GEOSCIENCE
Historical
Geology GEOS 116
SYLLABUS - Spring
2009
Description
and Objectives
This course will survey
the Earth's 4.6 billion years of history (in 15 short weeks!) and, more
importantly, review the basic principles and techniques geoscientists use to
reconstruct that history.
Consequently, the course material is divided up into two, roughly equal
parts: a section on "tools and concepts", where the fundamental principles
will be reviewed; and a section entitled "the march through time",
where major events in both the physical history of the earth and the evolution
of life will be covered. After the
semester has ended and you quickly forget the 'nasty' little facts and details,
you will retain an appreciation of how a historical science is pursued and have
the background to function as a beginning geological historian.
Course Information
Instructor: Dr. Karl W. Leonard
Office: King 204
Lab: King 116
Phone: (218) 477-2682
e-mail: leonardk@mnstate.edu
url: http://web.mnstate.edu/leonard
office hours: M - F 1:30-3:30
pm, or whenever IÕm in my office
Textbooks: D. R.
Prothero and R. H. Dott, Jr., Evolution of the Earth
Lab Book: Brice, Levin, and
Smith, Laboratory Studies in Earth History
Class
web page can be found on: http://web.mnstate.edu/leonard
Building and Room #: King Hall 216
Conceptual Framework
This course helps students achieve the
conceptual framework of the educational unit.
Standards
of Effective Practice
This
course complies with the standards of effective academic practice which can be
found at: http://cfl.state.mn.us/teachbrd/8710_2000.html, and INTASC
Standards: http://www.ccsso.org/intasc.html
Instructional
Strategies:
This
course will be presented in a short-lecture format mixed with small and large
group activities and discussions.
Course
Requirements
There
are two primary components of this class. 1) Participation includes attendance
and daily questions, work in discussion groups, lab exercises, and reports 2)
Tests of knowledge include two quizzes and a final exam.
Evaluation/Grading
The total
grade is calculated from a standard 100% scale. The grade will be determined
from:
lecture quizzes (54%): There will be 2 lecture
quizzes, each worth 17% of the lecture grade. Students will take a comprehensive final exam worth 20% of
the total grade. No make-up exams will
be offered.
field trips (5%): 1 to 2 field trips will
make up 5% of the total grade – will occur in Late April
daily questions (5%): Each class will begin with a short
answer question
in class
exercises and discussions (36%):
Short exercise and discussion reports will comprise 6% of the grade, and
lab activity reports will be worth 30% of the total grade.
Policies
Attendance:
Students are expected to attend all class meetings.
Special
Accommodations:
Students with disabilities who believe they may
need an accommodation in this class are encouraged to contact Greg Toutges,
Coordinator of Disability Services at 477-5859 (Voice) or 1-800-627-3529
(MRS/TTY), CMU 114 as soon as possible to ensure that accommodations are
implemented in a timely fashion.
Academic Honesty: (See MSUM Student Absence Policy,
Student Handbook: http://web.mnstate.edu/sthandbook/
(under bookmark Student Policy Info).
Lecture Schedule
(Tentative)
Week Topic Reading
1 T
– Introduction
P&D
Ch. 1
Jan.
13 Th
– Time and Rates of Change
2 T
– Science and Historical Geology P&D
Ch. 2
Jan.
20 Th
– Lab 1 - Sedimentary Rocks B,
L, & S Ch. 1
3 T
– Evolution P&D
Ch. 3
Jan.
27 Th
– Lab 2 - Interpreting Ancient Environments B,
L, & S Ch. 2-4
4 T
– Relative Time and Stratigraphy P&D
Ch. 4
Feb.
3 Th
– Lab 3 – Age Relations and Unconformities B,
L, & S Ch. 7
5 T
– Numerical Dating of Earth P&D
Ch. 5
Feb.
10 Th
– Lab 4 - Rock Units and Time-Rock Units B,
L, & S Ch. 8
6 T
– Mountain Building and Drifting Continents P&D
Ch. 7
Feb.
17 Th
– Lab 5 – Plate Tectonics B,
L, & S Ch. 6
7 T
– Mountain Building and Drifting Continents II P&D
Ch. 7
Feb.
24 Th
– Exam 1 – Feb. 26
8 T
– Origin and Evolution of Earth P&D
Ch. 6
Mar.
3 Th
- Origin and Evolution of Earth II P&D
Ch. 8
9 T
– Early Life P&D
Ch. 9
Mar.
10 Th
– Lab 6 Fossils I - Preservation B,
L, & S Ch. 10
March 16-20 Spring Break
10 T
- Early Paleozoic P&D
Ch. 10
Mar.
24 Th
– Lab 7 Fossils II B,
L, & S Ch. 10
11 T
– Early Paleozoic P&D
Ch. 11
March
31 Th
– No Class - conference
12 T
– Middle Paleozoic P&D
Ch
April
7 Th
– 12Lab 8 Fossils III B,
L, & S Ch. 11
13 T
– Late Paleozoic P&D
Ch.
April
14 Th
- 13Lab 9 Fossils and Time B,
L, & S Ch 12
14 T
– Lab 10 Fossils and
Environments B,
L, & S Ch. 12
April
21 Th
– No class – SAC
15 T
– The Mesozoic P&D
Ch. 14
April
28 Th
– Exam 2 – April 30
16 T
– The Cenozoic P&D
Ch. 16
May
5
Final Exam – Tuessday May 12th
– 9 am