COURSE SYLLABUS
COURSE DESCRIPTION
ASSIGNMENTS
INSTRUCTOR CONTACT
INFO
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
|
INTRODUCTION TO EARTH SCIENCE
ESCI 121
Fall 2012
Section 05
Course Syllabus
| SCHEDULE |
w
The outline of topics will be updated several
times each week. Check
frequently for changes!
w
Complete the readings
before
class on the day shown.
w
For daily learning objectives, click the date.
Links will be added daily as the semester
progresses.
w
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
(Prentice Hall). Other readings will be provided, posted
on the web, or posted on the class wiki. |
|
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) |
|
AUG 28 Introduction to the study of Earth Science.
Introduction to this course. Maps. |
AUG 30
Topographic maps. Homework #1 is due by 2:00 p.m. Friday, Aug. 31--that's tomorrow! |
|
SEP 4
Topographic maps, continued.
World map due (Homework #2).
Density and Earth materials. |
SEP
6
Rock deformation and Earth's internal structure. Geotectonics: a jigsaw exercise to find large-scale patterns in Earth's
surface.
|
|
SEP 11
Geotectonics:
finding patterns in geotectonic data. Continental and oceanic
crust. Density. |
SEP 13 Geotectonics. Lithosphere and asthenosphere.
Plate boundaries. |
|
SEP 18
Plate boundaries, continued.
Rocks and minerals. Mineral
properties and investigation tools. Mineral properties and
classification. Using a mineral key. |
SEP 20 Quiz
#1.
Get the review sheet here! |
|
SEP
25 More mineral properties. Using a mineral
identification key. |
SEP
27
Minerals, continued. Rock Your State in-class work. |
|
OCT 2 Minerals
practice quiz. Rock
Your State in-class work, cont'd. Bring a laptop and textbook! |
OCT
4 Rock
Your State in-class work, cont'd. Bring a laptop and textbook! |
|
OCT 9
Igneous rocks and silicate minerals. Sediments and sedimentary rocks. |
OCT 11
No class.
(Dr. Sanders will be at the SACNAS Conference in
Seattle.) |
|
OCT 16
Metamorphic rocks. |
OCT 18
Quiz #2.
Get the review sheet here! |
|
OCT 23
The Rock Cycle, and putting it all together. How do they fit into
the big picture of global geotectonics? Intro to Rock Your State
Points of Interest project. |
OCT 25 Latitude and longitude.
Earthquakes: focus, epicenter. Creating earthquake maps using the
USGS earthquake information site. |
|
OCT 30 Rock Your State Points of Interest: Poster
Presentations! Earthquakes: measuring earthquakes, finding epicenters
and magnitude. Using Virtual Earthquake. |
NOV 1
Earthquakes, continued:
measuring earthquakes, finding epicenters
and magnitude. Using Virtual Earthquake. |
|
NOV
6
Earthquake maps in
living color! |
NOV 8
Quiz
#3.
Get the review sheet here! |
NOV 9
Last day to drop a course. |
|
NOV 13
Weather, climate, weather variables, atmospheric
structure, weather maps. |
NOV 15
Weather: Air pressure, air density. Highs and Lows. |
|
NOV 20
Humidity, Clouds, Precipitation. |
NOV 22 Thanksgiving. No class.
|
|
NOV
27 Fronts, atmospheric circulation, and air masses. |
NOV 29
Stationary and occluded fronts. Analyzing weather maps. |
|
DEC
4 Weather Walk.
|
DEC
6
The jet stream. Complete the Weather Walk. Course evaluations. |
|
DEC 11 Quiz #4. Note the unusual time!
2:00-3:50 pm.
Get the review sheet here! Please check
right away for conflicts with your other scheduled exams, and contact me
before Sept 20 if you find a conflict. Grades are due at midnight
on Dec 17.
|
|
|
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
4:00-5:00 pm; 7:20-8:20 pm
Wednesday 10:50-11:50 a.m
Friday 12:30-1:30 pm
or by appointment.
|
|
COURSE
REQUIREMENTS |
|
Evaluation and Grading
|
|
Assignments |
Individual and team assignments, both
in-class and homework.
Missed
or late assignments are subject to the
policy described in this syllabus. |
52% |
|
In-Class Participation |
To earn In-Class Participation points,
students are expected to participate
actively
in class activities in a manner that
shows respect for other class members
and demonstrates effort. Points
also may be awarded for responses to
Quick Quizzes (short quizzes meant to
test conceptual understanding or
specific lab skills). |
16% |
|
Quizzes |
Quizzes will include hands-on lab-based
questions and/or conceptual questions. |
32% |
|
Grading
Scale: A 100-90%; B 89-80%;
C 79-70%; D 69-60%; F 59% and lower. |
|
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.
w
All course requirements must be completed to
pass the course.
w Students
should check e-mail at least every two days to watch
for course announcements and updates.
w
Late
homework assignments will not be accepted
unless there is an approved reason for missing the
deadline.
w
In the case of group assignments, all students
in the group are responsible for contributing to
the final product.
w
Individual
participation in group assignments will in some
cases be evaluated by team members using a
Team
Citizenship Evaluation form.
w
In-class assignments cannot be made up.
w
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.
w
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.
w
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.
w
During exams, quizzes, and closed book
assignments in class, you may not use any
electronic devices, nor may you send or receive
any messages.
w
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.
w
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.
w
Flexibility:
This outline will change as the
semester evolves. Check this page frequently for updates!
|
COURSE
DESCRIPTION
(From the NEIU catalog.) |
|
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 weatwher instruments. Lecture 2
hours, lab 2 hours.
Course
Prerequisite: MATH
102 (Intermediate Algebra). This course satisfies the General Education
Program Natural Science Laboratory
requirement.
|
|
|
COURSE GOALS:
Upon
completion of this course, the student will be able to
|
w
Use real-time data from publicly-accessible scientific monitoring
stations to analyze Earth processes.
w
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.
w
Explain the relationships between atoms, compounds, minerals, and rocks.
w
Use the techniques and tools of mineral and rock identification.
w
Describe the rock cycle and the processes involved in the cycle.
w
Describe the geologic time scale and explain how relative and absolute age
dating are used.
w
Use topographic maps and geologic maps.
w
Describe the hydrologic cycle and the processes involved in the cycle.
w
Use weather maps to predict the weather. |
|
|
|
