Extra Credit Opportunity (Due: Jan. 6, 2014)

Extra Credit Essay

Topic:

1.     What effect would a catastrophic geological event have on an ecosystem and its ecology?

Guidelines

1.      Perspective/Point of view: You can be any living organism from the specified ecosystem (Rio Grande Valley) except a human.

2.      Catastrophic geological event: Volcanic Eruption, Earthquake, Tsunami, & after effects associated with such events, like drought, fires, pollution, scarce food supply, predation, & erratic or drastic changes in weather patterns.

3.      Explain in detail what you’ve seen and how your daily living has been affected.  What challenges might you face and what impact has the event had on the ecosystem and the populations within it.

Intro:

·         Describe yourself, what animal, insect, or plant area you.

·         Describe your ecosystem before the catastrophic event.

·         Describe in detail the occurrence of a catastrophic geological event.

o   What did you hear, see, smell, feel both physically and emotionally.

·         Describe the scene directly after the catastrophic geological event.

o   What changes occurred within the ecosystem/environment

o   What do you see, smell, feel both physically and emotionally

o   Are there others with you

Body:

·        Describe how your daily activities have changed

·        Can you continue as if nothing occurred

·        Do you have to adapt in order to survive?

·         Describe any after effects of the event that have a direct impact on you or your community.

o   Drought, Fires, pollution, food and water supply, predation, and violence.

·         Describe any interactions between other species or even with humans.

o   Are this interactions positive/beneficial or negative/detrimental to your survival

·          Explain what you've had to do in order to ensure your survival as well as your groups/population/community.

Conclusion:

·        Restate the catastrophic geological event and the long term effect it has in your ecosystem, community, population, yourself.

·        Were you able to adapt and persevere; if yes how

·        Did your group if applicable make it or did you yourself make it in the end.

Think of it as producing your own movie just make it on realistic events and scenarios:

No unicorns, aliens, wizards, and other made believe things 

Grading Criteria

• 50 Points for Content
• 30 Points for Structure
• 20 Points for organization and Neatness

A: 90-100 get 50 points toward lowest quiz grade

B: 80-89 get 30 points toward lowest quiz grade

C: 70-79 get 10 points towards lowest quiz grade

If possible email finished draft before the deadline to jcarmona044@rgccisd.org

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