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 the weekend, 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 I and our school have several objectives for you.

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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?

4. 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?

5. 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.

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 of any sort, on any Exam or assignment, will be reported to the Office of Student Affairs and the student will receive a zero points for that Exam or any assignment. If it is an Exam the zero points will count and you will not be allowed to drop that Exam grade. There is no reason to cheat. I have set the grading up so that there are enough grades so that your doing poorly on one Exam will not 1) force you to do A work in order to pass and 2) automatically fail you. 

What is meant by cheating?  On a quiz it is putting your name on someone else's work and submitting it as yours.  I have inserted informational tabs into the quiz format that allow me to tell if this is happening.  On exams, cheating is taking answers from someone else's paper or using material other than your cheat sheet to provide you with answers.  Similarly, it is cheating to submit a research paper with the words of another without citing that source of information.

There are no required field trips for this class. Budget constraints permitting I will be offering one or two trips during the semester.  We may have to take one-stop field trips where we meet, you provide the transportation, at a meeting point.   The field trip is your opportunity to see the countryside through the eyes of a practicing Geologist. For those unable to attend the trip, I will have self-guided trips that you may take on your own. 

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 3-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. You will receive one grade for this class. The Laboratory work will be worth 25% of your final grade. That portion of your grade will depend upon a series of quizzes.  I will be going around the room during the lab period, checking on your work and answering questions.  In this way I will know what you are doing.  Failure to do the assigned work or habitually leaving early will result in points deducted from your lab total.

The laboratory schedule shows what exercises will be worked on each day.  It is your responsibility to read the appropriate exercise.  There are key words for each exercise.  You are responsible for looking up the definition of those words before coming to class.  In this way a minimum of time can be spent on describing the material to be covered by each exercise and more time devoted to working the exercise itself.

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!

I have given you a listing of office hours in the heading of this Syllabus. During those times, unless something unforeseen occurs, I will be in my office to help you. This is the time for you to come to me to talk about additional help, to clarify some topic, to get help studying for an Exam and in the techniques of taking an Exam. If you are looking for help in taking an Exam or just looking for help I will ask you to bring your Cheat Sheet so that we may discuss what you have not listed on it. I will also ask you to bring your Exam so that we may learn what types of questions are causing you problems. In this way we will be able to craft a study program for you so that you are able to perform at the level you wish.

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 in School meetings which are during the 11 to 12 time slot.

August   28        Last day to add.
August   28        Last day to withdraw with a refund.
September 18    Last day to withdraw without a "W".
September 18    Last day to exercise your option to change from Credit/No Credit to
                          a letter grade or vice versa.
November  20   Last day to drop this class with a W.
December  8      Last day to turn in any due work to me, including field trip reports,
                          etc.

It is your responsibility to drop this class if you do not wish to complete it. You must, therefore, go through the process of dropping. If you are on the rolls on November 19, you will receive a grade. These are the School’s rules.

In other words, if you no longer wish to remain in my course after the drop date, and you stop attending class or doing work but do not take the steps necessary to drop the course on your own, the consequences will be a final grade of "F".

I may drop you from the class for 1) failure to attend the first two class meetings; 2) more than 3 absences in the firs two weeks of class; 3) inappropriate conduct; and 4) excessive absences of 4.  I have found that some students believe that it is all right to come to class late, 15 to 30 minutes late.  This is being disrespectful to both your fellow students and yourself.  Late comes will have to sign in at the front of the class.  Three tardies will equal one absence.

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.

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

Report or Research Project:

The Report or Project is required.  The assignment this semester depends upon your major. 

First, if you are a liberal studies major interested in a career in teaching, you will be doing a computer exercise based on the California Science Standards appropriate for your intended grade level.  Go on-line and find posted lesson plans for the grade level you intend to teach.  Then prepare a 3 page report giving your opinion of the lesson plans.  If you think they can be improved, show that in your report.  You will also be given some assignments to locate and evaluate web sites on Earth Science topics that are relevant to the grades you will be teaching.  We will be discussing the State Standards in Earth Science for each grade level.  Include a bibliography.

On the other hand if you have another major and are taking this course as a general education science requirement, you will be expected to pick a particular geologic hazard and write a report about it.  This report must describe the specific hazard, the process involved in creating it, and what can be done to mitigate or to prevent damage, injury or death by this hazard.  Finally you must include what we learned or based upon a previous event apparently did not learn.  Include a bibliography.

For all students the final product will be a 3-5 page typed, double-spaced paper with illustrations and at least 3 outside references (not including the textbook).

All material that is to be turned in for grading, such as the reports above, must be in my hands by December 5, 2007.  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.  

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:

756 points + A
672 to 755 points B
588 to 671 points C
504 to 587 points D
less than 504 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
Geography Quizzes                        60
Field Trip                         extra credit
Homework and participation         
Laboratory Quizzes                      210                         

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.

Other Resources:

There are many other resources for student help on campus.  They are designed to help you with taking tests of all types and with writing assignments.  I can direct  you to those resources that you specifically need, ONLY if I know you need the HELP.

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.  After each graded item is returned, enter that grade point on this form.  At any time you can sum your points and divide by the total number of points that were available at that time and determine where you stand.  You may also look ahead and see how many points you need for a specific grade and how many points are remaining, in other words, is it possible to get the grade you want?

ITEM GRADE POINTS

EXAM 1 ________________ ___________

EXAM 2 ________________ ___________

EXAM 3 ________________ ___________

EXAM 4 ________________ ___________

LECTURE QUIZZES LABORATORY QUIZZES

1 ________ 1 __________

2 ________ 2 __________

3 ________ 3 __________

4 ________ 4 __________

5 ________ TOTAL ___________

6 ________

7 ________

8 ________

9 ________

10 ________

TOTAL ___________

Cross-out the lowest score of those listed above.

FINAL EXAM __________________ ___________

FIELD TRIP REPORT ___________

REPORT ___________

HOMEWORK AND PARTICIPATION ___________