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How to Describe an Earthquake in a Story

By Brittany Kuhn

Does the central plot in your novel revolve around an earthquake that has happened? In this post, you’ll learn about how to describe an earthquake in a story. We’ve included 10 words below to explain further.

1. Catastrophe

• Intense, devastating change to the environment.
• Moment of complete failure or tragedy.

“California’s 1906 earthquake is still one of greatest catastrophes ever recorded.”

“I could not believe how catastrophic the earthquake was to my neighborhood: not a single house went untouched.”

How it Adds Description

When you want to describe your earthquake as particularly devasting, use catastrophe to show its obliterating impact on the buildings or natural environment. Catastrophic can also help to describe characters’ feelings about how the earthquake has affected them, particularly if their belongings have been destroyed or families hurt.

2. Slow burn

Gradual build up of power or intensity until a final explosion or outburst.

“Luckily, that 7.8 earthquake last week was a slow burner ; it built up so gradually that everybody had a chance to evacuate before it really hit.”

“Some of the worst earthquakes I’ve ever experienced were slow burns over a period of a few hours.”

By focusing on more than just the effects of an earthquake, describing one as a slow burn allows you to show the way people might prepare and set the atmosphere for the actual event. A slow burn earthquake also gives you a chance to build tension towards how powerful the earthquake may finally be.

3. Glass shattering

So loud or shaking so extremely hard that it does (or could) literally shatter glass into small pieces.

“Yesterday’s glass shattering earthquake was measured as a 6.3 on the Richter scale.”

“My first memory was hiding in our kitchen during a glass shattering earthquake.”

If an earthquake is powerful enough, it could cause windows, mirrors, or glass dishes inside of a house to crack and break from the violent movements. Using glass shattering also highlights what the characters are hearing during the earthquake and how intense the whole experience might be for them.

4. Ground splitting

A separation , crack, or fissure in the earth or rocks.

“We were completely unprepared for the ground splitting earthquake.”

“The ground splitting earthquake was so powerful that it caused a 6-foot fissure to open in the street.”

For an earthquake to actually cause a crack in the ground (like in the movies), the plates would have had to move quite dramatically, resulting in a pretty intense earthquake. Describing the earthquake as ground splitting immediately shows the reader that this event is pretty significant and should be followed closely.

5. Reverberating

Echoing , rippling, or bouncing back.

“The tremors of the reverberating earthquake could be felt two states over.”

“Her favorite part of studying earthquakes was tracking how far their effects reverberated outward.”

Want to focus on the far-reaching effects of an earthquake? You can use reverberating to highlight the way the vibrations in the earth slowly ripple out from the epicenter. Or, if you want to focus on the way things sound, you could use reverberating to highlight how everything goes silent in ripples then explodes back into sound in waves outward from the epicenter.

6. Underwater

Happening in or beneath the water’s surface .

“What was most disturbing about the underwater earthquake was that we never heard it coming.”

“The first I knew of an earthquake underwater was the large plume of water that shot straight up like a geyser, right outside my portside window.”

If you want to cause a tsunami or if your story’s events take place in the sea, put your earthquake underwater . Underwater earthquakes are often more powerful than land-based ones. Putting the earthquake in the sea also allows for you to include a reason for plot-relevant catastrophic effects like tidal waves or damage to boats and marine life.

7. Negligible

Of such little importance as to have little to no effect.

“The earthquake was so negligible that it barely rattled the front door.”

“The negligible earthquake barely registered on the Richter scale.”

Not all earthquakes are destructive. Sometimes you might want an earthquake as a plot device to bring two characters together or cause some minor damage to an object that needs replacing. By describing the earthquake as negligible , you show that the earthquake was barely noticeable and only as important as your plot needs it to be.

8. Rumbling

• A strong sound that slowly builds in intensity.
• A low, echoing sound travelling from a far distance.

“The earthquake’s rumbling started low at first and built to a body-rocking tremor by the time it finally hit.”

“We could hear the rumbling earthquake from deep within the earth long before we felt it.”

Sometimes, in order to create suspense, you need to describe how something sounds before you can describe how it feels. Using rumbling to describe the sound of the earthquake approaching builds tension as the characters (and readers) are preparing for what could be a pretty hefty earthquake as the rumbling gets closer.

9. Expansive

Wide-reaching, vast , large.

“Towns 350 miles from the epicenter of the expansive earthquake could feel the tremors.”

“We could not believe how expansive the earthquake’s aftershocks reached.”

If you want to show the size of the earthquake, use expansive to describe it as covering a large surface area and affecting a great number of people and buildings. In many cases, the stronger the earthquake, the larger it is, so the word expansive gives your reader a sense of just how wide-reaching the effects are.

10. Localized

Be focused on a smaller, more confined point .

“Yesterday’s earthquake seemed to be more localized than we first thought; only those in the nearest three towns were effected.”

“Sometimes I wonder what is worse: a powerful, localized earthquake that takes down all the buildings in one town or a weaker, more expansive one that just does a bit of surface damage but effects 20x as many people.”

Contrary to expansive , you could also describe your earthquake as localized if you want to emphasize how little it effected. Localized suggests that the earthquake only really affected the town or core area your characters or the plot is based in, rather than having any far-reaching or more worldly relevance.

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19,890 quotes, descriptions and writing prompts, 4,964 themes

earthquake - quotes and descriptions to inspire creative writing

• earth insurance corporation
• emergency room earth

After the earthquake came the rescuers, for in a world that is well run there are always healthy and well resourced volunteers at the ready.

The money-nexus had folks building homes that collapsed in earthquakes. The love-nexus would have kept people safe.

A tremor of walls and floor informs us that an earthquake has come and the time to protect our children is upon us.

We built our homes upon the rock so as to keep the population safer from earthquakes.

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Write that Scene

May your writing spirit live on forever

How to Write an Earthquake Scene

• What are the characters doing right before the earthquake?

» A . Show the sheer joy or sadness the people are going through seconds before.

I. Are they alone or with loved ones? In public or in a private house? Eating dinner or Working out? What emotions are they feeling? What is being said? What are they looking forward to for tomorrow?         II. Describe the turning point. The drama, the awesomeness that will change in exactly 1 second. Or perhaps, maybe someone doesn’t feel right or there is a warning sign that something bad will happen. Do they hurry to get prepared?     

Suggest YOUR Scene Idea

» b. how is the weather and describe how things look around them currently. such as the house, the buildings, the lawn. why because when you write about the aftermath it has more impact .

I.  How does the outside buildings look. Are they new? Can the character see people working on a bridge? Are they mowing their grass and take pride in the way it looks?      II.  Describe the inside of buildings. Bed made, dishes on the dish rack. Christmas lights handing around the ceiling? Use adjectives and really layout your atmosphere.

     III.  How is the weather? Sunshine? Rain and gloom? Dark? Light? Afternoon? Night? Describe how it feels and the sounds. Any birds chirping, music playing? People talking or completely silent?

• What is damaged, knocked down, destroyed first?

» A. Now, show the very things you describe in the last part being destroyed. Describe the action of them being destroyed, the process… not yet the aftermath.

I. Stuff falling on shelves? (bang, crash, thump). The grinding of parts of their home against one another? How does buildings, belongings look as they are being knocked around. Do they disintegrate? Expand? Twirl? Whirl in midair. The windows can crack. Stair case shudder.      II.  What buildings are being obliterated first? Maybe show people or a character watch it demolish before their very eyes. How are the schools, post office, government facilities doing? Stores? What about that bridge that the workers were working on? How does that fall apart? Slow? Fast? Do cars drop to the ocean as well? A great way to describe this is by knowing the parts of the buildings or structures you plan to write about. Then explain how all of that is being pulled apart, bit by bit. Use metaphors and similes if you can.

     III. How are they trying to stay up? Do people attempt to preserve pieces or these buildings and structures? Do they record it?? Is that store hanging by a thread? How about that library, though? It’s still staying put? How so? What gives?     

» B.  How are people reacting to their belongings being torn apart? Are the belongings hurting them? Is anything other than the earthquake hurting them?

I. Some may be crushed. Sadly, some may have to jump out from high stories. People could be taking their lives in order to save others. .      II.  Can they use any of their belongings as a way to cover? Have they prepared for this? Are they safe? Can go to the bunker or basement without having to worry?       

• Who is injured from the destruction?

» A.What injuries are caused? How bad are they?

I. Is everyone in one piece? How much bleeding? Are they fully flexible or is something hindering them from moving? How do they fix that? Do they have any first aid or do they need to use whatever’s available?      II.  Who died? How did they die? How do people grieve after/during the person losing their life?Is someone alive but knocked out?     III.  Is anyone yelling for help? Can anyone get to them? How much space does the character have? Is it safe to travel to another location? If so, where do they go and why?     

» B . How do people help them while the earthquake is still going? How do they try to help themselves?

I.  Any last minute requests or prayers or confessions? Does anyone know how to fix that broken leg? Do people use team work to lift the television off the woman? Anything similar?      II. Is anyone selfish? Do they try to take while the earthquake is destroying. How are their nerves? Do they need to do anything extreme to save themselves and does it work?       

• How much mayhem and mess is left?

» A. What is the earth doing? Cracking? Lava coming out from beneath? Tearing? Moving? How much does it shake? ?

I. Often, you can actually see the ground move in ripples. In a single story building, you can definitely see the floor rippling and moving. On the second story of an earth quake prepared building, you can see the floor moving but also the walls. The walls start with the ripples but, then start doing a circular motion. You can estimate the magnitude of the quake by counting the earth provided ripples/movements as opposed to those provided by the structure.

     II. Effects/impacts of earthquakes:

Shaking and ground rupture are the main effects created by earthquakes. Ground rupture is a visible breaking and displacement of the earth’s surface along the trace of the fault. It is a major risk for large engineering structures such as dams, bridges and nuclear power stations.

Landslides are a major geologic hazard. Earthquakes can produce slope instability.

Fires can following an earthquake. They can be generated by break of the electrical power or gas lines. In the event of water mains rupturing and a loss of pressure, it may also become difficult to stop the spread of a fire once it has started.

Soil liquefaction occurs when, because of the shaking, water-saturated granular material (such as sand) temporarily loses its strength and transforms from a solid to a liquid. Soil liquefaction may cause rigid structures, as buildings or bridges, to tilt or sink into the liquefied deposits.

Floods may be secondary effects of earthquakes, if dams are damaged. Earthquakes may cause landslips to dam rivers, which then collapse and cause floods.

» B.What are they people feeling? How are they doing midway through?

I. What is the character thinking? What are they saying out loud and in conversation? NOW is the time for them to think about what they were doing just a few minutes ago and how they wished they could have done something different.

• What’s the aftermath?

» A. Describe the sight.

I.   Any aftershocks? These are strong but distant quakes, and several smaller quakes.      II. What has been completely destroyed and what is left? Who is alive and who is not living? How is the weather clearing if at all?Still raining?      III.  How do they pick up after things have been torn down. Is it worth it? Do they tend to the hurt? Do they cover the dead? Search for bodies? Collect money, food, clothing? Where are they headed now?

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The Best Reads on Worst-Case Scenarios

A reading list of horrific realities, from those who have imagined the bleakest outcomes and those who have borne witness to the unimaginable

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It's not just rubbernecking and fear-mongering. The most compelling works of disaster writing serve the critical function of contextualizing real risks.

They include horrific versions of the future and descriptions of catastrophes that have come to pass. These are stories that contain deep truths about what it means to survive, which is to say: what it means to be human.

Here is a small sampling of some of the most impressive works of writing and reporting about some of the worst natural disasters in human history—tales of both large scale calamities and personal peril, past and potential.

“ The Sixth Extinction? ” New Yorker , 2009 / Elizabeth Kolbert

Of the many species that have existed on earth—estimates run as high as fifty billion—more than 99 percent have disappeared. In the light of this, it is sometimes joked that all of life today amounts to little more than a rounding error. Records of the missing can be found everywhere in the world, often in forms that are difficult to overlook. And yet extinction has been a much contested concept. Throughout the 18th century, even as extraordinary fossils were being unearthed and put on exhibit, the prevailing view was that species were fixed, created by God for all eternity. If the bones of a strange creature were found, it must mean that that creature was out there somewhere. ... Once a mass extinction occurs, it takes millions of years for life to recover, and when it does it generally has a new cast of characters; following the end-Cretaceous event, mammals rose up (or crept out) to replace the departed dinosaurs. In this way, mass extinctions, though missing from the original theory of evolution, have played a determining role in evolution’s course; as Richard Leakey has put it, such events “restructure the biosphere” and so “create the pattern of life.” It is now generally agreed among biologists that another mass extinction is under way. Though it’s difficult to put a precise figure on the losses, it is estimated that, if current trends continue, by the end of this century as many as half of earth’s species will be gone.

“ Krakatoa ,” Harper Perennial, 2003 / Simon Winchester

It is a volcano that absolutely and very visibly refuses to die. It is a volcano that seems to me to possess a wonderfully seductive combination of qualities, being beautiful and dangerous, unpredictable and unforgettable. And more: Though what happened in its former life was unutterably dreadful, the realities of geology, seismicity, and the peculiar tectonics of Java and Sumatra will make sure that what occurred back then will without a doubt one day repeat itself, and in precisely the same way. No one can be sure exactly when. Probably it will be very many years—many years, that is, before anything will befall the world that could possibly be as terrible as what took place during the historic paroxysmal moment that reached its extraordinary climax at exactly two minutes past ten on the morning of Monday, August 27, 1883. ... The island of Krakatoa, meanwhile, had in essence disappeared. Six cubic miles of rock had been blasted out of existence, had been turned into pumice and ash and uncountable billions of particles of dust... That last great detonation at two minutes past ten on that Monday morning had blown the island apart, and sent most of it to kingdom come.

Story continues below

In Photos: The Disasters That Weren't

“ The Really Big One ,” New Yorker , 2015 / Kathryn Schulz

When the next very big earthquake hits, the northwest edge of the continent, from California to Canada and the continental shelf to the Cascades, will drop by as much as six feet and rebound thirty to a hundred feet to the west—losing, within minutes, all the elevation and compression it has gained over centuries. Some of that shift will take place beneath the ocean, displacing a colossal quantity of seawater. (Watch what your fingertips do when you flatten your hand.) The water will surge upward into a huge hill, then promptly collapse. One side will rush west, toward Japan. The other side will rush east, in a 700-mile liquid wall that will reach the Northwest coast, on average, 15 minutes after the earthquake begins. By the time the shaking has ceased and the tsunami has receded, the region will be unrecognizable. Kenneth Murphy, who directs FEMA’s Region X, the division responsible for Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Alaska, says, “Our operating assumption is that everything west of Interstate 5 will be toast.”

“ The Calm Before the Storm ,” Texas Monthly , 2015 / Robert Draper

Today a trinity of demons haunts Galveston. One is the specter of its own lost grandeur, visible in all directions. Then there is the relentless ambition of the big city fifty miles up the causeway that gradually stole its greatness, until one day the smaller city found itself consigned to the lesser status of tourist playground for Houston and the rest of Texas. The third malevolent force is, of course, nature. Galvestonians have always weathered storms with minimal fanfare—an enduring legacy, perhaps, of the trauma inflicted in 1900. “People were devastated psychologically,” said attorney and former Galveston district judge Susan Criss, a BOI who knew survivors of that tragedy. “Imagine walking out of your house and seeing your friends lying dead everywhere. How do you get over that? They just didn’t talk about it.”

“ Fire Season ,” New Yorker , 1989 / Joan Didion

Anyone who has spent fire season in Los Angeles knows some of its special language—knows, for example, the difference between a fire that has been "controlled" and a fire that has so far been merely "contained" (a "contained" fire has been surrounded, usually by a trench half as wide as the brush is high, but is still burning out of control within this line and may well jump it), knows the difference between "full" and "partial" control ("partial" control means, if the wind changes, no control at all), knows about "backfiring" and about "making the stand" and about the difference between a Red Flag Alert (there will probably be a fire today) and a Red Flag Warning (there will probably be a Red Flag Alert within three days). Still, "burn index" was new to me, and one of the headquarters foresters, Paul Rippens, tried that morning to explain it. ... A week or so later, 3,700 acres burned in the hills west of the Antelope Valley. The flames reached 60 feet. The wind was gusting at 40 miles an hour. There were 250 firefighters on the ground, and they evacuated 1,500 residents, one of whom returned to find her house gone but managed to recover, according to The Los Angeles Times , "an undamaged American flag and a porcelain Nativity set handmade by her mother."

“ Is New Orleans safe? ” The New York Times , 2015 / John M. Barry

For New Orleans, which has always depended on the kindness of strangers, to feel smug about 100-year protection is foolish; for New York, with its immense value, to aim for 100-year protection is ludicrous. At landfall, Katrina had a 400-year storm surge; Sandy, depending on locality, had a 200- to 500-year surge. The Netherlands protects cities against a 10,000-year storm; that is not affordable on the Gulf of Mexico and the East Coast, which face significantly stronger storms than the Dutch. But a standard higher than 100-year is. The minimum should be 500-year protection. That is certainly attainable in New York, given its resources. Is it in New Orleans?

“ As Freezing Persons Recollect the Snow—First Chill—Then Stupor—Then the Letting Go ,” Outside , 2004 / Peter Stark

You lie still. There's a dead silence in the forest, broken by the pumping of blood in your ears. Your ankle is throbbing with pain and you've hit your head. You've also lost your hat and a glove. Scratchy snow is packed down your shirt. Meltwater trickles down your neck and spine, joined soon by a thin line of blood from a small cut on your head. This situation, you realize with an immediate sense of panic, is serious. Scrambling to rise, you collapse in pain, your ankle crumpling beneath you. As you sink back into the snow, shaken, your heat begins to drain away at an alarming rate, your head alone accounting for 50 percent of the loss. The pain of the cold soon pierces your ears so sharply that you root about in the snow until you find your hat and mash it back onto your head.

“ Frisco Doomed ,” The Guthrie Daily Leader , 1906

The proud city of San Francisco is doomed. Another earthquake shock occurred at 2:30. This put the finish to terror. People fled helter skelter. The bay swarms with boats ... The run on the banks was awful. The First National Bank collapsed as 1,500 people were inside the doors clamoring for their money. The death list will run far into the thousands. Shocks continue at intervals. The chief thought is now safety. The flames can not be checked and the whole city is doomed to total destruction.

[UPDATED] Thanks to those who have written with recommendations. Among them are: “ A Sea Story ” (William Langewiesche / The Atlantic ), A Paradise Built in Hell: The Extraordinary Communities That Arise in Disaster (Rebecca Solnit / Penguin Books), Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History (Erik Larson / Vintage Books USA), Curse of the Narrows: The Halifax Disaster of 1917 (Laura MacDonald / Walker & Company) , and The Perfect Storm: A True Story of Men Against the Sea (Sebastian Junger / W.W. Norton).

Which other must-reads did I miss? If you’d like, send suggestions to [email protected] , and we'll keep updating this reading list.

32 Writing Prompts About Natural Disasters

Nature is stunning, right?

From epic mountains to cozy changes in seasons, it’s pretty amazing. But hold on, there’s another side. Nature’s also super powerful, and sometimes that power explodes as like hurricanes, wildfires, or earthquakes. These events remind us that we’re not exactly in control here on Earth .

Natural disasters are a big deal.

They’ve wrecked civilizations, changed landscapes forever, and basically been a part of history since, well, history. But hey, they also give us a chance to learn and adapt together as humans, right?

So, buckle up!

We’re about to explore some crazy prompts related to natural disasters, how they happen, what they leave behind, and what we can learn from them.

Let’s see what Mother Nature has in store for us (besides the usual beauty ).

Writing Prompts About Natural Disasters

• Earthquakes are often associated with violent shaking and destruction, but imagine a world where they are silent and almost undetectable. Scientists have discovered a new type of earthquake that doesn’t produce any shaking but has other mysterious effects on the environment and infrastructure. Write a story about a community that experiences the aftermath of this silent earthquake and the challenges they face in understanding and adapting to its unique consequences.
• Volcanoes are known for their explosive eruptions, but what if one started emitting a strange, haunting sound instead of erupting? This sound, a mix between a hum and a whisper, is heard across the globe and has a profound psychological effect on those who hear it. Explore the global response and the journey of a character who becomes obsessed with deciphering the volcano’s message.
• A massive flood has hit a city, submerging libraries, museums, and other repositories of historical documents. As the waters recede, a historian discovers that some of the damaged documents reveal previously unknown facts about the city’s past . Craft a tale about the historian’s quest to salvage and interpret these documents, and the shocking truths they unveil.
• Tornadoes are forces of destruction, but in a twist of fate, one tornado uncovers something long buried beneath a small town. As the town rebuilds, they find an ancient artifact that seems to have mysterious powers. Narrate the story of the town’s transformation as they grapple with the power and responsibility of their unexpected discovery.
• A powerful tsunami reshapes the coastline of a remote island, revealing a hidden bay that was previously underwater. This bay contains remnants of an ancient civilization, with structures and artifacts that challenge current historical understanding. Follow an archaeologist’s expedition to this newly exposed site and the revelations that come with it.
• An avalanche in a remote mountain range reveals a perfectly preserved body from centuries ago. This individual carries with them items and clues that suggest they were from a time and place far removed from where they were found. Dive into the mystery of who this person was and the journey that led them to their icy tomb.
• In the aftermath of a devastating hurricane, a woman finds a box of letters washed up on her property. These aren’t just any letters; they’re correspondences from decades ago, detailing a love story that was interrupted by a previous natural disaster. Weave a dual narrative of the past lovers and the woman’s quest to reunite the letters with their rightful owners.
• A prolonged drought has caused a once-vibrant lake to dry up, revealing a hidden oasis beneath its depths. This oasis is not just a source of water , but also holds secrets about the region’s history and the people who once inhabited it. Chronicle the story of a community that rediscovers its roots and the challenges they face in preserving this newfound treasure .
• Wildfires are notorious for the devastation they bring, but amidst the ashes of one such fire, a firefighter discovers an old, charred diary. The entries provide a firsthand account of a previous wildfire that hit the same region a century ago. Delve into the parallels between the past and present, and the lessons the community learns from history’s echoes.
• A record-breaking blizzard blankets a town in snow , bringing life to a standstill. As the snow melts, children playing outside stumble upon a time capsule from decades ago, filled with predictions about the future . Craft a story around the town’s reactions to these predictions and the realization of which ones eerily came true.
• A massive landslide in a remote area reveals the entrance to an underground city, long forgotten and hidden from the world. The architecture and artifacts suggest a civilization advanced beyond its time. Follow a team of explorers as they navigate the city’s labyrinthine passages and uncover its mysteries.
• After a powerful cyclone, sailors report a sighting of a new, floating island made up of debris, plants , and surprisingly, pockets of life. This floating ecosystem is a marvel of nature and survival . Narrate the journey of a biologist studying this new phenomenon and the incredible adaptations of life amidst chaos.
• An intense heatwave causes a series of mirages in a desert town. However, these aren’t ordinary mirages; they seem to show scenes from the town’s potential futures. Spin a tale about the town’s residents as they witness glimpses of possible destinies and the choices they make in response.
• A series of thunderstorms brings not just rain and lightning, but also a strange electrical phenomenon that seems to transmit messages in Morse code. These messages hint at events yet to come. Write about a young enthusiast’s attempt to decode these messages and the implications of foreknowledge.
• Overnight, a sinkhole appears in the middle of a bustling city, revealing an ancient library filled with scrolls and books from civilizations long lost. The knowledge contained within could change the course of history. Chronicle the race between nations and scholars to access and interpret the library’s vast contents.
• A particularly violent hailstorm uncovers the entrance to a cave filled with crystals that have unique energy properties. These crystals seem to have the power to heal, energize, and even manipulate thoughts. Explore the ethical dilemmas and power struggles that arise as the world becomes aware of the cave’s potential.
• With the onset of the monsoon, a village starts hearing a haunting melody that seems to emanate from the forest . The tune is reminiscent of an old legend about a spirit that once protected the village. Dive into the story of a musician who feels a deep connection to the melody and embarks on a quest to uncover its origins.
• A relentless sandstorm reveals an ancient portal in the desert, inscribed with symbols that suggest it’s a gateway to another dimension or time. A team of archaeologists and scientists come together to decipher its purpose. Narrate the adventures and challenges they face as they decide whether to step through the portal.
• An ice storm of unprecedented magnitude strikes a coastal town, freezing the sea and revealing a colossal statue of a guardian deity submerged just off the shore. Legend speaks of this guardian’s role in a pivotal moment in history. Unravel the tale of a historian and a local child who form an unlikely bond, seeking to understand the guardian’s message.
• A mudslide in a hilly region exposes a cave with a pristine, timeless painting that seems to change its depiction based on the viewer’s deepest emotions . The artwork becomes a pilgrimage site, drawing many to witness its magic . Craft a story centered on a skeptic who visits the site, only to have their life transformed by the experience.
• A powerful solar flare disrupts technology on Earth but also sends an old satellite, thought to be lost in space decades ago, crashing back to the planet. Inside, there are recordings and data from an unknown civilization. Follow the journey of an astrophysicist as they grapple with the implications of this otherworldly discovery.
• A meteor shower, unlike any before, lights up the night sky. Each meteorite carries inscriptions, seemingly pieces of a larger cosmic puzzle. Write about a group of astronomers and linguists racing against time to assemble the message and understand its significance for humanity.
• A dense, unnatural fog engulfs a harbor town, and with it appears a ghostly ship from a bygone era. As the ship docks, it brings with it tales of adventures on the seven seas and a map to uncharted territories. Chronicle the story of a young resident who feels irresistibly drawn to the ship and its promise of adventure.
• A unique lightning storm creates a temporary, ethereal bridge that connects two distant places on Earth for just a few minutes . Those who dare to cross find themselves in a location they’ve always longed to visit. Explore the narrative of an elderly person who takes the chance to revisit a cherished place from their past, confronting memories and old regrets.
• As the ocean warms, vast coral reefs begin to bleach, revealing a hidden underwater sanctuary untouched by time. This sanctuary is home to species thought to be extinct and holds clues to the ocean’s ancient past. Delve into the story of a marine biologist who discovers the sanctuary and its secrets, sparking a global race to protect it.
• Desert dunes, constantly shifting, suddenly unveil the entrance to a buried kingdom that was lost to time. The architecture and inscriptions suggest a civilization that had knowledge beyond its era. Follow an adventurer and historian duo as they navigate the kingdom’s traps and mysteries, seeking to understand its rise and fall .
• Prolonged acid rain alters a forest, causing the flora and fauna to mutate and evolve rapidly. The forest becomes a living, breathing entity with memories and emotions. Narrate the journey of a botanist who communicates with the forest, learning of its tales, fears , and hopes for the future.
• Rapid snowmelt from a mountain peak reveals a hidden valley, untouched by human civilization. The valley is a paradise, with ecosystems that defy scientific understanding. Craft a tale about a mountaineer who stumbles upon this valley and faces the moral dilemma of revealing its location to the world or keeping its secret.
• A fierce windstorm causes trees in a particular forest to produce a harmonious, whispering sound. Those who listen closely realize the whispers are stories from the past, shared by the spirits of the forest. Write about a grieving individual who seeks solace in the forest and finds unexpected comfort in the tales of the trees.
• A comet, visible once in a millennium, casts a unique shadow on Earth, revealing hidden inscriptions on ancient monuments. These inscriptions form a prophecy that speaks of a coming age. Explore the global reactions and the journey of a scholar determined to understand and prepare for the prophecy’s unfolding.
• A torrential rainstorm uncovers an entrance to a vast underground labyrinth beneath a city. The labyrinth is filled with puzzles and riddles that hint at the city’s forgotten history. Dive into the adventure of a group of teenagers who decide to explore the labyrinth, uncovering truths about their city and themselves.
• A rare solar eclipse has an unexpected effect: it momentarily twists time, allowing people to glimpse moments from their past or future. This phenomenon leaves the world in awe and introspection. Chronicle the story of a person who sees a pivotal moment from their life and decides to change their present based on this vision.

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143 Earthquake Essay Topics & Examples

Need a catchy title for an earthquake essay? Earthquakes can take place almost everywhere. That is why this problem is so exciting to focus on.

🏆 Best Earthquake Topic Ideas & Essay Examples

🎓 good essay topics on earthquake, 📌 catchy titles for earthquake essay, 👍 research titles about earthquake, ❓ essay questions about earthquake.

In your earthquake essay, you might want to compare and contrast various types of this natural disaster. Another option is to talk about your personal experience or discuss the causes and effects of earthquakes. In a more serious assignment like a thesis or a term paper, you can concentrate on earthquake engineering or disaster management issues. In this article, we’ve gathered best research titles about earthquake and added top earthquake essay examples for more inspiration!

• Crisis Management: Nissan Company and the 2011 Earthquake Expand on the points made in the case to identify the potential costs and benefits of these actions. The sharing of information was quite beneficial to Nissan in its response to the disaster.
• Natural Disasters: Tornadoes, Earthquakes, and Hurricanes Hence the loss may depend on the population of the area affected and also the capacity of the population to support or resist the disaster.
• Analysis of Damage to Apartment Buildings in the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake In turn, it is a prerequisite for the cataclysms in nature, such as earthquakes and the effect of liquefaction which was particular to the Marina district in the disaster of 1989.
• The Parkfield Earthquake Prediction Experiment The seismic activity and the relatively regular sequence of the earthquakes in the area of San Paul Fault generated the interest of the geologists in exploring the processes in the rupture.
• Public Awareness of Earthquake This will mean that the basement that is involved in thickening and shortening is mechanically required to produce the shape of zagros belt.
• Disaster Preparedness and Nursing: A Scenario of an Earthquake In a scenario of an earthquake, nursing staff must be aware of the stages of disaster management and disaster preparedness in particular.
• Earthquake in Haiti 2010: Nursing Interventions During natural disasters, such as the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti in 2010, nursing interventions aim to reduce the level of injury and provide the conditions for the fast recovery of its victims.
• Natural Disasters: Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Tsunamis In addition, the paper will outline some of the similarities and differences between tsunamis and floods. Similarities between tsunamis and floods: Both tsunamis and floods are natural disasters that cause destruction of properties and human […]
• Mitigation of Earthquake Hazards The geologists should also inform the architects on the areas where earthquakes are likely to occur and how strong they will be able.
• Natural Disasters: Earthquakes, Floods and Volcanic Eruption This is due to the relationship between an eruption and the geology of the area. It was observed that the mountain swelled and increased in size due to the upward force of magma.
• Earthquakes in Chile and Haiti Moreover, the quake in Haiti raptured at the epicenter of the city with a high population density compared to Chile. Therefore despite a lower magnitude earthquake than Chile, Haiti suffered more damage due to the […]
• School Preparedness Plan for Tornado, Earthquakes, Fire Emergency In case of an earthquake emergency, the school should be prepared to keep the students safe. In case of a tornado emergency the school should be prepared to keep the students safe.
• Earthquakes and Their Devastating Consequences The break in the ground surface is the most common cause of horrific consequences, and people often cannot get out of the epicenter of the incident.
• Natural vs. Moral Evil: Earthquakes vs. Murder This problem demonstrates that such justifications for the problem of evil, such as the fact that suffering exists to improve the moral qualities of a person and thus serve the greater good, are unconvincing.
• Earthquake in South Africa: Reconstruction Process Therefore, it is vital for the government of South Africa to address the issues caused by the earthquake and reconstruct the region, focusing on several public interventions to stimulate the region’s growth in the shortest […]
• Review of Earthquake Emergency Response The second resource is the supply of food and water that can help survivors wait for the rescue team for three days.
• California Earthquakes of the 20th Century Ultimately, the current essay examines the most devastating earthquakes in California in the 20th century and proposes a hypothesis of when the next large earthquake might strike.
• Human Activity and Growing Number of Earthquakes The pieces that support the opposing view claim that the data about their number may be distorted due to the lack of difference in the development mechanism of natural and artificial earthquakes.
• Researching the Earthquake Due to human activity, artificial earthquakes occur, and their number increases every year following the strengthening of destructive human impact on the planet.
• Earthquake Disaster Preparedness in Healthcare Therefore, an earthquake disaster infers abrupt and immense shaking of the ground for a duration and magnitude that can infringe the day-to-day activities. The last role of healthcare personnel in triage and intervention is to […]
• Haiti Earthquake of 2010 Overview The purpose of this paper is to review the location and physical cause of the event, its human impact from it, and some of the interesting facts related to the disaster.
• Wenchuan Earthquake: Impact on China’s Economy The earthquake made a moderate impact on the country’s economy, yet affected several industries located in the devastated areas.
• Earthquake Prevention From Healthcare Perspective In terms of primary prevention of such a disaster, it is necessary to establish a public body or organization responsible for the creation of an extensive network of food, water, and first-aid kits to last […]
• The Japan Earthquake and Tsunami of 2011 Documentary The documentary reflects the events leading to the natural disasters and their aftermath, including an investigation into the reasons for the failure of the precautionary measures in place during the 2011 earthquake in Japan.
• Earthquakes in California The earthquake that is the largest by magnitude is in California. It is possible to minimize the damage by an earthquake.
• Earthquakes and Barriers to Risk Mitigation The victims of the earthquake in Haiti were hundreds of people, while the number of wounded and homeless was in the thousands. As for the latter, the worst scenario of the earthquake is created and […]
• Role of the Nurses in the Site of the Haiti Earthquake The primary aim of the tertiary intervention conducted by the health practitioners was to reduce the effect of the diseases and injuries that occurred because of the Haiti earthquake.
• A Geological Disaster: Nisqually Earthquake in Washington State Geology refers to the study of the processes that lead to the formation of rocks and the processes that contribute to the shape of the earth.
• Theory of Disaster: Earthquakes and Floods as Examples of Disasters The second category is that of those people who put their focus on the effects of the social vulnerability or the disasters to the society or to the people who are likely to be the […]
• The Huaxian Earthquake: China’s Deadliest Disaster The main reason for the terrible earthquakes consequences was in the absence of a plan for the emergency case. After visiting China later in 1556, he wrote that the given disaster was likely to be […]
• The Sumatra Earthquake of 26 December 2004: Indonesia Tsunami As such, the earthquake resulted in the development of a large tsunami off the Sumatran Coast that led to destruction of large cities in Indonesia.
• Earthquakes: Plate Margins and Causes of Earthquakes Therefore, the distance of the fracture will determine the intensity of the vibrations caused by the earthquake and the duration of the effect, that is, shaking the ground.
• Review of Public Meeting Regarded Earthquakes This focused meeting held in Port Au-Prince was to formulate the best strategies to help the people of Haiti anticipate, adapt and also recover from the impacts of earthquakes.
• Rebuilding Haiti: Post-Earthquake Recovery No doubt the tremors have taken a massive toll on the lives and resources of Haiti, but it was not only the tremors that caused the damage to such a massive extent.
• Earthquake in Haiti and Its Ramifications The short-term effects of the earthquake include food shortage, lack of clean water; breakdown of communication, lack of sufficient medical care, closure of ports and main roads, increased mortally, injuries, fires, the spread of communicable […]
• Sichuan Earthquake and Recovering as Community Problem We plan to give these pamphlets to businessmen in China and we have also uploaded these pamphlets on the internet for all the people around the world to see and to support this great cause.
• Natural Hazard: Tsunami Caused by Earthquakes Other areas that are prone to the tsunamis include Midwestern and Eastern United States of America and parts of Eastern of Canada, Indian Ocean and East Africa.
• Volcanoes: Volcanic Chains and Earthquakes The “Ring of Fire” is marked by the volcanic chains of Japan, Kamchatka, South Alaska and the Aleutian Islands, the Cascade Range of the United States and Canada, Central America, the Andes, New Zealand, Tonga, […]
• Earthquakes: Causes and Consequences The first of these are body waves, which travel directly through rock and cause the vertical and horizontal displacement of the surface.
• Emergency Response to Haiti Earthquake The response to the earthquake and calamities that followed was a clear demonstration that the country was ill-prepared to deal with such a disaster.
• Haiti and Nepal Earthquakes and Health Concerns As applied to the environment in these countries, roads were disrupted and, in some parts of the area, people could not be provided with the necessary amounts of food and drinking water.
• Hypothetical New York Earthquake Case Therefore, the following faults would be included in the report as potential causes of the earthquake: the 125th Street fault is the largest of all.
• 1906 San Francisco Earthquake: Eyewitness Story The moon crept in and out of the room, like a late evening silhouette, but its lazy rays did little to signal us what we would expect for the rest of the day.
• Scientists’ Guilt in L’Aquila Earthquake Deaths Additionally, there is another issue related to the development of scientific knowledge, which takes time as it is subjected to a lot of criticism before it is adopted.
• Dangerous and Natural Energy: Earthquakes The distribution of earthquakes in the world varies according to the region. Click on one of the earthquakes on the map and make a note of its magnitude and region.
• Earthquake Emergency Management and Health Services Fundamental principles of healthcare incident management involve the protection of people’s lives, the stabilization of the disaster spot, and the preservation of property.
• Drilling Activities and Earthquakes in Kansas According to the report of the State Corporation Commission of the State of Kansas, the work of local drilling companies has considerably increased the number of seismic activities in the state.
• Earthquake as a Unique Type of Natural Disaster Earthquakes are believed to be one of the most dangerous natural disasters, and they can have a lot of negative effects on both the community and the environment.
• US Charities in Haiti After the 2010 Earthquake This paper aims to explore the overall implications of the earthquake and the response to it, as well as to provide an examination of the actions of three U.S.-based NGOs, which contributed to the restoration […]
• Earthquakes Effect on New Zealand HR Management Similarly, the occurrence of the incident led to the loss of lives that had the potential of promoting most businesses into great heights.
• Earthquake Statistics Understanding Tectonic earthquakes are prompted as a consequent of movement of the earth’s crust because of the strain. The USGS National Earthquake Information Center reports an increase in the number of detection and location of earthquakes […]
• Natural Disasters: Tsunami, Hurricanes and Earthquake The response time upon the prediction of a tsunami is minimal owing to the rapid fall and rise of the sea level.
• Geology Issues: Earthquakes The direction of the plates’ movements and the sizes of the faults are different as well as the sizes of tectonic plates.
• 2008 and 2013 Sichuan Earthquakes in China This was the worst and the most devastating earthquake since “the Tangshan earthquake of 1976 in China”. In addition, impacts differ based on the number of fatalities and damages to property.
• Haiti Earthquake Devastation of 2010 In addition, most of the personnel who were part and parcel of the recovery teams were lost in the disaster making it difficult to reach out for the victims.
• Mitigation for Earthquake and Eruption Since the energy is mainly derived from the sustained stress and deformation of the underlying rocks, the precursor signals of earthquakes especially in seismic zones are majorly based on the careful study of the earth’s […]
• Earthquakes Impact on Human Resource in Organizations The researcher seeks to determine the magnitude of this effect and its general effect on the society in general and the firms affected in specific.
• Earthquakes in New Madrid and Fulton City, Missouri The accumulation of this stress is a clear indication of the slow but constant movement of the earth’s outermost rocky layers.
• Tōhoku Earthquake of 2011 The rate at which the pacific plate undergoes displacement is at eight to nine centimeter per annum, hence the plate subduction of the plate led to a discharge of large amounts of energy leading to […]
• Earthquakes as a Cause of the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Although earthquake is a major cause of the post traumatic stress disorder, there are other factors that determine the development of the same.
• Plate Tectonics, Volcanism, Earthquakes and Rings of Fire Plate tectonics has led to the separation of the sea floor over the years and the earth is composed of seven tectonic plates according to the available geological information.
• The 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake The earthquake was accompanied by a great tsunami given the high magnitude of the earthquake that reached 9. The third disaster was the meltdown of a number of nuclear plants following the tsunami.
• The 1979 Tangshan Earthquake The Tangshan Earthquake happened in 1976 is considered to be one of the large-scale earthquakes of the past century. The 1975 Haicheng Earthquake was the first marker of gradual and continuous intensification of tectonic activity […]
• Earthquakes: Definition, Prevalence of Occurrence, Damage, and Possibility of Prediction An earthquake is a dangerous tremor that is caused by sudden release of energy in the crust of the earth leading to seismic waves that cause movements of the ground thus causing deaths and damages.
• Losing the Ground: Where Do Most Earthquakes Take Place? Since, according to the above-mentioned information, natural earthquakes are most common in the places where the edges of tectonic plates meet, it is reasonable to suggest that earthquakes are most common in the countries that […]
• The Impacts of Japan’s Earthquake, Tsunami on the World Economy The future prospects in regard to the tsunami and the world economy will be presented and application of the lessons learnt during the catastrophe in future” tsunami occurrence” management.
• Geology Issue – Nature of Earthquakes Such an earthquake is caused by a combination of tectonic plate movement and movement of magma in the earth’s crust. Continental drift is the motion of the Earth’s tectonic plates relative to each other.
• The Great San Francisco Earthquake The length however depends on the size of the wave since the larger the wave the larger the area affected and consequently the longer the period of time taken.
• The Impact of the California Earthquake on Real Estate Firms’ Stock Value
• Technology Is The Best Way To Reduce The Impact of An Earthquake
• Study on Earthquake-Prone Buildings Policy in New Zealand
• The Devastating Effects of the Tohuku Earthquake of 2011 in Japan
• The Disasters in Japan in 2011: The Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami
• Why Was the Haiti Earthquake So Deadly
• Taking a Closer Look at Haiti After the Earthquake
• The Aftermath of The Earthquake of Nepal
• The Effects of the Fourth-Largest Earthquake in Japan in Problems Persist at Fukushima, an Article by Laurie Garret
• The Greatest Loss of The United Francisco Earthquake of 1906
• The Impact of Hurricanes, Earthquakes, and Volcanoes on Named Caribbean Territories
• The Destruction Caused by the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake
• Foreshocks and Aftershocks in Earthquake
• The Great San Francisco Earthquake and Firestorm
• Scientific and Philosophic Explanation of The 1755 Lisbon Earthquake
• The Haiti Earthquake: Engineering and Human Perspectives
• Voltaire and Rousseau: A Byproduct of The Lisbon Earthquake
• The Great East Japan Earthquake’s Impact on the Japanese
• Estimating the Direct Economic Damage of the Earthquake in Haiti
• What Should People Do Before, During, and After an Earthquake
• What to Do Before, During, and After an Earthquake
• Valuing the Risk of Imperfect Information: Christchurch Earthquake
• The Impact of the Earthquake on the Output Gap and Prices
• The Devastating Earthquake of The United States
• The Earthquake of The Sumatra Earthquake
• The Crisis of the Fukushima Nuclear Plant After an Earthquake
• The Impact of The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906
• The History and Effects of the Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami in 2004
• The Effects of an Earthquake Ledcs
• The Cascadia Earthquake: A Disaster That Could Happen
• The Economy in the Aftermath of the Earthquake
• The Impact of Earthquake Risk on Housing Market Before and After the Great East Japan Earthquake
• Who Benefit From Cash and Food-for-Work Programs in Post-Earthquake Haiti
• Macro Effects of Massive Earthquake Upon Economic in Japan from 2011 to 2013
• How the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake Shaped Economic Activity in the American West
• The Cause of Earthquakes and the Great San Francisco Earthquake of 1906
• The Effect of the Earthquake in Haiti: Global Issues
• Understanding How Gigantic Earthquake and Resultant Tsunami Are Being Formed
• Why God and The Earthquake of Haiti Happened
• The Effects of the Great East Japan Earthquake on Investors’ Risk and Time Preferences
• The Great East Japan Earthquake and its Short-run Effects on Household Purchasing Behavior
• Internal Displacement and Recovery From a Missouri Earthquake
• Understanding the Causes and Effects of an Earthquake
• Supply Chain Disruptions: Evidence From the Great East Japan Earthquake
• The Earthquake That Shook The World In Pakistan
• What Motivates Volunteer Work in an Earthquake?
• Who Benefits From Cash and Food-For-Work Programs in Post-earthquake Haiti?
• Why Did Haiti Suffer More Than Kobe as a Result of an Earthquake?
• Why Did the Earthquake in Haiti Happen?
• Why Does the Earthquake Happen in Chile?
• Why Was the Haiti Earthquake So Deadly?
• Was the Japan Earthquake Manmade?
• How Did the 1964 Alaska Earthquake Enhance Our Understanding?
• How Does the Theory of Plate Tectonics Help to Explain the World Distribution of Earthquakes and Volcanic Zones?
• How Leaders Controlled Events in the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake?
• How Shaky Was the Regional Economy After the 1995 Kobe Earthquake?
• How Would Society React to Modern Earthquakes, if They Only Believed in Myths?
• How the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake Shaped Economic Activity in the American West?
• How Does the Nepal Earthquake Continue to Re-Shape People’s Lives?
• Are People Insured Against Natural Disasters Such as Earthquakes?
• What Is the Long-Lasting Impact of the 2010 Earthquake in Haiti?
• How Do Japanese Smes Prepare Against Natural Disasters Such as Earthquakes?
• The Kobe Earthquake and Why Did Mrs. Endo Die?
• What Was the Last Earthquake?
• What Is an Earthquake, and Why Does It Happen?
• What Are Three Earthquake Facts?
• What Is an Earthquake in a Simple Way?
• How Do Earthquakes Start?
• What Are the Effects of Earthquakes?
• How Can Earthquakes Be Prevented?
• What Are the Five Leading Causes of the Earthquake?
• Where Is the Safest Place to Be in an Earthquake?
• Can Humans Cause Earthquakes?
• What Are Five Facts about Earthquakes?
• Does a Small Earthquake Mean That a Giant Earthquake Is Coming?
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How to Write an Essay About Earthquakes

Diana v. faustmann.

Earthquakes cover as much ground in essay writing as they do in the real world. You can relate a personal earthquake experience, describe the steps to become a seismologist, narrate the earthquake history of a certain location or compare earthquakes to other natural disasters. Then you can choose to describe your topic, narrate a specific incident, analyze earthquake effects or argue for a better earthquake coping mechanism. These rich options challenge you to narrow your focus and define your purpose upfront. Then use sound research and a simple essay format to convey your informed message about earthquakes clearly and concisely.

Narrow your focus. Choose an area about earthquakes that fascinates or intrigues you and then restrict your focus further within it. For example, go from earthquakes in general to the Haiti earthquake of 2010, and from its effect on the Haitian people to orphans specifically.

Decide on your angle. Perform cursory research on your selected topic and then decide whether you want to narrate, explain, analyze, argue or persuade your readers to take action.

Establish your thesis and identify several sub-topics that exemplify or otherwise support your thesis. Develop a thesis statement that contains both elements. For example, “Seismology is a sound career to consider. You work outdoors most of the time, study the causes and effects of earthquakes in depth, and help to discover ways to limit their damage.”

Outline your introduction, body and conclusion. Focus your research on the data that you need to amplify your sub-topics. For instance, for the sub-topic, “The Richter scale is an inadequate earthquake measurement tool,” in your outline, add three bullets corresponding to case studies that illustrate that claim.

Write your introductory paragraph to compel further reading. First, provide a lead-in that gives earthquakes an interesting or original slant. Then narrow your focus and end with a statement of your thesis. For example, “My family barely escaped calamity in last summer's earthquake. Many of our neighbors were not so lucky; they lost homes and lives. Clearly, our homes still don’t adequately protect us from shifts in the seismic plates beneath us. We need to better earthquake-proof our area with a building code that is stronger in three major areas: (a), (b) and (c).”

Assign one or two paragraphs to address each sub-topic. Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence followed by supporting facts or examples. For example, state that “Governments should discourage new developments over known earthquake faults.” Follow this topic sentence with a description of three communities that earthquakes virtually demolished.

End your essay clearly and confidently. Begin your conclusion with “in summary” or “in brief,” then restate your thesis and sub-topics. Engage your readers with one final, memorable or compelling statement or anecdote. For example, “Compassion can be as earth-shaking as an earthquake, but with the opposite effect. Investigate how you can help to rebuild the lives of Haitian earthquake orphans today.”

• Sometimes your research leads you to a different conclusion than your thesis originally set out to prove. Adjust your thesis statement accordingly.
• Keep your sentences short and coherent. As much as possible, use active verbs throughout.
• Use transitional expressions between sentences and paragraphs; words such as “moreover,” “consequently” and “finally,” help your readers follow your train of thought and move smoothly from one thought to the next.
• Review your essay for spelling and grammar errors and any weaknesses in its flow. If possible, recruit a friend to help you proofread your essay before you submit it.
• 1 Purdue Online Writing Lab: Essay Writing

About the Author

Since 1988, Diana Faustmann has been writing on technology, business and culture. Her articles have appeared in various print publications, corporate websites and authoritative online sites. Faustmann holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of the Philippines.

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Writing About Earthquakes, and Feeling One

By Thomas Fuller

• June 18, 2018

Times Insider delivers behind-the-scenes insights into how news, features and opinion come together at The New York Times.

It was around 7:30 p.m. on a Monday in May and I was sitting in my 12th-floor office in San Francisco, writing an article about how some high-rise buildings are more vulnerable to earthquakes than others. Then the building jolted and rattled like a train lurching out of a station.

It was a mini earthquake, a 3.7 magnitude centered across the San Francisco Bay. And it had uncanny timing, because the article I was writing had already crossed from the professional into the personal.

A list of potentially vulnerable buildings published in the appendix of a report put out in April by the U.S. Geological Survey had a familiar address on it: the San Francisco bureau of The New York Times.

As I was looking up the magnitude of the earthquake on the U.S.G.S. site, my 6-year-old daughter called from our home across the Bay. “Dad! We had an earthquake! We had an earthquake!” she yelled excitedly over the phone. “It was like a giant stepped on the house!”

As a correspondent in Asia, I had covered the Nepal earthquake of 2015 and experienced a number of aftershocks. But this was the first earthquake that I had felt since moving to the San Francisco Bay Area two years ago. It caused no damage, but I was surprised at how strongly even such a seismic blip could jolt a building.

The article I was researching, which was published last week, involved a particular class of buildings constructed before the Northridge earthquake in 1994, when a critical flaw was discovered in the connections between columns and beams. Northridge was a humbling experience for engineers who realized that a welding and connection technique that had been used for three decades made steel-frame buildings more likely to collapse.

A recent study co-authored by Gregory Deierlein, a Stanford University earthquake engineering expert who is a seismic advisor to the city of San Francisco, found that a typical building with the flaw had roughly a 50 percent chance of collapse with ground shaking similar to the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. (The buildings are not thought to be vulnerable to lower intensity earthquakes.)

The probabilities of collapse are calculated by using complex computer models that engineers agree are far from perfect. Engineers often say we won’t know how accurate those models are until the buildings actually go through an earthquake.

But because the flaw affected my own building, I had a greater insight into the question of earthquake probabilities. Seismologists say they cannot predict when, where or how strong the next earthquake will be. But they are certain that California will experience large ones in the future.

The risk for me is distinct from the risk to the building owner, which is also different from the risk to the city of San Francisco. I might be on vacation or at home sleeping when the Big One strikes. The building owner may have sold to another company. But the city — and the state of California, ultimately — has a collective risk that is much greater. This idea of societal risk partly explains the movement among some engineers and seismologists to strengthen the building code, something I detailed in a previous article about earthquake safety.

Earthquakes are a weighty subject, and one of the ways Californians deflect concern about them is through attempts at humor. When small earthquakes strike, there seems no escaping jokes about whose fault it was.

I had spoken to only a handful of my San Francisco bureau colleagues about our building’s seismic vulnerabilities. So on the day before the article was published last week, I sent a note to 20 or so reporters and editors in the bureau to alert them both to the issue and the story about it.

What came back from them was an escalating series of bad puns.

“I’m shaken. I hope it doesn’t fracture our community,” said Sheera Frenkel, who covers cybersecurity.

“What a jolt — I’m sure this story will create quite a stir,” wrote Dai Wakabayashi, who covers Google.

David Streitfeld, another technology correspondent, replied to my email with a note to his editors.

“I’ll be working at home for the next, oh, seven years,” he said.

Keep up with Times Insider stories on Twitter, via the Reader Center: @ReaderCenter .

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18 Earthquake Activity Ideas For Middle School: Challenges, Games, Virtual Field Trip, Worksheets, And Drills

April 8, 2024 //  by  Lauren Du Plessis

Are you ready to shake things up in your middle school classroom? We’ve got an exciting lineup of earthquake activities that will help you do just that! Captivate your students and bring the fascinating world of seismic events to life by creating a dynamic learning environment where students can explore the science, causes, and effects of earthquakes. Let’s get started and discover some innovative ways to engage your middle schoolers in earthquake education!

1. Shake Table Challenge

Get your students to build their own shake tables using everyday materials like cardboard, rubber bands, and marbles. They can experiment with different structures, test their durability during simulated earthquakes, and observe the effects of seismic forces. 

Learn More: YouTube

2. Seismic Pictionary

Combine the excitement of a classic game with earthquake knowledge! Divide your students into teams and give them seismic terms or concepts to draw. The challenge is to guess the earthquake-related word within a limited time. What a fun and engaging way to reinforce earthquake-related vocabulary and understanding! 

Learn More: The Game Gal

3. Simulating Fault Lines

This interactive activity fosters visual learning and helps students grasp the mechanics behind earthquakes. Create fault lines using modeling clay or sand and demonstrate the movement of tectonic plates. Encourage students to explore the different types of plate boundaries and observe how earthquakes occur along these lines. 

4. Engineering Earthquake-Resistant Structures

This activity provides a fantastic opportunity to discuss the importance of resilience and innovation in architecture. Task your students with designing and constructing structures that can withstand simulated earthquakes. Using materials like popsicle sticks, straws, and rubber bands, they’ll need to put their engineering skills to the test. 

Learn More: QUT Education

5. Virtual Field Trip: Exploring Real Earthquakes

Take your students on a virtual journey to seismic hotspots around the world. Utilize online resources that offer interactive maps, videos, and real-time earthquake data. Through this exercise, students can explore earthquake-prone regions, examine case studies, and understand more about the global impact of seismic activity.

6. Earthquake Preparedness Plan

Engage your students in developing earthquake preparation plans for their homes, schools, or communities. Encourage them to research safety measures, evacuation procedures, and essential supplies.

Learn More: Quake Kare

7. Creative Writing: Earthquake Narratives

This activity encourages creative thinking and storytelling skills. Inspire your students’ imagination by assigning them to write fictional stories centered around earthquakes. They can explore different perspectives, such as a survivor, a scientist, or even an earthquake itself! 

Learn More: Write That Scene

8. Shake and Tell: Personal Earthquake Experiences

Invite students to share personal accounts of experiencing earthquakes or learning about seismic events. Encourage open discussions, active listening, and empathy. Engaging in these types of discussions helps students realize the impact of earthquakes on individuals and communities; fostering compassion and understanding.

Learn More: Shake Out

9. Seismograph Construction

Guide students in building simple seismographs using materials like paper cups, strings, and pencils. They’ll get to learn how these instruments measure and record seismic waves. Let them experiment by simulating earthquakes of varying intensities and analyzing the corresponding seismograph recordings.

Learn More: Science Buddies

10. Earthquake Safety Drill

Organize an earthquake safety drill where students can practice the “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” technique. Teach them how to react during an earthquake and the importance of finding safe spaces. This activity reinforces the importance of being prepared and equips students with life-saving skills.

11. Multimedia Presentations

Task your students with creating multimedia presentations to showcase their research on famous earthquakes, seismic zones, or earthquake-related topics. They can use tools like slideshows, videos, or infographics to present their findings. By engaging your learners in this activity, you’re promoting information synthesis and enhancing their digital literacy skills.

Learn More: Slide Share

12. Debating Earthquake Preparedness Strategies

Divide your students into groups and assign them different earthquake preparation strategies or policies. Then, host a debate where they must present arguments supporting their assigned approach. This encourages critical thinking, research skills, and an understanding of various viewpoints.

Learn More: TC Weekly News

13. Earthquake Artifacts Museum

Have your learners curate an earthquake artifacts museum where they can display models, photographs, newspaper clippings, or personal items related to earthquakes. It allows them to explore historical events, cultural perspectives, and the long-term impact of earthquakes on society.

Learn More: Pinterest

14. Earthquake Myth Busters

Promote scientific inquiry and critical analysis skills with a fun investigation. Challenge students to debunk common misconceptions and myths surrounding earthquakes. Provide them with a list of popular beliefs and ask them to investigate and present scientific evidence that supports or refutes each myth. 

Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers

15. Collaborative Earthquake Mapping

In small groups, assign students different regions that are prone to earthquakes. Using maps and recorded data, they’ll need to identify earthquake epicenters, magnitudes, and other relevant information. Then, they can collaborate to create a comprehensive earthquake map; highlighting the global distribution of seismic activity.

Learn More: Middle School Science

16. Guest Speaker: Earthquake Expert

Invite a local seismologist or earthquake expert to speak to your students. They can share their experiences, discuss earthquake science, and answer students’ questions. This provides an opportunity for real-world connections and gives your learners insights into earthquake research and monitoring.

Learn More: U Oregon

17. Earthquake Poetry Slam

Tap into students’ creative side by organizing an earthquake-themed poetry slam. Encourage them to express their thoughts, emotions, and understanding of earthquakes through poetry. This promotes self-expression, language skills, and appreciation for artistic expression.

Learn More: Hello Poetry

18. Virtual Reality Experience

Take advantage of virtual reality (VR) technology and immerse students in a virtual earthquake experience. Utilize VR headsets or online simulations that recreate earthquake scenarios. Students can then witness the impact of seismic events firsthand; enhancing their understanding and empathy.

Earthquake Essay for Students and Children

500+ Words Essay on Earthquake

Simply speaking, Earthquake means the shaking of the Earth’s surface. It is a sudden trembling of the surface of the Earth. Earthquakes certainly are a terrible natural disaster. Furthermore, Earthquakes can cause huge damage to life and property. Some Earthquakes are weak in nature and probably go unnoticed. In contrast, some Earthquakes are major and violent. The major Earthquakes are almost always devastating in nature. Most noteworthy, the occurrence of an Earthquake is quite unpredictable. This is what makes them so dangerous.

Types of Earthquake

Tectonic Earthquake: The Earth’s crust comprises of the slab of rocks of uneven shapes. These slab of rocks are tectonic plates. Furthermore, there is energy stored here. This energy causes tectonic plates to push away from each other or towards each other. As time passes, the energy and movement build up pressure between two plates.

Therefore, this enormous pressure causes the fault line to form. Also, the center point of this disturbance is the focus of the Earthquake. Consequently, waves of energy travel from focus to the surface. This results in shaking of the surface.

Volcanic Earthquake: This Earthquake is related to volcanic activity. Above all, the magnitude of such Earthquakes is weak. These Earthquakes are of two types. The first type is Volcano-tectonic earthquake. Here tremors occur due to injection or withdrawal of Magma. In contrast, the second type is Long-period earthquake. Here Earthquake occurs due to the pressure changes among the Earth’s layers.

Collapse Earthquake: These Earthquakes occur in the caverns and mines. Furthermore, these Earthquakes are of weak magnitude. Undergrounds blasts are probably the cause of collapsing of mines. Above all, this collapsing of mines causes seismic waves. Consequently, these seismic waves cause an Earthquake.

Explosive Earthquake: These Earthquakes almost always occur due to the testing of nuclear weapons. When a nuclear weapon detonates, a big blast occurs. This results in the release of a huge amount of energy. This probably results in Earthquakes.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Effects of Earthquakes

First of all, the shaking of the ground is the most notable effect of the Earthquake. Furthermore, ground rupture also occurs along with shaking. This results in severe damage to infrastructure facilities. The severity of the Earthquake depends upon the magnitude and distance from the epicenter. Also, the local geographical conditions play a role in determining the severity. Ground rupture refers to the visible breaking of the Earth’s surface.

Another significant effect of Earthquake is landslides. Landslides occur due to slope instability. This slope instability happens because of Earthquake.

Earthquakes can cause soil liquefaction. This happens when water-saturated granular material loses its strength. Therefore, it transforms from solid to a liquid. Consequently, rigid structures sink into the liquefied deposits.

Earthquakes can result in fires. This happens because Earthquake damages the electric power and gas lines. Above all, it becomes extremely difficult to stop a fire once it begins.

Earthquakes can also create the infamous Tsunamis. Tsunamis are long-wavelength sea waves. These sea waves are caused by the sudden or abrupt movement of large volumes of water. This is because of an Earthquake in the ocean. Above all, Tsunamis can travel at a speed of 600-800 kilometers per hour. These tsunamis can cause massive destruction when they hit the sea coast.

In conclusion, an Earthquake is a great and terrifying phenomenon of Earth. It shows the frailty of humans against nature. It is a tremendous occurrence that certainly shocks everyone. Above all, Earthquake lasts only for a few seconds but can cause unimaginable damage.

FAQs on Earthquake

Q1 Why does an explosive Earthquake occurs?

A1 An explosive Earthquake occurs due to the testing of nuclear weapons.

Q2 Why do landslides occur because of Earthquake?

A2 Landslides happen due to slope instability. Most noteworthy, this slope instability is caused by an Earthquake.

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Creative Writing- The Tsunami

                                Creative Writing- The Tsunami                                

The tides came crashing through, eliminating everything that came in their way. We were like little ants scurrying around looking for our home, a shelter, anything that would protect us from the savage tide that wanted to wipe us off of the face of the earth. It was too late for the people on the beach; they had already been taken prisoner, drowned forever in their tears of sorrow and fear.

It didn’t feel like it would be much longer before I was shackled and chained up as well. I felt like I had been running for hours, I wouldn’t have been able to keep it up for much longer. The tide just kept coming and there was nothing powerful enough to stop it. What about God? What about The Almighty One that I had been praying to for all these years? This would’ve been a great time for Him to make an entrance. I began to feel the water around my ankles. They were trying to clasp me… trying to imprison me for eternity. It felt like it was over for me, time to give up and hand myself in… but for what? I mean I hadn’t done anything wrong and I’ve still got my whole life ahead of me. I wasn’t about to give in just yet, and luckily God just made His entrance. I could hear the tide slowing down behind me, but it wasn’t over yet though. I could see a rising shadow going on for at least two hundred yards ahead of me, I turned around with apprehension and looked it in the eye. It looked back snarling, the blue, translucent wave crashed on top of me.

I woke up squinting; the light was penetrating my eye. I stood up and found myself naked in the middle of the Sri Lankan jungle. Was it Sri Lanka? Or was it heaven? Last thing I remember was me knocked out after something hit me. Was it a fist? Was it a bus? I hadn’t a clue. I guess this must be heaven. Wow, I would never have thought I’d die at the age of sixteen. Well at least I don’t have to go to school tomorrow!

I searched around the Garden of Eden; there was no shortage of sweet coconuts or juicy mangos, but where was everyone else? Could this be hell and not heaven? I mean hell doesn’t necessarily have to be a fiery cave where there’s a guy in a red cape prodding you with his trident. I heard about this sort of thing, my mum told me. She said hell is your worst nightmare, you may not even know what it is, but it is your worst nightmare. My heart began to beat faster, what if this is hell? What if I’m never going to see my parent’s again? I began to run. I don’t know where I was running to, but I just had to get out of this place. ‘Garden of Eden’! What was I thinking?

It began to get dark and I was still naked without a single cloth to cover my shame. I was cold and frightened so I used the large palm leaves to keep myself warm over the night.

I woke up, still distraught. ‘He’s over here! I found him! He’s over here!’ announced a dirty, scruffy man strapped with an AK-47. Confused and afraid I began to back off as he tried to come nearer. I drew further away as he drew nearer. Another man came up behind me and another two had me from the sides… I was surrounded.

This is a preview of the whole essay

They began to snarl and snigger, telling me I had nowhere to hide. One of them drew nearer not knowing that I was aware of him, he tried to pounce and that’s when I made a break for it. He came up from behind and tried to grab me into a headlock, I spun around leaving him head first in the dirt and just ran. The others, after tending to their partner, began to chase me. They had no chance of catching me. I was young, fit and scared out of my wits…I ran for my life.

Once establishing they had no chance of catching me they began to shoot. Four or five whizzed passed my shoulder until one hit me in the leg. It pierced my left leg ripped through my muscle and came out through the front. I hit the ground pretty hard and banged my head against a blunt rock that was ‘conveniently’ right where my head was.

I was knocked out again and woke up in a cell, this time I was dressed. One of the guys from earlier was rattling the cell bars to wake everyone up. Someone opened my cell door and began to walk towards me, I was still frightened and huddled myself in a corner. He violently grabbed me by my hair and threw me out of the cell. There were other prisoners there, some that I’m positive I recognised from before I got knocked out and ended up in the jungle. What on earth was going on? Was this really hell?

The guard who dragged me by the hair asked me what was wrong with me. I had a million things wrong with me, I didn’t know where to begin. Instead I just kept quiet and unwillingly got into the line.

 We marched to the showers outside. For some reason I was hesitant to get into the showers, I just felt like there was a danger or something when it came to water. The guards arrived soon and I was forced to take a shower. I wasn’t about to try and find out what would happen if I didn’t. After the shower, we were taken to some sort of boot camp. There was an assault course, rifle shooting, everything, as though we were some kind of trainee army. There were no women here it was just men. The ages ranged from about twelve to forty. We were being treated like dogs, we had to complete the assault course fifteen times within a time limit, or otherwise they would shoot us in the foot. I didn’t know what was going on, but I decided that I was just going to do as I was told.

I saw one of the younger kid’s he was about thirteen years old with short hair, he was struggling a lot with the course and began to lose his breath. He fell at the second to last hurdle and everyone began to over take him. I looked over to the guards… they noticed him. One of the guards came rushing over, swearing at the boy and lifted the boy by his ear. The boy began to whimper as the guard threw countless slaps across the boy’s face. The guard took the boy into the jungle… every one stopped when they began to hear the boy wailing and crying out for help. The boy came out whimpering, holding on to his falling trousers as he ran in to the toilets. The guard came out a few seconds after with a satisfied smirk on his face, tucking his shirt in to his trousers. Everyone glared at the guard with the most piercing of looks. The guard, tense and somewhat frightened, shot his rifle in the air and yelled at everyone to get back to what they were doing.

I was first to finish the assault course and I asked if I could go to the toilet. The guard said ‘be quick’. When I got to the toilet I heard whimpering, it was the young boy. I found him curled up inside one of the cubicles. He told me to go away when I asked him what happened in the jungle.

“I’m only here to help, I won’t tell anyone… what happened?”

“As if you don’t know”

He replied in a shuddering voice. I asked him his name, he replied ‘Bhavan’. I asked Bhavan how he got here. He gave me a weird look and replied ‘You know very well how I got here you bastard, leave me alone!’ I didn’t know what I had done to make him so angry with me.

“Look here’s the deal, I woke up yesterday in the middle of that jungle, and some men chased me then shot me. I woke up this morning in the cell without a clue where I am, what I’m doing here, who these people are, or how I’m going to get out of here! Now can you help me with any of these question’s or not?”

“You’re that boy aren’t you?”

“What?”

“You’re that boy, the one that survived the tsunami”

“What tsu-…”

That’s when it hit me I began to remember everything. I was out with my family; my mum, my dad and my little sister. We were on our way to the beach, but mum forgot the sun tan lotion and

I had to go back home and get it. When I got home I went upstairs to check in mum and dad’s bedroom. I couldn’t find it so I came back downstairs and saw it in the living room on the coffee table. I went to retrieve it… when I heard screams, very loud screams.

I rushed out side to see what it was. I saw an army of people, including my parents and my little sister, running towards me screaming and yelling for help. Still I was unsure what they were running away from and suddenly out of nowhere a gargantuan tidal wave washed them clean away. Shocked and unbelieving I stood there for at least another minute rubbing my eyes in disbelief. I saw another wave heading my way. I ran and I ran but the wave got me too. But…I didn’t die. Someone…those guards they rescued me. They took my body before the water back flowed in to the ocean. Once I’d regained consciousness…. that guard… the one that took Bhavan into the jungle, I remember him whispering some thing in my ear as I woke up. He told me he’d be gentle. He said to be quiet. He said this was our little secret. I looked around and we were…we were naked? Confused and frightened I stood up shocked. He asked me to calm down and when I refused, we got into a bit of a fight, and then he injected me with something; a sleepy drug that knocks you out and erases your memory or something. Before the drug got to its full effect I managed to break free of his grasp and made a run for it to the jungle. Then those guards shot at me and I woke up here.

 When I told Bhavan all of this his face looked as though it had just seen a ghost. Bhavan told me that these ‘soldiers’ were the ‘Tamil Tigers’ a rebel gang that wanted to overtake the Sri Lankan government. They were recruiting young orphans and those who have nothing to lose to fight for them. The guard that raped Bhavan and I was General Gander, he ran this place. He was behind so many attacks on civilians in Sri Lanka. As Bhavan told me all this I became shocked and enraged, I was absolutely fuming, I needed to do something, I had to get back at General Gander for what he’d done.

That night I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t stop thinking about my family…well at least they were together. I started to reminisce all the good times I used to have with my family. All of the joyous moments we shared together, like that time when we went to India and that monkey was following us everywhere, he stole Suzie’s lunch.

I couldn’t take it any more! What was the use in me living!? I don’t believe in a single thing that these ‘rebels’ were fighting for. And that General Gander… I wanted to murder him!

The next morning I awoke sharp and alert, the perfect soldier, only spoke when spoken to, best at the rifle shooting, didn’t make eye contact with anyone… Then he arrived.

 That sadistic monster crawled out of his hole and came out to inspect the rifle shooting. Bhavan was shooting about ten yards away and there were four people between us. Bhavan began to shake and shiver, he couldn’t even hold his rifle upright when Gander arrived. Bhavan was next to be inspected and he started to whimper again. Gander waltzed up behind with a smirk. He grasped a hold of Bhavan’s buttocks and whispered something in his ear. Bhavan began to shiver and shake so much that his knees turned to jelly and he couldn’t even stand up. The poor boy wet his pants and was standing in a puddle of his own urine. A few of the guards and some of the other younger prisoners began to laugh at him. Gander didn’t have a clue what was going to happen when he got to me.

He was done with the guy beside me then he came over to me. This was it, this was my chance to kill him and no way was I about to hesitate. Gander didn’t recognise me I kept my face forward and he stood behind me. He wrote a few things on his clipboard then moved on.

I grabbed Gander from behind. I locked my right arm around his neck and held my rifle to his head. All the guards raised their AK-47’s and aimed them straight at me. They kept shouting at me to put the gun down. Why couldn’t I pull the trigger? I’d been planning this all day and night.          

   I failed… I couldn’t pull the trigger… I don’t know what happened. The need I had for Gander’s blood was lost and as I loosened my grip around Gander’s neck he was able to escape and shouted;

“Cuff up this Bastard!”

The soldiers beat me to my knees in front of everyone. They held me still and pulled my head back from my hair as Gander reached for his pistol.

“Let this be a lesson to all of you, if you think you can take me this is what happens!”         

As he was cocking his pistol he aimed it directly at my throat. It was the end for me, I had my chance and I blew it. Everyone stood anxious and nervous to see if he was really going to shoot.

“BANG!”

I opened my eyes and I was still there. I had no wounds, no blood was pouring out of the back of my head. I was still alive. Gander collapsed to the ground a clean bullet hole went straight through his head. Behind him stood Bhavan still shivering and whimpering this time his hands clasped a smoking rifle that was aimed directly at Gander’s head.

The guards didn’t know what to do. They were shocked, still holding my hair. I stood up and pushed them aside. All the prisoners, armed with rifles. We stood side by side facing the weak and vulnerable guards. One of the guards reached for his weapon, and then we just started firing. We shot and shot at them until the end of our magazines.

We were free, no more Gander, no more guards. The prisoners began to dance and hoololate.

“We are free!”  

One man shouted. I still didn’t feel free… I thought the death of Gander would bring me joy and happiness. I ran to the jungle. Once I got there I just started to run and run some more, in no particular direction, just until the day comes that I may join my parents and my little sister.  

Document Details

• Word Count 2700
• Page Count 4
• Subject English

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KS2 Narratives/Creative Writing Resource Pack: Earthquake/Volcano and Chiller/Suspense

Subject: English

Age range: 7-11

Resource type: Worksheet/Activity

Last updated

8 January 2024

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Buy this pack of narratives and structure guidance sheets to utilise as examples to use in creative writing/descriptive writing sessions.

Primarily used for Year 6 Literacy Groups. Could be suitable for lower KS2 Year Groups. Originally used when working with small groups of Year 6 pupils who were tasked with writing their own short narratives as part of their literacy descriptive writing exercises.

Earthquake/Volcanoes Collection

• Short narrative example for an Earthquake – modelling some of the descriptive language and grammatical features/structure that pupils could use in their own stories.

• Word bank/sentence starters/content idea cards for earthquake and volcano descriptive writing/narratives

Chiller/Suspense Collection

• Two short chiller stories (one of which is annotated with a structure summary

• Chiller/Suspense Key Features Sheet

• Chiller word and phrases Idea cards

• The 5 senses – descriptive writing guidance

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