Introduction to Geology - GEOL 101

Fall 2007

 

Lecture Section 01, Webster Hall, Room 16  Monday, Wednesday, and Friday – 10:10-11:00 AM

Lecture Section 02, Webster Hall, Room 16  Monday, Wednesday, and Friday – 1:10-2:00 PM

 

Instructor:

Kurt Wilkie

Office:

Office Hours:

Webster 1027

Monday and Wednesday 11:10-12:00, 2:10-3:00 and by appointment

Phone, Email

509-335-2261, geology101@mail.wsu.edu

Lecture home page:

http://www.wsu.edu/~geology101

Lab home page:

Lecture Text:

http://www.wsu.edu/~geology101/lab

Earth, An Introduction to Physical Geology 9th ed. (Custom), by Tarbuck and Lutgens

Lab Text:

Laboratory Manual in Physical Geology, 7th ed. (Custom), by Busch (editor) and others.

Lab Teaching Assistant:

_______________________________________________ (fill in)

TA office, phone, email:

_______________________________________________ (fill in)

 

What is Geology 101?

Have you ever wondered why Washington has more volcanoes than Kansas?  Why does the western United States suffer from intense earthquakes while Florida seems almost earthquake free?  If you were to build a new home, would it be safer near Mt. Rainier (Washington) or Mt. Rushmore (South Dakota)?  This course addresses these types of questions by examining the earth and its processes: how it formed, how it has changed, and the materials of which it is composed.  Learning about the Earth’s processes and materials, allows geologists and students to address concerns about geologic issues and hazards all around us.

 

General

Geology 101 fulfills a 4 credit Tier II physical science (P) requirement at Washington State University.  This course consists of three 50 minute lectures and one 3 hour lab session each week.  You must be enrolled in both a lecture section and a lab section or you will not receive credit for this course.  All scheduling changes must be completed by the 5th day of class.

 

Instructional Approach

My instructional approach to this course is founded on principles of learning.  Research shows that people retain very little information that they passively listen to in lecture; even fascinating material is soon forgotten.  No matter how good the instructor, for deep learning to take place, students have to actively engage with concepts and examples: ask questions, discuss & justify choices, apply concepts, and consider alternatives. 

 

Consequently, inside and outside the classroom, I may ask you to engage with concepts in geology and essential information, finding examples, applying ideas, raising questions that are part of scientific thinking in this discipline.  The more you participate, the richer our class will be and the more you will learn.

 

Student Responsibilities

Attend class and arrive on time.  Read the text before class so the lecture will make sense.  A basic set of lecture notes is available on-line if you would like to use them, but add your notes so that you understand the material.  Bring your iclicker to every class, 10% of your lecture grade is based on iclicker questions.  Participate in classroom activities and ask questions if you do not understand.

 

 

 

 

Lab

Attendance in lab: Lab begins during the week of Aug. 20 (1st week of classes).  Attendance in your assigned lab section is mandatory.  You may only attend the lab section in which you are registered.  Three (or more) absences in your lab section will result in a failing grade in the GEOL 101 course.  There are NO lab make-ups.   See Attendance and Make-up policy section for specific rules.   It is important that you arrive at your scheduled lab room on time, start and complete the lab in the time allotted and turn in your lab to your TA before you leave.   Labs completed on Tuesday should be graded and available for you to pick-up by Friday morning (9am) outside your TA’s office. Labs completed on Wednesday and Thursday should be graded and available for you to pick-up by Monday morning (9am) outside your TA’s office.

 

Lab Quizzes: There will be 4 quiz during the semester.  Laboratory quizzes will cover material from previous laboratory exercises, readings, discussions, and homework assignments.  Any student who arrives late will need to complete the quiz in the allotted time unless prior arrangements have been made with your TA.  The lab quiz format may vary, but most questions will be in the form of fill-in-the-blank or short answers.

Lab Supplies: You will need the following items for every lab (including the 1st lab): laboratory manual, lab supplement,  syllabus, one subject notebook (or writing paper), pack of 3x5 inch note cards, 180 or 360 degree protractor, ruler, pencils, eraser and a calculator.  Lab meets each week and each lab is 3 hours long.  All laboratory exercises (not including homework) will be completed and turned in during the specified lab period.

 

Attendance and Make-up policy

It is the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences (SEE’s) policy that there are NO make-ups for assignments, quizzes and exams in lecture or lab.  Attendance in your lab section is mandatory.  University approved absences (with signed Class Absence Request form) and/or certain medical or other emergencies may be accommodated when contact is made in advance, and all work is completed within the assigned week.  You must contact your lecture instructor for lecture and your laboratory TA for lab absences. You must provide at least one-week advance notice for University approved absences.  Please note: leaving a message will not guarantee an excused absence. You must receive a response from your lecture instructor or lab TA indicating approval and accommodation of absence.

 

Lecture Exams

Lecture exams will cover material from lectures, readings in the lecture textbook, and lecture assignments.  Lecture exams are given during your assigned lecture section in your regular lecture room.  Lecture exam format will be multiple choice questions that are answered on a scantron sheet and graded by computer.  Please bring pencils and your WSU Student ID card to each exam.  There are 3 scheduled lecture exams including the final exam.  There are NO make up exams unless you submit the proper University Excused absence form to the instructor at least 1 week in advance.  Certain medical or other emergencies may also be accommodated if your instructor is contacted prior to the exam. Check the dates of exams carefully, early exams (including the final) will not be provided. 

 

Assignments and Quizzes

This year iclickers (personal response system) will be used in the class.  Approximate 10% of your lecture grade is based on your in-class responses using the iclicker.  If you are caught with or using multiple clickers in class this is considered cheating and you will loose all possible iclicker points (10% of your lecture grade).  Additional graded material includes assignments given throughout the semester, and a Photo Project which is worth approximately 10% of your lecture grade.  Please read the assigned chapters prior to lecture/lab so that you may participate in discussions.  You must be present to receive credit for iclicker questions.  Homework will be due as specified in the lecture/lab and late assignments will not be accepted. Check the Geology 101 schedule for quizzes dates.  No make-ups for assignments will be given.

 

Academic Integrity

Any violation of academic integrity will result in immediate dismissal from the course, receipt of a failing grade and denial of re-enrollment.  Academic dishonesty includes failure to do your own work on any assignment (not just exams)!  Information on Student Conduct is found on-line at http://www.conduct.wsu.edu/; click on the left hand link for specifics on Academic Dishonesty. 

 

Classroom Conduct

Disruptions during lecture/lab will not be tolerated.  Disruptive behavior including but not limited to: ringing cell phones, talking, excessive noise, poor behavior towards other students or Instructors/TAs, arriving late/leaving early, reading newspapers in class, or inappropriate language/comments in lecture/lab or on-line will result in being asked to leave the class.  Continued disruption will result in failing grade and denial of re-enrollment.  It is to your benefit to arrive on time because most announcements and some quizzes occur at the beginning of lecture/lab.

 

Accommodations for Documented Disabilities

Reasonable accommodations are available for students who have a documented disability.  Please notify your lecture instructor and lab TA during the first week of class of any accommodations needed for the course.  Late notification may cause the requested accommodations to be unavailable.  All accommodations should be approved through the Disability Resource Center (DRC), Admin. Annex 206, 335-1566.

 

 

Grades

Letter grades will be assigned based upon a percentage of the total points earned in both lecture and lab.  You must receive a passing grade (60% or greater) in lecture and lab, to pass the course.  There is no curve in this course.

 

Tentative Point Distribution

(subject to minor revisions)

 

Grading

Scale (%)

Lecture

Lab

 

A    93-100

C+   77-79

Clicker questions = up to 45 pts.  

Quizzes&Assignments = up to 90 pts.

15 lab exercises = 150 pts.

Other in-class assignments = 15pts.

 

A-   90-92

C     73-76

C-    70-72

Photo project = 50pts

3 Exams @ 100 pts each, = 300 pts.

4 lab quizzes =140 pts.  (See schedule for point distribution)

 

B+   87-89

B     83-86

 

D+   67-69

Lecture Total = 485 points

Lab Total = 305 points

 

B-    80-82

D     60-66

Combined Total

= 790 points

 

 

F    <60

 

Regular attendance in lecture is not mandatory but is highly recommended.  If you miss less than 4 lectures then consideration will be given when assigning the final course grade.  Remember, just a 5 point difference in your lecture score amounts to a 1% change in your lecture grade.

 

Tutoring Office

The Tutoring Office (run by the Geology 101 Teaching Assistants) is located in Webster Hall room 152.  The Tutoring Office schedule is posted on the door to all lab rooms and on the course webpage. Tutoring hours are open to all Geology 101 students, regardless of lab or lecture section.  Tutoring begins the 2nd week of class. The tutoring office is closed on university holidays.

Geology 101 Schedule

(Subject to change as necessary)

Please read assigned chapters in ( ) prior to scheduled lecture/lab.

Point values for each laboratory exercise are in [ ] after each exercise.

 

WEEK OF

LECTURE TOPICS

(LECTURE READINGS ARE FROM UNDERSTANDING EARTH)

LAB TOPICS

(LABORATORY READINGS ARE FROM THE LAB MANUAL)  PLEASE READ PRIOR TO LAB.

Aug 20-24

 

Introduction (Chapter 1), Plate Tectonics (Chapter 2); and portions of Chapters13, 14 where appropriate)

Intro Lab  – Laboratory, Map, and Library skills [10, includes 5pt take home]

Aug 27-31

Plate Tectonics (Chapter 2)

Matter and Minerals (Chapter 3)

Lab 1 – Observing and Measuring Earth Materials and Processes [10]

Sept 3-7

No Lecture, Monday, September 3, Holiday

Minerals (Chapter 3), Igneous Rocks (Chapter 4)

Lecture Quiz  #1 (Friday Sept. 7)

Lab 2 – Plate Tectonics and the Origin of Magma [10]

Sept 10-14

Igneous Rocks (Chapter 4)

Volcanoes (Chapter 5)

Lab 3 – Mineral Properties, Uses, and Identification [10], Quiz [Intro,1,2 – 30pts]

Sept 17-21

Weathering and  Soil (Chapter 6)

Sedimentary Rocks (Chapter 7)

Friday - Lecture Exam #1 (Chapters 1- 5)

Lab 5 – Igneous Rocks and Volcanic Hazards

   [10]    1st page Photo project assignment due

           with grading rubric [5]

Sept 24-28

Sedimentary Rocks (Chapter 7),

Metamorphic Rocks (Chapter 8)

Lab 6 – Sedimentary Rocks, Processes and Environments [10]

Oct 1-5

Geologic Time (Chapter 9)

Lecture Quiz  #2 (Friday Oct. 5)

Lab 7 + 4 – Metamorphic Rocks, Processes

 and Resources [10], Campus Rock Tour Review [5], 1st and 2nd page photo project due with grading rubric [5]

Oct 8-12

Crustal Deformation (Chapter 10)

Lab 8 – Dating and Geologic Time [10],

               Quiz [Lab 3,5,6,7 – 40pts]

Oct 15-19

Mass Wasting (Chapter 15)

Running Water (Chapter 16)

 

Lab 9 – Topographic Maps and Aerial Photographs [10]

Oct 22-26

Running Water (Chapter 16)

Groundwater (Chapter 17)

Friday - Lecture Exam #2 (Chapters 6,7,8,9,10,15)

Lab 10 – Geologic Structures, Map, Cross Sections and Block Diagrams [10]

Oct 29-

Nov 2

Groundwater (Chapter 17)

Glaciers (Chapter 18)

Lab 11 – Stream Processes, Landscapes, and

               Flood Hazards  [10],

               Quiz [Lab 8,9,10 – 30pts]

Nov 5-9

 

Glaciers (Chapter 18)

Lab 12 – Groundwater Processes, Resources and Risks [10]

Nov 12-16

No Lecture, Monday, Nov 12, Veterans Day

Shorelines (Chapter 20)

Lecture Quiz  #3 (Friday Nov. 16)

Lab 13 – Glacial Processes, Landforms, and

                Indicators of Climate Change [10]

Nov 19-23

Thanksgiving Break – No Class

Thanksgiving Break  - No Lab

Nov 26-30

Earthquakes (Chapter 11)

Earth's Interior (Chapter 12)

Lab 15 – Coastal Processes, Landforms, Hazards and Risks [10]

Dec 3-7

Earth's Interior (Chapter 12)

Reminder of week, the topic is  “Connections”

Lab 16 – Earthquakes [10],

                Quiz [Lab 11,12,13,15 – 40pts]

Dec 10-14

Lecture Final Exam (see below) 

 (Chapters 1-10, 15, 16-18, 20, 11, 12)

No lab during finals week.

 

          Geology 101 Lecture Final Exam,

        Lecture Section 01,  Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2007,    8:00 - 10:00 AM

        Lecture Section 02,  Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2007,    3:10 - 5:10 PM