GLY 102-001 Historical Geology
Homework Assignment #1    The Black Sea.

TYPED!  Due at beginning of class, Tuesday, September 8.
 
Readings: On reserve in the Pirtle Geology Library (Bowman Hall).  Article about the Black Sea.

Assignment: You have just learned about the processes of scientists working on the Messinian Salinity Crisis (how the Mediterranean dried up) and learned a little about the scientific "method".  Write a one-page essay that summarizes the work of these scientists by focusing on their use of the scientific method.  What are the observations that led them to this investigation?  What hypotheses are they considering to explain these observations?  What tests did they design to examine these hypotheses?  How did the tests support of reject the hypotheses?
      A book deal should not be the be-all and end-all of the scientific method.  What do you think their next step should be?  How can they further develop and test their favored hypothesis?

Grade: of 5 points.  5 pts:  a well written short essay with a beginning and end and a point to make, supported material from the reading and your class notes.  4 pts:  almost as good as above, but with some problems either in setting up the essay, or in presenting it clearly, or in supporting your ideas.  3 pts: definite problems in content or essay style.
 

*Grammatical Pet Peeve of the Week:
"Its" (possessive) and "It's" (a contraction).
  Usage: It's with an apostrophe always means "It is".
  Usage: Its with no apostrophe always is possessive, just like "his" is possessive.
Learn this and don't get it wrong. Ever.

    - Correct (but ridiculous) example:
"Look!  It's a monster with quartz crystals for its teeth!"