Northwest College
Geology 1404-21(28536) -Historical Geology
Fall 2014 Semester
Katy Campus - Room 380 | 11-2 pm | Tues/Thur
Instructor: Penni Major
Instructor Contact Information: 713-718-5757
E- Mail [email protected]
Office location and hours: Office 309-A / MW, 11:30-12, TTH 2-2:30 or as requested
Please feel free to contact me at any time by email, phone, or after class
Course Description
Geology 1404 is the study of the history of the earth, its life, and geologic time.
Laboratory includes the study of sedimentary rocks, fossils, and maps.
Prerequisites
Geology 1403
Student Learning Outcomes
The student will be able to:
 Explain the scientific method and how it relates to the earth
 Explain the various ages in geologic time
 Identify evidence from the rock layer and how it is used to interpret earth history
 Explain the theory of plate tectonics
ALL CELL PHONE, COMPUTERS, ELECTRONIC and Recording
DEVICES(Cameras also) MUST BE TURNED OFF DURING CLASS.
FAILURE TO FOLLOW THIS RULE WILL RESULT IN POINT
REDUCTIONS ON DAILY ASSIGNMENTS AND CLASS
PARTICIPATION GRADES. Cell Phone use during a test will result in a
grade of F. Cheating on any test or the final exam will result in failure of the
course (Semester Grade F) and referral to the Dean for further disciplinary
action. Students with disabilities who need to use a recording device as a reasonable
accommodation should provide the proper documentation
THIS SYLLABUS IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
16 WEEK CALENDAR
WEEK ONE
Introduction- Class Expectations, Chapter 1: Introduction to Historical Geology
Chapter 2: History's Mysteries
WEEK TWO
Chapter 7: Plate Tectonics // Chapter 3: Time and Geology
WEEK THREE
Chapter 4: Rocks and Minerals // Chapter 5: Sedimentary Rocks
WEEK FOUR
Chapter 5: Sedimentary Rocks, // Review for Test
TEST 1 Chapters 1,2,3,7
WEEK FIVE
Chapter 5: Continued // Chapter 6: Fossils- What they reveal
WEEK SIX
Test 2: Chapters 5,6 and Sedimentary Rock Identification
Chapter 8: Hadean & Archean Time Period
WEEK SEVEN
Chapter 9: Proterozoic Time period // Chapter12: Paleozoic Life
WEEK EIGHT
Chapter 12: Paleozoic Life continued
WEEK NINE
Chapter 10: Early Paleozoic Events
Test 3
Archean, Proterozoic, Paleozoic
WEEK TEN
Chapter 11:Late Paleozoic Events
WEEK ELEVEN
Chapter 14: Mesozoic Life // Special Projects/ Presentations
WEEK TWELVE
Chapter 14:Mesozoic Life continued- Dinosaurs
WEEK THIRTEEN
Chapter 13: Mesozoic Events & Extinction // Chapter 15: Cenozoic Events
WEEK FOURTEEN
Chapter 16: Cenozoic Life // Chapter 17: Human origins
WEEK FIFTEEN
Review
Lab Exam
WEEK SIXTEEN = FINAL EXAM
Tests/Exams: The chapter tests will consist of a combination of matching, true/false, fill in
the blank, word analysis, short answer, and one or two discussion questions.
DO NOT LEAVE THE ROOM DURING A TEST. DO NOT USE A CELL PHONE DURING A
TEST. Failure to take the final exam will result in a ZERO for that exam score.
Cheating on any test or the final exam will result in failure of the course (Semester
Grade F) and referral to the Dean for further disciplinary action.
Any student with an Exam grade below 70 will not receive a semester grade A
Student Assignments:
To better understand a topic, you will be given assignments on key information that you
will need to remember for your success in class
Your grade will be determined
by the following
Details
Percent of
Final Semester
Grade
Class work, and homework
Lab work, Attendance
All assignments will be averaged to determine an
assignment grade average + attendance
( determined by number of days attending class
All tests will be averaged to determine a test grade
average
A final exam will be given. (Anyone receiving an
33%
Tests/ Special Project
Final Exam
exam grade below 70 will not earn a semester grade A)
)
Total:
33%
Letter
Grade
Final
Average
A
B
C
D
F
90-100
80-89
70-79
60-69
59 or less
34%
100%
REMEMBER, the final exam counts a significant portion of your final semester grade
and can seriously affect the outcome of your desired grade. A GRADE LOWER THAN
70 COULD RESULT IN lowering a semester grade by as much as one or more letter
grades
Required Text : Earth THROUGH TIME, tenth Ed., by Harold Levin
see web site www.wiley.com/college/levin
Attendance: Attendance is mandatory, and it is the student’s responsibility to get to
class on time. Attendance is taken in each class. Late entry to class is disruptive and 3
late times equal one absence. If you stop attending class, you must withdraw at the
registration office prior to “W” day. If you stop attending class and do not
officially withdraw, you will receive an “F” for the course
Classroom Behavior : DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR WILL NOT BE
TOLERATED and could result in a grade F. Trash must be cleaned up at the end of
class and chairs left in an orderly fashion. This is considered a part of your class
participation grade, and points will be deducted for leaving a mess.
Makeup Tests: Students will be allowed to make up a TEST ONLY if the student has
contacted me prior to the test day for approval, and or there is an extreme emergency.
No student will be allowed to make up more than one (1) test per semester (no
exceptions) Make-up tests consists of a comprehensive 2 part test , immediately after
your absence Lab Policy: Attendance is mandatory – There will be no make-up Lab
work or make up lab tests. No late lab work will be accepted
REMEMBER:
This instructor has zero Tolerance for Plagiarism and Cheating
Help/Tutoring/ Disabilities : Please contact me if you need extra help or
assistance. Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning,
psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations
must contact the appropriate HCC Disability Support Service (DSS) Counselor at the
beginning of each semester. The Faculty is authorized to provide only the
accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services Office.
EGLS3 -- Evaluation for Greater Learning Student Survey System
At Houston Community College, professors believe that thoughtful student feedback is necessary
to improve teaching and learning. During a designated time, you will be asked to answer a short
online survey of research-based questions related to instruction. The anonymous results of the
survey will be made available to your professors and division chairs for continual improvement
of instruction. Look for the survey as part of the Houston Community College Student System
online near the end of the term.
Instructional Method
Geology 1404 is a core curriculum
As an instructor, I want my students to be successful. I feel that it is my responsibility
to provide you with knowledge concerning the field of Geology that allows you to
connect the information that you learn in this course to the real world .
As a student, it is your responsibility to read the textbook, submit assignments on the
due dates, study for the exams, participate in classroom activities, attend class, and
enjoy yourself, while applying the principles learned in class to your world
I believe you, the student, must take an active role in your learning process. Therefore,
you will be expected to be involved in discussions with your classmates and your
instructor. You will need to come to class prepared to discuss, analyze and evaluate
information from your text, other assigned readings, and current events.