Physical
Geology GLG101
Fall 2009, MWF 10:20-11:10
Instructor: Michael Ort
Classroom: 12-103
Office hours: T 2:30-3:30, W 2-3:30
Office: 13-209
Phone number: 523-9363
E-mail: michael.ort@nau.edu
Credit hours: 3
Class website: http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~mho/GLG101.html
Required Texts: Earth, An Introduction to
Physical Geology, 9th edition, by E.J. Tarbuck, F.K. Lutgens,
and D. Tasa. Pearson Prentice Hall
Laboratory
Manual In Physical Geology, 8th edition by R.M. Busch and D.
Tasa. Pearson Prentice Hall
Encounter Earth: Interactive Geoscience Explorations, 1st
edition, by Kluge,
Pearson Prentice Hall.
Coerequisites
Students must be enrolled in GLG103 (the
lab) to be enrolled in this class.
Course
Description
This course provides an introduction to
geology with an emphasis on physical and chemical processes. Topics to be
covered include the fundamental aspects of Earth's crust, rocks and minerals,
structural geology, earthquakes, the earth’s internal structure, and tectonics. There will be three mid-term exams and
a final. This class counts toward liberal studies lab science credit.
Method
of Evaluation
Three mid-term exams, 100 possible points
each: 50%
of final grade
Weekly take-home quizzes, 100 possible
points each: 25% of final grade
Comprehensive final, 100 possible points: 25%
of final grade
The final grades may be curved a little,
although scores ≥90% will always be considered “A” and ≤50% will
always be considered “F.” Exams
will cover material presented in class and in the text and will not be
cumulative. The final exam is
comprehensive. Students who know in advance that they cannot be present for an
exam must make arrangements prior to the exam for the absence to be
excused. At my discretion,
individuals with excused absences from exams will either have all other exams
count proportionally more or a makeup exam will be given. Tests will consist of
both short answers and multiple choice. In calculating the final grade, the
lowest score of the three mid-term exams will be automatically dropped, provided all three exams are taken (so
you need to TAKE ALL THREE midterm exams). Unexcused absences from exams will automatically receive a
score of zero, which cannot be dropped.
All students must take the final, and the final exam score will count
toward the final grade without exception.
See attached sheet at the back of this
packet.
Students should also read the Classroom
Management Statement, which describes University expectations regarding
classroom behavior. This may be
found at
http://www4.nau.edu/stulife/handbookmanagement.htm
Methods
of Instruction
1. Students
are required to attend lectures.
Students will be responsible for material covered in lectures, even if
not also covered in the text. Some
of the material covered in lecture will not be covered in the text. Students who must miss lectures have
the responsibility of obtaining lecture notes from other students.
2. Classes
preceding exams will include a discussion of the material to be covered on the
exam.
3. All
questions are welcome at any time.
Your questions help me to better explain material and to elaborate on
topics that are especially interesting to you.
4.
The first lab (GLG103) is scheduled for the week of 8/31 (second week of
classes).
5.
There will be weekly quizzes to accompany the chapter reading
assignments. The quizzes are found
on the CD that comes with the textbook.
Students should take the exams and then print them out, with the grade
and their names printed on it, and hand them in at class time on the dates they
are due. Students should print out
an additional copy for their own study reviews because the copy handed in will
not be returned. Quizzes may NOT
be e-mailed to the instructor.
Note that you can take the quiz repeatedly (and new but similar
questions will be asked) so that you can improve your grade, and then you can
turn in the one with the best grade.
I want you to learn the material, so I don’t care how many tries it
takes you!
6.
A website for the class will be maintained that will include the lecture
powerpoint presentations and assignments given in class. The website is http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~mho/GLG101.html. You should be aware that the powerpoint
files do not stand alone as study materials for exams because they contain
little of text. In studying for exams, the powerpoint presentations must be
considered along with lecture notes, taken in class, to be of any value. I suggest printing out the powerpoint
presentations before class and annotating them in class. I will do my best to have the
powerpoint presentations posted well before class time.
7. The North Learning Assistance Center
will be offering tutoring in GLG101 during the Fall 09 semester. Students
may access the tutors by calling the NLAC at 523-5524 and scheduling an
appointment. Appointments are 45 minutes long and are free.
8. Students are encouraged to join NAU’s
Geology Club, a student run organization that arranges trips to various
collection sites throughout the state.
The president is Kyle Eastman and his e-mail address is ke224@nau.edu. Contact Kyle for further information.
9. For the field trip in GLG103 held
during the week of 10/5, students must plan to be gone for 5 hours beginning at
the time the lab starts. If an
institutional excuse is required due to conflicts with other classes that occur
after the normal 3-hour lab period, they will be provided.
Tentative
Schedule - subject to change Reading
Week of Subject Tarbuck and Lutgens
8/24 Introduction. Chap.
1
No
lab this week
8/31 Plate
tectonics. Chap.
2
LAB: NAGT/AGI manual:
Laboratory
4, parts 4a and 4b, Introduction to Rocks and the Rock Cycle
Monday
lab only: students will receive
instructions for completing the next week’s lab
because
the lab falls on the 9/7 holiday.
9/7 Matter
and Minerals Chap.
3
LAB: Encounter Earth:
Exploration
11, Plate tectonics: Divergent and
Transform Boundaries
Exploration
12, Plate tectonics: Convergent
Boundaries
9/14 Igneous
rocks Chap.
4
NAGT/AGI
manual
Laboratory
3, Mineral Properties, Uses and Identification
9/21 Volcanoes. Exam I on Monday Chap.
5
Lab: NAGT/AGI manual
Laboratory
2, part 2c, Origin of Magma
Laboratory
5, parts 5a and 5b, Igneous rocks
9/28 Sedimentary
rocks Chap.
7
LAB: Encounter Earth
Exploration
13: Global Distribution of
Volcanoes
Exploration
14: Lava Flows
Exploration
15: Calderas
10/5 Metamorphic
rocks. Chap.
8
LAB:
Field trip: SP Crater
10/12 Geologic
time Exam II on Friday
LAB: NAGT/AGI manual
Laboratory
6, parts 6b, 6c, and 6d, Sedimentary Rocks Chap.
9
10/19 Crustal
deformation. Chap.
10
LAB: NAGT/AGI manual
Laboratory
7, part 7b, Description and Interpretation of Metamorphic Rock Samples
10/26 Earthquakes. Chap.
11
LAB: Encounter Earth
Exploration
3: Stream dynamics
Exploration
17: Geologic History –
Dinosaur Ridge
Exploration
18: Geologic History – Red
Rocks
11/2 Earth’s
interior. Chap.
12
LAB:
NAGT/AGI manual
Laboratory
8, parts 8a, b, c, and d. Dating
of Rocks, Fossils and Geologic Events
Wednesday
lab only: students will receive
instructions for completing the next week’s lab
because
the lab falls on the 11/11 holiday.
11/9 Probably
catch-up, then segue into choosing our remaining topics ??
LAB: NAGT/AGI manual
Laboratory
9, parts a, b, c, d and e (include e only if stereoscopes can be
obtained).
Topographic
Maps, Aerial Photographs, and Satellite Images
LAB: Encounter Earth
Exploration
2: Topographic maps (do this as a
homework assignment if necessary)
11/16 We will decide the last topics together Exam III on Friday Chap.
??
LAB: NAGT/AGI manual
Laboratory
10: Geologic Structures, Maps and
Block diagrams
11/23 ???? Chap.
??
Thanksgiving
holiday – no class on Friday
LAB: NAGT/AGI manual
Laboratory
16, parts b, c, d, and e.
Earthquake
hazards and human risks
11/30 ????
Catch-up/Finish-up Chap.
??
Final
Exam: 10-12 am, Monday, Dec. 7
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