G201 Physical Geology Fall 2010                                         CRN #42604/42605
Portland Community College Rock Creek Campus

Time & Place:              M & W  9:00 am-11:50 pm; BLDG 7-227
Instructor:                   Eriks M. Puris    email: eriks.puris@pcc.edu     ph: (503) 614-7627
Office Hours:              M & F 1:00-3:00 pm and by arrangement; 7-202
Tutoring Hour:            M 4:00-5:00 pm; 2-212
Class Web Site:           http://www.pcc.edu/staff/eriks.puris
Required Texts:           How Does Earth Work? by Smith & Pun (2^nd ed.
                                   Earth Lab by Owen, Pirie, and Draper (2^nd ed.)
Suggested Text:            Encounter Earth by Klug
Text Web Sites:           http://mygeoscienceplace.com
                                   http://www.brookscole.com/cgi-wadsworth/course_products_wp.pl?fid=M20b&product_isbn_issn=0495013285&discipline_number=30
Admin. Assistant:       Sheryl Butler is a wonderful administrative assistant who can help you if
                                 you have difficulties reaching me or have general questions.
                                 Sheryl works in 7-202;  sheryl.butler@pcc.edu ,  (503) 614-7500.

This course is part of a three course cluster (G201, G202, G203) which explores the geology of our home planet, the Earth.  These courses have no prerequisites and can be taken in any order since they are designed to function independently of one another. Each course concentrates on different aspects of the Earth System:           

G201- explores earth materials and the Earth’s internal processes

G202- explores the landscape and Earth’s external processes

G203- investigates the geologic history of the Earth

Each course includes a laboratory component.

Catalog Description   G201 4.0 Cr.- Includes physical geology which deals with minerals, rocks, internal structure of the earth and plate tectonics. Fee: 12$. No course specific prerequisites.

Intended Outcomes for G201

(http://www.pcc.edu/ccog/default.cfm?fa=ccog&subject=G&course=201 )

After completion of this course, students will:

1. be able to demonstrate an understanding of the nature and origin of volcanism and earthquake phenomena
2. understand how human activity creates hazard situations and have an appreciation for volcanic and earthquake risks to the Pacific Northwest
3. have an understanding of the theory of plate tectonics and its role in the formation of rocks, minerals and economic deposits
4. be able to define the common minerals and rock types that make up the Earth's crust.
5. have the ability to communicate scientific concepts effectively through written reports
6. be prepared for future study in geology or related fields

Topics Outline

Introduction to Geology The basic features of the Earth, how geologists study the Earth.

Volcanoes Eruption styles of volcanoes, eruption products, hazards and prediction. 

Minerals The importance of minerals, how to describe and identify them, how they form.

Igneous Rocks Their description, classification and interpretation.

Weathering of Rocks How rocks breakdown at the Earth’s surface and what is produced.

Sedimentary Rocks Their description, classification and interpretation.

Metamorphic Rocks Their description, classification and interpretation.

The Earth’s Interior The Earth’s internal structure and conditions.

Earthquakes Location, size, cause, hazards and prediction.

Deforming Rocks The structures created when rocks are stressed.

Plate Tectonics How plate tectonics explains earthquakes, volcanoes and mountains.

Pacific Northwest Tectonics How plate tectonics impacts the Pacific Northwest.

Grading Policies

COURSE GRADE      5% Activities + 25% Labs + 20% Lab Quizzes + 50% Tests

 TO CALCULATE COURSE GRADE

                       ________  +   ________  +  _________  +  _______   =  _______
                        activity avg.       lab avg.       lab quiz avg.       test avg.     100 possible
                       (w/o low)         (w/o low)                              (w/o low)

GRADING SCALE  100-90% =A  90-80% =B  80-70% =C  70-60% =D  below 60% =F

Borderline cases (within 1% of border) will be decided on the basis of effort, attitude and improvement.

LATE WORK In class work is due at the end of class and can not be made up. Take home work will be marked down 10% each class period it is late.

MAKE UPS No make ups!  However, I will drop your lowest activity grade, your lowest lab grade and your lowest test grade. If you know ahead of time that you will be absent for a lab or test please talk to me as soon as possible, it may be possible to schedule an alternative time which is prior to the scheduled time.

EXTRA CREDIT No extra credit.

INCOMPLETES I do not encourage incompletes. Please contact me outside of class if you feel you need to pursue this option.                     

PLEASE COMMUNICATE  If something comes up which impacts your ability to participate in this class please get in touch with me as soon as possible; the better you communicate, the better I can help you deal with the unexpected.

ADD/DROP POLICY

1. Students who miss 50% or more of the first week of classes without contacting the instructor may be dropped in order to add wait list students.

2. It is the student’s responsibility to drop the class if they stop attending.

IMPORTANT DATES

10/01   End of Second Week                Last day to drop with a refund.
10/15   End of FourthWeek                  Last day to drop with out a W.
11/12   End of Eighth Week                 Last day to withdraw with a W or request a P/NP grade.

Course Components

Reading
The first step to doing well in this course is completing the assigned readings before coming to class. Reading a science textbook is not like reading a novel, newspaper or humanities text.  I will work on helping you develop this skill by stressing the importance of figures, diagrams, and maps.

Lectures
Lectures will expand upon the readings and will cover some material not covered in the text. I will spend a lot of time discussing figures, maps, and diagrams from your text; take note of the figure numbers and expect questions about figures to show up on tests. I recommend reviewing your notes after each class while your memory is still fresh. When reviewing your notes expand, annotate and add headings so that they make sense to you. I will review the previous lecture at the beginning of each class; this is a good time to check your notes and to ask questions. Please ask questions at any time during lectures! 

Activities
Frequent activities will help you develop your understanding of the class material.  Activities will include in class questions and activities as well as take home activities.  Some activities will be completed in groups others individually.  There will be two ‘you choose’ activities for which you will write a review of a geology article, talk or fieldtrip of your choice. For more information on the ‘you choose’ activities see the class web page under handouts. Each activity is worth 5 points.  I will drop your lowest activity grade.

Laboratories

Labs will give you experience working with rocks and maps. Lab exercises are designed to be completed during class and will be due at the end of class. Please bring a pencil for lab.  No food in lab! Part of your lab work you will be a project on Mount Saint Helens which can be completed by either writing a short (4 to 6 page) guided research paper on Mount Saint Helens or by participating in an all day field trip to Mount Saint Helens and completing a brief field report. The field trip will occur on either Saturday 10/2. Students will be responsible for providing their own automobile transportation for this field trip.  The Mount Saint Helens project will count as two labs. Each lab is worth 25 points. I will drop your lowest lab grade. There will be two lab quizzes each worth 20 points. I will not drop your lowest lab quiz grade.

Tests

Tests will cover material from the reading, lectures, activities and labs. A variety of question types will be used for the tests including; multiple choice, fill in the blank, labeling, sketching, brief response questions, and essay questions. Please bring a scantron sheet (882-E) to the tests. There will be four 50 minute tests.  The final test will not be cumulative, however the course material will naturally build upon itself and concepts developed early in the class will be used later in the class. Each test is worth 50 points. I will drop your lowest test grade if you complete the last test with a grade of C or better.

Course Policies
We are here to learn and to enjoy the processes of learning; the following policies are designed to create a positive and safe learning environment for all of us where we can succeed in learning together.

Class Room Environment  I expect you to respect the right of your fellow classmates to a positive learning environment. Any behavior which diminishes your classmates’ learning experience is inappropriate; this includes acting disrespectfully towards your classmates, as well as disrupting class by arriving late or leaving early, talking out of turn and allowing your electronics to emit sounds.

Attendance Regular attendance is expected and is important to your success in this class.
If you miss a class it is your responsibility to get class notes and handouts from your fellow classmates.  I will not be grading directly based on attendance, however you will be handing in work to be graded almost every class session. Students who miss more than 10% of the class (which is 2 class periods) should expect their absences to negatively impact their course grade. I will be taking roll the first few weeks to learn your names, after that it is up to you!

Academic Integrity Learning is your responsibility; nobody can do it for you. I expect you to approach learning with self honesty and integrity so that you gain the greatest benefit from your hard work. The PCC academic integrity policy states it this way, “To falsify or fabricate the results of one’s research; to present words, ideas, data or work of another as one’s own; or to cheat on an examination corrupts the essential process of higher education” Academic dishonesty may result in a grade of an F on the assignment and will be reported to the division dean. For further information consult the Student Rights and Responsibilities policies at : http://www.pcc.edu/about/policy/student-rights/ .

Special Concerns  I encourage students with special concerns or needs to meet with me outside of class so that we can work together to create a positive learning experience. PCC is committed to supporting all students. If you plan to use academic accommodations for this course, please contact your instructor as soon as possible to discuss your needs. Accommodations are not retroactive; they begin when the instructor receives the “Approved Academic Accommodations” letter from you (submitted in person for courses on campus; via email for Distance Learning courses). To request academic accommodations for a disability, please contact a disability services counselor on any PCC campus. Office locations, phone numbers, and additional information may be located at http://www.pcc.edu/resources/disability/ .

Privacy  Your grade record is private and I will work to maintain that privacy. As part of this effort I will only respond to e-mail from your pcc.edu account.

Flexibility Statement  Please keep in mind that the course calendar along with test and lab dates may change in response to changing conditions and class needs.