GEOLOGY 203
Historical Geology (4 credits)
Spring 2008
Location:
Lecture (CRN 20086): ST 305
Instructor:
Sylvania ST
(503) 977-4146
e-mail: mhutson@pcc.edu
Office Hours:
Please call for an appointment if you need to see me at
a time other than my office hours.
Web site: http://spot.pcc.edu/~mhutson/
Course Description: Introduces historical geology which deals with geologic time, fossils, stratigraphic principles, and the geologic history of the North American continent. There is no prerequisite for this course.
Text: Lecture: Geology: An
Introduction to Physical Geology, by Chernicoff
and Whitney, a custom edition for PCC with additional content, Pearson
Publishing
E-mail Policy: Because I get
a huge volume of unwanted e-mails, I delete many without looking at them. If you want to reach me by e-mail, please
indicate G202 in the subject line of your message. Also, I do NOT open attachments. If you are sending me something, include it
in the body of the text (you can cut and paste).
Exams: There will be three lecture exams during the
term. In addition, there is a
comprehensive final on Wednesday March 19 from
No make-up exams will be given for any reason. The final exam is your make-up exam.
Laboratory Exercises: Lab will be
taught by Sheryl Stohs and will make up 25% of your
total course grade for G201. You will
receive a separate syllabus for lab from Ms. Stohs.
Homework: There will be five homework
assignments during the term. All
homework assignments must by typed.
Assignments and their due dates will be posted on the class web site and
are due BY THE BEGINNING OF CLASS on the due date. Any homework assignment RECEIVED BY THE
INSTRUCTOR after the start of class (including during and imeediately
after class and late in the day via email) will be considered late. Homework can be turned in up to one week late
for partial credit. Late homework will
lose two letter grades (20% of the total points on the assignment). Homeworks can
always be turned in early.
Grades: PCC officially defines grades as follows – see http://www.pcc.edu/edserv/acadpol/acad20.htm
A
following as outlined by the instructor in the course handout: superior
examination scores, consistently accurate and prompt completion of assignments,
ability to deal resourcefully with abstract ideas, superior mastery of
pertinent skills, and excellent attendance. Probable
success in a field relating to the subject or probable continued success in
sequential courses.
B Above average. Honor grade indicating competence. Earned as a result of a combination of some or all of the following as outlined by the instructor in the course handout: high examination scores, accurate and prompt completion of assignments, ability to deal well with abstract ideas, commendable mastery of pertinent skills, and excellent attendance. Probable continued success in sequential courses.
C Average. Standard college grade indicating successful performance earned as a result of a combination of some or all of the following as outlined by the instructor in the course handout: satisfactory examination scores, generally accurate and prompt completion of assignments, ability to deal with abstract ideas, fair mastery of pertinent skills, and regular attendance. Sufficient evidence of ability to warrant entering sequential courses.
D Substandard but
receiving credit. Substandard
grade indicating the student has met only minimum requirements as outlined by
the instructor in the course handout. Earned as a result of some or all of the
following: low examination scores, generally inaccurate, incomplete or late
assignments, inadequate grasp of abstract ideas, barely acceptable mastery of
pertinent skills, irregular attendance, insufficient evidence of ability to
make advisable the enrollment in sequential courses. Does not satisfy
requirements for entry
into courses where prerequisites are specified.
F Failure. Non-passing grade indicating failure to meet minimum requirements as defined by the instructor in the course handout earned as a result of some or all of the following: non-passing examination scores, inaccurate, incomplete or late assignments, failure to cope with abstract ideas, inadequate mastery of pertinent skills, repeated absence from class. Does not satisfy requirements for entry into courses where prerequisites are specified.
For this class, grading is done on a straight
scale (90% and above = A, 80-89% = B,
70-79% = C, 60-69% = D, and below 60% = F).
Grades will be determined from performances
on:
3 best exams 60%
Homework 15%
Lab 25% - get ˝ for participating in lab, and ˝
for the turned in write-up
Instructional withdrawal policy: Faculty may deny registered students access to a class if they do not attend the first class session or stop attending class anytime through the end of the fourth week. Faculty denial of access will not remove student tuition charges. From the fifth week on, faculty may withdraw a student for lack of attendance and a "W" grade appears on the student transcript. Instructor withdrawals do not remove charges -- students are billed for unpaid tuition and fees.
Students who withdraw from a class by the second Friday of the term will be refunded 100% of the charges associated with that class.
Grading Policy: PCC policy allows students to request "Audit" status or a "Pass/No Pass" grade in lieu of a letter grade within the first three weeks of class. If you wish to receive an audit or pass/no pass grade, you must submit a written request to your instructor during the first three weeks of class.
PCC's policy on incompletes is as follows: When the quality of the work is satisfactory, but some minor, yet essential, requirement of the course has not been completed, and for reasons acceptable to the instructor, a report of "I" may be made and additional time granted for the completion of the work. If the course is not completed within a year, the "I" will be administratively changed to an "NP" unless the instructor submits another grade. The conditions for completion of the work should be stated in writing, signed by the instructor and the student, and kept on file in the department or program office.
I do not generally give "I" grades.
Academic Integrity: "Students of
<http://www.pcc.edu/pcc/abt/rights/student_rights/integrity.htm>.
The penalty for academic dishonesty in this course is automatic failure of the
assignment in question and possible failure of the course.
Disability: If you have a disability and need an accomodation, please make arrangements to meet with me outside of class. PCC students requesting accommodations must provide documentation of disability and work with The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) at 977-4341.
Attendance: Students are expected to attend all classes. Each student is responsible for all of the content of all of the classes, including lecture material which may not be in the text. If you miss lecture or lab, then it is YOUR responsibility to learn the material covered. I will not be grading on attendance, but will keep track of who is attending. Please be sure to sign the attendance sheet each class period.
Announcements: The lectures may include announcements, scheduling of exams, changes in the tentative class schedule as well as material that is not included in the textbook. You are responsible for ALL of the lecture content, whether you are present or not.
The course outline given
below is TENTATIVE and may be subject to revision. Any changes will be
announced in class and are your responsibility.
|
Week |
Lecture/Text |
|
1 |
Plate tectonics, isostasy, rock review |
|
2 |
Rock review, stratigraphy, fossils and fossilization – Ch. 19 |
|
3 |
EXAM 1 |
|
4 |
Relative Dating, Absolute Dating – |
|
5 |
Absolute Dating, Hadean – |
|
6 |
EXAM 2 Hadean, Archean, Proterozoic – |
|
7 |
Proterozoic, Paleozoic – |
|
8 |
Extinctions, Mesozoic – Ch 23 and 24 |
|
9 |
NO CLASS – MEMORIAL
DAY |
|
10 |
EXAM 3 Cenozoic – |
|
Finals |
Final Exam - Monday |