Sample Assignment on Weathering This is a sample assignment on weathering that includes annotations to explain the various components. I would recommend using this in conjunction with the sample assignment

submission (that has no annotations). For this hypothetical assignment the theme was weathering and a personal image (one that the student had taken). Your assignments will require a different theme and different image. Important Notes 1. Each of the assignments have different themes than the one used in this assignment. Consult the UM Learn Assignment instructions for the theme and type of image to be used. 2. Assignments (including the references) must be double spaced. I have triple spaced the sample assignment below to provide enough room to insert comments between the lines. Your assignment must be double-spaced. 3. I have highlighted some of the text in red to draw your attention to that section of text. Your assignment will be all black text. 4. This assignment uses three (3) figures. Assignment guidelines indicate that only two (2) figures are required (one (1) map figure and a second required figure). You may use additional figures if you wish, but they must be relevant, properly labelled and incorporated into the assignment, and add to the content in a meaningful way. 5. There are no direct quotations in this sample assignment. In this type of academic writing, direct quotations should be used sparingly, if at all. A direct quotation must support what you have to say, and not say it for you. If you wish to use a direct quotation, the maximum is 1 direct quotation, no longer than 1 sentence. Meaningful title, centered at top of page, bold. Do NOT create a separate title page. Paragraph indented What is Where? Page number, top right Spheroidal Weathering in Joshua Tree National Park Section title - left justified, bolded Call-out in text indicates there is a figure related to this information Joshua Tree National Park (JTNP) is located between the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts Written in full first time used in text with acronym in brackets (JTNP). Subsequent referrals in text use acronym. eastern part of southern California's Transverse ranges (Powell, 2015, abstract section, para. 2) (Figure 1). The park covers 3,218 square kilometers with elevation varying from 163 to 1,773 metres (National Park Parenthetical in-text citation with section title and paragraph # Service (NPS), 2023, Area and Elevation sections). This park contains uniquely rounded rock formations Paragraph eated by spheroidal weathering called inselbergs (NPS, 2012, 5 Rock Piles section, para. 2) (Figure 2). indented Weathering refers to the processes that break rock into smaller fragments and consists of three main categories: chemical, physical, and biological weathering (Gervais, 2019, Ch. 16, p. 486). Chemical weathering is responsible for the large-scale sculpting of the inselbergs in JTNP and refers to the breakup of rock due to changes in chemical composition through exposure to elements such as air, water, and biological processes (Arbogast et al., 2018, Ch. 14, p. 388). The rock formations in JTNP were shaped by hydrolysis millions of years ago when the plutonic intrusions were buried deep below the surface. 1 Increased aridity most likely increases erosion rates and removed the overburden exposing the rounded rock piles (Strudley et al., 2006, Conclusion section, para, 2). Physical and biological weathering continue When no author is listed, use the organization as the author. to play a minor role in shaping the rock piles (NPS, 2017, para. 4). The above paragraph utilizes a variety of sources Figure 1. Location of Joshua Tree National Park, California, USA (National Park, 2015, National Parks in California section) Redwood Point Reyes, Golden Gate San Francisco Maritime Labelled as Figure 1 Oregon Caves Lava Beds Whiskeytown- Shasta-Trinity Lassen Volcanic Pinnacles Muir Woods Yosemite Kings Canyon Nevada Channel Islands Devils Postpile Sequoia California Santa Monica Mountains Death Valley Mojave Joshua Tree Great Bas Cabrillo Crat Labelled as Figure 2 Ci Pip Grand Page number, top right Descriptive caption in italics Parenthetical in-text citation to acknowledge source Clear and relevant map labelled as a figure - meeting requirements of assignment Descriptive caption in italics Figure 2. Round rock formations, Joshua Tree National Park, California, February 17, 2016 (Image Credit: Janna Wilson) Parenthetical acknowledgement of the person who took the picture Clear and relevant figure - meeting requirements of assignment Paragraph indented Section title - left justified, bolded Page number, top right Why There? The rounded landforms located throughout JTNP are large granitic plutonic intrusions that were created 100 million years ago (NPS, 2017, para. 2). As the granite cooled, three sets of joint systems developed creating rectangular blocks (NPS, 2017, para. 2 & 3). Water subsequently infiltrated the joints and rounded the plutonic intrusions by hydrolysis (United States Geological Survey (USGS), n.d., When no date of publication listed - use n.d. Be careful using sources with no date - assess for credibility. Weathering section, para, 1). Hydrolysis is the chemical reaction between rock minerals (predominantly silicates) and H+ (hydrogen) and OH- (hydroxyl) ions found in water (Bierman & Montgomery, 2020, Ch. 5, Hydrolysis section, p. 131). In the case of granite in JTNP, hydrolysis created softer clay minerals (NPS, 2017, para. 5) which infilled the joint and crack spaces and were subsequently washed out by flash floods when the climate became more arid, leaving behind the rounded rock piles (NPS, 2017, para. 3). Acronym used as it was defined early when it was written in full first time discussed. Hydrolysis is often responsible for spheroidal weathering in massive granite rocks because it breaks the 3). rock up grain by grain beginning at the weakest points on the corners and edges of the rock causing the original angular corners to become smooth and rounded (Arbogast et al. 2018, Ch. 14, p. 389-90) (Figure 3 Only 2 figures are required, however, you many include additional figures if they are relevant and add to your assignment in a meaningful way. Paragraph indented Figure 3 Process of spheroidal weathering (Gervais, 2019, Ch. 16, p. 490) An edge has two surfaces for weathering to act on. A corner has three surfaces for weathering to act on. Why Care? Time The flat face has one surface for weathering to act on. Figure 15.8 Living Physical Geography, First Edition Ruedi Walther Section title - left justified, bolded ATLANTIC OCEAN \15° WD AFRICA Namib Desert Each paragraph should begin with a topic sentence The rounded rock formations of JTNP are part of a unique landscape that attracts many tourists. Annual visitation surpassed 3 million visitors in 2021 (NPS, 2023, Annual Visitation section). The rock formations are one of the main tourist attractions which provide insight into the geologic history of the park as well as the processes of weathering which produces regolith which is transformed into soil (Perkins et al. 2019, 11.2.1 Definition of Weathering section, p. 337). Visitors to the JTNP injected $122 million into the economy in 2020 (NPS, 2021, para. 1); however, the number of visitors is of particular concern due to potential negative impacts on sensitive organisms and soils, such as cryptobiotic crusts