Department
of Earth Science |
Northeastern
Illinois University
Department
of Earth Science |Northeastern
Illinois University
What should you bring to this course?
If you are an undergraduate, you should come into this course with the ability to do the following:
w List the
three major classes of rocks.
w List two
types of rock that belong to each of the major classes, and give examples
of each.
w List the
major types of sediments in order of descending grain size.
w Tell what
type of rock each type of sediment would form, if lithified.
w Draw a
diagram illustrating the processes and products of the rock cycle.
w Name and
describe the two major types of weathering processes.
w List and
describe three major types of glacial deposits, and describe how they form.
w Use a topographic
map to investigate and describe the topography of an area.
w Use a
topographic map to determine what direction a stream flows.
w Use a
topographic map to tell what direction is downhill from a given point.
w Given
elevation values at several data points, construct a simple topographic
contour map.
w Given
a point on a map, use the Public Land Survey system (Township, Range, and
Section) to tell its
geographic location.
w Given
the Township, Range, and Section of a point, plot it on a topographic map.
w Use a
topographic map to construct a topographic profile.
w Give and
use the geometric formulas for area of a rectangle, triangle, and circle.
w Give and
use the geometric formulas for the volume of a rectangular solid and a
cylinder.
w Give the
general formula for a graph of a straight line and explain what each variable
in the formula means.
w Given
a simple algebraic formula containing several variables, rearrange the
formula to solve for each variable. (For example, if 2y = 3x + 5,
rearrange the formula to solve for x, and then rearrange it to solve for
y.)
w Write
a number both in scientific notation and in normal format.
w Raise
a number to an exponential power.
Grad students are expected to have a deeper understanding of stratigraphy (in particular glacial geologic stratigraphy); the geologic time scale; interpretation of geologic history of an area from geologic data such as maps, drillhole data, and outcrop descriptions; methods for constructing and reading geologic cross sections; use of geologic maps; construction and use of topographic maps; algebraic manipulation; use of logarithms; graphing; and basic calculus notation.
Department of Earth Science | Northeastern Illinois University
© 2004 Laura L. Sanders.
Last updated January 12, 2004.