Chicago Rocks! Assignment Details

ASSIGNMENT DETAILS
current/pending assignments mandatory assignments scroll down for earlier assignments

DUE DATE

***

See the project page for details on project-related assignments

7 DEC

Planning for the Future - an extra credit opportunity
Utilize the MyPlan website, licensed by NEIU for student and alumni use, to gather information about your Interests, Personality, Skills, and Values by completing the four assessments (expect about 20 minutes per assessment).
Then, use the information that is available through the results of your assessment to fill out this worksheet. No late work will be accepted.

17 NOV

Open the following weblink: weathering and climate
Work through the animation on these topics, and create a set of notes for reference. Make a copy of your notes to turn in on Thursday. (Keep your own set! There is an important reason... coming up on Tuesday, 22 Nov!!)
You should also review your notes (and/or the resources, above) about different types of rocks: consider what we know about the characteristics of the three main types of rocks, how to recognize them, and how they might be expected to respond to weathering.

20 OCT

Academic Planning Assignment: not later** than this date, you will turn in your completed assignment packet, signed by your advisor.
--> If you do not know who is your advisor, ask your instructor.
--> If you are unable to meet with your advisor due to schedule conflicts, ask for Bob Binkowski.
--> For this class, you will turn in the entire packet, not just the signed cover page!
--> **You may turn this in early, if you have already completed it!

6 OCT

Using the post-it notes given in class (and/or your own "tabs"!), label the sections of your NEIU catalog, as designated in class on Tuesday. Have your catalog out on the desk when you arrive in class on Thursday, so that I can check them quickly before we go off on our campus field trip!

4 OCT

Scavenger Hunt #2:
Get a copy of the NEIU Academic Catalog (not the semester class schedule! the Academic Catalog!)
If you did not turn in Scavenger Hunt #1 (or otherwise need to print a record sheet), refer to the
general information about our scavenger hunt. You will need to use the 'official' record sheet to get credit for this assignment.
If you have other pages from #1, please attach all to the (back of) your new record sheet.

In space #2 on the record sheet, record the following information:
--> Where did you get the catalog (include name of office or location, building name, and room number in that building).

Bring the catalog with you to class on Tuesday: we will need it for a class activity!
Note that, if you already have a catalog, you can bring that one with you; but you still need to record details of where the catalog can be found!

26 SEP

NOTE: This assignment is due via email, on MONDAY!
Rock Wall Team email:

Not later than 5:00 pm on Monday, 26 Sep:

Each team will send a single email, addressed to the instructor and copied to all team members (per example, below): I must be able to see that the email was sent to all.
In the body of the email, list each team member's name, along with that member's stated individual goal for the rock wall activity.
If any of your team members were not in class today (Thursday), a representative of your team should first email the instructor to obtain contact info for the missing member(s), and then follow up with those students to get information regarding their goal. If you are unsure whether team members were missing, refer to team lists.

If you were not in class on Thursday: (or if you want to review the information about the rock wall activity), view this slide show and determine your individual goal* for this activity. Communicate this information to your team members (you should watch for an email from the instructor with contact info, or you should send an email to the instructor to get contact info!). All team members are responsible for making sure that the team email is sent to the instructor by the deadline: if it is getting close to the deadline, and you have not received the team email, communicate with your team-mates to make sure that the task will be completed on time! *If you have questions about setting goals, check with your team-mates and/or the instructor.

Model for emailed assignment:
TO: (your instructor's email address)
cc: list each of the team members' emails, separated by a semicolon or comma
subject: ESCI 109 Section xx

In the body of the email, list each team member and their individual goal for the rock wall.
Be sure that the email reaches me by the deadline! I will respond "to all" to let you know I received the assignment.

dates as indicated

COURSE MATERIALS DUE DATES
I will be checking (and counting each as an assignment) that you have the required course materials on the following dates:

planner: Thursday, 15 September
Chicago regional map: Tuesday, 20 September
ISGS: with required portions (or whole) printed in color: Thursday, 22 September
    (if you are printing in B&W, with the intent to print needed pages in color, you should show the B&W
     printout to me not later than 1 class period before this deadline, so that you can check out the CD
     and print the pages--that I will mark for you--in color by this deadline)

15 SEP

Send an email to your instructor:
Send me an email from your NEIU email address. To earn full credit for this assignment, the email must meet all of the following criteria:
1. The subject of the email should be "ESCI 109 sec (1 or 2) - your name".

2. In the body of the email, tell me:
a. something in particular that you are looking forward to learning or doing in this class (take a look at the schedule of topics!); and
b. a memorable experience in your life that could be considered "geology-related": it might be a place you have traveled, that was geologically interesting (rocks? mountains? volcanoes? earthquakes??), or some other experience that is related to fossils, rocks, natural hazards, or something else related to geology.

3. The overall format of your email should follow the guidelines that are given in your syllabus (see "example of an email").

4. I must receive the email not later than 4 PM on the due date.
If you are looking at your syllabus for my email address, remember to use the adjusted format (replace the "(AT)" with the @ symbol)

15 SEP

Re-read the material on the website links as assigned for 8 Sep (see that assignment on the syllabus page).
On a piece of loose-leaf paper (no raggedy-spiral-ripped-edges, please!), create a set of reading notes in the
"color-coded method" described in class on Thursday, 8 Sep. (click here for a refresher/ clarification of that method).
Bring your set of notes to class: we will complete your notes with our class discussion, and then you will turn it in.
No need to make a duplicate set -- you will get your notes back!! ;o)

13 SEP

Chicago Rocks! Semester-long Scavenger Hunt:
1. Print this scavenger hunt record sheet.
2. Read this introduction to our class scavenger hunt, which gives general instructions.
3. Scavenger hunt items will be assigned throughout the semester, and you will record the required information for each scavenger hunt on the same record sheet.
Scavenger Hunt #1 is due on Tuesday, 13 September.
Stop by the Student Organization Fair** during the Fall into Fun Week activities. Get information from one club/ organization that you might be interested in joining. The information might be a flier or brochure, if available, OR simply one interesting thing about that club.
In space #1 on your Scavenger Hunt form, enter the following:
-- name of club or organization;
-- what information you found; AND
-- ask the person at the club's table to sign their name in the space.
** note that you must do this on WEDNESDAY or THURSDAY (Sep 7 or 8) between noon and 4:00 pm -- these are the hours of the Organization Fair!!!! See details on NEIUPort or on the week's schedule.
UPDATE: In order to get full credit for this assignment, you will still need to have proof that you attended the organization fair.
However, because many student organizations were not represented at the fair on Thursday, you may want to view this list of NEIU student organizations for a more complete idea of the available options. Browse through the list of organizations and find one that is of interest to you. Write a short statement, identifying the organization that interests you, why it interests you, and give the available contact info -- for extra points! (this can be done on a separate sheet of paper, attached to your scavenger hunt record form, or on the back of the form, if extra space is needed)

deadline
TBA

Meet with your instructor!
Sign up for a conference with me; the sign-up list is brought to class each session.
If the times listed do not fit your schedule, send me an email, with at least 2-3 possible days/times that you could meet with me for a 10-minute conference.
Note: this is a mandatory assignment. A final deadline to schedule and complete a conference with me will be announced soon; it's best if you do this as soon as possible!

6 SEP

Read the excerpt that was given to you in class (Thursday, 1 Sep). *Read it through first without making any marks on the pages!* Then, go back to the beginning and read the article again, inserting the following symbols as indicated: _* put a star in the margin next to pieces of information that you already knew/ or had heard before;
		put a box around words/phrases that you don't know/ or are not sure of the meaning;
? put a question mark in the margin, next to any sentence or passage that you don't understand as a whole; and
__ underline at least two specific facts/ pieces of information that you find particularly interesting.

1 SEP

Individual Survey
Due at class time on the date indicated. Thoughtfully and completely fill out the yellow survey sheet that you received in class on Tuesday. Please be sure to answer all questions!
In addition, consider your time availability in the next week to two weeks: you will be required to schedule an appointment with your instructor.

NOTES about some assignments: READING ASSIGNMENTS* are listed on the syllabus/schedule page* MANDATORY ASSIGNMENTS are highlighted in green. Mandatory assignments must be completed and turned in for this class, even if late. Failure to turn in mandatory assignments may result in an automatic reduction of your final course grade. (Note the course policy about late assignments: you may receive reduced or no credit for late assignments; but it is a "double penalty" for mandatory assignments! Do yourself a big favor: turn in ALL assignments, ON TIME!!)
Scroll down or click on assignment links for details and due dates

* This information will be adjusted as the semester proceeds. Please check back frequently for updates and details to be added. * Reading assignments should be completed before coming to class on the day listed. (Check the syllabus for reading assignments) * Lab worksheets and other resources must be printed and brought to class on the day listed.