In Defense of Alfred Wegener
Due date January 20, 2017
You will be writing a persuasive essay that defends Alfred Wegener’s theory of Continental Drift
using the theory of plate tectonics against an alternative theory titled the Expanding Earth Theory.
General Information:
 Since the assignment is a digital assignment, absences are not an excuse for extended time.
 Please keep in mind that additional homework assignments will be given. Please plan accordingly.
 The paper must be typed in 12 font Arial.
 The paper must be double spaced.
 The paper must include proper transitions between paragraphs as well as no grammatical
mistakes. Listing of information will not be considered towards credit.
 The paper must be shared with me in Google Docs. The sooner you share the document the
sooner I can provide rough draft feedback. Please do not send me any other file format (word,
pages, pdf, etc.).
 There is no plan to spend time in class on this assignment, but if time is provided you should plan
to have your materials with you each day in class.
 Remember that when providing evidence, I want specific examples from the maps or labs!
Paper Layout:
1. Introduction
a. You will start with a brief introduction into who Alfred Wegener was. Note: summarize what
you have read. Do not plagiarize.
b. Within this introduction you will define his theory of continental drift as well as the theory of
plate tectonics.
c. At the end of the introduction, state your basic case for why Wegener’s theory must be true
and why the expanding earth theory must be false. Nothing elaborate; not a lot of detail since
you will be providing detail below.
2. Evidence that plates and plate boundaries exist
a. Using each of the geological maps (volcanology, seismology, geochronology, and geography),
provide evidence for how they support the theory of continental drift.
 Note that copies of each map are located on my web site as well as in your schoology
Earth folder.
b. Remember that when providing evidence, I want specific examples from the maps or labs!
Evidence you should consider in your discussion should include:
 Volcanology – location relative to plate boundaries.
 Seismology – location as well as differences between convergent and divergent
boundaries earthquakes;
 Geography – evidence for plate locations using trenches, island arcs, and continents.
 Geochronology – age of the plates near divergent boundaries vs. convergent.
3. Evidence that plates move
a. Using each of the geological maps (volcanology, seismology, geochronology, and geography),
provide evidence for how they support the theory of continental drift.
 Note that copies of each map are located on my web site as well as in your schoology
Earth folder.
b. Remember that when providing evidence, I want specific examples from the maps or labs!
Analysis that needs to be discussed in your paper should include:
 Seismology – location of varying depths of earthquakes along convergent boundaries.
 Geochronology – difference of age thickness at divergent boundaries.
 Geography – hot spot locations (Hawaii, Society Islands, Yellowstone).
o All three hot spots should be included in your analysis.
 Convection Theory – How does this theory provide evidence of how plates are moving.
How does convection provide support to convergent and divergent boundaries?
4. Evidence that Earth is changing but not expanding
a. Remember that when providing evidence, I want specific examples from the maps or labs!
Evidence you should discuss:
 Puzzle fit of earth’s continents. How did Wegener use this part of his theory to support his
claims? How does modern plate tectonics theory help explain how the plates move?
 What convergent boundary and divergent boundary evidence do we see that supports
plate tectonics and not expanding Earth?
o Evidence to consider would be the location of ocean trenches vs. volcanic island arcs?
Why does this location create volcanoes?
o The relative age of plate boundaries (convergent vs. divergent differences) and why
the age is different.
 How do seismographs and earthquakes show that earth’s interior isn’t changing?
5. Conclusion
a. Remember that your conclusion is a basic summary of what you just discussed. It should not
introduce new material.
b. Evidence you should review:
 Why must the theory of continental drift be correct?
a. Provide three key reasons with some basic comments of why it’s correct.
 Why must the expanding earth theory not be correct?
a. Provide three reasons with some basic comments of why it can’t be correct
(evidence that is contradictory to the theory of continental drift and plate
tectonics).
Alfred Wegener
Directions: click on the name to answer the following questions:
 When was Wegener born?
 From where did Wegener earn his degree?
 What do you find odd about Wegener’s degree?

Orthodox science at the time believed what caused identical plant and animal fossils to be on
opposite sides of the Atlantic?

What did Wegener believe caused the similarities in fossils?

Wegener found that large-scale geological features on separated continents often matched very
closely when the continents were brought together. Name two examples he noticed:
1.
2.

Wegener also discovered that the fossils found in a certain place often indicated a climate utterly
different from the climate of today: What fossil was found where? Why is that odd?

What was Wegener’s claim in The Origin of Continents and Oceans?

What was the problem with Wegener’s claim?

How did opponents refute Wegener’s claim?

A second problem with Wegener’s claim was the speed with which he thought continents were
moving. How fast did he calculate the continents were spreading apart?

What is the true speed of the movement that we calculated in class?

What prompted the revival of continental drift?

Even though we now accept his theory as mostly correct, what is the one major problem that has
now been corrected?

Why is the term continental drift not accurate but plate tectonics is?
Expanding Earth
Directions: click on the category name (underlined) to answer the following questions:
Origins of an Alternate Theory
 Who first proposed this theory?
 What had to change to make the continents fit?
Expanding Earth Theory
 Expanding Earth Theory uses a similar point to what Wegner thought. What is it?

Continents are ancient with some being as old as:

The sea floor is relatively young. How young is it?

To help make their point, this author begins by removing what to show that Earth was smaller in
the past?

In the end, what happens when Earth’s ocean floor is removed up to 200 million years old?

One major unknown about the Expanding Earth theory is the reason why the Earth has expanded.
What three reasons have been proposed to explain this massive increase in the size of the Earth?
1.
2.
3.

Scientists have settled on what two versions?

From where is the new material to expand Earth coming?