Course description: | Physical geology is an introduction to the study of the scientific composition and dynamics of the earth from the atomic scale of minerals to the global scale of plate tectonics. The composition, structure, and dynamics of the layered earth include a short introduction to minerals, rocks, weathering, erosion, earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, faults, interior processes, plate tectonics, and earth resources. Emphasis is placed on how the geologic environment affects humans and how humans affect the environment. The student will study the processes forming surface landforms and be able to recognize landscapes characteristic of water, ice, and wind erosion. Successful completion of physical geology prepares a student to apply geologic principles to other sciences, understand and appreciate geologic phenomena and avoid geologic hazards. |
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Student Learning Objectives: | SLO#1: Apply the
Scientific Method to evaluating geologic processes. SLO#2: Evaluate temporal and spatial dimensions in which Earth originated and exists. SLO#3: Examine how we can determine Earth's interior and surface compositions. SLO#4: Apply plate tectonic theory to formulate geologic settings for physical processes. SLO#5: Assess the potential threats of geologically-related natural disasters. SLO#6: Evaluate the various despositional and erosional features associated with different agents of erosion -- wind, glaciers, rivers, gravity, and waves. SLO#7: Communicate geologic concepts and information effectively in various forms (e.g., verbal, written, graphic). |
Class time: | Tuesdays
& Thursdays, 10:30-11:50 a.m. There will be The |
Class rooms: | Cosumnes River College, SCI-109 |
Instructor: | Hiram
Jackson tel: (916) 691-7605 e-mail: jacksoh@crc.losrios.edu |
Teaching style: | Interactive
lecture, along with videos, overhead transparencies, slides, computers
animations, & maps. |
Notes: | Some class notes may be available on the class webpage at http://web.crc.losrios.edu/~jacksoh . If you do not have access to the World Wide Web, you can access it through various computer centers on campus. |
Units: | This
course is worth three units of physical science lecture
credit. If
you need a physical science lab credit, you should consider signing up
for
Geology 301. |
Office hours: | Monday/Wednesday, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Tuesday/Thursday, noon to 1p.m. Fridays, 11-noon (selected Fridays, TBA) or by appointment, room SCI-111. Please see my class schedule for more information. |
Textbook: | Physical
Geology (14th ed) by Plummer ,
Carlson,
& Hammersley sells for about $145
(without taxes) in the bookstore.
If you have trouble obtaining a copy of the class books, copies may be available on reserve in the library. |
Exams: | There
will be three midterms -- September 29, October 29, and November 19 -- and
a final on December 16. All midterms will last 80 minutes. |
Homework: | Homework is assigned every week and will be collected at the beginning of class (10:30) and returned the following class. |
Makeup policy: | You must contact me before 10:30 on the scheduled day of an exam if you must miss an exam. Please briefly explain the nature of your absence, and when you expect to be able to make it up. Please be aware that I will not return graded exams until all makeups have been given. I generally expect makeups to be taken within 3-4 days. |
Attendance policy: | Excessive
absences you risk understanding the class material, not being able to
do well
on exams, or being dropped from the class roster. If you miss three or more lectures, I
reserve
the right to drop you from the class. If you must be
absent,
please leave a message indicating what the nature of your absence is,
and
what arrangements you can make to make up the necessary work. |
Grading: | Homeworks:
30% Midterms & Writing assignment: 50% Final: 20% Optional project (geology of particular area of California) : replaces lowest test grade Another optional project (reading and reporting on a designated book) is worth up to 10 points on the final class grade. Grades will be calculated on the following scale: 90-100% A, 80-89% B, 70-79% C, 60-69% D, <60 oops!There is no curving of grades for individual assignments. Final grades might be curved at my discretion, but at a minimum, the above grade intervals are guaranteed. At any time, current individual grades are available from the gradebook option on D2L. Grades are a measure of your performance on assignments and tests in this class, and are not to be interpretted as any reflection of what I think of you as a person. We hope that this measure of performance shows how well you understand and master the class material. If you have comments or suggestions, please contact me. |
Cheating: |
You are
expected to turn in your own work. You are to take all exams
based
on what you remember from studying (no notes, textbooks, or
anything
else will be available). Anyone caught cheating may face one or
more
of the following penalties: no grade for the assignment, an F for the
course,
probation or suspension from the college. |
Note: | Students with special needs or accommodations should contact me as soon as possible outside of class. |
Field trip: | There is no formal or required field trip for this class, however I propose leading two voluntary field trips on different weekends in October and November. There is no extra credit for going on the field trip, but it may help you with the optional project mentioned above. |
Classroom etiquette: |
Apart
from the campus standards for conduct printed in the catalog and
schedule, the following rules are worth mentioning: 1. Please do not bring food to class. 2. Please also turn off all cell phones, watch alarms, and pagers during class. 3. Arrive on time to class. If you arrive late, please enter quietly and take a seat near the door. If you must leave early, please tell me before class that you will leave early and take a seat near the door. 4. Please end all private conversations once class begins. |
Last update
8/25/2015
Webpage designed by Hiram Jackson.
Contact Geology webmanager, Hiram Jackson, at jacksoh@crc.losrios.edu