EARTH AND UNIVERSE

GEOLOGY 2376.001

TAMUK SPRING 2001

INSTRUCTOR: DR. JOHN S. BUCKLEY

TELEPHONE: OFFICE: 593-3504, 593-3310 (leave message), HOME: (361) 992-3380 (Between 9:00am and 10:00 PM)

E-MAIL: jbuckley@falcon.tamcc.edu

CLASS ROOM: M-129 (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

CLASS HOURS: TTH 4:30-5:50

OFFICE HOURS: ROOM: B204C; MWF 11:00-11:50am, 1:00-2:00pm or by Appointment. I will normally be available after class for anybody who needs assistance.

REQUIRED TEXTS: Brian J. Skinner & Stephen C. Porter, The Blue Planet, 2nd ed., Wiley & Sons, New York.

Lab Manual: The Blue Planet.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Earth and Universe is a lecture/laboratory geology course designed to give education majors an understanding of earth science sufficient to allow them to teach the subject at the elementary and middle school levels. The course provides a background in astronomy, meteorology, physical geology, Earth pre-history, general ecology, and environmental/ economic geology. There is a lot of material to cover so be prepared.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

LECTURES: The lectures follow the material in the text books. The lectures may be supplemented by material from outside sources such as films, additional references, slides, guest lecturers, etc. As a student you are responsible for ALL of the material presented in class and any that may be given as outside assigned readings, or projects. A syllabus is issued to you he first week of classes. This is a guide to help you to plan your studies. We may deviate from the dates somewhat but the order of the lessons should not radically change. I encourage questions as long as they are not disruptive and argumentative, so please ask away.

If you have a problem understanding the material being covered in class, or the book PLEASE come and see me. I am here to help you learn about geology, but don't wait until the last moment, I can't help you if you don't keep me informed.

LABS: (NOTE: YOU MUST PASS THE LAB TO PASS THE COURSE) The labs are designed to give the students an understanding of basic geologic principles such as rock and mineral identification, and map reading, as well as covering the other subject areas in the course. Specific details about the labs will be presented by the lab TAs.

ATTENDANCE: You are required to attend ALL scheduled classes and labs. I will keep a record of your attendance. Good attendance is directly related to good grades. Studies have shown that as class attendance drops off the grades drop also, roughly at the rate of one percentage point per absence. This means that even excused or not, does not relieve you of the responsibility of doing the work expected including the lecture material presented. If you intend to be absent you must let me know in advance. I am reasonable if I am kept informed.

TARDINESS: Be on time, late arrivals disrupt the class in session. If you anticipate being late for a specific reason, such as coming in from out of town, please let me know ahead of time. Anyone arriving after I have started lecturing is considered tardy. Unexcused tardies count as an absence (see above). I will not repeat material just because you were tardy.

WITHDRAWAL: Withdrawals are the RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STUDENT, this means YOU as a student must initiate a withdrawal if that is what you intend to do. Withdrawals MUST be initiated no later than the last day to withdraw. If you forget, then you live with the grade you have earned at that time. I WILL NOT withdraw you because you are failing or are doing poorly. THE LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW WITH AN AUTOMATIC GRADE OF "Q" FOR THE SPRING SEMESTER 2001 IS: Tuesday 27 March 2001 (If you withdraw after this date you will need for me to sign the withdrawal form for it to be official. IF YOU DO NOT GET MY SIGNATURE ALL DROPS WILL REVERT TO AN "F") The last day to withdraw for any reason is: 5:00PM MONDAY 30 APRIL 2001.

DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR: I do not tolerate disruptive behavior in my classes. Don't act like the students you intend to be teaching later on in your career. This includes talking, playing games, leaving you seat, and moving about the room. If the behavior persists you will be asked to leave the room and that day counts as an absence (see above policy). If you need to ask a question, as me not the student next to you, it distracts them as well as everyone else.

GRADING AND EXAMS

GRADES:

Lecture: (77%)

4 exams, 3count @ 18% ea. Lowest exam is dropped or is dropped as a makeup (see below).

Pop Quizzes: (3%)

You must be present to take the quiz, NO MAKEUPS.

Final Exam: (20%)

Lab: (23%)

STANDARDS: A = 90% or above, B = 80-89%, C = 70-79%, D = 60-69%, F = 59% or below.

POSTING OF GRADES: Because of concerns about possible violations of student privacy, grades are not allowed to be posted. If you wish to have a copy of your grades prior to the time the university mails them to you please bring me a stamped self addressed postcard to the final exam and I will be glad to mail you your course grade.

MISSED EXAMS and REEXAMS: There are NO REEXAMS. You must drop the lowest test grade other than the final exam. If you miss an exam, you may drop that grade. You may do this only once. You may not use this option to cover more than one exam. Exams are given in class so there should be no excuse for missing one.

COVERAGE: The exams cover the material covered in lecture up to the time of the exam. They will not cover material that we have not gone over yet. I will periodically warn you about specific topics that will be on an exam so pay attention. The exams tend to emphasize the lectures and texts so class attendance is necessary, however, this does not preclude questions from any outside assignments, such as reserve readings or video tapes, that may be given. THE FINAL WILL BE COMPREHENSIVE.

FORMAT: The exam format is a mixture of objective questions, short answer, and discussion questions. The exams are thorough and challenging so be prepared.

INCOMPLETES: As a rule I do not give incompletes. Incompletes are designed ONLY for a student who has a solid passing grade at the time the need arises. There must be a sudden severe problem towards the end of the semester for me to consider an incomplete, doing poorly in the course is never grounds for one, you have the option to withdraw instead.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated. If you are caught cheating on any graded exercise such as an exam you will be failed in the course.  I will confiscate all materials used to cheat with and the exercise in question. The matter will be referred to the Dean for the appropriate administrative action. I will not withdraw you for cheating, just fail you.

EARTH AND THE UNIVERSE            GEO 2376           SPRING 2001           BUCKLEY