Department
of Earth Science
Northeastern
Illinois University
This is a prior year's syllabus -- Current students should log onto Blackboard
Physical Geology
ESCI 211
Fall 2002
Department
of Earth ScienceNortheastern
Illinois University
| Course Description: Detailed study of the materials comprising the earth’s crust and interior and the forces acting to change its surface; the origin of continents and ocean basins in light of recent geologic research. [From NEIU catalog] |
Instructor Contact
Information
Objectives of the Course Outline
of Topics Course
Requirements Evaluation
and Grading
NEIU BlackBoard Site
REVIEW
FOR QUIZ 1
REVIEW
FOR QUIZ 2
Review
for Midterm
REVIEW
FOR QUIZ 3
LINK
TO HAWAII PHOTOS
LINK
TO CRATER PHOTOS
Instructor: Dr.
Karen S. Bartels Office:
S-142
Telephone: 773/442-6052 Fax:
773/442-5710
E-Mail: K-Bartels@neiu.edu Webpage:
www.neiu.edu/~deptesci/bartels.htm
Office Hours: Monday 2-4 p.m. and 7-8 p.m, Wednesday 1-3 p.m.
Required texts:
Understanding Earth, Third Edition, Frank Press and Raymond Siever,
2001 (W.H. Freeman).
Laboratory Manual in Physical Geology, Sixth Edition, R. M. Busch (ed),
2003 (Prentice Hall).
Texts will be supplemented with handouts from other sources throughout
the semester.
By the end of this course you should be able to do the following:
· Describe the origin and formation of the earth in relation
to the origin of the universe and the solar system.
· Explain the basic structure of the earth and the nature of
solid earth materials.
· Identify common rocks and rock-forming minerals.
· Describe the physical processes that operate to reshape our
dynamic planet.
· Read and interpret geologic and topographic maps and aerial
photographs.
· Understand the concept of geologic time and be familiar with
the geologic time scale.
· Understand the causes of geologic hazards such as earthquakes,
volcanic eruptions, landslides and floods, and how the effects of these
hazards can be mitigated.
· Understand the formation and extent of geologic resources
such as soil, groundwater, mineral ores, fossil fuels and other energy
sources, and how to make wise decisions about resource use.
· Critically evaluate news stories that relate to geologic
events
or phenomena, and be able to communicate your understanding of geologic
issues to others in your community.
These objectives integrate knowledge of geology with real world applications and ways of thinking about our natural environment. All of us should be able to make informed decisions about our behavior as individuals (should I buy that house located on a floodplain?) as well as public policy matters (should I support drilling for oil in the Alaskan Wilderness?). What we learn in this class should help us toward that goal. In addition, this course provides a good foundation for further study in the earth sciences.
Outline of Topics (subject to revision)
*revised 29 September
| AUG 26 Introduction to the course. Origin and composition of the earth. Read Understanding Earth (UE) Ch. 1. | AUG 28 Making geologic measurements and
observations. Lab 1 (A, B) |
| SEP 2 Labor Day Holiday | SEP 4 Geology’s grand theory: Plate Tectonics. Lab 2 (A, B, D) |
| SEP 9 Earth materials: minerals. Lab 3 (A, B, C). Read UE Ch. 2. | SEP 11 Minerals, continued. |
| SEP 16 Earth materials: rocks. Lab 4. Read UE Ch. 3. QUIZ 1 | SEP 18 Rocks, continued. |
| SEP 23 Origin of magma; igneous rocks. Lab 2 (part C). Read UE Ch. 4. | SEP 25 Origin of magma; igneous rocks, continued. Lab 5. |
| SEP 30 Volcanoes and volcanic hazards. Read UE Ch. 5. Lab 5 Homework due. | OCT 2 Erosional processes. Lab 6. Read UE Ch. 6. QUIZ 2 |
| OCT 7 Sedimentary rocks. Read UE Ch. 7. | OCT 9 Metamorphic rocks. Lab 7. Read UE Ch. 8. |
| OCT 14 Evidence of past geologic events recorded rocks. Lab 8. Read UE Ch. 9. | OCT 16 Geologic time. |
| OCT 21 Reading topographic maps. Lab 9. | OCT 23 Reading geologic maps. Folds and Faults. Lab 10. Read UE Ch. 10. |
| OCT 28 Midterm Exam | OCT 30 Class time for semester projects. |
| NOV 4 Groundwater resources. Lab 12. Read UE Ch. 12. | NOV 6 Groundwater, continued. |
| NOV 11 Streams and flooding. Lab 11. Read UE Ch. 13. | NOV 13 Flood hazards, continued. Landslide hazards. Read UE Ch. 11. |
| NOV 18 Coastal processes. Lab 15. Read UE Ch. 17. | NOV 20 Coasts, continued. |
| NOV 25 Earthquakes and earthquake hazards. Lab 16. Read UE Ch. 18-19. | NOV 27 Earthquakes and earth’s interior. |
| DEC 2 Glaciers & deserts and climate change. Lab 13. Read UE Ch. 14-15. | DEC 4 Climate, continued. Lab 14. Read UE Ch. 16. |
| DEC 9 Poster session for projects. Review. | DEC 11 FINAL EXAM 12:00-1:50 p.m. |
· Attendance: Regular attendance is expected. This is a lab class, and your learning will be centered on in-class, hands-on activities, so it is essential that you be present for those.
· Email: I will communicate details of the course schedule to you via email. You must have an email account, and I expect you to check it at least twice each week of class. If you do not already have email, you can get an account through NEIU. Please see me if you have questions.
· Exams and Quizzes: Exams will consist of short essay questions and problems similar to those encountered in the labs. Although they will not be strictly comprehensive, you will need to build on what you learn throughout the course. Quizzes are similar, but shorter in duration and focused on only one or two topics.
· Lab Reports: We will be doing labs every week. We’ll do much of the labs in class, but you will need to do parts of the lab as homework before coming to class.
· Homework: There will be several homework assignments throughout the semester.
· Project: You will work in small groups to research an issue in environmental geology. You will present the results of your research to the rest of the class in the form of a scientific poster at a poster session on the last day of class. I will hand out more details about this later.
· Assessments: At the end of most class periods, you will fill out a short “Muddiest Point” assessment form. Occasionally, there will be other classroom assessments as well. As part of the Earth Science Departments Assessment Program, each Earth Science major will need to keep a copy of your project in a portfolio. See the attached handout for more information on this.
Midterm
Exam
100 points All course
requirements
must be completed to
Final
Exam
100 points pass the
course.
The grading scale is:
Quizzes
100 points A 100-90%
Lab Reports and Homework 250
points
B 89-80%
Project
150 points C 79-70%
Total
700 points D 69-60%.
.
F 59% and lower
No make-up exams will be given. Labs and other assignments must be handed in on time. For unusual circumstances, exceptions may be made but only if you make specific arrangements with me in advance. Incomplete grades will be given only in accordance with University policies as published in the catalog.
© 2002 Karen S. Bartels
Last updated September 29, 2002.