Learning activity 4

Evidence: My presentation outline

A. Find a topic of personal interest. Imagine you are going to present that topic
orally to your teacher and classmates at school. For this part of the evidence
you need to carry out exhaustive research in order to be able to present all the
necessary information related to your selected topic. Report the most important
aspects of your research through a brainstorm of the ideas and concepts that
you think will be relevant to the presentation.

Brainstorm

Example of topic: Aviation.

 Aviation refers to the use of commercial and non-commercial aircrafts

for transportation of people or goods.

 The A380, manufactured by the Airbus Industry, is the biggest plane

ever made.

Topic: PALEONTOLOGY

1. INTRODUCTION
Paleontology is the study of the history of life on Earth as based on fossils. Fossils are the
remains of plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, and single-celled living things that have been
replaced by rock material or impressions of organisms preserved in rock or another
materials.

2. SUBJECT OF PALEONTOLOGY

Paleontologists use fossil remains to understand different aspects of extinct and living

organisms. Individual fossils may contain information about an organism’s life
and environment. Much like the rings of a tree, for example, each ring on the surface of
an oyster shell denotes one year of its life. Studying oyster fossils can help paleontologists
discover how long the oyster lived, and in what conditions.
3. Subdisciplines of Paleontology

The field of paleontology has many subdisciplines. A subdiscipline is a specialized

field of study within a broader subject or discipline. In the case of paleontology,
subdisciplines can focus on a specific fossil type or a specific aspect of the globe,
such as its climate. 

a. Vertebrate Paleontology

One important subdiscipline is vertebrate paleontology, the study of fossils of

animals with backbones. Vertebrate paleontologists have discovered and
reconstructed the skeletons of dinosaurs, turtles, cats, and many other animals
to show how they lived and their evolutionary history.

b. Invertebrate Paleontology 

Invertebrate paleontologists examine the fossils of animals without backbones

—mollusks, corals, arthropods like crabs and shrimp, echinoderms like sand
dollars and sea stars, sponges, and worms. Unlike vertebrates, invertebrates
do not have bones—they do leave behind evidence of their existence in the
form of fossilized shells and exoskeletons, impressions of their soft body parts,
and tracks from their movement along the ground or ocean floor.

c. Paleobotany

Paleobotanists study the fossils of ancient plants. These fossils can be

impressions of plants left on rock surfaces, or they can be parts of the plants
themselves, such as leaves and seeds, that have been preserved by rock
material. These fossils help us understand the evolution and diversity of plants,
in addition to being a key part of the reconstruction of ancient environments and
climates, subdisciplines known as paleoecology (the study of ancient
environments) and paleoclimatology (the study of ancient climates).

d. Micropaleontology 

Micropaleontology is the study of fossils of microscopic organisms, such

as protists, algae, tiny crustaceans, and pollen. Micropaleontologists use
powerful electron microscopes to study microfossils that are generally smaller
than four millimeters (0.16 inches). Microfossil species tend to be short-lived
and abundant where they are found, which makes them helpful for identifying
rock layers that are the same age, a process known as biostratigraphy. The
chemical makeup of some microfossils can be used to learn about the
environment when the organism was alive, making them important for
paleoclimatology.
4. History of Paleontology

Throughout human history, fossils have been used, studied, and understood in
different ways. Early civilizations used fossils for decorative or religious purposes,
but did not always understand where they came from.

Although some ancient Greek and Roman scientists recognized that fossils were
the remains of life forms, many early scholars believed fossils were evidence
of mythological creatures such as dragons. From the Middle Ages until the early
1700s, fossils were widely regarded as works of the devil or of a higher power.
Many people believed the remains had special curative or destructive powers.
Many scholars also believed that fossils were remains left by Noah's flood and other
disasters documented in the Hebrew holy book.

Some ancient scientists did understand what fossils were, and were able
to formulate complex hypotheses based on fossil evidence.
Greek biologist Xenophanes discovered seashells on land, and deduced that the
land was once a seafloor. Remarkably, Chinese scientist Shen Kuo was able to use
fossilized bamboo to form a theory of climate change.

The formal science of paleontology—fossil collection and description—began in the

1700s, a period of time known as the Age of Enlightenment. Scientists began to
describe and map rock formations and classify fossils. Geologists discovered that
rock layers were the product of long periods of sediment buildup, rather than the
result of single events or catastrophes. In the early 1800s, Georges
Cuvier and William Smith, considered the pioneers of paleontology, found that rock
layers in different areas could be compared and matched on the basis of their
fossils.

Later that century, the works of Charles Lyell and Charles Darwin strongly influenced

how society understood the history of Earth and its organisms. Lyell’s Principles of
Geology stated that the fossils in one rock layer were similar, but fossils in other
rock layers were different. This sequence could be used to show relationships
between similar rock layers separated by great distances. Fossils discovered in
South America may have more in common with fossils from Africa than fossils from
different rock layers nearby.

Darwin’s On The Origin of Species observed somewhat similar sequencing in the

living world. Darwin suggested that new species evolve over time. New fossil
discoveries supported Darwin’s theory that creatures living in the distant past were
different from, yet sometimes interconnected with, those living today.
 This theory allowed paleontologists to study living organisms for clues to
understanding fossil evidence. The Archaeopteryx, for example, had wings like a
bird, but had other features (such as teeth) typical of a type of dinosaur called
a theropod. Now regarded as a very early bird, Archaeopteryx retains more
similarities to theropods than does any modern bird. Studying the physical features
of Archaeopteryx is an example of how paleontologists and other
scientists establish a sequence, or ordering, of when one species evolved relative to
another.

The dating of rock layers and fossils was revolutionized after the discovery of
radioactivity in the late 1800s. Using a process known as radiometric dating,
scientists can determine the age of a rock layer by examining how certain atoms in
the rock have changed since the rock formed. As atoms change, they emit different
levels of radioactivity. Changes in radioactivity are standard and can be accurately
measured in units of time.

By measuring radioactive material in an ancient sample and comparing it to a

current sample, scientists can calculate how much time has passed. Radiometric
dating allows ages to be assigned to rock layers, which can then be used to
determine the ages of fossils.

Paleontologists used radiometric dating to study the fossilized eggshells

of Genyornis, an extinct bird from Australia. They discovered
that Genyornis became extinct between 40,000 and 50,000 years ago. Fossil
evidence from plants and other organisms in the region shows that there was
abundant food for the large, flightless bird at the time of its extinction. Climate
changes were too slow to explain the relatively quick extinction.

5. Paleontology Today

Modern paleontologists have a variety of tools that help them discover, examine,
and describe fossils. Electron microscopes allow paleontologists to study the tiniest
details of the smallest fossils. X-ray machines and CT scanners reveal fossils'
internal structures. Advanced computer programs can analyze fossil data,
reconstruct skeletons, and visualize the bodies and movements of extinct
organisms.

Paleontologists and biologists used a CT scan to study the preserved body of a

baby mammoth discovered in Siberia in 2007. A CT scanner allows scientists to
construct 3-D representations of the bones and tissue of the organism. Using
this technology, scientists were able to see that the baby mammoth had healthy
teeth, bones, and muscle tissue. However, the animal’s lungs and trunk were full of
mud and debris. This suggested to scientists that the animal was healthy, but most
likely suffocated in a muddy river or lake.
B. Now, structure your presentation using the Signpost language learnt during this
learning activity. Present your outline through presentation cards. Use as many
cards as you need.

Remember: Each presentation card should include a

heading, a phrase at the bottom, a number and it should be
organized by numbering and bulleting.

(Model)

Aviation
[heading]

Structure: I’m going to divide this talk into five parts.

1. Early beginnings.
2. Civil aviation.
3. Commercial aviation.
4. Modern aircrafts manufacturers:
a. Airbus.
b. Boeing.
c. Embraer.
5. The most famous aircrafts in history:
a. Concorde.
b. Boeing 747.
c. Airbus A380.

Let’s turn now to the first part: the early beginnings

of aviation…
[Bottom phrase]
1
C. To complete the evidence, you must now write a complete list of references
using the guidelines given by the American Psychological Association (APA). Do
not forget to organize your references alphabetically.

References

1. Library Resources, nationalgeographic.org, 2020,

https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/paleonto
logy/

2. Berkeley University, 2020,

https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/about-ucmp/frequently-asked-
questions/

When you finish your work, send the file to your instructor through the platform as
follows:

1. Click on the title of this evidence.

2. Click on Examinar mi equipo and look for the file in your computer. Make sure
the file is attached.
3. Leave a comment for the instructor (optional).
4. Click Enviar.

Note: This evidence is an individual activity. Remember to check the learning

guide in order to know if you have done all the assigned activities, know how to
develop them and deliver them correctly.
 Criterio de evaluación
Prepara presentaciones orales haciendo uso del vocabulario y las diferentes
estructuras gramaticales requeridas.