Instructor: Elisa Bergslien, SCIE 270
Textbook: Technically the required text is The Earth Through Tim, 8thedition by Levin, however you may use a 7th edition copy of Levin, Stanley's text Earth System History, or the Prothero and Dott text used by Dr. Batt for his course (though this will be much more awkward for you).
If you taking this course strictly to cover a general education requirement and don't think that you will ever need this material again, you can replace the textbook with the smaller paperback Life of the Past by Ausich & Lane, or History of Life by Cowen, which cover the same basic material, but inlaymen's language, and access to an introductory physical geology textbook plus extensive guided use of the internet. If you do not have easy access to a browser, you should get the required text. I suggest that you pick up each of the texts and read a little bit of the same topic in each to see which one you are more comfortable with.
Course Description: This course examines the history of the planet Earth and the tools scientists use to decipher that history. We will look at the rock & fossil records, evolution of life on Earth, the movement of the continents, and the pattern of global changes in sea level and climate.
Coursework: There will be several homework assignments that will allow hands-on application of the material covered. These assignments will include multiple choice question sets, examination of fossils and internet assignments.Most assignments will be graded by random selection of between four and ten of the problems out of the set. Answers for the whole assignment will be posted outside of my office so that you can study them for the exams.This grading policy means that NO LATE HOMEWORK will be accepted.You must turn in the assignment the day that it is due - I will however, accept assignments that are delivered to my mailbox or shoved under my office door on the due date, so if you don't have it in class you still have a chance to get the assignment in. Homework is worth half of your grade, so you can't just skip it. If something utterly catastrophic happens to you to prevent you from turning in an assignment, show me some proof of what happened and we can arrange something.
Extra credit: Each of the assignments and the exams will automatically have a few extra credit points built in. I don't offer extra credit beyond that, so it is vital for you to keep up with your homework and study for the exam.
There will only be one exam. It will be composed of multiple choice, fill in the blank and short answer questions based on the material covered during lecture, the readings and the homework.The exams look a lot like the homework, so if you are understanding the material, you should do well. If you miss the exam, you will be given a make-up only if you provide valid documentation of illness, accident or calamity. You must arrange for the make-up exam as soon as possible.
Other Policies: If you have any condition such as a physical or mental disability which will make it difficult for you to carry out the work of this course as outlined or which will require extra time on examinations, please notify me in the first week of the course so that we may make appropriate arrangements and remind me before the test.
Students are expected to maintain adult behavior at all times. Any behavior deemed
disruptive and inappropriate for class will not be tolerated.
Academic dishonesty (cheating and plagiarism) will not be tolerated. Plagiarism includes copying any sentence or sentences verbatim from a reference source without using quotation marks and without providing a complete reference or printing out an article directly from a computer database or off the World Wide Web and turning it in as your own work. NEVER steal words from any source and present them as your own.
Students are responsible for doing their own work, even if they "work together".If assignments are turned in that show great similarity such that the instructor interprets it as evidence of cheating or plagiarism, both will be penalized.
Grading: Homework (50%), Exam (50%).
The dates for the lecture topics are somewhat flexible, and may shift a little depending on class interest and on the speed at which the topic is covered. The date for the exam is firm.
DATE
|
TOPIC
|
READING
(Levin 8th ed)
|
(Ausich & Lane 4th ed)
|
(Cowen 4th edition)
|
|
6/27 |
Introduction, History of Historical Geology and A
Short Introduction to Rocks |
Ch 1 Ch 4 (Ch 5) |
Ch 1 |
pg. 1-3 |
|
6/28 |
Types of Fossils Stratigraphy and the Concept of Time Relative Time, and Absolute Dating |
Ch 6 (119-124) Ch 2 Ch 3 |
Ch 3 |
pg. 16-18 pg. 18-19 |
|
6/29 |
Plate Tectonics, Orogenies and Evolution |
Ch 7 Ch 6 (124-159) |
Ch 6 Ch 5 & 2 |
Ch 3 & 80-82 |
|
7/3 |
The Hadean |
Ch 8 |
Ch 4 |
|
|
7/4 |
Happy Fourth of July - No classes |
|
|
|
|
7/5 |
The Archean |
Ch 8 |
Ch 8 |
pg. 20-28 |
|
7/6 |
The Proterozoic |
Ch 9 |
Ch 8 |
Ch 4 |
|
7/10 |
The Early Paleozoic |
Ch10 |
Ch 9, 12 |
Ch 5, 6, 7 |
|
7/11 |
The Late Paleozoic |
Ch 11 |
Ch 10, 13 |
Ch 8, 9, 10 |
|
7/12 |
Invertebrates |
Ch 12 |
|
|
|
7/13 |
Vertebrates |
Ch 12 |
|
Ch 7 |
|
7/17 |
The Mesozoic |
Ch 13 & 14 |
Ch 15 |
Ch 11, 12, 14, 16 |
|
7/18 |
The Cenozoic |
Ch 15 & 16 |
Ch 16 |
Ch "15", 17 |
|
7/19 |
The Pleistocene |
Ch 17 |
Ch 17 |
Ch 18 & 21 |
|
7/20 |
EXAM on Thursday |
In our normal |
room |