Cerritos
Community College SYLLABUS
Spring Session 2011
Ticket # 20262 MW 9:30 - 11:00 A.M. S 101
Ticket # 20263 TTh 9:30 - 11:00 A.M. S 104
EARTH SCIENCE 101 PHYSICAL ECOLOGY
INSTRUCTOR: Donald E. Hallinger
OFFICE:
Office A, Physical Sciences Building
TELEPHONE:
On campus
X 2663 – Off campus (626) 791-4768
E-MAIL:
dhallinger@sbcglobal.net or
dhallinger@cerritos.edu
OFFICE HOURS: MTWTh 8:00 - 9:00; other times by
appointment
TEXTBOOK:
Environmental Geology, 8th
Ed. by Montgomery
Last Revised 12/14/10
Note revisiion in the quiz schedule!
Pages Unique to this Class
Our
physical environment “exists by geological consent,
Subject to change without notice” Will
Durant
Sections Taught:
This is a lecture ONLY class. Because our computer system recognizes Field Trips as Lab, this class is listed with a Lab component that refers to Field Trips. If you have only enrolled in this ticket number, you are only enrolled in Lecture. I am teaching two sections of this class during the spring session. Both are daytime sections, Ticket # 20262, is held on MW from 9:30 to 11:00 AM in S 101. Ticket # 20263, is held on TTh from 9:30 to 11:00 AM in S 104. If you must miss a class or assignment, you may come to the other section on the appropriate day.
Laboratory:
There is a lab that is complimentary to this Lecture class. It is not required, but it is taught to supplement the lectures given in this class. There is only one section of this lab. It is listed as ESCI 102 – Physical Ecology Field Lab, Ticket # 22539, on Wednesday from 12:30 - 3:30 P.M. in PS 2.
CONTRARY TO ANYTHING YOU HAVE BEEN TOLD OR HAVE READ, IF YOU ARE ENROLLED IN THIS LECTURE CLASS YOU ARE NOT AUTOMATICALLY ENROLLED IN THE LAB CLASS. YOU MUST DO THIS SEPARATELY! IT IS ESCI 102, TICKET NUMBER 22539.
General Comments
Down loading this syllabus and showing it to me during the first two weeks of class will enable you to earn a few extra credit points. As a word of caution, DO NOT put the URL for this page in your favorites. Always go in through my home page. That is where important notices about changes are listed. I am only on campus MTWTh. If you need to contact me on weekends or at night, use my @sbcglobal.net address. During the week you may contact me at the @cerritos.edu address.
Objectives:
Many of you will have the overriding objective of obtaining a passing grade that will advance your goal of a degree or transfer. This is a most acceptable objective.
On the other hand, both our school and I have several objectives for you.
1. Natural
disasters happen! They happen right here in southern California.
Will they be a disaster for you and your family? It need not be. You
need to learn
how to
prepare for these events!
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 for this class.
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. Those processes shape the environment we live in. Most of the time the surface of the Earth appears to be changeless, which is 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. Also, these processes are interrelated. As such, we meddle with one or another of these processes at our peril.
4. This country is one of the few on Earth where private ownership of land is not only allowed but also 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 (8th) 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 thinking 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 just 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.
Testing:
I will have an Exam after each unit or theme block, or group of theme blocks, 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 miss 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.
Also I will draw upon the handouts and films shown in class. This does not mean that reading your text is not important, it is! The text is a good format to follow to help your note taking. Because of this I shall try to follow this format in lecture to help your note taking.
I will provide exam study guides. They will highlight the material that I think is important. Because of time constraints, however, not everything on the study guide will appear on the Exam. I will write my Exam questions from this study guide. 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.
In the class 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 keyword quizzes. They will count as one Exam grade. The quizzes will be drawn from the Key Terms found at the end of each chapter. Typically 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 on-line for a 48 hour period and usually will close one campus day before we cover the material in class.
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 the 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 not 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 instructions for those not comfortable using the computers.
The total of all of the quiz grades will equal one exam grade. This will give you 5 exam grades and I will take only the best four grades in calculating your final grade. Therefore, not taking the quizzes will not hurt your grade. However, taking the quizzes will give you an extra chance to improve your final grade and will enable you to do better in class.
Geography Quizzes
It has been determined that knowledge of geographic place names is a significant weakness of our students. It may seem strange to have this mentioned in a class about geological processes. However, even through most of those processes are active here in Southern California, the best examples frequently occur in other places. Therefore you will take 7 geography place name quizzes. Each quiz is worth 10 points and I will count only the best 6 towards your final grade. The quizzes are mandatory.
Cheating
Scholastic Ethics: Science is a subject that thrives with shared information, however everyone must do their own work. Cheating, plagiarism, and other failures of scholastic ethics will not be tolerated. There are no second chances. The Cerritos College Academic Honesty policy is clearly stated in the college catalog (p. 30) and schedule of classes (pp. 138-139 spring 2008). Below are definitions and consequences of failures of scholastic ethics.
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is taking credit for someone else's words or ideas. This includes, but is not limited to, copying out of a book or off a web page without giving proper credit, minimally rewording or rearranging sentences from a book or web page, passing off another's idea or solution as your own, and copied assignments. All quotes should be placed in quotation marks and should immediately reference the source. All things that are minimally reworded need to immediately reference the source. The minimum penalty for plagiarism is a zero on the work in question and the maximum is a failing grade in the class.
Cheating: Anyone caught cheating on a test will receive an F for the course. No amount of pleading or apologizing will change this action, even if it is the first offense. Helping a cheater is also cheating and will receive the same penalty. Do not consider anything that may resemble cheating, such as loading your calculator with useful information before a test, as this will also cause you to receive a failing grade for the course.
Field Trips:
On the form you received from Admissions and Records there is listed a Lab Component for this class. There is no lab. This refers to the required field trips. Your participation in the field trips will be graded based upon announced criteria. One trip will require a written report. The others will require you to answer the questions given on a handout.
There will be three (3) required Field Trips. I actually will offer more than that to accommodate your schedule. If you are unable to attend one of the required trips I offer self-guided trips as replacements. There will be a discussion on the bus and at the specific stops we will make. There will also be a list of questions to be answered on the Field Trip. If you cannot attend at least 3 of these events, contact the instructor as soon as you can for possible ways to meet this requirement.
The Field Trips are important. This is your opportunity to see the physical processes in action through the eyes of a practicing Geologist. On these field trips we will be looking at a variety of geologic phenomena and problems. 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.
Field trips are TBA, to be
arranged. One trip will be during the week and depends upon the County
supplying a guide. the other two will be on weekends, usually Saturday.
One depends upon the tides and one on the weather.
Report
on Environmental Hearing:
During the semester you
are required to attend one environmental hearing. A short 2-3 page typed report will be written describing the
actions taken during the hearing. The
California Coastal Commission provides an on-line access to their meetings and
also recordings of past meetings. This
report will be due during the 12th week of class. Because
of the shortness of the term there may not be an environmental hearing
available. You may go to your city council meeting instead. Some
city councils are in recess during part of the summer. Therefore you MUST
contact them now and get their schedule. If you do not turn in this report
you will have 2% of your points deducted from the final grade points.
The Earth Science Department has adopted requirements for grammar and spelling for all work turned in. Your report will be graded for grammar and spelling as well as content. We will discuss the guidelines for grammar and spelling later.
Office Hours:
The Office Hours I have listed are the official ones. I am on campus at other times and will be willing to discuss with you some other time for a meeting. Of course it can’t be when I am teaching or during School meetings.
Important Dates:
January 21
Last day to Add.
January 21
Last day to withdraw with a refund.
February 11
Last day to withdraw without a W appearing on your record.
February 11
Last day to exercise your option to change from Credit/No
Credit to a
letter grade or vice versa.
April 15 Last day to drop this class with a W.
May 12
Last day to turn in any due work to me, including field trip
reports, etc. THERE ARE NO
EXCEPTIONS.
Dropping the Course:
I may drop you from the class for inappropriate conduct or excessive absences. The school defines excessive absences as those exceeding 12.5% of the total class hours. For this class that is three (3) absences.
During the first two weeks of class, only I can add or drop a student. As long as I have students trying to enroll, I will consider ANY absence a sign that you do not want to be in this class. If you are dropped and wish to remain in the class, you may ask me to put you on the wait list.
Tutoring:
Generally tutoring is not available in the learning center. Many of my former students have found that the process they have to go through to become tutors is not worth the effort. Therefore I suggest that you consider me as your first and last resort for tutoring. I encourage study groups and will help you to the extent possible.
Electronic Devices:
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. But you must notify me at the start of the class.
The practice of using cell phones to provide answers on exams has become prevalent. Therefore there will be no cell phones allowed in the 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 class room. 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 be 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 using this format will be discarded by my filter. {course name & number}, {your name}, HELP
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 660 points. Your final grade will be determined as follows:
594 points + A
528 to 593 points B
462 to 527 points C
396 to 461 points D
Less than 396 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 a similar 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.
Your total points will be based upon the following categories:
Four Exams
400
Final Exam
150
Report
20
Each Field Trip Report (3) 10
Geography Place Name Quizzes
60
Homework and participation
I will treat the total keyword quiz score as an Exam grade. This will then give you 5 exam scores and I will drop the lowest of the 5 Exam grades.
Assignment deadlines:
In class, and on this web page, I will announce some general deadlines for assignments given in class. However, ALL ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE IN BY THE LAST DAY OF LECTURE FOR THIS CLASS! This includes all homework, exercises, field trip reports, reports, and any other assigned work. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS!
Success in this Class:
For success in this class, three 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. Lecture quizzes will be given at the beginning of the class period. 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.
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.
YOUR GRADE SHEET
This is your Grade Sheet on which you will be able to keep track of your grades. This does not mean that you should not check with me about your class standing. This is only meant to be a tool to help you monitor your own progress.
ITEM
GRADE
POINTS
ASSIGNED
EARNED
EXAM 1 ________________ __________
EXAM 2 ________________ __________
EXAM 3 ________________ __________
EXAM 4 ________________ __________
FIELD TRIP REPORTS
1 ________
2 ________
3 ________
TOTAL __________
LECTURE QUIZZES
1 _______ 6 _______
2 _______ 7 _______
3 _______ 8 _______
4 _______ 9 _______
5 _______ 10 _______
TOTAL ___________
FINAL EXAM __________________ __________
REPORT ___________
HOMEWORK AND PARTICIPATION ___________
TOTAL POINTS EARNED FOR THE COURSE __________