Module 2 Summative Assessment
Summative Assessment: Students will demonstrate an understanding of platetectonic coastline classification and the role of second-order controls on
coastline characteristics. The objective is to fully develop their understanding
of coastline variability in the context of the processes that affect coastal
geomorphology.
Students are given coordinates and geographic locations for three different
locations and must navigate to these locations using Google Earth. They must
answer questions about the plate tectonic setting, tectonic-scale processes,
recognized the difference between submerged and emergent coasts, chose
photographs from Google Earth to support some of their answers, and evaluate the
configuration of shorelines to assess whether waves or tides are the dominant
process of coastal evolution.
Summative Assessment Part 1
Questio Provide a
Zoom in to an eye
n
paragraph
altitude of 300k
justifying the
and examine the
most
morphology of the
appropriate
southern tip of
Inman and
Greenland (area
Nordstrom
south of N 61º 15’).
(1971) tectonic
Provide 2-3
classification for sentences
this location. Be describing the
sure to check
configuration of
out this
the south
webpage to get
Greenland
some additional coastline. What
insight on
process is
tectonic
dominantly
boundaries
shaping this
relative to
coastline and why
Greenland
do you think so?
http://pubs.usgs.
gov/gip/dynamic
/slabs.html and
this one
http://earthqua
ke.usgs.gov/lear
In the Google Earth Layers
box turn on the Photos option
and you should see numerous
small boxes spread out across
different locations on the
map. These boxes indicate
photos that people have
uploaded to show the features
of that particular location.
Examine some of these photos
and pick one that shows
evidence supporting your
answer about the process that
is most dominantly affecting
the southern Greenland coast
best. Copy the image and
paste it into your document
that you will be handing in
along with a caption clearly
stating why you chose this
photo to support your claims
(e.g what is observable in the
photo that supports your
claim).
Do you
think that
this
coastline is
a
submerged
or
emergent
coastline?
Explain
your
answer.
n/topics/plate_te
ctonics/plates.p
hp Keep in
mind that the
west coast of
Greenland faces
a formerly
active spreading
center and that
the east coast of
Greenland faces
the currently
active
Reykjanes
spreading
center that runs
through
Iceland.
4 points
Recognizes the
correct type of
coastal
classification, is
thorough and
provides well
articulated
rationale.
Answer provides
numerous
observations and
provides thorough
explanation of the
process.
Includes a photograph that
clearly shows process and is
described in detail.
3 points
Recognizes the
correct type of
coastal
classification, is
thorough but
does not provide
a well articulated
rationale.
Recognizes the
correct type of
coastal
classification, but
is poorly
articulated.
Answer provides
limited observations
but provides
thorough
explanation of the
process.
Includes a photograph that
clearly shows process but is only
briefly described in detail.
Answer provides
limited observations
and does not provide
thorough
explanation of the
process.
Includes a photograph that
clearly shows process but is very
weakly described.
Very brief answer
with little
Answer is inaccurate
or poorly
No appropriate image is
provided and answer is
2 points
1 point
Identifies
correct
type of
coast with a
through
and well
articulated
explanation
.
Identifies
correct
type of
coast with a
brief
explanation
.
Identifies
correct
type of
coast with a
weak
explanation
.
Identifies
incorrect
0 points
thought and/or
no accuracy,
tectonic
coastidentified.
constructed
inaccurate or poorly constructed
No answer.
No answer.
No answer.
Summative Assessment Part 2
Questio Examine the seafloor of the Gulf of
n
California, which is located between
Baja California on the west and the
mainland to the east. Provide some
descriptive observations about the
structure of the seafloor in the Gulf
of California. Is it regular and
smooth or irregular and blocky in
appearance? On the basis of the
tectonic map links provided to you
what tectonic process is taking place
here?
4 points
3 points
2 points
1 point
0 points
Answer is descriptive and contains
several observations about the seafloor
and correctly and thoroughly identifies
the tectonics.
Answer is descriptive but contains few
observations about the seafloor and
correctly and thoroughly identifies the
tectonics.
Answer is descriptive but contains few
observations about the seafloor and
correctly and misidentifies the
tectonics.
Very brief answer with little thought
and/or no accuracy.
No answer.
type of
coast with a
brief
explanation
.
No answer.
What type of tectonic coast would
the east side of Baja California be
considered? Explain why you
think this is the case.
Provides correct tectonic answer and
provides thorough rationale for the
answer.
Provides correct tectonic answer but
provides weak rationale for the
answer.
Provides incorrect tectonic answer
and provides weak rationale for the
answer.
Answer is inaccurate and poorly
constructed
No answer.
Summative Assessment Part 3.1
Questio Find the Niger River Delta (N 04º 30’ E 06 º 6’) and examine the shoreline.
n
Now find the shoreline of the Ganges-Brahmaputra River Delta (N 21º 45’ E
89 º 15’). Which of these locations do you think is a wave dominated
shoreline? Which do you think is a tide dominated shoreline? Justify your
answers by providing observations about the configuration of each coast
4 points
Answers all of the questions correctly and provides thorough rationales for the
3 points
2 points
1 point
0 points
answers.
Answers all of the questions correctly but provides weak rationales for the
answers.
Does not answer all of the questions correctly and provides weak rationales for the
answers.
Very brief answer with little thought and/or no accuracy and does not answer all of
the questions.
No answer.
Summative Assessment Part 3.2
Questio
n
Go back to the Niger River Delta and fly out to an eye altitude of
approximately 1000 km. Notice how the shoreline in the area of the Niger
delta protrudes into the Atlantic Ocean. Also examine the bathymetry in
front of the subaerial part of the delta. Integrating your knowledge of plate
tectonics, sea level history during the last 18,000 years, and coastal processes
describe the plate tectonic setting and provide several descriptive sentences
explaining what events and processes have contributed toward the long-term
(last 18,000 years) evolution of this coast.
4 points
Integrated, well articulated and linked answer that identifies processes
contributing to the morphology and evolution.
Answer identifies processes contributing to the morphology but does not integrate
answers to fully explain the system.
Very brief answer that only identifies 1 process correctly.
Very brief answer with little thought and/or no accuracy and misidentifies the
systems.
No answer.
3 points
2 points
1 point
0 points
Summative Assessment Part 3.3
Questio
n
Now go back to the Ganges-Brahmaputra River delta and fly out to an eye
altitude of approximately 1500 km. Examine the configuration of the many
rivers and drainage networks delivering sediment to the delta. Where do the
rivers originate? Why do the largest of the rivers extend to the north and
then suddenly turn toward the east or west? What type of plate tectonic
setting exists where the rivers originate? Explain whether you think that
this tectonic setting can influence the availability of sediment to the rivers
and ultimately the long-term evolution of the delta.
4 points
Answers all of the questions and provides a thorough, in depth and correct
explanation for all of the answers.
Answers all of the questions but does not provide a clear linkage of processes and
thorough explanation of all answers.
3 points
2 points
1 point
0 points
Very brief answer and does not answer all of the questions.
Very brief answer with little thought and/or no accuracy and misidentifies the
systems.
No answer.