Dr.
W. Patrick SewardEARTH SCIENCE-ON-LINE
COURSE SYLLABUS
Dr.
W. Patrick Seward
·
Ph.D. Geology, 1990, The University of Idaho
·
Precious Metals Exploration Geologist, Nevada, California, Arizona, 1980-1985,
Freeport MacMoRan Inc.
·
BS Geology, 1979, California State University, Fresno
Office: RSU Campus, Loshbaugh Hall, Room 101
Office Hours: 8:00 to 9:00, Monday through Friday; 10:00 to 11:30 TTH, and by
appointment
Phone: 918 343-7835
Fax: 918 343-7563
TEXTS
ORDER EARLY - THE CLASS STARTS QUICKLY
REQUIRED
Text:
The Good Earth,
by McConnell et al., 2008, published by McGraw Hill. The ISBN for the text is:
978-0-07-325650-04.
It is available at your RSU bookstore on the main Claremore campus,
(918)
343-7847 or
(918)
343-1766.
Laboratory Kit:
Geology Laboratory for Distance Learning
Kit,
by James L. Ruhle ISBN
0757504795,
available from your RSU Bookstore
(918) 343-7847.
This kit includes
everything you need for the laboratory portion of this class: your lab manual,
video field trips, rock and mineral samples, identification tools, and maps.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Dictionary of Geological Terms,
published by the American Geological Institute, ISBN 0-385-18101-9. Order from
AGI:
(703)
379-2480 or www.agiweb.org.
I strongly recommend this little book
for students beginning in the geosciences. I
have a copy that is 20 years old - I still use it.
STUDENT RESOURCES
A few
comments
about your text,
The Good
Earth. I may find valuable
McGraw Hill's
ARIS
- Assessment, Review, and Instruction System for the
Good Earth
(www.mhhe.com/thegoodearth)
which is a complete online tutorial, electronic homework, and course management
system.
When you receive your text, be sure to carefully look at "Chapter Tools/Walk
Through" on page XVIII. Acquaint
yourself with the "Chapter Quotes", "Question", "Outline", "Key Points",
"Chapter Story", and "Self Reflection Survey" features in the Chapter
Introduction and the "Checkpoints", "Comprehensive Survey", "Chapter Snapshots",
"The Big Picture", and the "Concept Map" as Chapter Features.
_______________________________________
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Earth Science, EASC 1014, is a four hour physical science laboratory class that
satisfies the general education physical science requirement at Rogers State
University and at other institutions of higher learning in Oklahoma for
both
online and on-campus degrees. This class has a required laboratory.
Earth Science is the largest division of the study of the Earth. It is concerned
with the Earth's materials, changes of the surface and interior of the Earth,
and the forces that cause these changes. These changes are interpreted within
the context of
plate
tectonics, the unifying scientific principle of all the physical
Earth sciences. Some of the subjects examined in this class include minerals,
rocks, mountain building, earthquakes, volcanoes, weathering of rocks and
minerals and soil formation, glaciers, deserts, beaches, streams, and
meteorology.
Earth Science also studies
deep time
or
geologic
time and the changes of organisms through time, as interpreted
by
organic
evolution through natural selection, the unifying scientific
principle of all the biological sciences, geology, and paleontology.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
UPON COMPLETION OF THE LECTURE PORTION OF THIS COURSE, STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO:
1. accurately identify and discuss the genesis of rock-forming minerals and
igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rock types
2. discuss the factors involved in the crystallization and composition of
igneous magmas, the influence of plate tectonics on igneous activity, and the
formation of igneous rocks and rock bodies
3. explain and apply in an online laboratory setting the knowledge of how the
processes of chemical and physical weathering alter rocks to form sediment, also
the processes by which these sediments are eroded, transported and deposited
4. apply in a series process-oriented problems, the concepts of relative and
absolute geologic time and how this almost infinite span of time is used by
geologists as a tool to illustrate the uniformitarianistic processes of the
formation of Earth's major geomorphic features
5. observe and recognize in the online laboratory environment mass wasting and
the processes of streams and flooding, emphasizing prevention and remediation of
environmental damage caused by these processes - mass wasting will be
classified, controlling factors will be discussed, and common types observed
6. solve problems associated with the critical subject of groundwater -
laboratory projects emphasize porosity and permeability of the aquifer, water
table, the movement of groundwater, wells, effects of groundwater action, and
pollution of groundwater
7. construct models which illustrate the concepts of stress, strain, and
resulting geologic structure, faults and folds, geologic maps and interpretation
of the geologic past utilizing geologic structure
8. explain the causes of earthquakes and the concept of energy propagation via
seismic waves, measure the intensity and predict the occurrence of an
earthquake, in the online laboratory, locate and measure the magnitude of an
earthquake, predicting a seismic event along the San Andreas fault
UPON COMPLETION OF THE LABORATORY PORTION OF THIS COURSE, STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE
TO:
1. analyze the physical properties of minerals and rocks
2. identify mineral species and rock types
3. interpret the origin of minerals and rocks
4. appraise the economic importance of minerals and rocks
5. interpret topographic maps, identify topographic features
6. identify and interpret geologic structures and geologic hazards
7. identify surface water supplies, and evaluate the subsurface conditions that
are favorable for the occurrence of groundwater and hydrocarbon fuel resources
8. judge the impact of human activity on our planet and make intelligent
decisions that balance human needs against the need for a healthy environment.
Welcome to Rogers State University's Distance Learning Program!
I
am pleased and excited that you are embarking on an adventure with me where we
will explore our Earth and its systems. The course is Geology 1014, Earth
Science. This is a physical science course that satisfies the physical science
requirement at Rogers State University for
both
the on-line and on-campus degrees.
There is an opening date for each Unit (a Unit is a week's work - it includes,
generally, one chapter within your text and one chapter (exercise) within lab
manual) and prior to this date you do not have access to the Unit. I do this so
that I may edit the material throughout the semester, adding and deleting,
essentially tinkering with the class curriculum. For this course, however, I
have opened all Units, beginning with the first day throughout the semester. I
have done this for two reasons. Primarily, time is limited and if you feel you
have studied a Unit sufficiently, you may go on and tackle the next Unit, or you
may just wish to explore - no problem - just don't get too far ahead because I
may modify the material presented somewhat.
I promise that you will NEVER look at your Earth, this precious, tiny planet,
the same way after taking this class. Work hard. Enjoy!
Dr. Patrick Seward
COURSE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
GENERAL
It is important to understand that although this is an introductory class, it is
still a college physical science and therefore, almost by definition, it is more
rigorous than most classes you have taken in the past, especially online
classes. Serious, concerted study is required to do well on a timed exam. You
MUST know the material at exam time and be prepared to answer the questions in
the time allowed. You will not be provided access to the exam a second time.
Taking a course by distance learning requires that you be a self starter. With
this kind of course it will be easy to put things off until a more convenient
time. Resist this temptation! Prepare your own schedule so that you have set
times each day when you will read the textbook and work on a laboratory
assignment. Remember to read carefully and study any assigned reading several
times, as this information will surely be on the exams.
A general rule in planning study time for college courses is two hours of
outside preparation for each one hour of class per week. Consequently, you must
plan to study 8 to 10 hours per week for this class. Furthermore, you should
realize that consistent application produces results that are superior to
last-minute cramming. Recognize that 6 to 8 hours of study the night before an
exam cannot substitute for the cumulative effect of 24 to 36 hours of study
which should have been spent in the weeks prior to the examination.
GRADES
You will have five exams online, each covering three weekly Units (chapters
within your text). Questions on these examinations will be of a multiple choice
and true-false format. Exams are exactly one hour long. At the end of one
hour, the exam will cut off. Be prepared.
EXAMS MUST BE TAKEN ON THE ASSIGNED DATES (YOU WILL HAVE A "WINDOW" OF
THREE DAYS TO TAKE EACH EXAM). FAILURE TO TAKE AN EXAM DURING THE ASSIGNED THREE
DAY WINDOW WILL RESULT IN A ZERO FOR THAT EXAM. THERE ARE NO MAKEUP EXAMS FOR
THIS COURSE. NO EXCEPTIONS. PLEASE TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY AND BE PREPARED!
The exams will occur on weeks four, seven, ten, thirteen, and sixteen in Units
4, 7, 10, 13, and 16.
There will also be
two outside reading assignments in a major periodical, "National Geographic
Magazine". I will assign these articles. You are expected to write at least
a thousand word, well conceived and carefully
edited summary of each article, sent to me as an entry in your Drop Basket.
These papers will be worth a maximum of 100 points each. The first assignment is
due no later than Sunday,
October 5.
The second assignment is due no later than Sunday,
November 16.
See Unit 4 for the particular assigned articles.
Each journal entry must be clearly labeled as to which assignment you are
working on - be it a lab assignment or reading summary.
In addition, your final grade will be based on ten weekly lab assignments from
your lab kit. Completed laboratory assignments must be entered into your journal
AND CLEARLY LABELED. You will be given a
two week period to complete each lab assignment.
Late lab assignments will not be accepted. In other words, like the
outside reading assignments, the laboratory assignments are date
sensitive. As with your outside
reading assignments, each Drop Basket entry must be clearly labeled as to which
assignment you are working on - be it a lab assignment or reading summary.
If the assignment is not clearly
labeled, it may be returned ungraded. Each laboratory assignment will be worth a
maximum of 25 points each.
LATE LAB ASSIGNMENTS OR ARTICLE SUMMARIES, WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED, REGARDLESS OF
THE REASON FOR THEIR TARDINESS. LAB ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE NO LATER THAN 14 DAYS
AFTER EACH IS ASSIGNED. FROM THE DATE OF THE ASSIGNED LAB, YOU WILL BASICALLY
HAVE TWO WEEKS TO COMPLETE THE ASSIGNMENT, REQUIRING YOU ENTER THE ANSWERS IN
YOUR DROP BASKET.
You will also engage in four "Threaded Discussions" on topics presented to the
class. I will pose a question to the
class at the beginning of the week and you, after studying the
question for that week (these questions are not opinions -
your comments must be backed by data), will engage in an active online
discussion with your fellow classmates and me regarding the question.
This is lots of fun and evokes many good
ideas. Each Threaded Discussion is worth a maximum of 25 points each.
YOU WILL HAVE TWO WEEKS TO PARTICIPATE IN EACH THREADED DISCUSSION. AFTER EACH
TWO WEEK "WINDOW", YOU WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE PREVIOUS THREADED
DISCUSSION.
POINT VALUES
Your final grade in this class will be determined by the number of points you
accumulate during the semester. The
point values are as follows:
395 points for five online Unit exams
250 points for 10 lab entries in your journal (25 points each)
200 points for two article summaries (100 points each)
100 points for active, well researched participation in four
Threaded Discussions (25
points each)
You may earn a total of 945 points for the course.
GRADE SCALE:
Your letter grade for this class will be
determined as follows:
A - 850 - 945 points (90 - 100%)
B - 756 - 849 points (80 - 89%)
C - 662 - 755 points (70 - 79%)
D - 568 - 661 points (60 - 69%)
F - Less than 567 points
WITHDRAWAL POLICY
A "W" will be placed on the transcript if you initiate a withdrawal after the
tenth day of classes and before the end of the tenth week of the semester. If
you have not withdrawn by the end of the tenth week, you must be given the
letter grade that you earned in the course based on the number of points earned.
STUDENT
DISHONESTY
Plagiarism is the representation of the words or ideas of another as one’s own,
including: direct quotation without both attribution and indication that the
material is being directly quoted, e.g. quotation marks; paraphrase with or
without attribution where the wording of the original remains substantially
intact and is represented as the author’s arguments, lines of reasoning, facts,
processes, or other products of the intellect where such material is learned
from the work of another and is not part of the general fund of common
knowledge.
ADA
STATEMENT
Rogers State University is committed to providing students with disabilities
equal access to educational programs and services.
Any student who has a disability that he or she believes will require
some form of academic accommodation must inform the professor of such need
during or immediately following the first class attended.
Before any educational accommodation can be provided, it is the
responsibility of each student to prove eligibility for assistance by
registering for services through Student Affairs (918) 343-7707.
HELP
I am available to help you as you need it. My e-mail address is
wpseward@rsu.edu .