Scioly.org

Where can I find a sample test on fossils

If you want a good test (at least by my standards) you will have to make one yourself. There are however some tests on Wright Center.
http://www.tufts.edu/as/wright_center/p ... d_geo.html
(there is one of them that is DECENT)

Are you going to Athens Invitational?

crazy77 wrote:well i have a page for each phylum and a page for each genus under each of the phylums basically (along with some notes on modes of preservation, types of rocks, etc. in the beginning) i've kinda already decided 2 go with the Smithsonian though I think it should be good enough I'm starting 2 get rlly nervous cuz the competition is in 2 days!!!!!!!!! i have everything done, but i'm just worried i won't know a lot of things and/or it won't be in my binder!

oh dear...
conference is in a week.

organization tips please?
how did you put your binders together?

inuyashakusho wrote:Are you going to Athens Invitational?

crazy77 wrote:well i have a page for each phylum and a page for each genus under each of the phylums basically (along with some notes on modes of preservation, types of rocks, etc. in the beginning) i've kinda already decided 2 go with the Smithsonian though I think it should be good enough I'm starting 2 get rlly nervous cuz the competition is in 2 days!!!!!!!!! i have everything done, but i'm just worried i won't know a lot of things and/or it won't be in my binder!

yea i was there our teams were some of the worst but we knew we would be like, we're not national champs or nething in fact last year we didn't make it to states though this year I think we might oh! omg, u were the school who won like, a lot of medals! i remember them announcing Harrinton a lot

savvyvonmunchausen wrote:oh dear...
conference is in a week.

organization tips please?
how did you put your binders together?

2" binder with hole-punched printouts. Sections are divided using sticky tabs taped to the paper, based on topic, phylum, order, etc.

Just be able to ID, our binder wasn't even finished and we still got 1st. It really matters what you know, not what you can find.

I am a fossil event supervisor, and I hope you all enjoy learning about fossils.

I can only comment on the events that I write and how I interpret them, but the focus of the event is for students to be able to understand characteristics of each fossil group, know something about how they lived, how they became fossils, and their use as geologic time markers.

On the events that I write, I try to balance and cover as many of the topics on the list, but not emphasize any one group over the other. Of course, we all have our biases, but hopefully most events will be balanced.

Regional events will vary based on what fossils event supervisors have available to them. However, for state and national events, supervisors can bring what they have in their own collections or the university sponsoring the tournament.

Don't sweat the small stuff. Most event writers are not trying to trick students. If they use a part of a trilobite, it probably is because they don't have a complete specimen. However, the part should be easily recognizable, like for example, the head of phacops.

It is not expected that you learn everything on the list, but the more you learn or put in your notebook, the better chance you will have in competition. Some groups have more info than others. For example, there is not that much to know about fusulinids, graptolites, sponges compared to brachiopods, trilobites, and dinosaurs.

There was an earlier question about nautiloids and ammonites.

Nautiloids and Ammonoids are orders of the class Cephalopoda. (Cephalopods are the group of mollusks that have tentacles, eyes, a siphon that are active swimmers and predators in the sea; modern cuttlefish, squids, octopuses, and chambered nautilus).

Nautiloids can have a straight, conical shell (like Orthoceras) or a coiled shell (like Nautilus). However, they have simple, slightly curved sutures (the walls that separate the chambers of the shell). Also, a structure called the siphuncle is located in the center of the shell, connecting all the chambers.

Ammonoids can have straight shells (baculites) or coiled. They are grouped into smaller groups based on the suture patterns (goniatite, ceratite, ammonite). The ammonites are the most commonly known, and are most often found as coiled shells with very intricate suture patterns.

http://higheredbcs.wiley.com/legacy/col ... 258ann.jpg

I hope this helps and let me know if you have any other questions.

Sheogorath wrote:Just be able to ID, our binder wasn't even finished and we still got 1st. It really matters what you know, not what you can find.

While what you say is true for some, I feel I must disagree. ID is as I have said the most important thing for the basics. If however you wish to be competitive at highest levels (Extremely competitive Regionals, States of more competitive states, and Nationals) of competition, you need a great binder. You also need to be able to find what is in your binder quickly. You want to have the binder organised, and have as much information as possible. You also want to compress the size of the information. Other good ideas include using binder sleeves to make you pages more durable, and resistant to ripping when you are flying through your binder at high speeds.

glaciergary wrote:I am a fossil event supervisor, and I hope you all enjoy learning about fossils.

I can only comment on the events that I write and how I interpret them, but the focus of the event is for students to be able to understand characteristics of each fossil group, know something about how they lived, how they became fossils, and their use as geologic time markers.

On the events that I write, I try to balance and cover as many of the topics on the list, but not emphasize any one group over the other. Of course, we all have our biases, but hopefully most events will be balanced.

Regional events will vary based on what fossils event supervisors have available to them. However, for state and national events, supervisors can bring what they have in their own collections or the university sponsoring the tournament.

Don't sweat the small stuff. Most event writers are not trying to trick students. If they use a part of a trilobite, it probably is because they don't have a complete specimen. However, the part should be easily recognizable, like for example, the head of phacops.

It is not expected that you learn everything on the list, but the more you learn or put in your notebook, the better chance you will have in competition. Some groups have more info than others. For example, there is not that much to know about fusulinids, graptolites, sponges compared to brachiopods, trilobites, and dinosaurs.

Now you sound like a very good event supervisor, who makes an exceptional attempt to make good, fair tests. I would like to mention however that not all event supervisors are quite as good as you appear to be based upon your statements. To add on and explain some of my opinion on your comment I would like to say that you should have as much information as possible on every taxon if you want to be competitive at the highest levels. There are also some event supervisors who may not have ANY specimens, and may give you a power point, or pictures. Also some event supervisors will attempt to challenge you. This is not the same as tricking you. Also there is surprisingly large amounts of information on graptolites, and surprisingly little on brachiopods and trilobites (in my opinion). Graptolites have been subject to great study due to what good index fossils many species are. You may also encounter less than fantastic event supervisors who may stress one group over another, that is one of the reasons you have to prepare. First prepare for the well made tests, then prepare for the evil ones.

Not if you actually love fossils and just know most everything you'll be good.