1. 9 th Grade Advanced Science Writing Prompts

2. Geology Articles Choose ONE of the following questions and write a 3-5 paragraph essay to answer that question. Be sure to provide an intro and conclusion to your essay. Be sure to use information from the article as well as from our class notes and discussions when writing your essay. Worlds in Eruption How is plate tectonics (or lack of plate tectonics) on other moons and planets mentioned in the article similar and/or different from plate tectonics on Earth? Provide specific examples across our solar system. OR Nuclear Planet How is the Nuclear Planet theory similar and/or different than the traditional theory we learned in class? Provide evidence to support each theory.

3. Oceanography & Climate Articles Choose ONE of the following writing prompts to write a 3-5 paragraph essay responding to the guiding questions. Be sure to provide an intro and conclusion to your essay. Be sure to use information from the article as well as from our class notes and discussions when writing your essay. New Ice Age 1. Describe in detail how global warming could send us into a “little ice age”. (Be sure to connect your explanation to class discussions on how ocean currents influence climate and the impact of ocean water density on climate.) 2. Also provide detail into the impact a “little ice age” could have on the United States. OR Blue Water Revolution 1. Explain what is meant by the title “Blue Water Revolution? Also explain why this revolution is important? 2. Describe the cons of both land-based and shore-based aquaculture? Explain how open-ocean aquaculture answers the problems of both land and shore-based aquaculture. 3. Using pages 56-57 in your textbook and the information presented in the article, explain why the waste generated by aquaculture occurring in the neritic zone is more harmful to aquatic life than the waste generated by aquaculture occuring in the oceanic zone.

4. Evolution & Paleontology Articles Choose ONE of the following questions and write a 3-5 paragraph essay to answer that question. Be sure to provide an intro and conclusion to your essay. Be sure to use information from the article as well as from our class notes and discussions when writing your essay. Snowball Earth Explain in detail the Snowball Earth theory and provide TWO forms of evidence to support the theory. How did the environmental change of Snowball Earth affect the evolution of life during and after this climate change? Rulers of the Jurassic Seas Provide a detailed explanation of 3 adaptations of the ichthyosaurs as they moved from land, to shallow seas, to deep ocean. Use one of the adaptations and apply the steps of Natural Selection as we learned in class. Once We Were Not Alone Why are H. sapiens the only existing hominid today? Provide a detailed explanation. Do you think another hominid species will evolve in the future? Why or why not? Support your answer. Food For Thought How food affect the evolution of bipedalism, large brains, and the migration out of Africa? Explain in detail. How is our current diet affecting our evolution? Explain in detail.

5. Botany Articles Choose ONE of the following articles to write a 3-5 paragraph essay responding to the guiding questions. Be sure to provide an intro and conclusion to your essay. Be sure to use information from the article as well as from our class notes and discussions when writing your essay. If All the Trees Fall In The Forest… Explain in detail what is causing sudden oak death around the country. Describe in detail how sudden oak death is spread from plant to plant. Don’t Eat Again Until you Read This Explain in detail why StarLink corn was created as a GM food and explain the concerns about this corn. Explain in detail how pollination played a role in getting StarLink corn into the human diet.

6. Ecology & Environment Articles Respond to the writing prompt below using either the Vanishing Frogs or Sea Sick article. Write a 3-5 paragraph essay responding to the guiding questions. Be sure to provide an intro and conclusion to your essay. Be sure to use information from the article as well as from our class notes and discussions when writing your essay. Vanishing Frogs (OR) Sea Sick Explain the various reasons why frog (OR) killer whale populations are on the decline. Which cause do you think is the most likely reason for the decline in population? Explain why. What are possible solutions to the decline of the frog (OR) killer whale populations? Explain how the decline of the frog (OR) killer whale populations can act as an indicator to the health of their respective environments. Connect your answer to class discussions on ecology.