Marking
rubric for the Atlantis Assignment
This assignment is worth 5%
of the total mark for the course. I will be looking for evidence that you
understand what we have discussed about plate tectonics and how the theory of
plate tectonics was substantiated, for formulation of sensible predictions, for
development of experimental methods that are well thought out and likely to give
useful results, for a description what results we might get, and what they could
mean, and for an evaluation of possible errors.
|
Understanding
of Plate Tectonics (20%) High
marks if you make reference to the appropriate aspects of plate tectonics
and show that you understand those concepts. Low
marks if you ignore plate tectonics, or refer to non-relevant aspects of
the theory or show that you don’t understand the theory. |
|
Predictions
(10%) High
marks if you show that you have used the concepts of the Crustal
Displacement hypothesis to make sensible predictions that can be tested Low
marks if you don’t make any predictions, or if your predictions are
illogical or inconsistent with the theory or difficult to test |
|
Experimental
methods (30%) High
marks if you propose a well-reasoned and logical experiment that should be
effective in testing your predictions
(possible bonus marks if your suggestions are imaginative and
novel, even if I don’t think that they would be very effective) Low
marks if your experiment is poorly-reasoned or illogical or if it doesn’t
look like it would be effective |
|
Results
(20%) High
marks if you clearly describe what results you would expect to get if the
Crustal Displacement hypothesis is true and if it is false Low
marks if you fail to describe how your results would support or contradict
the hypothesis |
|
Experimental
errors (10%) High
marks if you can identify some potential experimental errors and how they
might affect your results Low
marks if you don’t consider experimental errors |
| Presentation
(10%)
High marks if your essay is well presented and easy to read and understand Low marks if I have to struggle to understand what you are trying to tell me |