Volcano Research Paper
Objectives: Students will be able to:
 identify different types of volcanoes
 evaluate the culture of the society
surrounding the volcano
 analyze the effects, both social and
environmental, of a volcanic eruption
 describe other environmental impacts that
occur with volcanic eruptions
Your Mission:
You are to write a research paper on a famous volcanic
eruption. However, the volcano that you choose must be connected to your culture in
some way. Your research paper must answer the questions listed below. Your paper
must also follow a research paper format, and include a works cited page that describes
where you received your information.
Format:
-Title Page with Name, Date, Period, and Class
-12 point size font
-Follow MLA style for citing works
-Double Spaced Lining
- 1 inch margins
-Times New Roman/Arial font
-Works Cited Page at the end of the Research Paper listing all of your resources
Questions to be Answered in the Research Paper:
I) General Information about the Volcano
a) What kind of volcano is it (composite/shield)?
b) How was the volcano formed?
c) Where is the volcano located?
d) What cities are nearest to the volcano?
II) Most Recent Eruption
a) What was the date of the last volcanic eruption?
b) What occurred in this eruption? Was the eruption gentle/explosive? Why?
c) Were any people harmed? How so?
d) How were the people notified of the volcanic eruption?
III) Society and the Volcano
a) What are the people’s relationship to the volcano?
b) Are there any myths involved with the volcano? Describe them.
c) What does the society do to minimize the hazards of the volcano?
MLA Citing
You must use MLA Citing in your research paper to avoid plagiarism charges!!
In your research paper, you must provide citation at the end of sentences in which you
reference other sources. I know this will look weird, but this allows the reader can find
the source in the list of works cited at the end of the paper. You have to cite twice!
For an Author of a Book or Article
Although the baby chimp only lived a few hours, Washoe signed to her before he died
(Davis 42). The baby chimp then died of pneumonia. The doctors tried to revive the baby
chimp, but ultimately, the chimp had no future.
On the Works Cited Page:
Davis, Charles Richard. Middle Passage. New York: Atheneum, 1990.
**Charles David is the author. Middle passage is the name of the book underlines. New
York is the city the book was published in. Atheneum is the publishing company. And,
1990 is the year the book was published.**
In the Text:
(David 42)
**42 is the page number**
For a Website
Mount Vesuvius is located in Italy. Its explosive eruption killed over 100,000 people in
the Italian city of Pompeii (Oates). The ash from the volcano darkened the skies of Italy
for nearly three months.
On the Works Cited Page:
Oates, Carolyn. “Mount Vesuvius and its Deadly Eruption.” UniSci DailyNews
3 May 2001. 21 August 2006 <http://unisci.com/stories/20012/
0503013.htm>.
**Oates is the Author. The title of the article is in quotations. The journal name is
underlined. The date the article was made is May 3, 2001. The date the researcher used
the website is August 21, 2006. And, the url of the website is in < >. **
In the Text:
(Oates)
**If no author, state the document name.**
Volcano List
United States of America
-Mount Spurr, Alaska
-Mount Saint Helens, Washington
-Mount Hood, Oregon
-Mount Kilauea, Hawaii
-Mount Shasta, California
-Mauna Loa, Hawaii
Africa
-Amoissa/Abida Volcano, Ethiopia
-Toon Volcano, Chad
-Lake Nyos, Cameroon
-Mount Kenya, Kenya
-Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Europe
-Mount Vesuvius, Italy
-Mount Etna, Italy
Mexico
-El Chichon, Mexico
-Iztaccihuatl
-Paricutin
-Jorullo
-Volcan de las 3 Virgenes
-Popocatepetl
-Mount Colima
Central/South America
-Illimani, Bolivia
-Villarrica, Chile
-Galeras, Colombia
-Cotopaxi, Ecuador
-Tungurahua, Ecuador
-Sabancaya, Peru
-Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica
-Poas Volcano, Costa Rica
-Boqueron, El Salvador
-Izalco, El Salvador
-Acatenango, Guatemala
-Fuego, Guatemala
-Santa Maria, Guatemala
Cerro Negro Volcano, Nicaragua
Conception Volcano, Nicaragua
Asia
-Wudalianchi, China
- Mount Usu, Japan
-Bandai, Japan
- Koryaksky, Russia
- Anak Krakatau, Indonesia
-Baitoushan, China
-Mount Fuji, Japan
- Avachinsky, Russia
-Mount Pinatubo, Philippines
- Mayon, Philippines