How the Earth Works
Section 2, 9:00 AM
Fall, 2009
DOWNLOAD A PDF VERSION OF THE SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Robert L. Eves
Science Building 310B
586-1934
EMAIL: eves@suu.edu
Office Hours: Monday through Friday at 8:00 to 9:00 AM, or by appointment
TEXT: ESSENTIALS OF GEOLOGY with CD, LUTGENS, 10th Edition, Prentice Hall, ISBN 0-13-600376-1
THE LEGAL STUFF
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent.
Department of Physical Science Policy:
"Academic Dishonesty includes but is not limited to cheating, fabrication, plagiarism or facilitating dishonesty. Except for cases of major offenses, responding to academic dishonesty is the responsibility of the instructor of the course in which the dishonesty occurs. If a student is guilty of academic dishonesty, the consequences may range from admonition or formal reprimand to dismissal from the class and may include a failing grade for the assignment, exam or course. Other penalties for severe infractions will be dealt with, based on Southern Utah University*s Policies and Procedures - 11.2. Student's rights and responsibilities are also detailed in the student handbook."
ADA Statement
“Students with medical, psychological, learning or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact Southern Utah University's Coordinator of Services for Student with Disabilities (SSD), Room 206F in the Sharwan Smith Center or phone (435) 865-8022. SSD determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of these services."
GEO 1090 How the Earth Works
“A general education course for non-science majors. This course provides a study of the origin of earth materials and their interactions with the processes that function within the earth and at its surface. Three lecture per week. Co-requisite: GEOL 1095.”
COURSE OBJECTIVES
This course is designed to teach an appreciation for how the earth system works, as a way of thinking and body of knowledge, and for the scientific endeavor, as a means of understanding our physical world. As a result, we will only attempt a limited amount of geological content and try to gain a general understanding of why scientists approach problem solving and explanations of physical phenomena in a particular manner.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
• Attendance and appropriate class participation. As a result of your registration for this class, it is assumed that you will attend class each time (we meet on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) and complete the exams on the day that they are scheduled. The only excused absences are those for University activities (athletics, academic programs/field trips, etc.).
• Completion of assigned reading prior to the scheduled lectures and discussions in class (see attached Course Calendar).
• Respect for, and consideration of, other students and the professor. Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. Please restrict discussions with your peers to the times they are assigned by the instructor and before and after classes.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
"How the Earth Works" is a general education course that teaches principles of geology, other physical sciences, and an appreciation for the interaction of earth systems. The general objectives of this course, and every course offered within the College of Science at SUU, are:
This course has the following specific objectives:
GRADING:
Exams
All exams will be taken on the day they are scheduled. There will be NO LATE EXAMS. It is the student's responsibility to speak directly to the professor at least one week prior to scheduled exams to attempt to make arrangements for early exams. It will be the professor's decision when to allow exams to be taken at a time other than the scheduled exam times.
There will be four midterm exams, consisting of an in-class multiple choice, true false, and matching portion. The questions will cover material from the reading and from class discussions. Each exam is worth 100 points. Each exam will emphasize the material covered since the previous exam, but may contain review material. Department policy prohibits students from retaining a copy of course exams after they have been taken, so your actual exams will not be returned to you. You may view the exam in the presence of the instructor during his regular office hours. The dates of the midterm exams are as follows:
EXAM I Monday, September 21st
EXAM II Friday, October 16th Exam II Study Guide
EXAM III Friday, November 13th Exam III Study Guide
EXAM IV Wednesday, December 2nd
The final examination will be worth 200 points and is scheduled for Thursday, December 10th from 9:00 AM to 10:50 PM. It will be comprehensive. Your best aid for preparing for the final examination will be the mid-term examinations and the study guides provided for each of them.
Reading/Writing and Discussion Assignments
Three times during the semester, we will read a short article, write about it, and discuss it in small groups in class. The written discussion of the article will consist of three parts: 1. statement of the author's message, 2. integration and application of the material, and 3. evaluation of the reading assignment. Of course excellent grammar and complete sentences will be used. Students will bring their typewritten article discussion to class, leaving space in each of the three areas of the evaluation for written comments. During small group discussions of the article, they will add additional thoughts and comments to each of the areas of the evaluation. These typewritten and hand annotated article summaries will be submitted for grading at the end of the discussion period. Students who do not participate in the class discussion may receive a maximum of 66% of the possible points for the assignment.
Sex, Drugs, Disasters and the Extinction of Dinosaurs
Instructions for Reading/Writing and Discussion
Students are required to participate in a "pet rock" project that starts early and continues through the majority of the semester. Students must choose their "pets" during the first week of classes. A detailed explanation of the exercise along with its specific timeline is available on the course website. Students will need to track due dates for the project in order to avoid late assignments. Students who submit pet rock progress reports within one week of their due date may receive a maximum of 66% of the possible points for the assignment. Reports that are more than one week late will NOT be accepted for credit.
Grading Rubric for Pet Rock #1
Sample Pet Rock #2
Sample Pet Rock #3
Grading Rubric for Pet Rock #3
Sample Pet Rock #4
Grading Rubric for Pet Rock #4
Sample Pet Rock #5
Grading Rubric for Pet Rock #5
Participation and Attendance
Students are expected to attend classes and participate appropriately. Those who miss numerous classes and assignments will not only loose points for the assignments but loose participation points.
Out of Class Assignment #3 (instead of class attendance on 11/11/09)
Out of Class Assignment #4 (instead of class attendance on 11/16 and 11/18/09)
GRADING SUMMARY:
MIDTERM EXAMS 400 POINTS
READING/DISCUSSION/WRITING 150 POINTS
PET ROCK PROJECT 150 POINTS
PARTICIPATION/ATTENDANCE 100 POINTS
FINAL EXAM 200 POINTS
TOTAL 1000 POINTS
Final grades will be calculated by comparing achieved points to the following grading scale.
89–87% A– |
66–64% D+ |
86–84% B+ |
63–60% D |
83–80% B |
59%–57% D– |
79–77% B– |
Below 56% F |
76–74% C+ |
Extra Credit
Students occasionally find themselves faced with the inevitability of a poor grade at some point in the semester. When this happens they usually inquire about the possibility of extra credit. It is the officially policy of this class that there will be NO EXTRA CREDIT. Any attempt to give additional grading opportunities to certain individuals is unfair to the rest of the class, and rewards those who have not been successful in doing what is required of everyone else.
READING ASSIGNMENTS
SUGGESTIONS FOR SUCCESS IN THIS COURSE (AND IN HIGHER EDUCATION)
• Attend class. Some material that you are accountable for can only be obtained in the lecture. Lectures will add clarity and examples to the concepts being discussed. Participation in classroom discussions is an important opportunity for increasing your involvement in the education process. Besides, 10% of your grade depends on attendance and appropriate participation.
• Take responsibility for your own success. You are accountable for the assigned reading and anything that is discussed during lecture. If you choose not to attend a class session, take responsibility for getting the information from one of your peers. Students who ask, "Will we be doing anything important in class today", or "Can I do something for extra credit" don't seem to grasp the purpose of higher education. Part of what you are paying for is the opportunity to learn responsibility for your own success (or lack of success). Don't cheat yourself.
• Understand that differences in background equal differences in ability to grasp scientific concepts. If you have a weak background in science, you will need to work harder to fill in the gaps. We don't all learn at the same rate. If it takes you more time do whatever is necessary to be successful.
• Focus on the major concepts. Why are they important? Take time to think about the reading and classroom discussions often, not just the night before an exam. Spread your study out so that you are spending time with the material on a daily basis. Don't try to cram the material the night before an exam.
• Work for academic independence. Out-of-class writing assignments are to be completed by individuals NOT committees. It is all right to discuss ideas with study groups or peers, but you need to be responsible for your own work and understanding of the material in the curriculum. There is a fine line between collaborative learning and cheating. Try not to cross it.
Information contained in this syllabus other than grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.