Geology 101 First Midterm Examination
1. Answer two of the questions below, one required, one of your choice.
You may use your text book, notes (not previously prepared narratives), geologic
timeline, journal cards.
2. Put all work on your own paper, staple this sheet to the top of your sheets and turn in.
As provided in the syllabus and discussed in class, each question will be graded using the
following “Scoring Rubric”.
3. You may use concept maps in place of or in conjunction with narrative.
............................................................................................
SCORING RUBRIC
ELEMENTS PRESENT
1. Related scientific knowledge (including timeline)
2. Applicable course Major Concepts/Themes
3. Comparisons/applications
4. Coherence/focus
5. Creativity
5 POINT SCORE
5. All elements present, all accurate
4. All elements present, most accurate
3. Two or more elements present, most accurate
2. Two or more elements present, needs imptovement
1. “Not ready for prime time”
................................................................................................................................................
4 Major Concepts
1. Earth is Unique
for life as we know it
2. Everything is Connected
3. Everything is Changing
4. We Know from Evidence
4 Themes
1. Plate Tectonics
2. Human Influences on Earth Processes
3. Mitigation of Natural Disasters
4. Human Use of Natural Resources
............................................................................................................
Answer # 1 and choose one more to answer from #2-4. Answer in terms of the scoring
rubric elements above.
1. Referencing your timeline, relate “we know from evidence” with another course
concept or theme, your choice (see above), to the history of the planet itself and history
of life on the planet.
2. Use one course concept or theme to discuss plate boundary convergence/divergence as
it relates to building volcanic mountains and mountains of continental crust. Also explain
the origin of intra-plate volcanoes. ( e.g.Hawaiin Islands, Yellowstone, both USA.)
3. Use one course concept or theme to discuss earthquakes as related to plate movement,
faulting, seismic wave propagation, seismographs, intensity measurement, and Earth’s
internal structures.
4. Use one course concept or theme to discuss the theory of plate tectonics and how it
became established in the geological sciences, and how it explains major surface features
of the planet. Cite evidence used.