Course description:

This course covers the origin and geologic history of the Earth and the evolution of its plant and animal inhabitants. Plate tectonic theory is used to explain changes in composition and structure of rocks of the Earth's crust from the formation of the Earth to the present. Emphasis is placed on the formation of sedimentary rocks for the purpose of understanding how they and the fossils contained within them record changes in earth environment and processes. Evolution and extinction are studied to understand how they reflect environmental changes in the earth's ocean, atmosphere, and surface. (Together with GEOL 311, CAN GEOL 4)

Student Learning Outcomes:

#1: Apply the Scientific Method to evaluating Earth history.
#2: Evaluate temporal rates and spatial scales of geologic processes in Earth history.
#3: Assess theories of evolution and extinction and the logic and evidence leading to their development and application.
#4: Apply plate tectonic theory to formulate past, present, and future changes on Earth.

Class time:

Monday to Thursday, 9:00 AM. The last day of regular class is Wednesday, July 31.   There is no class scheduled on Thursday, July 4, 

The final is scheduled for Thursday, August 1 from 9 to 10:25 AM.

Class room:

Cosumnes River College, SCI 109

Instructor:

Hiram Jackson
tel: (916) 691-7605 (rollover to voice mail)
e-mail: jacksoh@crc.losrios.edu

Teaching style:

interactive lectures, along with videos, overhead transparencies, slides, computers animations, and maps. 

Notes:

Copies of 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 internet, you can access it through various computer centers on campus.

Units:

This course is worth three units of physical science lecture credit.  A lab for Geology 310 is offered under the catalog listing, Geology 311, Historical Geology Lab, is meant to complement this class.  Geology 310 is a pre- or co-requisite for the lab.  Geology 311 is offered on Monday-Thursday, from 10:45 to 12:10 p.m. (immediately after Geology 310).

Office hours:

M-Th, 12:15-1:15 p.m.  There maybe some days when office hours may change to 8 to 9 a.m.  Those days will be announced in advance.

or by appointment, room SCI111
Please see my class schedule for more information.

Textbook:

Earth System History, 4th ed. (2015) by Steven M. Stanley is available for sale in the bookstore. 

Exams:

There will be four midterms -- June 20, July 2,  July 11, and 22  -- and a final on Thursday, August 1 from 9 to 10:25 AM

Expectations:

You are expected to read at a level (college level) that will allow you to understand the concepts presented in your textbook.  You are also expected to attend every class (unless you have an emergency situation), keep up with the reading assignments and materials in the textbook, bring your textbook to class, bring materials to take notes, and take appropriate measures to study in a way that allows you to understand the course concepts and perform well on the tests.

You may expect that this class will require, on average, about 3 hours of outside study for each hour of class lecture for the average student to receive an average grade (C or B).  Efficient, effective studying can reduce some of that study time.  If you feel the need to improve your study skills, please consult your academic counselor.

Homework:

Homework is assigned every week and is due at the beginning of the next class period. 

Makeup policy:

You must contact me before 9 a.m. 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 a week of the scheduled exam (a test given on a Tuesday will have all make-ups done before class on the following Tuesday). In-class quizzes cannot be made up. I will allow for one missed quiz for the homework/quiz portion of the grade.

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.

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 classes without consulting me about it, you can be dropped 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 and quizzes 25%
Science article/report: 15%
Midterms 40%
Final 20%

Optional project: replaces lowest midterm test score
Another optional project: adds up to 10 points to final score

Grades will be calculated on the following scale:

90-100% A, 80-89% B, 70-79% C, 60-69% D, <60  oops!

Current grades maybe found on the Canvas gradebook for this class.  Canvas is the course management system used for this class

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.

Grade Discrepancies:

If you feel that I have made a mistake in calculating your grade, please see me.  Please save your tests and homework if you wish to bring a grade discrepancy to my attention.

Note:

Students with individual needs 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 a voluntary field trips on a weekend day in July. There is no extra credit for going on the field trip, but it can help you with the optional project mentioned above.

Classroom 
rules:

Please end all private conversations once class begins.   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.  Please also turn off all cell phone ringers & alarms, watch alarms during class.  Please do not eat food during class.  If you have to arrive late or leave early during class, I appreciate an advance courtesy notice.