Earth and Space Systems

Geology 250, Spring 2008

 

Professor: Mr. Bill McGuinness

Office: 109A

Phone: 704/258-9432

E-mail: mcguinnessw@winthrop.edu

Meets: MW 6:30-8:00 pm

Room: Sims 201

Office Hours: by appointment only (Rm 201)

Text:  Marshak, 2008. Earth: Portrait of a Planet, 2nd/3nd Ed.

 

Co-Requisite: Geol 251 (Earth and Space Systems Laboratory).

 

Objectives: To understand the range of processes responsible for the composition and morphology and of planet Earth and how the scientific method is used to study the interactions within and between the lithosphere, atmosphere, biosphere, and hydrosphere.

 

Date

Lecture Topic

3rd Edition

2nd Edition

1/13

Introduction

Pg. 1-8

Pg 2-9

1/15

History of the Universe

Pg. 13-23

Pg 11-22

1/20

Formation of Stars

 

 

1/22

Our Solar System

Pg. 24-31

Pg 22-30

1/27

The Seasons/Climate Changes

Pg. 703; Box 20.2, 793-798

Pg 635 Box 20.2, 714-718, 

1/29

The Atmosphere

Pg. 693-699

Pg 625-632

2/3

Weather (Part 1)

Pg. 699-711

Pg 632-642

2/5

Weather (Part 2)

Pg. 711-718

Pg 642-648

2/10

Weather Lab

 

 

2/12

Streams and Rivers

Pg. 582-616

Pg 526-557

2/17

Groundwater

Pg. 661-689

Pg 598- 622

2/19

Earth Composition and Structure

Pg. 41-53

Pg 37-47

2/24

Plate Tectonics (Part 1)

Pg. 57-84

Pg 49-74

2/26

Plate Tectonics (Part 2)

Pg. 85-114

Pg 76-104

3/3

Seismology

Pg. 303-334 350-361

Pg 275-305 318-327

3/5

Geologic Hazards

Pg. 557-580

Pg 504-523

3/10

 

 

 

3/12

 

 

 

3/17

SPRING BREAK

 

 

3/19

SPRING BREAK

 

 

3/24

Minerals

Pg. 120-141

Pg 108-128

3/26

Igneous Rocks

Pg. 152-180

Pg 138-164

3/31

Weathering

Pg. 183-192

Pg 165-174

4/2

Sedimentary Rocks

Pg. 199-209

Pg 180-205

4/7

Metamorphic Rocks

Pg.  229-248

Pg 207-230

4/9

Mineral Presentations

 

 

4/14

Geologic Time

Pg. 415-445

Pg. 377-404

4/16

Geologic Resources

 

 

4/21

 

 

 

4/23

Review

 

 

5/2

Final Exam

 

 

Schedule subject to change (revised 12/23/08)

 

Preparation:  You are responsible for assigned readings in this course prior to the associated lecture.  The information contained in these readings is pertinent to the course and is considered testable material.  If you do not understand something from the readings, please ask during the lecture.

 

Tests:  Tests will be a combination of multiple choice, true/false, fill in blanks, and short paragraph answers.  Some tests will be given on a take home basis, some tests will be given in class.  Tests given in class will be closed notes/closed book. There will be a scheduled Final test that will be an In Class Closed Book and comprehensive of the entire class material presented The Final is scheduled for Saturday May 2, 2008 3:00 PM. Please make adequate arrangements to your schedule for attendance.

 

Homework:  There will be a weekly homework assignment in addition to the scheduled reading.  Homework is due one week after it is assigned, late work will not be accepted.

 

Mineral Presentation:  You will be assigned a mineral and will be responsible for preparing a short (3-5 minute) presentation that you will give to the class on that mineral.  You will be graded both on content and presentation.   Questions regarding your mineral will also be asked on your final.

 

Paper/Field Trip: A 1,500-word paper on a variety of topics or a field trip with write-up to one of several destinations will be assigned later in the semester.  The paper and the field-trip must be completed before the Final.

 

Pop Quiz: A quiz worth 1 or 2 points will be given at the beginning of each lecture.  Please be prepared.

 

Extra Credit:  At times during the semester there may be guest lecturers or speakers on related geologic/earth science topics.  You may receive cultural credit for attendance.  In addition, a 500 to 750 word write-up of the views/opinions expressed and your view or opinion on the topic presented will also be available for 25 pts extra credit.

 

Lecture Grading

Exams (3)                                             100 pts each  300 pts

Final Exam (1)                                      200 pts           200 pts          

Homework (8)                                       10 pts               80 pts

Mineral Presentation                           20 pts               20 pts

Paper/Field Trip                                   50 pts               50 pts

Pop Quizzes (20)                     1 or 2 pts each            25 pts

Total:                                                                            675 pts

Extra Credit                                                                  25 pts

 

                        350-400 pts = A (s)

                        300-349 pts = B (s)

                        250-299 pts = C (s)

                        200-249 pts = D (u)

                        <200 pts      = F

 

Full Disclosure: At times during a test or homework assignment you may have questions regarding the way it is phrased or what is being asked.  If you do not understand, please ask (or email for take-home assignments) your question.  In fairness, your question will be repeated to the entire class, then I will attempt to answer it.  Questions like, “Is this the right answer?” will be ignored.

 

Statement on Cheating:  Your grade in this course will be based solely on your work, alone.  Any attempt to copy another students answers during tests or quizzes or any use of unauthorized materials (cheat sheets/information stored on calculators/etc.) during test and quiz time is strictly forbidden and could result in an “F” for the entire course in conjunction with other unpleasant administrative actions.  Unethical behavior with regard to course material will not be tolerated.

 

Students with Disabilities

Winthrop University is dedicated to providing access to education.  If you have a disability and need classroom accommodations, please contact Gena Smith, Program Director, Services for Students with Disabilities, at 323-3290, as soon as possible.  Once you have your Professor Notification Form, please tell me so that I am aware of your accommodations well before the first assignment, test, or paper.

 

Earth and Space Systems Laboratory

Geology 251, Spring 2008

Professor: Mr. Bill McGuinness

Office: 109A

Phone: 707/258-9432

E-mail: mcguinnessw@winthrop.edu

Meets: MW 7:30-9:00 pm

Room: Sims 201

Office Hours: by appointment only (Rm 201)

Text:  No Text/ Lab Handouts

Co-Requisite: Geol 250 (Earth and Space Systems).

Objective: To gain understanding of the earth and space sciences through exercises and experiments.

Date

Laboratory Topic

Notes

1/13

Metric Conversions

 

1/15

Movement in the Sky

Quiz One : Metric Conversions

1/20

Precession of the Earth’s Axis

 

1/22

Seasonality

 

1/27

Motions of the Moon

 

1/29

Earth’s atmosphere I

 

2/3

Earth’s atmosphere II

 

2/5

Weather

 

2/10

OPEN

 

2/12

OPEN

 

2/17

Streams

 

2/19

Coastal Processes & Tides

 

2/24

Groundwater I

 

2/26

Groundwater II

 

3/3

Earthquakes

 

3/5

Plate Tectonics

 

3/10

OPEN

 

3/12

NO LAB

 

3/17

SPRING BREAK

 

3/19

SPRING BREAK

 

3/24

Minerals I

 

3/26

Igneous Rocks

Quiz Two: Minerals

3/31

Weathering

Quiz Three: Igneous Rocks

4/2

Sedimentary Rocks

 

4/7

Metamorphic Rocks

Quiz Four: Sedimentary Rocks

4/9

Mineral Presentations

Quiz Five: Metamorphic Rocks

4/14

Mineral Presentations

 

4/16

OPEN

 

4/21

Geologic Time I

 

4/23

Geologic Time II  -

 

5/2

There Is NO FINAL For the Laboratory

 

Schedule subject to change

Laboratory Grading

            Lab Exercise (17)                 10 pts each    170 pts

            Homework/Notebook           80 pts             80 pts

            Quizzes (5)                             10 pts each    50 pts

            Total:                                                             300 pts

 

 

                        270-300 pts = A (s)

                        240-269 pts = B (s)

                        210-239 pts = C (s)

                        180-209 pts = D (u)

                        <180 pts      = F

 

Laboratories: Each laboratory is worth 10 points.  There are some double class laboratories that will be counted as 20 points.  Please complete the laboratories the day they are assigned.  Some laboratories may require two days.

 

Homework:  Homework that emphasis concepts in the laboratory may also be assigned.

 

Notebook: Each student will prepare and submit a 3-ring binder with 5 to 6 completed laboratories from the class.  Please label both the front and spine with your name.  Your lab book must contain paper copies of all:

                        Lab exercises

                        Lab write-ups

                        Homework and homework problems

 

Laboratory Exercises and Laboratory Write-Ups

After each lab, you will be required to write a ~300 word essay describing what you did, what you learned and how you could apply what you learned to exercises or demonstrations to fulfill a standard in a K-8 classroom. When describing your experience, do not include exercises you did not do. You must reference the full text of the teaching standard from the South Carolina Department of Education’s Earth Science standards your suggested exercise or demonstration will address, including the grade level.

 

All lab-write-ups must be type-written and double spaced. Print out your write-ups on only one side of each 8.5x11 sheet of paper. Your essays must be your own, individual work. Significantly similar essays from multiple students will all be assigned a grade of zero for that essay and further action may be taken. If you use material from any other source (a book, the internet, etc.) it must be clearly cited within the essay, and a full bibliographic citation given in a separate “Works Cited” section. Failure to do so will be considered plagiarism and will result in a grade of “F” for the course. You have been warned.

 

Each laboratory write-up will be awarded up to 10 points, to a total of 50 pts.