Mass extinction

Ass Extinction Webquest

Introduction
As a consultant for the National Geographic Society you have been asked to develop a scientific explanation for the different geological disappearances of the majority of the species in different stages of the geologic time line.

The task
You have to research how many times natural phenomena have occurred that motivated massive extinction of species, and find a scientific explanation of why these events occurred.

The process
You are going to visit the suggested URL and research in the library for major extinction events and what can have triggered them.
You will present your information in your blog, turn in a three page paper with at least three references on your findings, and as extra-credit a Power Point presentation covering the major extinction events and their possible causes. Minimum two slides per event.

Evaluation

Content
Beginning 1 Less than 2 events of extinction correctly addressed and limited information about which species were affected.
Developing 2 Includes only 3 events of extinction correctly addressed and limited information about which species were affected.
Accomplished 3 Includes 4 events of extinction correctly addressed and includes information about which species were affected limited information on why these species were affected.
Exemplary 4 Includes 5 events of extinction correctly addressed and enough information about which species were affected and why.
Score



Presentation
Beginning 1 Delivery not smooth and audience attention often lost.
Developing 2 Delivery not smooth, but able to maintain interest of the audience most of the time.
Accomplished 3 Rehearsed with fairly smooth delivery that holds audience attention most of the time.
Exemplary 4 Well-rehearsed with smooth delivery that holds audience attention.
Score

Attractiveness
Beginning 1 Use of font, color, graphics, effects etc. but these often distract from the presentation content.
Developing 2 Makes use of font, color, graphics, effects, etc. but occasionally these detract from the presentation content.
Accomplished 3 Makes good use of font, color, graphics, effects, etc. to enhance to presentation.
Exemplary 4 Makes excellent use of font, color, graphics, effects, etc. to enhance the presentation.
Score

Mechanics
Beginning 1 More than 4 errors in spelling or grammar.
Developing 2 Four misspellings and/or grammatical errors.
Accomplished 3 Three or fewer misspellings and/or mechanical errors.
Exemplary 4 No misspellings or grammatical errors.
Score

References
http://www.ricercaitaliana.it/prin/dettaglio_completo_prin_en-2004049315.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extinction_event
http://geology.about.com/od/extinction/a/aa_permotrias.htm
http://www.earth.rochester.edu/ees207/Mass_Ext/higgins_mass1.html
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/diapsids/extinction.html
http://hannover.park.org/Canada/Museum/extinction/permass.htmlhttp://www.well.com/user/davidu/extinction.html