Physical Geography Project
Essential Questions: What are the physical processes that determine weather and climate change
across local, regional, and/or global scales? Using evidence from what you know about the physical
world, what do you think will happen to weather events and climate change by the year 2050?
Should humans make any changes to their day to day life and their global impact, or go on as is?
TASK: In PowerPoint or in Second Life, answer the above questions using information from your
text, web resources, and library books.
Options:
1. Create a PowerPoint poster on climate change. Some of these may be posted online.
(most guidance, perhaps easiest)
2. Create a PowerPoint poster on a topic from chapter 2-9 and relate it to climate
change. Some of these may be posted online. (mostly on your own)
3. Create a space in Second Life that students can use a resource to learn more about any
of the key topics from chapters 2-10 and relate it to climate change. (computer
programming, very challenging)
Important Dates/Timeline
Choose your option by this Friday (March 7)
We will go to a computer lab approximately every other week.
1. Describe 3 physical process and collect 5 pieces of evidence (paper or in Word)
supporting or refuting climate change. Make sure to include the geographic scale
(spatial and temporal).
2. Collect images (save somewhere, see saving directions on next page)
3. Write your text (paper first, and then computer, or computer only. SAVE YOUR
WORK!)
4. Organize your PowerPoint template (SAVE your WORK…Begin with the template!)
Rough Draft Due __________ (5 pts)
Final Project Due __________ (Worth 5 exercises, 25 pts). Tentative: late April/early May.
Minimum Requirements*
 Introductory paragraph
o Well written, good grammar, spelling, and punctuation. The fewer errors, the more
points.
o Minimum of 4 sentences. The sentences should preview what you will discuss in
your 5 body paragraphs. Make sure to tie in the essential questions (above).
 5 body paragraphs
o Describe two physical processes in 2 paragraphs. You must have a good reason for
describing this process. In other words, it is to help the reader understand what you
will discuss in the next 3 paragraphs (see next bullet). Make sure to include the
spatial and temporal (geographic) scales.
o Summarize your pieces of evidence supporting or refuting (not happening) climate
change. What is the geographic scale? This should be in 3 paragraphs and should tie
into what you discussed in your physical processes.
o Minimum of 4 sentences per paragraph.
o Well written, good grammar, spelling, and punctuation. The fewer errors, the more
points.

Concluding paragraph
o Minimum of 5 sentences that summarize (based on the evidence) if climate change is
(or is not occupying), and describe what changes (if any), humans should make in
their daily life. Make sure to answer the question, what do you think the climate will
be like in the year 2050. Also, answer, “Should humans make any changes to their
day to day life and their global impact, or go on as is?” It should tie into to what you
have written.
o Well written, good grammar, spelling, and punctuation. The fewer errors, the more
points.
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Minimum Word Count: 800 and no more than 1500 Words
o To determine Word count:
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On the File menu, click Properties.
Click the Statistics tab.
In the Statistics pane, find Words, and then view the number of words in the Value column.
Title, Author at top of the Poster (Second Life, TBA)
Minimum of 3 clear, easy to read images.
Decent Formatting. The better the formatting, the higher the points.
Reference section**
 textbook can be your main source
 3 additional sources: web (*.edu); and/or library book) for the text
 Make sure to also cite your images!
 MLA style.
Use the PowerPoint template (except for Second Life)
Second Life (all requirements above except for):
* Minimum of 500 words in text or voice over.
** Bibliography section can be voice over or written text.
PowerPoint Sample and Template
 Sample Poster
a. DO NOT USE (Yours WILL have approximately half the text).
b. Location: M-drive  GEO  101-Little  Physical Geography Project
 Template
a. Use this if you are doing option 1 or 2.
b. It will be posted soon! TBA
c. Location: M-drive  GEO  101-Little  Physical Geography Project
d. SAVE the template to a flash drive, network, and/or email it to yourself (however, it
may become too large to email). Make sure to save it with your last name.
e. MAKE a BACKUP Copy of your PowerPoint everyday that you work on it!!! In
other words, save it somewhere else (e.g., home computer or send it to yourself in an
email).
Useful Resources:
Science Daily: http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/health_medicine/
My Web site: http://web.monroecc.edu/manila/webfiles/jlittle/ and click on “links”
MCC Writing Center
Notes: The last month of class, some will probably have to spend time outside of class to finish it.