Geography
Plate Tectonics & Natural Hazards
Plate Tectonics
In your own words…
 Pg. 104
? What is plate tectonics?
 Pg. 108-110
? Describe the 2 basic types of lithosphere
? List the 9 major tectonic plates.
? What is the asthenosphere?
Human interaction
 Pg. 113
? What are 3 of the natural resources that plate
boundaries provide?
? What are the 3 natural hazards associated with living
near tectonic plate boundaries?
Natural Hazard Essay
Choose 1 hazard to write about in your essay:
 Volcanoes
 Earthquakes
 Tsunamis
Research information about your hazard in your
textbook (try to choose 3 main points to write about)
Essay planning:
Volcanoes (Pg. 114-115)
Earthquakes (Pg. 115-117 {Extra 132-140))
Tsunamis (Pg. 117 – 119 [Extra 120-132])
Research: Begin the essay writing
process by researching your topic,
making yourself an expert. Utilize your
text book and the internet. Take notes on
your topic and try to stick to 3 main ideas
for your essay.
Outline: Sketch out your essay before
straightway writing it out. Note down
your main ideas in the main body in three
separate paragraphs. Use one-line
sentences to describe paragraphs, and
bullet points to describe what each
paragraph will contain.
Intro: Now sit down and write the essay. The
introduction should grab the reader's attention,
set up the issue, and lead in to your main points.
Your intro is merely a buildup of the issue, a stage
of helping your reader understand what the essay
is about.
 Paragraphs: Each individual paragraph should be focused on a single idea that
supports your topic. Begin paragraphs with topic sentences, support your points
with evidence (research shows that earthquakes are…), and expound your ideas
in the clearest, most sensible way you can. Write in a formal manner making sure
not to use slang (don’t/dunno/can’t/kinda).
 Conclusion: Gracefully exit your essay by making a quick
wrap-up sentence or two of your main points. End on some
memorable thought, perhaps a quotation, or an interesting
twist of logic, or some call to action. Is there something you
want the reader to walk away and do? Let him or her know
exactly what.