Principles of Earth Science I
ESCI 101 - Fall 2009
University of South Dakota

How to Register Your Clicker

Lecture Meetings: MWF 11:00-11:50 in Akeley-Lawrence Science Center 125
Professor: Dr. Brennan Jordan
E-mail: brennan.jordan@usd.edu
Office: Akeley-Lawrence Science Center 309, phone# 677-6143
Web Page: http://www.usd.edu/~Brennan.Jordan/

Course Overview: We live on a dynamic planet!  We are most acutely aware of this when Earth processes operate at their extremes, causing natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, landslides, and volcanic eruptions.  But even in the absence of these dramatic events, Earth processes are operating continuously, raising mountain ranges, eroding hillsides, and meandering rivers, to cite just a few examples.  The purpose of this course is to expose you to geologic processes, how the Earth works.  Along the way you will learn about minerals and rocks, the structure of the Earth, processes that shape the surface, geologic time, and regional geology.  This course should leave you with a greater appreciation of the natural world you see around you and an understanding of the geologic processes affecting society.  This will allow you to make more informed choices, as an individual (e.g. buying a home in a floodplain), and as a citizen (e.g. voting on issues relating to groundwater pollution and natural hazards).

Laboratory: All students MUST be concurrently enrolled in a laboratory section (ESCI-101L); lab scores are incorporated into the course grade.  Note: you must pass the lab to pass the course!  A separate syllabus will be provided for lab. The laboratory is an integral part of the course.  Be sure to attend the first lab (during the second week of class) with your first lab printed out (see below). 

Required Text: Plummer, C.C., and Carlson, D.H., 2008, Physical Geology, 12th edition, McGraw-Hill Higher Education, ISBN 978-007-721-6061.
     Lab Manual: no lab manual, labs must be downloaded and printed weekly from course Desire2Learn web page.

Clickers: Every student must acquire a Turning Point "clicker" at the bookstore.  After the first week clicker use will be required every day of regular lecture.  The clickers will be used to answer questions posed in class, and 15% of the course grade will be based on clicker use (half just for answering questions, half based on correct vs. incorrect answers).  If you come to class without your clicker you will need to complete a form at the end of lecture to get credit; this can only be done twice in the semester.

Office Hours: Formal office hours are M 9-11, W 2-3, Th 12-2; also, feel free to swing by any time or make an appointment

Attendance: Attendance is essential and, in accordance with University of South Dakota policy for introductory courses, attendance will be taken daily (by clicker use).  Students who cease to attend class will be reported to the university.  Attendance will impact grades as 15% of the grade will be based on clicker questions.  You may have up to two excused absences.  For an absence to be excused you must contact the professor BEFORE the start of class.  Excused absences reported through the Dean of Students office will be accepted beyond this limit.

Cell Phones: Please turn your cell phones off before entering the classroom.  Students with phones out during class will be asked to leave (that means no texting either).

Computers: As they are distracting to those nearby, and students using them are susceptible to multitasking, laptop computers may not be used in class without special permission.

Grading: A single grade is assigned integrating lecture and laboratory performance. There will be three midterm exams and a final exam for the lecture.  As described above daily clicker use will also contribute to the course grade.  Grading will be based on a conventional scale: A=90-100%; B=80-89.9%; C=70-79.9%; D=60-69.9%; F=<60%. A curve may be applied to some exams at the instructor’s discretion, but don’t count on it.  There may be some extra credit opportunities.  You must pass the laboratory part of the course to receive a passing grade in the course as a whole.  The weighting of coursework will be as follows:

Cheating: Don’t do it!  No credit can be given for a dishonest assignment. At the discretion of the instructor, a student caught engaging in any form of academic dishonesty may be: (a) Given a zero for that assignment; (b) Allowed to rewrite and resubmit the assignment for credit; (c) Assigned a reduced grade for the course; (d) Dropped from the course; or (e) Failed in the course.  Your professor leans toward option-e.  Cheating with the clickers will result in a zero for that 15% of your grade.
 

Freedom in Learning: Under Board of Regents and University policy student academic performance may be evaluated solely on an academic basis, not on opinions or conduct in matters unrelated to academic standards. Students should be free to take reasoned exception to the data or views offered in any course of study and to reserve judgment about matters of opinion, but they are responsible for learning the content of any course of study for which they are enrolled. Students who believe that an academic evaluation reflects prejudiced or capricious consideration of student opinions or conduct unrelated to academic standards should contact the dean of the college or school that offers the class to initiate a review of the evaluation.

Disabilities: Any student who feels s/he may need academic accommodations or access accommodations based on the impact of a documented disability should contact and register with Disability Services during the first week of class. Disability Services is the official office to assist students through the process of disability verification and coordination of appropriate and reasonable accommodations. Students currently registered with Disability Services must obtain a new accommodation memo each semester.  [Ernetta L. Fox, Director, Disability Services, Room 119 Service Center 677-6389, www.usd.edu/ds, dservices@usd.edu]

Lecture Schedule

Fine print:

Catalog description: The study of the Earth's composition, landforms, geological processes, oceans and atmosphere. Laboratory includes study of minerals, rocks, topographic maps, and landforms.

Course Evaluation: You will have an opportunity to evaluate the course and the instructor using the IDEA Diagnostic Form at the end of the semester. A separate evaluation will be made in the laboratory.

Course Goals: Students are expected to learn the basic earth science processes that operate on our planet and how humans have altered and/or reacted to those processes over time. This class in conjunction with the laboratory fulfills the following Goal of the South Dakota System of General Education Requirements: GOAL #6: Students will understand the fundamental principles of the natural sciences and apply scientific methods of inquiry to investigate the natural world.

Student Learning Outcomes: As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will:

1. Demonstrate the scientific method in Earth Science in a laboratory experience.

Identify a variety of common minerals and rocks and identify and interpret basic geological features using topographic maps and aerial photographs through completion of laboratory assignments and exams.

2. Gather and critically evaluate data using the scientific method.

Positively identify common minerals and rocks though observation of physical properties such as crystal structure, hardness, color, streak, cleavage, specific gravity, texture, and chemical composition on laboratory exams.

3. Identify and explain the basic concepts, terminology and theories of the selected natural sciences.

Demonstrate an understanding of basic geological processes (listed on class schedule) on lecture exams.

4. Apply selected natural science concepts and theories to contemporary issues.

a. Demonstrate an understanding of basic geological hazards, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, major storms, and river flooding on lecture exams.

b. Demonstrate an understanding of how human activity has affected the environment, such as surface and groundwater contamination, acid rain, global warming, waste disposal, and urbanization on lecture exams.

c. Demonstrate an understanding of earth resources (fuels, minerals, metals, etc.), their origin, extraction, and conservation on lecture exams.