INTRO TO EARTH SCIENCE
COURSE DESCRIPTION
ASSIGNMENTS
WIKI
INSTRUCTOR CONTACT
INFO
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
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INTRODUCTION TO EARTH SCIENCE
ESCI 121
Fall 2011
Section 05
Course Syllabus
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SCHEDULE |
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The outline of topics will be updated several
times each week. Check
frequently for changes!
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Complete the readings
before
class on the day shown.
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For daily learning objectives, click the date.
Links will be added daily as the semester
progresses.
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Text: No
specific textbook is required. However, each student must have a general
geology textbook (or physical geology textbook) published by a scientific
or academic publisher in the last 8 years. One example is Tarbuck and
Lutgens, Earth
Science, 11th edition
(Prentice Hall, 2006). Other readings will be provided, posted
on the web, or posted on the
class wiki. |
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CLASS ACTIVITIES
(Click the date
for a list of daily learning objectives!) |
TUESDAY
(Class meeting time: 1:15-2:55 pm) |
THURSDAY
(Class meeting time: 1:15-2:55 pm) |
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AUG
30 Introduction to the study of Earth Science. |
SEP 1 Using our
class wiki.
Weather: wind directions. World map due (Homework #1).
Homework #2 is due by 2:00 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2--that's tomorrow! |
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SEP 6
Geotectonics: a jigsaw exercise to find large-scale patterns
in Earth's surface. Geotectonics research due (Homework
#3).
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SEP
8
Rock deformation and Earth's internal structure. Complete the
jigsaw: Peer review. Get ready for Rock Your State!
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SEP 13
Geotectonics:
continental and oceanic plates and boundaries. |
SEP 15 Geotectonics.
Rocks and minerals. Mineral
properties and investigation tools. Homework #4 "Rock Your
State!" is due. |
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SEP 20 Mineral properties and
classification. Using a mineral key. |
SEP 22 Exam
#1.
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SEP
27 More mineral properties. Using a mineral
identification key. Weather: Air masses. |
SEP
29
Rock Your State in-class work. Bring a laptop and textbook! |
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OCT 4 Rock
Your State in-class work, cont'd. Igneous rocks and silicate
minerals. |
OCT
6 Igneous rocks, continued. |
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OCT 11 Sediments and sedimentary rocks. |
OCT 13
Metamorphic rocks. |
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OCT 18
Exam #2. |
OCT 20
The Rock Cycle, and putting it all together. How do they fit into
the big picture of global geotectonics? Intro to Rock Your State
Geologic Point of Interest. |
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OCT 25 Maps, latitude and longitude.
Earthquakes: focus, epicenter, and measuring earthquakes. |
OCT 27 No class.
(Dr. Sanders will be at the SACNAS Conference in
California.) |
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NOV
1
Rock Your State Points of Interest. Creating earthquake maps using
the USGS earthquake information site. |
NOV 3
Finding the epicenter of
an earthquake. Using Virtual Earthquake.
Latitude and longitude, continued. |
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NOV
8
Earthquake maps in
living color! |
NOV 10
Exam #3.
Assignment #7 is due. |
NOV 11
Last day to drop a course. |
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NOV 15
See
the assignments page for the One-Week Weather Watch assignment.
Reading
topographic maps. |
NOV 17
Weather: Highs and Lows. Topographic maps and streams. |
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NOV 22 Topo
maps and streams, continued. |
NOV 24 Thanksgiving. No class.
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NOV
29
Topographic maps and streams. One-Week Weather Watch assignment
is due today!
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DEC 1
Analyzing weather maps. Clouds, precipitation, and fronts. |
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DEC
6 Weather: fronts, pressure, and precipitation.
Weather Walk.
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DEC
8 Weather: highs, lows, and forecasting.
Course evaluations. |
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DEC 13 Exam #4. Note the unusual time! 2:00-3:50 pm. Please check
right away for conflicts with your other scheduled exams, and contact me
before Sept 20 if you find a conflict.
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INSTRUCTOR CONTACT INFORMATION |
Instructor:
Dr. Laura L. Sanders (website)
E-Mail
(the fastest way to reach me!):
L-Sanders (at) neiu
(dot) edu
Voice messages may be left at this number:
773/442-6051
Office:
During office hours and in general, you can find me in S-130/132.
Mail may be left for me
in the envelope on the door to S-130.
Office Hours:
Tuesday
12:00-1:00 pm; 7:20-7:50 pm
Wednesday 11:00 a.m.-12:00 pm; 2:00-3:00 pm
Thursday 12:00-1:00 pm; 7:20-7:50 pm
or by appointment.
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COURSE
REQUIREMENTS |
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Evaluation and Grading
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Homework |
(approximately 8 assignments; missed
or late assignments are subject to the
policy described in this syllabus) |
24 % |
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In-Class Work |
(missed assignments cannot be made up.
In-class work is
generally graded credit/half credit/no
credit) |
8 % |
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Four exams |
(weighted equally, 17% each) |
68 % |
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Grading
Scale: A 100-90%; B 89-80%;
C 79-70%; D 69-60%; F 59% and lower. |
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w Attendance at all class
sessions is expected. The NEIU policy on class attendance, published in
the NEIU catalog, applies to this
course. Frequent in-class assignments will be given, and they cannot be made up.
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All course requirements must be completed to
pass the course.
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should check e-mail at least every two days to watch
for course announcements and updates.
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Late
homework assignments will not be accepted
unless there is an approved reason for missing the deadline, and only if I
approve the excuse before the assignment is due.
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Make-up exams will be permitted only in a case where there is an approved reason
for missing the exam, and if I approve the excuse
before the regularly
scheduled exam begins. Missed exams that are not made up will result in
a score of zero for that exam.
w Please note the schedule
for the final exam and university policies governing final exams (inside the
back cover of the Schedule of Classes.) No exceptions will be made other than
those allowed by this policy.
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The official gradebook will be kept
by the instructor. Please check your scores periodically and let the
instructor know of any concerns.
w Students should bring the following to every class meeting: notebook, handouts,
pencil and eraser. Also bring your textbook if possible.
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Cell phones should be off or set to silent mode
in the classroom. Do not answer your phone
in class; to do so is disruptive.
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During exams, quizzes, and closed book
assignments in class, you may not use any
electronic devices, nor may you send or receive
any messages.
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Please participate in all course assessments:
anonymous "minute papers", ungraded quiz-type questions, concept maps, or
survey-type questions. This information will help me determine the extent to
which the course is meeting its goals. To provide the most information
so that I can improve the course, I ask that you give your most
thoughtful, honest feedback--the more, the better.
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Academic integrity:
The
NEIU policy on
academic misconduct will be strictly enforced. A
site from
Indiana
University explains and gives examples of plagiarism and provides
helpful tips on how to avoid it. Cheating on homework, exams, quizzes, or other
course components will result in a score of zero for that assignment or more
severe penalties, as described in the NEIU policy.
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Flexibility:
This outline will change as the
semester evolves. Check this page frequently for updates!
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COURSE
DESCRIPTION
(From the NEIU catalog.) |
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Introduction to Earth Science, 3 cr.
Basic concepts of geology, meteorology,
oceanography, and the solar system.
Discussion of topics of current interest
in the earth sciences. Laboratory
involves the study of minerals, rocks,
maps, and weather instruments. Lecture 2
hours, lab 2 hours.
Course
Prerequisite: MATH
102 (Intermediate Algebra). This course satisfies the General Education
Program Natural Science Laboratory
requirement.
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COURSE GOALS:
Upon
completion of this course, the student will be able to
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Use real-time data from publicly-accessible scientific monitoring
stations to analyze Earth processes.
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Describe the processes
involved in geotectonics and tell how they relate to geologic phenomena such
as earthquakes, volcanoes, mountain building, continental movements, and the
development of landscapes.
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Explain the relationships between atoms, compounds, minerals, and rocks.
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Use the techniques and tools of mineral and rock identification.
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Describe the rock cycle and the processes involved in the cycle.
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Describe the geologic time scale and explain how relative and absolute age
dating are used.
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Use topographic maps and geologic maps.
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Describe the hydrologic cycle and the processes involved in the cycle.
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Use weather maps to predict the weather. |
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