Important Notice:  Look at the Word Quiz Page to see the changes in the dates when quizzes are available, especially quiz 3.  Look at the Schedule to see the changes we talked about in class last night.  The Practice sheets are now available.

Objectives:

You want to become Teachers.  This is a noble and worthy objective.  I will do all that I am able to help you with your objective.

On the other hand, both I and our school have several objectives for you.

1.  Every elementary grade has an Earth, Physical, or Natural Science component.  Therefore you will be teaching some of this material to your students.  In order to teach this science, you must not only know the "what" but also, and most importantly, the "why."  Knowing why something happens or why we think something happens puts you in a better position to teach the subject.  I don't want you to be afraid of this science.  Too many teachers have been afraid of it and their students reflect that fear.

Begin to prepare for your students now.  Construct a file on earth science from newspapers, magazines and any other source for your future use.  I will be willing to discuss this material in class.  You will see that I use photographs to illustrate some concepts, so you should take photos on field trips or vacations.  You can have a tremendous positive influence on young people by relating your own knowledge and experience about Earth.  Do it!

2. This is a science class and I hope to show you that science can be fun. I hope that you will have as much fun in this class as I will have in teaching it. It may surprise you how much about the subject matter you already know. One of my jobs is to bring out what you already know and show you how it becomes the base of knowledge in this class.  So let us have some fun!

3. I want you to develop an understanding of the physical processes that shape the surface of the earth around us and the consequences of these processes. Most of the time the surface of the Earth appears to be changeless, an illusion. At other times, it changes rapidly, even catastrophically as when you house slides down a hill. There are consequences when MAN stands in the way of the geological processes we will learn about. Therefore you need to understand these processes.

4. This country is one of the few on Earth where private ownership of land is not only allowed but encouraged. With land ownership comes the choice of what to do with it. This is where those sudden changes in the Earth’s surface come into play. If such a change affects your property or that of others, who will pay for it? Who should pay for it? Can the Government continue to bail us out?

5. California now has the fifth (5^th) largest economy in the world, having just passed France. Yes, if California were a country it would have the fifth largest gross national product. On what does the economy of California rest? How is that tied to Geology?

6. Finally, I hope that after taking this class you will never look at the scenery around or the sky above you without thin king of its history, how it formed, and how it will change in the future.

Our School and Society have several objects for you as well.

1. Become Educated. Our Republic depends upon an informed citizenry. This requires that our people become educated. What is an educated person? Does knowing facts make us educated?

2. Develop Critical Thinking Skills. Whatever your career interests are, they will be advanced with the development of good analytical reasoning and communication skills. You will be able to hone these skills on homework assignments, hands-on class work, the research paper and exams. Yes, the exams are also a learning experience.

3. Develop a Sound and Accurate General Knowledge of Science. Scientists and scientific ideas have had and will have a powerful influence on the world we live in. Will that influence be good or bad? By knowing how science differs from other categories of human knowledge, you will be in a better position to judge.

I will have an Exam after each unit or theme block on the day indicated in the course outline. My Exams contain true/false, multiple choice and matching questions as well as some thought problems. For the later, I usually start with some easy fill-in-the-blank questions, followed by questions requiring short statements or paragraph answers. Sketches or labeling diagrams can also be a part of this type problem. You will NOT be graded on your artistic ability. I only ask that you make them legible.

Each of the Exams will concentrate on the material covered in lecture since the last Exam. Note that I said lecture. I will be presenting some material that is not in your textbook. I may however, have some questions from the subject matter covered by the prior exam. For instance, if the majority of students misses questions on a topic, we will go over that material again and you will see it or some version of it on the next Exam. Plate Tectonics is very important so you will see that one every Exam after it has been covered.

I will provide Exam study guides. They will highlight the material that I think is important. Exam questions will be drawn from the study guide. Because of time constraints, however, not everything on the study guide will appear on the Exam. Time permitting I will offer some review on the last class before the Exam. By this I mean I will answer your questions. I will not just repeat my lectures. I will also offer an opportunity for questions prior to the Exam itself.

During the next class period following the Exam I will go over the questions with you.

I will allow you to have one 8 ½ by 11 inch sheet of paper on your desk during the Exam. You may put on this paper whatever you wish and on both sides. This is your Cheat Sheet.

Word Quizzes:

There will be 10 quizzes. They will count as one Exam grade. The quizzes will be drawn from the Key Terms found at the end of each chapter. These are also the words that appear in bold print in the chapter and at the end of the text in the Glossary. These words are your new vocabulary, a scientific vocabulary.  Note on your schedule the days and times when the quizzes will be available.  The quizzes will be available for a 48 hour period and will close one campus day before we cover the material.

You will access the quizzes through the Quiz Word Page.  You will find the linkage for that page on the page with the schedule for your class (follow your ticket number).  On the Quiz Word Page you will be able to access the listing of the words for each quiz, the quiz itself, and answers to the quiz.  Since this is on-line, it is in effect open book.  Therefore the quizzes will not just be giving me a definition, but using that definition.

Why am I doing the quizzes before we discuss the material?   By doing these in advance of the discussion I am attempting to encourage you to read ahead so that you have some familiarity with these technical terms before I start using them in class.   This will make your note taking easier. 

Why take the quizzes on-line?  An obvious answer is to save paper, a la the current budget problems.  Also, I have found that many students do not understand the English words that define these new terms.  By my being able to look at your quizzes before the class, I am better able to change my lecture so that I can address the more significant misunderstandings.  IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO A COMPUTER, OR IF YOU ARE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH TAKING THE QUIZZES ON-LINE YOU MUST SEE ME IMMEDIATELY.  We have a computer lab for those who do not have access to computers and we have instruction for those not comfortable using the computers.

CSULB has a Policy on Cheating and Plagiarism.  It is found in Policy Statement 85-19.  I will carry a copy of that policy in my kit if you have need of reviewing it.

Field Trips are required for this class.  I am planning for two field trips.  The first will be by bus and will cover the San Gabriel Mountains.  We will be looking at stream processes, alluvial fans, faulting and mountain building.  The second trip will be a local trip to the Palos Verdes peninsula.  This trip will be by private car.  We will be looking at petroleum production, faulting, flooding, mass wasting events, the ubiquitous chaparral and beach processes.

If you are unable to attend the scheduled trip, I may be able to accommodate you on a similar trip that I will be leading for Cerritos College.

On these field trips we will be looking at a variety of geologic phenomena. I will provide a handout that will include general information on the area and the stops we will make. Additionally, there will be a series of questions that you will need to find the answers to. I will be discussing this material with you on the bus and at the stops. The trips will generally be all day.

What this Class Covers:

This class basically covers Astronomy, Geology, Oceanography, and Weather and Climate.  More details can be seen by clicking on the Exam study guides.  These study guides cover the Geology and Oceanography portions of the class.  The remaining portions, Astronomy and Weather and Climate, will be handed out in class.  The reason for the difference is that those topics have a number of chapters from which I will select the most relevant portions to lecture on.  Therefore those study guides provide in affect an outline of the class lecture.

This is a combined Lecture and Laboratory class. You are enrolled in both. The lab work is designed to compliment the Lecture. Typically, our 2.75-hour meeting, twice a week, will be divided equally between Lecture and Laboratory work. Occasionally, the Lecture or the Lab will occupy the entire period. Your exams will cover both the material covered in lecture and the material covered in lab.

I expect that you will familiarize yourself with the lab material before coming to class, as you will do with the lecture material.  In this way a minimum of time will be spent on repetitive explanations of the material to be covered.

This is your time to have a one on one meeting with me for any purpose.  Too few students use the office hours.  It has been my experience that students who use office hours usually get better grades.  No I don't just give better grades, they earn them!

Since I only teach one class on this campus, I will be on campus only before and after this class.  I will make myself available for one hour before class.  On Tuesday, I can be here for a longer period of time and will meet with you by appointment.

NOTE:  The College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics' withdrawal policy is different from the general CSULB withdrawal policy.  Read the CNSM withdrawal policy, available in PH3-102, if you are considering dropping this Course.

I have not had, fortunately, and do not intend to have a problem with electronic devices and other things that go beep, ring, or make a noise in class. However, I have found that they are a great distraction to other students. Cell phones are especially bothersome because we all talk louder on the phone than we do in ordinary conversation. Your time and my time during the class is suppose to be directed towards the subject matter, not conversing with someone. Therefore, electronic devices must be turned off or turned to the silent mode in class. Failure to do so and if it goes off will result in my confiscating the device for the duration of the class. I will consider exceptions in the event that a family emergency necessitates their use.

The practice of using cell phones to provide answers on exams has become prevalent.  Therefore there will be no cell phones allowed in class during an exam.  If for some reason your family or employer must be able to contact you, you will be allowed to place the cell phone on my desk.

One electronic device is permitted in the classroom.  That is a recording device.  Yes you may record my lectures!

E-mail Addresses:

I need your e-mail addresses for use with this class.  I will only use them when I need to notify you of some change, before the next class or field trip.  If you do not want others to have your e-mail address please let me know as I can make the mailing private and not by group.

If you are e-mailing me for help or for information please use the following format in your subject line.  All e-mails not use this format will be discarded by my filter.
                        [course name & number], [your name], HELP

Success in this Class:

For success in this class, several things are extremely important.  First is the taking of complete notes.  Much of the material to be tested on in the Exams will come from lectures, handouts, and films.  As much as possible I will attempt to follow the organization in the Textbook so that you may use those headings as a general outline for note taking in class.  If you must miss a lecture, be sure to get notes from a friend.  Remember, however, that most people take notes on what they do not know, so be sure to talk over with your friend what is not in their notes.  You may use a tape recorder.

Secondly, you must be at class on time.  Films frequently will start at the beginning of the class period.  Habitual lateness will make it more difficult to earn the grade you desire.

Thirdly, prepare your cheat sheet after each class or at least at the end of the week.  At this time material covered will be fresh in your mind, as well as if you don't understand something.  In the next class period ask about the material you did not understand.  I will gladly look at cheat sheets to see if all of the relevant material is on them.  Warning:  If you borrow a cheat sheet you may find that the organization is not what you need and you may not be able to find the information on the cheat sheet that you need.  If you borrow a cheat sheet you must study it so that you can effectively use it.  Also, do not make your cheat sheet based upon the organization in the text book.  Remember that I have given you a study guide, that is the organization you should follow.

Fourthly, read the textbook.  Included with your text is a CD-ROM that includes figures from the text, movies, self-quizzes, and explanations to enhance your learning of Earth Science.  In addition to this learning tool, the Department of Geological Sciences has several interesting educational programs on the internet.  These programs are designed to help you, the introductory earth-science student, as you grapple with earth-science concepts and terminology.  Inspect them when you have the opportunity at http://seis.natsci.sculb.edu/bperry.html 

Fifthly, after we have covered the minerals and rock laboratories, bring a mechanical pencil, colored pencils, a clear plastic ruler, and a large eraser to all class meetings.

And finally, talking with your instructor.  I am here not only to lead you in a classroom discussion of the material, but also to help you learn.  Yes, I was in school once.  Yes, I had to learn to take notes.  Yes, I had to learn how to study.  I have many suggestions that I will be happy to share with you along these lines.  And don’t forget to ask questions in class.  Don’t be shy or bashful.  As far as I am concerned, the question you do not ask is the only stupid one, because you cannot get an answer to it.  I guarantee that someone else in class wants to know the answer to that same question that you are afraid to ask.  You will not break my train of thought if you ask a question.  Asking questions helps me help you.  By asking the question, you are telling me that I am not explaining things so that you understand.  I have many different ways of explaining the subject matter, so give yourself the chance.  Ask questions.  Pain and suffering are optional.  They are not designed into this course.  

Grading:

Your grade in this course will be based upon classroom participation, Exams and quizzes, field trips and homework. There will be a total of 860 points. Your final grade will be determined as follows:

526 + = A
468 - 525 points = B
409 - 467 points = C
351 - 408 points = D
less than 351 points = F

Consideration will be given to those whose total score is close to the points necessary for the next higher grade.

I will curve the Exam grades. I have taught this class at UCLA and know what is expected of a transfer class. Therefore I will probably be using a different curve each Exam as you begin to master the subject matter. So that each Exam will be equivalent, I will assign a letter grade to each Exam. The letter grades will be equivalent to the following points: A = 95, A- = 91, B+ = 89, B = 85, B- = 81, etc.

Tentatively your total points will be based upon the following categories:

Four Exams                                 400
Ten Quizzes                                 100
Final Exam                                   150
Report                                           20
Field Trip                                       15
Homework and participation          extra credit
                         

I will treat the total quiz score as an exam grade and then drop the lowest of the 5 Exam grades.  This does not mean that you can skip an exam.  Any exams that are not taken will earn a "0" and I will not drop that grade.