Week 5 Open Response Elements

Open ended question:

Earthquakes happen every day all around the world.  Using the link below to the United States Geological Survey website, tell me how many earthquakes happened in the United States over the last 24 hours?  How big was the biggest earthquake and how small was was the smallest?  Where did these earthquakes occur?  

Now, choose one earthquake location.  Write a paragraph to describe a possible cause for an earthquake to occur in this particular location.

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/map/ 

Changing Face of the Earth Assessment

Earthquake Causes Paragraph Checklist

Did you……	Yes	No
Locate earthquake locations on the USGS map
Find out how many have occurred in 24 hours
Find the smallest and largest earthquakes
Locate the plate lines on the USGS map

For the paragraph, did you….	Yes	No
Write the location of the earthquake you chose
Explain why you think it occurred there
Use information about continental plates in your explanation

CATEGORY	Exceeds Expectations 4pts.	Meets Expectations 3	Developing to Expectations 2	Well Below Expectations 1
Quality of Information	All of  your Information adds to the support of your hypothesis about the occurrence of earthquakes.	Most of  your Information adds to the support of your hypothesis about the occurrence of earthquakes.	Some of your Information adds to the support of your hypothesis about the occurrence of earthquakes.	None of  your Information adds to the support of your hypothesis about the occurrence of earthquakes.
Amount of Information	Your paragraph includes more than three supporting details to support your hypothesis.	Your paragraph includes three supporting details to support your hypothesis.	Your paragraph includes less than three supporting details to support your hypothesis.	Your paragraph does not include details to support your hypothesis.
Paragraph Construction	The paragraph includes an introductory sentence, explanations or details, and concluding sentence.	The paragraph includes an introduction sentence and supporting sentences.	The paragraph includes only supporting sentences.	You did not write a paragraph.
Background Sources	You referred to details from more than one source.	You referred to specific details from the USGS map and website.	There was mention of the USGS map information.	No sources of information were mentioned.
Total Rubric score

EXEMPLAR: Below you can read examples of a response that is slightly less than I am looking for and one that exceeds my expectations for your paragraph.  You will notice that the topic has been changed but the style, length and supports of the paragraph are precisely what I am expecting for your earthquake paragraphs. Developing to Expectations: 2pts there were 25 largest eruption New Mexico level 3 the smallest was in Vermont , level 1 The Pacific plate went under the North American Plate then the crust began to melt forming a volcano.  This eventually erupted in Southern California. Exceeds: 4pts Over the last 24 hours there were 25 volcano eruptions in the United States.  The largest eruption was in New Mexico at 4am and it was a level 3 on the VEI scale.  The smallest eruption was in Vermont and it measured a 1 on the VEI scale. I think the volcano in California was caused by the Pacific plate meeting up with the North American plate. I can see on the USGS map that the volcano eruption fell right next to line between the plates.  My hypothesis is that the Pacific plate went under the North American Plate because I learned from the Changing Face of the Earth reading that the ocean plate is heavier.  When they Pacific Plate went deep enough the crust began to melt forming a volcano.  This eventually erupted in Southern California. That is what I believe happened to make a volcano erupt in this location.