Lesson 2:   Meteor Impacts
Step 1:
Read the Orientation Page to see where we are going.
Step 2:
Do the Reading Assignments to learn about this topic.
Step 3:
Complete Activity 1 - Meteor Impact Web Search. (10 points)
Step 4:
One of the most important steps in preparing for your quiz is to be sure that you understand key concepts. I have posted several questions about some of the most important topics from this lesson in the "Study Question Conference." At least 1/3 to 1/2 of the questions on your quiz will be based upon the topics that have been posted.

I expect each student in the course to become an expert on TWO of these questions and post a thoroughly researched and carefully composed answer for each of them. Your answers should be posted early in the week so that your classmates will have an opportunity to read them and respond. (Please do not post answers to all of the questions. Instead spend extra time on two of them. During this course I am going to randomly select questions from these conferences for part of your grade. You want two very strong answers out there rather than ten that were done in a rush. If you have ten answers posted it is very possible that one of your weaker ones will be randomly selected for a grade.)

Your answers should be entirely in your own words and clearly demonstrate that you know what you are talking about. Your score will be determined mainly on how accurately and completely you answered the questions. Deductions will be made if your posting has grammar, spelling or clarity problems. A deduction will also be made if you only post one answer.

In addition to posting answers of your own, you should also carefully read the answers posted by your classmates and assist them with improvement where possible. I will "observe" these discussions but will not post responses or corrections to your work. It is up to you and your classmates to build a correct and detailed collection of answers for these questions. This activity will help you prepare an important study resource for your quiz. If you encounter an impasse or a detail that can not be resolved through student debate, please post a message in the "Helping Each Other Conference." I will use that as a signal that you need my assistance.

Don't skip doing these assignments. On at least two occasions in the course I will randomly select one of your messages from a specific study question conference for a class participation score.

VERY IMPORTANT: Be certain that you compose your own answer. The words that you post should be your own with no quotations, paraphrasing or adaptation from a website, textbook or from any source written by another person. Presenting the work of another person as your own is plagiarism and doing that will result in a significant penalty in this course and a report filed with the Provost's Office.

The key to doing a good job is to read the question carefully, study the web or textbook resources that are available, then explain the answer in your own words. When you are finished reread the question, reread your answer and review your resources again to be sure that you have done a complete and accurate job.

If you would like an extra detailed look at how your postings will be scored you can see my Study Question Rubric.

Step 5:
Your quiz on Lesson 2 must be taken on Wednesday, at 8:00 PM. Be sure that you know the material very well in advance of that time. When you take the quiz, your time will be limited - you will have about ten minutes for ten questions. I suggest that you study your reading notes, especially those that are on the topics posted in the study question conference. The study question topics will be the focus of your quiz but questions might be drawn from any of your reading assignments (10 points).