GEOLOGY 2
EARTH HISTORY SECTION 0419
Fall 2016
Tu/Th 9:35-11:05 CFS 92049
Instructor: Jill Lockard, CFS 91071, [email protected]
Text:
Historical Geology (8th ed.) Wicander & Monroe, Cengage Learning
ISBN-10: 1-305-11956-8
This textbook is required, but older editions will work almost as well. I strongly
encourage you to read the weekly chapters, if not before lecture, at least after the
material is presented.
Course Description: This course is an introduction to the history of Earth from its origin
to the present. This course will cover the history of the major systems of Earth: the solid
planet, atmosphere, hydrosphere/cryosphere and the biosphere. Emphasis will be
placed on the history of the life and landforms of North America. Topics include the
tectonic, climatic and biological evolution of the planet; major geochemical reservoirs
and fluxes; geological time and stratigraphy; a systematic study of tectonic processes
preserved in the rock record and the evolutionary history of life including plants,
invertebrates, fish, dinosaurs and mammals. Field trips may be taken.
Office Hours: M/W 12:45-2:30 pm, Tu 9:00-9:30 am, Tu/Th 11:10 am-11:45 am. My
M/W office hours are in my office (CFS 91071) unless otherwise noted, and my Tu/Th
office hours will generally be in the geology room (CFS 92049).
Attendance: I will take attendance for the first 2 weeks of class, however that the
responsibility to show up is solely yours. If you miss more than one (1) complete week
of class you may be dropped from the class, however it is your responsibility to drop the
class as I do not guarantee that I will do so. Please also note that work does not count
as an excused absence. It is your responsibility to arrange your schedule to
accommodate your classes.
Exams: There will be 1 exams, a midterm and a final. These exams will be mostly
multiple choice, however one or more may have a short answer section at the end (I will
tell you this in advance). The exams are not cumulative. The tentative dates are on the
class schedule, however they may be changed slightly to better accommodate the
material being covered. If you miss either exam you may be dropped. If you know in
advance that you have a conflict with either exam date, please contact me
BEFOREHAND to make other arrangements.
Homework Assignments: There will be 8 homework assignments throughout the
course of the semester. The assignments will typically relate to chapters recently
covered. Unless otherwise specific they are due one week from when they’re assigned
(i.e. if assigned on Thursday they are due the following Thursday). These assignments
vary in point value, but are designed to help clarify some concepts presented in class.
The homework is worth half of your final grade, so make sure to spend time going
through each assignment. These assignments are built into Canvas so please make
sure you can log on as soon as possible.
Quizzes: There will be 12 weekly quizzes throughout the semester. Each quiz is worth
5 points and begins at 9:35 sharp. These quizzes are designed to only last 5 minutes
and give you an idea of what material you’re keeping up with, and what concepts need
more review. If you come in late and the quiz is still going on you will be allowed to take
it; however you will not be granted additional time. If you come in after the quiz has
been completed, you cannot take it – no exceptions.
Grading:
Midterm 1
75 points
Final
75 points
Weekly Quizzes (12x5)
60 points
Homework Assignments
200 points
Total
410 points
Classroom Etiquette: Please be in class by the appointed start time. If you arrive late
it’s disruptive to me, and more importantly, to the students around you. If this becomes
a habit you may be dropped from the class. The same thing goes for leaving early. If for
some reason you are late and/or need to leave early please be very quiet and respectful
of the other students. If you come in late during an exam you will be penalized with lost
points.
Talking to a neighbor is very distracting to those around you, so please refrain from
doing so unless there is a discussion going on in class. If you’re being disruptive you
may be asked to leave. I have no problem with laptops if you’re using them for notes,
but make sure that’s ALL they’re being used for. Cell phones, however, are a no go. If I
see one out, I may confiscate it. And answer it if it rings.
Academic Dishonesty: This means cheating. Let’s make this really simple. Don’t.
This includes anything like looking off a neighbor’s paper, getting the answers from your
friend, getting the answers from an online source and not citing it. It also covers helping
someone else cheat. If you get caught, you will be given an F in the course and
reported to the Dean of Students for Disciplinary Action. It’s not worth it, and this is
something I take very seriously.
Students with disabilities who need accommodations are encouraged to contact the
instructor and Special Services. Special Services is available to facilitate the reasonable
accommodation process. The Special Services office is located in the new Student
Services Building #4800 and the telephone number is (818) 719-6430.
SLOs: The following are the official Pierce Student Learning Outcomes for Geology 2.
Upon successful completion of the course, you will be able to
1. Understand the history of Earth and how it is determined.
A detailed course outline with reading assignments follows. Don’t let yourself fall behind
in the reading! Lectures will be FAR more useful to you if you have already introduced
yourself to the concepts in the textbook. I would also encourage you to form a study
group with your classmates and review the material that way.
DATE
TOPIC
READING
Aug 30
The Dynamic & Evolving Earth
Chapter 1
Sept 1
Minerals & Rocks
Chapter 2
6
Minerals & Rocks
Chapter 2
8
Plate Tectonics: A Unifying Theory
Chapter 3
13
Geologic Time
Chapter 4
15
Rocks, Fossils & Time
Chapter 5
20
Sedimentary Rocks
Chapter 6
22
Sedimentary Rocks
27
Evolution
29
Evolution
Oct 4
Precambrian: Hadean & Archean
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
6
Precambrian: The Proterozoic Eon
Chapter 9
11
Precambrian: The Proterozoic Eon
Chapter 9
13
MIDTERM
18
Early Paleozoic Earth History
Chapter 10
20
Late Paleozoic History
Chapter 11
25
Paleozoic Life History: Invertebrates
Chapter 12
27
Paleozoic Life History: Invertebrates
Chapter 12
Nov 1
Paleozoic Life History: Vertebrates & Plants Chapter 13
3
Paleozoic Life History: Vertebrates & Plants Chapter 13
8
Mesozoic Earth History
Chapter 14
10
Life of the Mesozoic Era
Chapter 15
15
Life of the Mesozoic Era
Chapter 15
17
Cenozoic Earth History: Paleogene
Chapter 16
22
Cenozoic Earth History: The Quaternary
Chapter 17
24
THANKSGIVING!
29
Cenozoic Earth History: The Quaternary
Chapter 17
Dec 3
Life of the Cenozoic Era
Chapter 18
6
Life of the Cenozoic Era
Chapter 18
8
Primate & Human Evolution
Chapter 19
Dec 15
FINAL EXAM
OTHER IMPORTANT DATES
Last day to add classes
September 10
Last day to drop without fees/W
September 11
Last day to drop with a W
November 20