Minerals…
Due Fri 1/30/98, at the beginning of class (Typed!)
Two Parts (A & B):
A) Simple report on 5 minerals. For each, list the mineral's name, its chemical composition, and a paragraph describing interesting things about the mineral: what it is useful for, where it can be found in the world, what kind of rocks it is commonly found in (sedimentary? igneous? metamorphic?), other neat stuff about the minerals.
I have chosen the first mineral in your report for you. It is
on display in the lobby of the Kentucky Geological Survey (Mining and Minerals
Research Building, Rose Street). It is the very large crystal found
in a glass case (not the smaller minerals in the other glass case).
Go find it, then write about it.
You choose 4 other minerals for the report. Choose any ones that
you find interesting, but make them each from different “families” of minerals
(silicates, carbonates, etc. Read about these in your text, Chapter
2.
Grammar and spelling count (see below). For extra reference materials, check out the Pirtle Geology Library (Bowman Hall). They have lots of books on minerals.
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B) Write a one-two paragraph explanatory essay on the following
topic: Describe how silica tetrahedra (SiO4-4 ions)
join together in various ways to form the silicate mineral families.
This is not an simple topic; what I want you to do is read carefully the section on pages 32-37, then summarize the topic above in your own words. By doing this exercise, you should know the difference between the atomic structures of sheet silicates and, for example, double chain silicates, or any other of the silicate mineral families. DO NOT PLAGIARIZE WHAT THE BOOK SAYS.
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Grading Rubric (points awarded out of 5 possible):
5 pts = Well-written and grammatically correct sentences; answers or information is factually correct; depth of information is at a college level (not just very basic information).
4 pts = Work is substantially correct and well-written, although it may include one or more minor problems with presentation or with correctness of answers.
3 pts = Work includes one or more major problems with presentation or with correctness of answers.
2, or 1 pts = Work has substantial flaws in presentation and content.
Note (a brief comment on my determination of how well written these assignments are): This is not a writing class. It is my assumption that you have learned how to write prior to entering my class. My basic philosophy on grading your written assignments is this: it must be written at the college level to deserve an "A" (or 5pt) grade.
Expected for Elementary grades - mostly complete sentences, mostly
spelled correctly, most of the grammar is correct, simple word choice,
simple sentence and paragraph structure.
Expected for Middle School grades - complete sentences, spelled
correctly, better word choice, only complex sentences have grammatical
mistakes, intermediate sentence and paragraph structure.
Expected for Secondary grades - complete sentences, spelled
correctly, solid grammar, good word choice, complex sentence and paragraph
structure where warranted.
Expected for College level - grammatically correct with thoughtful
word choice. Essays read as if they were designed from beginning
to end with forethought so as to say exactly the right thing, in an appropriate
length.
I reserve the right to return essays ungraded if the level of writing
is not appropriate for the level of this class.
*Grammatical Pet Peeves of the Week:
"Its" (possessive) and "It's" (a contraction).
Learn this and don't get it wrong. Ever.
- Correct (but ridiculous) example:
"Look! It's a monster with quartz crystals for its
teeth!"