1SYLLABUS: GEOLOGY 120 (Section 01) – Planet Earth Spring 2009 Credits: 3.0 Section : 01 CRN : 138 Lecture meets Tuesday and Thursday, 10:00-11:50 a.m., SCI1 Lab meets: Tuesday, 2:00-3:50 p.m., SCI1 202 Prerequisites: None. Satisfies LA, CPA, and General Education 2000 attribute NL2. Instructor Les HasbargenOffice: 219 Science 1 Ph.: 607-436-2741Email: [email protected] Office hours: MW 10:00-11:00 a.m.; Tues 11:00-11:55 a.m. Instructor’s web site: http://employees.oneonta.edu/hasbarle/index.html Text (Required):Essentials of Geology, Stephen Marshak, 2nd Edition, W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. ISBN: 978-0-393-18307-8. The textbook is packaged with Geotours Workbook. I will allow students to purchase the ebook online at www.NortonEbooks.com for a substantial discount. Here’s the publisher’s web site with helpful quizzes, etc.: http://www.wwnorton.com/college/geo/egeo/ . Course Description This course provides an introduction to earth materials, structures, and processes and the basic geological principles used to interpret the evolution of the earth through time. Laboratory exercises promote skills in 1) mineral and rock identification; 2) topographic map comprehension and interpretation; and 3) interpretation of geological materials, structures, and processes from maps, digital datasets and direct observations. SUNY Learning Outcome “Students will demonstrate understanding of the methods scientists use to explore natural phenomena including observation, hypothesis development, measurement and data collection, experimentation, evaluation of evidence, and employment of mathematical analysis. Students will demonstrate application of scientific data, concepts, and models in one of the natural sciences.” Course Goals/Objectives The primary goal of the course is to provide students with an awareness and basic understanding of Earth’s geological systems and how these systems interact with human activities. More specific objectives include the development of basic skills in map reading, identification of rocks and minerals, and an understanding of the process of scientific inquiry. Course Overview Welcome to Planet Earth! This is an overview course that serves as an introduction to the solid Earth’s structure and chemical make-up; processes that operate within the Earth and on Earth’s surface; and the rocks that give us the story of such interactions. You2will learn about minerals; about weathering, transport, and deposition of sediments; about melting, recrystallization and flow of rocks; about huge forces that fold and rupture continents; about surprises on the sea floor that gave scientists the clues to understand Earth’s crustal dynamics; and about the vigorous interactions between rocks, atmosphere, climate and water at Earth’s surface. These processes operate over long, long, unthinkably long, time scales, though often we can see the processes operate in real time, such as a volcanic eruption or an earthquake. So you will be introduced to aspects of geologic time, how we measure it, and how the rocks reveal the unfolding of Earth history. Bring your curiosity, bring your questions, and come prepared to learn! Course Expectations and Guidelines I expect you to know and follow the Student Responsibilities established by SUNY Oneonta. I excerpt key aspects of these responsibilities below: “In class responsibilities Students will: • Attend all classes and arrive punctually. • If unavoidably late for a class, enter quietly and unobtrusively, and behave in other required ways to minimize distraction. • Remain alert and attentive during lectures, discussions, and other class/lab activities. • Avoid unnecessary conversation during lectures, discussions, and other class/lab activities. • Contribute to class experiences by asking relevant questions, offering relevant examples or views, adequately answering questions posed by others, engaging in critical and independent thought, and challenging both the instructor and the curriculum materials assigned for the course. • Demonstrate courtesy and respect in dealing with instructors and classmates. • Recognize and seek to understand diverse points-of-view. Out-of-class responsibilities Students will: • Place academic obligations at the top of the list of college-related priorities. • Plan to spend 2 to 3 hours out-of-class time in academic study for every one hour of class attendance. • Thoroughly plan and prepare for classes. • Notify the instructor in advance, if possible, or in a timely fashion, if unable to attend a class or lab, take a scheduled exam or quiz, submit a scheduled assignment, or remain in the classroom for the entire class meeting because of unavoidable circumstances.” You are expected to read each chapter before we cover it in class. This will allow you to formulate questions concerning material that is not clear, or that you would like to have covered in greater detail. I use lectures to focus on the most important aspects of the topic. I strongly encourage you to ask questions during lecture. There are no ‘dumb’ or ‘stupid’ questions. Often the questions you have are shared by others. You should view lectures as the time and place for discussion, and I welcome your thoughts and questions! Any reasonable accommodation will be provided for students with physical, sensory, learning, or psychiatric disabilities. Please contact me for assistance as early as possible.3If English is not your primary language and you would like to have additional time in which to take the exams, let me know. Anyone who needs additional time for the exams will be extended the same courtesy. This course uses an online course management system, Angel, to transmit information such as the syllabus, lecture schedule, and lecture notes; administer quizzes; post grades on quizzes and exams; and provide links to online information. You will need a university email ID and password to access course information on Angel. You can find a link to Angel on SUNY Oneonta’s main web page (from the pull down menu). Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated and those engaging in it will be prosecuted. See the Academic Honesty & Dishonesty pamphlet published by the Dean of Students Office for further information. Finally, turn off cell phones before coming to class! A ringing (or singing!) phone is almost impossible for others to ignore. Especially the lecturer, who may wander