CHEM 30S WRITING ASSIGNMENT: PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF MATTER
Directions:
You are to submit a piece of writing from the perspective of a particle explaining what
life is like as a particle living among other particles. Your composition must include
descriptive examples from each of the following concepts:


A minimum of one phase change
(melting, freezing, boiling,
condensing, sublimating, or
deposition)
Intermolecular forces and kinetic
molecular theory of gases

Kinetic energy &
Temperature

Density

Exothermic &
Endothermic Processes

Diffusion

Vapour
pressure
Purpose:
The purpose of this assignment is to give you the opportunity to explain your
understanding of some of the physical properties of matter in your own words. Be
creative. To help you get started, you may consider one of the following perspectives:
 Letter to another particle  News cast
 Cover letter to an employer
 Description of a
 Retirement speech
 Political party announcement or
commercial product
or eulogy
election campaign
 Diary entry
 Short story
Assessment:
You will be marked using the following rubric. You will also have to assess your own
writing piece and submit your self-assessment with the rubric below.
Requirements of the Physical Properties of Matter Writing Assignment
Name
Period
Criteria
Student
demonstrates
commitment to the
task by following
the timeline and
meeting all due
dates
Student improves
the writing piece
Novice (0 – 1 point)
Little or no evidence
of commitment to
the task during class
time, and due dates
not met
Superficial
improvements or no
improvement are
made to the essay
Intermediate (2 – 3
points)
Student is
infrequently
engaged in the task
during class time,
but meets all
assignment due
dates (3) or due
dates not met (2)
Improvement(s)
made to the essay
with limited (2) to
moderate (3)
improvement
Expert (4 points)
Student works
independently
during class time,
requesting help
when necessary, and
meets all of the
assigned due dates
Final product is
significantly
improved from the
first draft as a result
of improvements or
first draft is assessed
as an exemplary
writing piece
CHEM 30S WRITING ASSIGNMENT: PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF MATTER
Criteria
Novice (0 – 1 point)
Student
demonstrates
creativity by
selecting a novel
method of
presenting the
required
information
Student is unable to
adopt a suggested
perspective (0) or
the story line does
not follow a logical
sequence (1)
Student meets the
technical
requirements of
the project
None or only a
single technical
requirement is
present in the
writing piece
*All marks doubled
for this criteria
The required
topics are correctly
described
Few of the required
concepts are
described and those
present are simply
stated and/or many
inconsistencies
evident
Self-Assessment
Rubric Submitted
with final piece
No self-assessment
rubric submitted
(0 points)
Intermediate (2 – 3
points)
Writing piece
incorporates the
appropriate
perspective with a
clear story line that
is boring (2) or
moderately
engaging (3)
Only 2 or 3
technical
requirements are
met
Most of the required
concepts are evident
and/or contain
minor errors in
context or accuracy
(3) or concepts are
simply defined (2)
without enhancing
the story
Incomplete selfassessment rubric
submitted
(1 point)
Expert (4 points)
Unique writing
piece that captures
and holds the
reader’s attention
Writing piece is
written in paragraph
format, does not
exceed 1 doublesided page, is
double-spaced and
word processed in
12 pt. Times New
Roman font
All of the concepts
are evident and are
accurately and
artfully described in
a way that enhances
the story
Completed selfassessment rubric
submitted
(2 points)
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