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UAM - SYLLABUSSchool of Mathematical and Natural Sciences
Elements of Geology – Fall 2014
Sec. 01 – 08:10-09:30 TT
Sec. 02 – 11:10-12:30 TT
I. INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Jim Edson
Office: Room 109 - Museum - Phone 460-1966 - email:
[email protected]: MWF 9:00 – 11:00;
2:00 – 3:00, TT 10:00 – 11:00;
3:00 – 4:00 Website:
http://www.uamont.edu/FacultyWeb/Edson/
II. COURSE: ESCI 1063(ACTS – GEOL
1114) – Elements of Geology, 3 hours
credit NOTE: This course fulfills specific general education
requirements. For more information, see the catalog.
PREREQUISITES: None
III. COURSE DESCRIPTION: Materials of the Earth’s crust and the
processes and agents that affect
them; plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, and Earth
history.
IV. TEXT: Foundations of Earth Science, 5th, 6
th or 7
th ed. (ISBN: 0321811798) - Lutgens &
Tarbuck-Required
Textbook website:
http://wps.prenhall.com/esm_lutgens_foundations_4
V. STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES: By the time the student completes
this course he/she should
be able to:
1. understand the methodology of science.
2. describe how geology, as an earth science discipline, relates
to the other natural sciences.
3. have an understanding of the time scale used in reference to
geological processes.
4. list and discuss the natural resources (rocks, energy, water)
that come from the Earth.
5. describe the Earth’s relationship to the Universe.
6. demonstrate an understanding of the unifying nature of the
Plate Tectonic theory.7. describe the cycles through which earth
materials move.
8. understand and to be able to explain the occurrence of
natural disasters which come in the form
of earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruptions, and floods.
9. recognize the landforms of the Earth’s crust, and be able to
speculate as to the processes that
formed them and how they evolve.
VI. CONTENT OUTLINE: See page 3 for more details.
1. Introduction and Earth materials
A. The nature of science – Intro Chp.
B. The science of geology – Intro Chp.
C. Earth Dynamics – Intro Chp.D. The scientific
process – Intro Chp.
E. Minerals – Chp. 1
F. Rocks – Chp. 2
2. Plate Tectonics
A. History and evidence – Chp. 5
B. Unifying theory – Chp. 5
3. Earth’s internal processes
A. Earthquakes – Chp. 6
B. Geologic structures – Chp. 6
C. Igneous activity – Chp. 7
4. Geologic History
A. Historical notes – Chp. 8, 15, 16
B. Clues to the past – Chp. 8
C. Relative and absolute age dating – Chp. 8
D. The geologic time scale – Chp. 8
E. Arkansas through time – Chp. 8
http://cotton.uamont.edu/~edson/index.htmlxhttp://cotton.uamont.edu/~edson/index.htmlx
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VII. TESTING AND GRADING PRACTICES:
1. There will be four (4) 200 point, non-comprehensive tests
given during the semester. All of the tests will
consist of 50 multiple choice questions worth 4 points each for
a total of 200 points. If you miss a test, there
will be one comprehensive makeup at the end of the semester. You
will need a Scantron and a pencil for each
test.
2. The 4th test will be the final. It will be given on the
date scheduled by UAM. You must take the final on the
date scheduled for the class section for which you are enrolled.
No exceptions. Do not make early travel plans.3. You will also have
the option to take the comprehensive makeup to replace one of the
grades on the 4
regularly scheduled tests.
4. There will be 22 classroom assignments during the semester.
Twenty (20) of these will count towards your
semester grade. They will be worth four (4) points each (80
points total). No make-ups.
5. Eight online quizzes from the textbook website worth 10
points each will be assigned during the semester for
a total of 80 points. 40 additional points will come from
various outside assignments that will be announced in
class, and posted on my webpage. No late assignments will be
accepted.
6. Grades will be determined based on the following scale:
1000 - 895 = A ( 100 - 89.5%)
894 - 795 = B ( 89.4 - 79.5%)
794 - 695 = C ( 79.4 - 69.5%)
694 - 595 = D ( 69.4 - 59.5%)594 - 0 = F ( 59.4 - 0%)
7. You will be assigned a code number for the purpose of posting
grades. You have the right not to have your
grades posted. Please tell me if you wish not to have your
grades posted.
VIII. CLASSROOM POLICIES:
1. Attendance is expected. Students missing lecture notes or
assignments because of absences (excused or
unexcused) are still responsible for the material. All students
are required to have a UAM email account.
2. Students are asked to refrain from engaging in distractive
behavior (using electronic devices such as cell
phones, chatting with classmates, sleeping, etc.) during
class time. Those students that disregard this request
will be asked to leave the room, and will receive no credit for
the class period. If you arrive late, wait until
one of the breaks before entering the room. If you need to leave
early, please do so during one of the breaks.
3. The following action is prohibited under the UAM Student
Conduct Code: Disorderly Conduct: Any
behavior which disrupts the regular or normal functions of
the University community, including behavior
which breaches the peace or violates the rights of others.
IX. ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:
1. Cheating: Students shall not give, receive, offer, or
solicit information on examinations, quizzes, etc.This includes but
is not limited to the following classes of dishonesty:
a. Copying from another student’s
paper. b. Use during the examination of prepared
materials, notes, or texts other than those specifically
permitted by the instructor.
c. Collaboration with another student during the
examination.
2. Collusion: Collusion is defined as obtaining from
another party, without specific approval in advance bythe
instructor, assistance in the production of work offered for
credit, to the extent that the work reflectsthe ideas of the party
consulted rather than those of the person whose name in on the work
submitted.
3. Plagiarism: To adopt and reproduce as one’s own, to
appropriate to one’s use, and to incorporate in one’sown work
without acknowledgement the ideas or passages from the writings or
works of others.
For any instance of academic dishonesty that is discovered by
the instructor, whether the dishonesty is found
to be cheating, collusion, duplicity, or plagiarism, the result
for the student or students involved will be that
the instructor will assign a grade of “0” for the examination or
assignment involved. (See page 42 of the
UAM catalog 2011-13 for further academic code violations)
