Name ______________________________________
Biogeochemical Cycle Project
Directions: You are going to choose a human activity that impacts at least 2 of the 5 biogeochemical cycles
and write a 2 page essay.
Standards: SEV1. Students will investigate the flow of energy and cycling of matter within an ecosystem and
relate these phenomena to human society. SEV1a. Interpret biogeochemical cycles including hydrologic,
nitrogen, phosphorus, oxygen, and carbon cycles. Recognize that energy is not recycled in ecosystems.
Human Activity Options
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Deforestation
Pesticide Use
Power Plants
Driving Cars & Trucks
Animal and Plant Decomposition
Can choose one not listed with teacher
approval: _____________________________
Biogeochemical Cycles
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Carbon Cycle
Oxygen Cycle
Nitrogen Cycle
Hydrologic “Water” Cycle
Phosphorus Cycle
Requirements
 Minimum of 2 pages- double spaced- 12 point font-Proper heading must be included in the right hand
corner of paper (name, due date, block, and assignment title).
 Introductory paragraph (3 sentences)
o What the human activity is, which cycles it impacts, and which phenomena may occur as a
result.
 Three body paragraphs (8 sentence minimum each)
o 1st paragraph: Explain the human activity in detail.
 What it is, how it affects the two cycles, positives and negatives of this activity, and
explain the potential phenomena associated with the human activity.
nd
o 2 paragraph: Explain the first cycle affected in detail.
 What organisms is this element found in, how is it used by living things in the biosphere,
describe each major step of the cycle, include and necessary equation associated with
the cycle (i.e. photosynthesis), can it be eaten or transformed? If so, how?, and finally is it
put into the atmosphere or into the water source?
o 3rd paragraph: Explain the second cycle affected in detail.
 What organisms is this element found in, how is it used by living things in the biosphere,
describe each major step of the cycle, include and necessary equation associated with
the cycle (i.e. photosynthesis), can it be eaten or transformed? If so, how?, and finally is it
put into the atmosphere or into the water source?
 Conclusion Paragraph (3-5 sentences)
o Include an opinion of whether or not you think humans have an overall negative impact on the
two cycles.
o Include a summary of information given in the body of your paper.
 Phenomena related to the human activity (i.e. Global warming, hurricane, tsunami, etc.)
 Must cite at least three sources in MLA format (you may use easybib.com)
**PLAGIARISM (copying and pasting or typing the exact words from another source) WILL RESULT IN A GRADE OF
A ZERO ON THIS RESEARCH PAPER.***
Name ________________________________________________________
Paper Requirement
Format
Paragraph
Requirement Format
Heading Format
Human Activity
Biogechemical Cycle Project Rubric
Final Grade: _________/ = ____
Master’s Degree
(40 points)
All of the following are
present:
Double-spaced
12 point font
5 paragraphs AND 2 or
more pages long
Bachelor’s Degree
(30 points)
Three of the following
are present:
Double spaced
12 point
5 paragraphs total OR
1 ½ to 1 ¾ pages long
Associate’s Degree
(20 points)
Two of the following
are present:
Double spaced
12 point
5 paragraphs total
OR 1 page long
High School Diploma
(10 point)
One of the following
are present:
Double spaced
12 point
5 paragraphs total OR
½ to ¾ of a page long
All of the following are
present:
-Paragraphs are
properly indented.
-Introduction- 3 or
more sentences
-3 body paragraphs- 8
sentences
-Conclusion- 3-5
sentences
All of the following are
properly
demonstrated:
-Name, date, block,
and assignment title
are included in the
upper right hand
corner.
All of the following are
adequately
described/explained:
-what the activity is
-how the activity
affects two cycles
-positives of the
activity
-negatives of the
activity
-phenomena caused
by activity
Three of the following
are present:
-Paragraphs are
properly indented.
-Introduction- 3 or
more sentences
-3 body paragraphs- 8
sentences
-Conclusion- 3-5
sentences
Three of the following
are properly
demonstrated:
-Name, date, block,
and assignment title
are included in the
upper right hand
corner.
Three of the following
are adequately
described/explained:
-what the activity is
-how the activity
affects two cycles
-positives of the
activity
-negatives of the
activity
-phenomena caused
by activity
Two of the following
are present:
-Paragraphs are
properly indented.
-Introduction- 3 or
more sentences
-3 body paragraphs- 8
sentences
-Conclusion- 3-5
sentences
Two of the following
are properly
demonstrated:
-Name, date, block,
and assignment title
are included in the
upper right hand
corner.
Two of the following
are adequately
described/explained:
-what the activity is
-how the activity
affects two cycles
-positives of the
activity
-negatives of the
activity
-phenomena caused
by activity
One of the following
are present:
-Paragraphs are
properly indented.
-Introduction- 3 or
more sentences
-3 body paragraphs- 8
sentences
-Conclusion- 3-5
sentences
One of the following
are properly
demonstrated:
-Name, date, block,
and assignment title
are included in the
upper right hand
corner.
One of the following
are adequately
described/explained:
-what the activity is
-how the activity
affects two cycles
-positives of the
activity
-negatives of the
activity
-phenomena caused
by activity
High School Dropout
(0 points)
None of the following
are present:
Double spaced
12 point
5 paragraphs total
OR one paragraph or
less.
Paragraph form is not
evident or all formats
are incomplete.
No heading was
presented.
Did not include any
information on the
human activity.
Biogeochemical
Cycle 1
Biogeochemical
Cycle 2
MLA Citation
Spelling and Grammar
Master’s Degree
(40 points)
All of the following
were adequately
described/explained:
-organisms it is found in
and how it is used.
-major steps in the
cycle
-necessary equations
-can it be eaten or
transformed?
-put into atmosphere
or water source
All of the following
were adequately
described/explained:
-organisms it is found in
and how it is used.
-major steps in the
cycle
-necessary equations
-can it be eaten or
transformed?
-put into atmosphere
or water source
Cited 3 sources in
complete MLA format
Bachelor’s Degree
(30 points)
Three of the following
were adequately
described/explained:
-organisms it is found in
and how it is used.
-major steps in the
cycle
-necessary equations
-can it be eaten or
transformed?
-put into atmosphere
or water source
Three of the following
were adequately
described/explained:
-organisms it is found in
and how it is used.
-major steps in the
cycle
-necessary equations
-can it be eaten or
transformed?
-put into atmosphere
or water source
Cited 2 sources in
complete MLA format
9 or fewer spelling and
grammatical errors
and errors do not
disrupt the
understanding of the
essay.
10-15 spelling and
grammatical errors
and errors do not
disrupt the
understanding of the
essay.
Associate’s Degree
(20 points)
Two of the following
were adequately
described/explained:
-organisms it is found in
and how it is used.
-major steps in the
cycle
-necessary equations
-can it be eaten or
transformed?
-put into atmosphere
or water source
Two of the following
were adequately
described/explained:
-organisms it is found in
and how it is used.
-major steps in the
cycle
-necessary equations
-can it be eaten or
transformed?
-put into atmosphere
or water source
Cited 2 sources OR
incomplete MLA
format
16-25 spelling and
grammatical errors
and errors do not
disrupt the
understanding of the
essay.
High School Diploma
(10 point)
One of the following
were adequately
described/explained:
-organisms it is found in
and how it is used.
-major steps in the
cycle
-necessary equations
-can it be eaten or
transformed?
-put into atmosphere
or water source
One of the following
were adequately
described/explained:
-organisms it is found in
and how it is used.
-major steps in the
cycle
-necessary equations
-can it be eaten or
transformed?
-put into atmosphere
or water source
Cited 1 source
completely OR 3
sources incompletely
26-30 spelling and
grammatical errors
and/or errors disrupt
the understanding of
the essay.
High School Dropout
(0 points)
Did not include any
information on the first
biogeochemical
cycle.
Did not include any
information on the
second
biogeochemical
cycle.
No sources are cited.
Could not understand
the essay due to the
multiple spelling and
grammatical errors.