to Ecology
Directions: Be sure to save an electronic copy of your answer before submitting it to Ashworth
College for grading. Unless otherwise stated, answer in complete sentences, and be sure to use
correct English, spelling, and grammar. Sources must be cited in APA format. Your response
should be four (4) double‐spaced pages; refer to the “Format Requirementsʺ page for specific
format requirements.
1. Describe global patterns of atmospheric heating and circulation. What mechanisms
produce high precipitation in the tropics? What mechanisms produce high precipitation at
temperate latitudes? What mechanisms produce low precipitation in the tropics?
2. Use what you know about atmospheric circulation and seasonal changes in the sun’s
orientation to earth to explain the highly seasonal rainfall in the tropical dry forest and
tropical savanna biomes.
Grading Rubric
Please refer to the rubric on the next page for the grading criteria for this assignment.
CATEGORY
Global patterns of
atmospheric
heating and
circulation
(20 Points)
Exemplary
20 points
The student provides a
complete and
comprehensive description
of global patterns of
atmospheric heating and
circulation.
Precipitation in the 25 points
tropics
The student provides a
(25 Points)
complete description of the
cycle and describes the
mechanisms involved in high
AND low precipitation in the
tropics.
Satisfactory
15 points
The student provides a
mostly complete and
comprehensive description
of global patterns of
atmospheric heating and
circulation.
20 points
The student provides a
mostly complete description
of the precipitation cycle
and describes the
mechanisms involved in
high AND low precipitation
in the tropics.
Precipitation in
15 points
temperate latitudes The student provides a
(15 Points)
complete description of the
cycle and describes the
mechanisms involved in high
precipitation in the
temperate latitudes.
10 points
The student provides a
mostly complete description
of the cycle and describes
the mechanisms involved in
high precipitation in the
temperate latitudes.
Highly seasonal
rainfall in the
tropical dry forest
and tropical
savanna biomes
(20 Points)
20 points
The student provides a
complete description of the
reason(s) why highly
seasonal rainfall occurs in the
dry forest and tropical
savanna biomes.
15 points
The student provides a
mostly complete
description of the reason(s)
why highly seasonal rainfall
occurs in the dry forest and
tropical savanna biomes.
Mechanics
(10 Points)
10 points
Student does not make any
errors in grammar or spelling,
especially those that distract
the reader from the content.
10 points
The paper is written in
proper APA and
organizational format. All
sources used for quotes and
facts are credible and cited
correctly. Excellent
organization, including a
variety of thoughtful
transitions.
8 points
Student makes 1-2 errors in
grammar or spelling that
distract the reader from the
content.
8 points
The paper is written in
proper format with only 1-2
errors. All sources used for
quotes and facts are
credible, and most are cited
correctly. Adequate
organization includes a
variety of appropriate
transitions.
Format - APA
Format, Citations,
Organization,
Transitions
(10 Points)
Unsatisfactory
10 points
The student provides a
partially complete and
somewhat comprehensive
description of global
patterns of atmospheric
heating and circulation.
15 points
The student provides a
somewhat complete
description of the
precipitation cycle and
describes some of the
mechanisms involved in
high AND low precipitation
in the tropics.
5 points
The student provides a
somewhat complete
description of the cycle and
describes some of the
mechanisms involved in
high precipitation in the
temperate latitudes.
10 points
The student provides an
incomplete description of
the reason(s) why highly
seasonal rainfall occurs in
the dry forest and tropical
savanna biomes or only
addresses one of the
biomes.
5 points
Student makes 3-4 errors in
grammar or spelling that
distract the reader from the
content.
5 points
The paper is written in
proper format with only 3-5
errors. Most sources used
for quotes and facts are
credible and cited correctly.
Essay is poorly organized,
but may include a few
effective transitions.
Unacceptable
5 points
The student provides an
incomplete and
noncomprehensive
description of global
patterns of atmospheric
heating and circulation.
10 points
The student provides an
incomplete description of
the precipitation cycle and
describes one or none of
the mechanisms involved
in high AND low
precipitation in the tropics.
3 points
The student provides an
incomplete description of
the cycle and describes
one or none of the
mechanisms involved in
high precipitation in the
temperate latitudes.
5 points
The student provides a
poor description of the
reason(s) why highly
seasonal rainfall occurs in
the dry forest OR tropical
savanna biomes.
2 points
Student makes more than
4 errors in grammar or
spelling that distract the
reader from the content.
2 points
The paper is not written in
proper format. Many
sources used for quotes
and facts are less than
credible (suspect) and/or
are not cited correctly.
Essay is disorganized and
does not include effective
transitions.