In this task, the team will work together to write a team contract that every member will sign.  The contract spells out the group's expectations for all team members with regard to good team citizenship.

Requirements:

•  The document must be typed and turned in as a hard copy.

•  Every team member must sign the contract. 

• The contract may include whatever details the group agrees upon, but at a minimum it must contain the following information:

        􀂾 how the team will meet deadlines / due dates (include back-up plan!)
        􀂾 equitable distribution of workload
        􀂾 interpersonal interactions
        􀂾 handling of disagreements
        􀂾 the following text on Firing and Quitting, copied verbatim:

FIRING AND QUITTING

If a team member is chronically non-cooperative, they may be fired from the team, if and only if the rest of the team has done all they can to resolve the situation, including the following escalating steps:  1) attempt to resolve the situation directly with the team member; 2) arrange a consultation of the whole team with the instructor; 3) send a memo to the non-cooperating member warning that unless that person starts fulfilling their responsibilities, he/she is off the team; 4) if one week passes without significant improvement in the situation, the team may send a second memo officially firing the person.  Both memos must be copied to the instructor.

Similarly, if one team member feels that they are “carrying” the rest of their teammates, and has made  a good faith effort to resolve the issue of division of responsibilities, that person may send a memo notifying teammates of her/his intent to resign. If the team cannot resolve the issue within one week, the person may send a second memo announcing their resignation.  Both memos must be copied to the instructor.

A student who is fired or who quits a team is responsible for finding a new team willing to take them on, or they will receive zeros for any further group assignments.

Your team has started exploring your study area, and by now you have an idea of major geologic and/or topographic features you want to check out.  For this assignment, compose a preliminary plan for your field trip.  The team will visit the study area as a group to take photos and collect information.  Evidence of the team field trip to the study area is required.  Also required is photographic evidence that the team had fun on the trip!

Include the following in your field trip plan:

* Poster Title, indicating study area/topic name
* General location map
* Specific location map(s) [You may find it helpful to use the USGS Map Locator (click "Download Digital Scans of Topo Maps"; also see NEIU Prof. Hemzacek's suggestions on downloading from this site) or GoogleEarth (earth.google.com).]
* Significant geologic features, including information and photos* Surficial geology of the area, including geologic origin
* Significant topographic features, including information and photos
* Significant water features (as appropriate)
* Evidence that humans are interacting with the geology in a non-random, non-coincidental way
* Photographic evidence that all team members were on the field trip together
* Photographic evidence that all team members were having fun!
* Citations and references
* Team name, and members' names

Format:

* Posters can range from the size of a single sheet of poster board (about 20 x 28 inches), to the size of a  3-panel "stand-up" poster (the type used for science fairs). 

* As you design your poster, consider the following:

w  Main elements (title, key graphics) must be visible and readable from a distance of 10 feet.  Use a big enough font!
w  The poster is a visual presentation, but must contain enough text to adequately explain and describe the images
w  Be creative to highlight important aspects: use color, etc. to make it interesting and to "draw in" the observer
w  Check out this website for suggestions about making effective poster displays.

Evaluation:  A grading rubric can serve as your checklist for your final poster presentation.