Assessment Overview: Sphere Study Assignment & Rubric

Assessment Overview: Sphere Study Goal & Rubric
Weeks 4, 7, 10, and 13

Goal: Become experts in the relationship of one sphere to an Earth event (deforestation, volcanic eruption, ice shelf disintegration, hurricane).

Refer to the Week 3: An Example of an ESS Analysis reading if you would like to review E S and S E interactions.

Rubric
Your Sphere Group analysis needs to include:

List the effects of the Event on the Sphere (E > S) with reasoning and support.
List of the effects of the Sphere on the Event (S > E) with reasoning and support.

You should post interactions that include accuracy, depth of reasoning, and quality of support. Use the rubric below to evaluate and improve your analysis. Your work will be graded based on applying the rubric criteria to all of your E > S and S > E interactions. Each criterion (Accuracy, Depth of Reasoning, Quality of Support, and Number of Interactions) that earns a 3 or 4 rating will be worth one point toward the maximum four points you can earn for this assignment.

Accuracy
4 Rating: Presents precise and meticulous scientific understanding.	3 Rating: Conforms nearly exactly to accepted scientific understanding.	2 Rating: Deviates only slightly from accepted scientific understanding.	1 Rating: Strays from accepted scientific understanding.
Depth of Reasoning
4 Rating: Reasoning completely supports the hypothesized effect or interaction.	3 Rating: Uses scientific reasoning, concepts, and processes to explain the interaction.	2 Rating: Includes science concepts and processes in the reasons for the effect and the interaction.	1 Rating: Explains at least two reasons for the effect or interaction.
Quality of Support
4 Rating: Compelling use of existing research and knowledge.	3 Rating: Uses logical support that is convincing using data and authority.	2 Rating: Uses reliable date from multiple sources.	1 Rating: Uses relevant and respected authorities.
Number of Interactions
4 Rating: More than five interactions.	3 Rating: Three to four interactions.	2 Rating: Two interactions.	1 Rating: One interaction.