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Dr. Nancy E. Todd |
FALL (2006, 2008) |
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OFFICE: BR 228a OFFICE HOURS: See webpage |
Mon-Thur. Phone: x5121 Email: [email protected] Webpage: http://www.geocities.com/elephaslady |
COURSE OVERVIEW:
How and when was the earth formed? When did life evolve? Why do earthquakes happen? These are some of the questions that will be addressed in this introductory course in geology. All aspects of physical geology (rocks and minerals, glaciers, plate tectonics), as well as historical geology (formation of the earth, earliest life, paleontology) will be covered.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Attendance and Class Participation: Students are required to attend two (2) lectures each week. Good attendance is required and will be noted. Students are expected to answer questions and offer discussion when appropriate.
Exams: There will be 2 short quizzes and a final exam
Written work:
Volcano Minipaper: a 2-3 page paper using the scientific method of writing and reference
Citation - preparation for final paper
Research Paper: 5 page (minimum) research paper, choice of topic
10 reference sources, 5 of which must be primary sources
Use of the correct scientific method of writing and reference
Projects: There will be several projects that we will be doing during the class.
Rocks and minerals exercise
Fossils and stratigraphy
BLACKBOARD: Students will be required to enroll in Blackboard
at Manhattanville. This is an online system for downloading assignments,
checking web pages and announcements and discussion. To enroll in the class, go
to http://blackboard.mville.edu/.
If you dont have an account, click on Create account and follow the
directions. Once you have an account, click on Course catalogue.
Select Biology and look for this class in the list. Click on the Enroll
button to the far right. The password is geo.
CLASS CONDUCT: Students are expected to do their own work on the exams, written work and lab reports. Even though the lab projects will be done in teams, each student is responsible for his/her own write-up of the project. Copying or plagiarism will result in a failing grade for the class. All students must read, print and sign the Biology Honor Code Contract, which can be found at http://www.mville.edu/biology/honorcode.html. This is to be handed in to the lecture instructor.
THERE WILL BE NO MAKEUP EXAMS OR LABS. If you are going to miss a lecture or lab exam, you must contact me before the exam takes place, and you must produce a written excuse from your doctor or the dean's office. If you miss an exam or lab and do not contact the professors beforehand, you will receive a zero (0) for that exam or lab exercise.
LATE WORK: All work is due on specified dates. Late submission will result in a 5 pts. per day penalty. Work submitted more than 2 weeks beyond the specified due date will not be accepted.
ALL WORK is due on on the last day of class. Work submitted beyond this date will not be accepted.
EXTRA CREDIT PROJECT:
Self Guided tour of the American Museum of Natural History, Halls of Life
FINAL EXAM - Will be scheduled during finals week.
Fossils
exercise due on date of Final Exam
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Graded material: Quizzes Final exam Exercises Mini paper Final paper Class participation |
% of Class Grade = 20% = 20% = 20% = 10% = 20% = 10% |
CLASS TEXTS:
Prothero, D. R. and R. H. Dott. 2002. Evolution of the Earth. New York. McGraw-Hill.
Gore, P. 2002. Historical Geology Online Laboratory Manual. Available http://www,gpc.peachnet.edu/~pgore/geology/historical_lab/contents.php
CLASS SCHEDULE
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Class Schedule |
Topics |
Reading |
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Week 1: |
Introduction and requirements Time and terrestrial change |
Chap. 1 |
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Week 2: |
NO CLASS -
Labor Day Floods, fossils and heresies |
Chap. 2 |
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Week 3: |
Evolution Geologic time scale and dating techniques |
Chap. 3 Chap. 4-5 Lab Manual Chaps. 7-8 |
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Week 4: |
Minerals CLASS EXERCISE -
Minerals |
Lab Manual Chap. 1 |
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Week 5: |
QUIZ #1+ Exercise 7-8 of manual Origin and early evolution of the earth Volcanos and earthquakes |
Chap. 6 TBA |
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Week 6: |
Mountains, continents and plate tectonics Igneous and metamorphic rocks |
Chap. 7 |
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Week 7: |
CLASS EXERCISE - igneous and metamorphic rocks VIDEO: Santorini Eruption |
LAB MANUAL Internet tour:VIRTUAL VOLCANO |
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Week 8:
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NO CLASS
COLUMBUS DAY Sedimentary rocks and depositional environments |
Chap. 8 Lab manual Chaps. 2-5 |
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Week 9: |
Cryptozoic history, origin-continental crust CLASS EXERCISE - sedimentary rocks |
Chap. 8 Lab Manual Chap. 3 |
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Week 10:
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QUIZ #2 +volcano minipaper Origin of life Early paleozoic, cratons and ocean basins PAPER TOPIC, SUMMARY AND BIBLIOGRAPHY DUE |
Chap. 9 Chap. 10 |
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Week 11:
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Middle Paleozoic, fish, reefs, and petroleum Late Paleozoic, Pangea, swamps and extinction |
Chap. 11-12 Chap. 13 |
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Week 12: |
Mesosoic, continental breakup, reptiles Dinosaurs! |
Chap. 14 |
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Week 13: |
VIDEO: When Dinosaurs Roamed America CLASS EXERCISE - Fossils |
Chap. 14 Lab Manual Chaps. 9-14 |
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Week 14: |
Cenozoic, modern continents and mammals NO CLASS - Thanksgiving |
Chap. 15 |
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Week 15: |
Pleistocene glaciations Global ecosystem and the ecological crisis FINAL PAPER DUE IN CLASS |
Chap. 16 Chap. 17 |