GEOL 102-6 Section 20: Geological Impacts on Civilizations
Writing Assignment #2
Writing Assignment 2, due Tuesday 31 January at 3:00 P.M.
Choose a particular event in history, and write a five-page paper
describing the roles (probable or possible) played by various
processes (related to geology, the environment, and societal impacts)
in bringing about your chosen event.
Discuss any evidence supporting the roles of such processes, and
refer to at least four published sources of information, including
at least one regular (non-encyclopaedic) book and one periodical.
For example, if your topic were the fall of Minoan civilization, you
might construct an outline like the following for the body of your paper.
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factors promoting initial Minoan stability
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role of tectonic forces
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narrow valleys and isolation
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high mountains and rainfall
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availability of metal ores
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trade advantage due to location
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role of glaciation
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fertile soil on Crete and agriculture
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lack of soil on neighboring islands
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factors promoting subsequent Minoan collapse
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role of natural disasters
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earthquake activity
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volcanic eruption
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tsunami damage
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role of population movements
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invasion from elsewhere within Crete
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invasion from outside Crete (Mycenae)
You would also want to include introductory and concluding sections,
to motivate and to summarize the main thesis of your arguments.
If this outline were too long, you might want to cut back on the
``stability'' to concentrate more upon the ``collapse'' section.
Your topic certainly need not be restricted to the time periods or
geographical areas that we have discussed in class.
You should seek feedback on your choice of topic beforehand.
Go to GEOL 102-6 Syllabus.
Go to GEOL 102-6 Photographic Resource list.
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