This document provides an overview of volcanism, including definitions of key terms like volcano and volcanic eruption. It describes the three main types of volcanoes as composite volcanoes, cinder cone volcanoes, and shield volcanoes. The document also discusses the origin and structure of volcanoes, explaining that magma and gases cause eruptions. It outlines the three categories of volcanoes based on eruption frequency and gives examples. Areas of common volcanism are identified as subducting plate boundaries and mid-ocean ridges.