Web site: http://spot.pcc.edu/~mhutson/

Course Description: Covers the nature and origin of earthquakes, the characteristics of seismic waves, how earthquakes are measured, the hazards of earthquakes and the historical and geological record of earthquakes.

Text: Earthquakes, Fifth edition, by Bruce A. Bolt, W.H. Freeman and Co.; Magnitude 8, by Philip L. Fradkin, University of California Press.

Exams: There will be two midterm exams and one comprehensive final. Students are expected to be in class on exam days. In the event of a sudden, documentable serious illness or emergency, students may make up the exam for full credit. Make-up exams for any other reason (such as oversleeping or needing to be out of town for a wedding) will lose 10% of the possible total points (one letter grade). In either case, there will not be a separate make-up exam, but students will receive a separate grade for that portion of the comprehensive final that covers the material fromt the missed exam.

Homework: There will be four homework assignments during the term. These assignments will be posted on the class web site. Homework must be typed using an easily readable font (12 pt or larger). Handwritten homework will not be accepted. Homework is due at the start of class on the date indicated in the table below. No late homework will be accepted for any reason.

In-class exercises and participation: There will be exercises that are done during class. There will also be discussions where students are asked to bring in materials for the discussion. Neither of these can be made up.

Presentation: Each student will give a 10 minute presentation on an earthquake. The presentation should include discussion of the location of the epicenter, the type of earthquake, the size of the earthquake, the effects of the earthquake, as well as a discussion of the ramifications (political or sociological) of the earthquake. Students will need to provide references for their source material. The text books may NOT be used as source material.

Grades: PCC officially defines grades as follows – see http://www.pcc.edu/edserv/acadpol/acad20.htm

A Superior. Honor grade indicating excellence. Earned as a result of a combination of some or all of the

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:

Two midterm exams (15% each) = 30%

Final exam = 20%

Four homeworks (5% each) = 20%

Attendance = 10%

In-class exercises and participation = 10%

Presentation = 10%

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 Portland Community College are expected to behave as responsible members of the college community and to be honest and ethical in their academic work. PCC strives to provide students with the knowledge, skills, judgment, and wisdom they need to function in society as educated adults. To falsify or fabricate the results of one’s research; to present the words, ideas, data, or work of another as one’s own; or to cheat on an examination corrupts the essential process of higher education." This statement is taken from the College’s Academic Integrity Policy. Please see the Academic Services web site for more information on plagiarism: <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. You will receive part of your grade on attendance. Please be sure to sign the attendance sheet each class period. If you do not sign the sheet, you will be considered absent, whether you were there or not.

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 1: Introduction to class, plate tectonics, earthquake wave types, hypocenter/focus vs. epicenter

Week 2: Tsunamis, evidence for past tsunamis, video (Chile earthquake?), types of faults

Reading for first two weeks:

Bolt – Chapters 2, 7, 1, 3, and pages 195-208 (start with 2 and 7)

Magnitude 8 – pages xi-32 (preface)

USGS publication “Surviving a Tsunami” - http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/c1187/c1187.pdf

Week 3: No class on Monday January 17 (Martin Luther King Day);

Homework 1 due on Wednesday January 19

Stress, strain, focal spheres, in-class exercise on focal spheres

Bring in examples of earthquake record showing focal spheres on Friday January 21

Week 4: First Exam on Monday January 24

Seismograph, seismograms, locating earthquakes, intensity and magnitude

Reading for weeks 3 and 4:

Bolt – Chapters 4, 5, and 8

Magnitude 8 – Chapters 2 and 3

Week 5: Homework 2 due Monday January 31

In class exercise on locating earthquake, intensity and magnitude, video (NOVA?), earth’s interior

Week 6: Earthquakes and volcanoes, forecasting, video (NOVA-forecasting part I)

Reading for weeks 5 and 6:

Bolt – Chapters 6, 9, and 10

Magnitude 8 – Chapters 4 and 5

Week 7: Homework 3 due on Monday February 14

Video (NOVA-forecasting part II), earthquake hazards, hazard prevention

Week 8: Second Exam on Monday February 21

Bring in materials about Dec. 26 Indonesian Quake and Tsunami for discussion

Video on Surviving the Big One

Reading for weeks 7 and 8:

Bolt – Chapters 11 and 12

Magnitude 8 – Chapters 6, 7, 8, and 9

Week 9: Homework 4 due on Monday February 28

Student presentations

Week 10: Student presentations and course review

Final exam: Monday March 14, 9:00-10:50 am