Topic: Volcanology (Click here to see the rubric for this essay)
Concept: Patterns and Interactions

Directions: A volcanologist is able to describe the processes of constructive and destructive forces and how they continually change landforms.

You have been studying Mt. Rainier and you have to convince the Governor of Washington State that it is indeed active. You need to write a letter to Governor Christine Gregoire to persuade her to make that the cities that are in danger have an evacuation plan and that Mt Rainier has enough of a warning system.

As you prepare to write your letter, divide the labor with your teammates. One of you will research volcano types, one lava types, and one will research the different types of eruptions. (In a group of two, one of you must be the volcano types expert.) In addition, one of you must research Mt Rainier's mud flow history, one Mt Saint Helens, and the other Mt Rainier's other hazards. (In a group of two, leave out Mt Rainier's other hazards.)

An effective writer may consider the following points:

• describe how volcanoes work
• use what you know about Mt. Saint Helens
• describe Mt. Rainier and why it is dangerous
• make your letter convincing (use facts, not emotions)

For your writing task, you will have the opportunity to follow all of the steps of the writing process: prewriting, writing a first draft, revising and editing your first draft, and writing a final draft.

My writing will be most effective if I have a good design.

In other words, I

- used interesting, thoughtful, and essential information to communicate ideas about my topic.

- used specific details

- organized writing with a beginning, middle, and end.

- used paragraphs

- used transitions to connect ideas

have an interesting style

- used words that helps the reader understands my ideas

follow conventions in writing. In other words, I

- used complete sentences

- used capitalizations and punctuations correctly

- have subject/verb agreement

- spelled correctly