Semester: Fall, 2014 Section: 14855 Class Meets: MWF 9:00-10:00 AM Location: Room SEC 103
Instructor: Dr. Jennifer N. Lytwyn Office: Room 227D, S&R-1 Bldg Department Phone: 713/743-3399 E-Mail: jlytwyn@uh.edu Office Hours: MW 1:30-2:30 PM or e-mail for an appointment.
Course Schedule
Dates Topics Reading Assignments (Optional) Aug. 25, 27, 29 1_Introduction Chpt. 1 Sept. 3, 5, 8 2_Solar Energy and Seasons Chpt. 2 Sept. 10 2_Earths Atmosphere Chpt. 2 Sept. 12, 15 3_Atmospheric Energy and Global Temp. Chpt. 3 #1 in Module 3 Due Sept. 15 Sept. 17 Exam 1 (Chapters 1, 2, 3 & lecture notes) Sept. 19, 22, 24 4_Atmospheric and Oceanic Circulation Chpt. 4 #2 in Module 4: Due Sept. 25 Sept. 26, 29 Oct. 1 5_Atmospheric Water and Weather Chpt. 5 #3, #4 in Module 5: Due Oct. 6 Oct. 1 Group sign-up should be complete Oct. 3 6_Water Resources Chpt. 6 Oct. 6, 8 7_Climate Systems and Climate Change Chpt. 7 Oct. 10 Exam 2 (Chapters 4, 5, 6, 7 & lecture notes) Oct. 13, 15 8a_Earths Internal Energy and Structure Chpt. 8 #5 in Module 8: Due Oct. 17 Oct. 17, 20 8b_ Plate Tectonics Chpt. 8 #6 in Module 8: Due Nov. 3 Oct. 22 8c_Minerals Chpt. 8 Oct. 24, 27 8d_Rocks Chpt. 8 Oct. 29, 31 Nov. 3 9_Tectonics, Earthquakes and Volcanoes Chpt. 9 Nov. 5, 7 10_Weathering, Karst Landscapes, Mass Mov. Chpts. 10, 11 Nov. 10 Exam 3 (Chapters 8, 9, 10 & lecture notes) Nov. 12, 14 12_The Oceans and Coastal Systems Chpt. 12 #7, #8 in Module 12: Due Dec. 1 Nov. 17, 19, 21 13_Glacial and Periglacial Landscapes Chpt. 13 Nov. 23 Extra Credit Group Projects due Nov. 24 14_The Geography of Soils Chpt. 14 Dec. 1, 3 15_Ecosystem Essentials Chpt. 15 2 Dates Topics Reading Assignments (Optional) Dec. 5 16_Terrestrial Biomes Chpt. 16 Dec. 8 9:00 am Make-up Exams 1-3 at Geoscience Learning Center
Text: Elemental Geosystems, 7 th Edition, by Robert W. Christopherson, published by Pearson Prentice Hall (2013).
Blackboard Learn: Class materials, communication tools, and other information are available online on Blackboard Learn via AccessUH at https://accessuh.uh.edu/login.php. First-time users of Blackboard need to get their user name and initial password by following the posted instructions at this website. Once you access this course in Blackboard, you will find the syllabus and other important information posted in the Welcome folder.
Reading, Lecture Slides, Self Tests and Assignments: The reading assignments for each week are listed in the course schedule of this syllabus. Follow this schedule closely in order to be prepared for upcoming exams. Additional resources such as lecture slides and self tests for each chapter are provided in Blackboard within the Learning Modules folder. Open this folder to view the individual modules. Module numbers correspond to chapter numbers in the textbook. Notice that each module, when opened, contains lecture slides and self test for that chapter. I recommend that you print and bring the lecture slides and/or laptop to class and add your own notes during lectures. The self tests are for your benefit as practice for upcoming exams, so the scores will not be recorded and have no effect on your grade. Take the self tests as many times as you like. Links to assignments are also posted in the appropriate modules. See Assignments below for further information.
Geoscience Learning Center: The Geoscience Learning Center is a facility on campus that provides assistance, tutoring, and study materials for students of the Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. See the information posted for the GLC in the Welcome folder for location and hours of operation. The teaching assistants at the Learning Center are there to help you better understand the course materials. They will help you with any questions or problems you may have regarding the course. I encourage you to take advantage of this resource. There are also additional resources available at the Learning Center such as videos, textbooks, rock and mineral samples, and interactive computer resources that will help you better understand the topics we will cover. The GLC website can be accessed at http://www.geosc.uh.edu/undergraduate/learning-center/index.php.
3 Exams, Assignments, and Extra Credit
Exams: There will be four (4) regular exams, each worth 25% of your grade. Exam dates are listed in the course schedule. Bring #2 pencils and an eraser to the exam. Also bring a photo ID. I will provide the scantrons. Your exam grades will be posted on Blackboard and can be viewed in the My Grades tool located on the left menu of the Course Content page. Zero points will be assigned for missed exams.
Make-up Exams: If you miss Exam 1, 2, or 3, you can make it up at the Geoscience Learning Center on the day and time set aside for make-up exams as indicated in the course schedule. Make-up exams are only for those who missed an exam. You cannot retake an exam. If you missed more than one exam, you will need to provide documentation proving that the second missed exam was for a legitimate reason beyond your control.
Assignments (Optional) Can Replace Lowest Score for Exams 1-3: Assignments and due dates are listed on the course schedule and available on Blackboard Learn via links in the Learning Modules (see schedule). These assignments are optional but can be used to replace the lowest exam score for Exams 1-3. Note that the assignments will NOT replace a missed exam. Print and complete the assignment but do not turn it in. Instead, answer the accompanying questions that are posted separately in the same module as the assignment. After submitting your answers, your score will be displayed and recorded in My Grades. YOU ARE ALLOWED TWO ATTEMPTS FOR EACH ASSIGNMENT AND THE HIGHER OF THE TWO SCORES WILL BE RECORDED. Note that you will not be given the correct answers, only your score, after submitting your answers. If your score is low, go over the assignment again and revise if necessary before submitting your answers a second time. Your average score for all the completed assignments can be used to replace your lowest exam score for Exams 1-3 if the average is higher than any of the three exam scores. Note that the average will be based on the total number of assignments (8) available, not just the ones that you completed. It is therefore important to complete all the assignments. If all three exam scores are higher than the average for assignments, then none will be replaced. NOTE THAT THE ASSIGNMENTS WILL NOT REPLACE YOUR EXAM 4 SCORE OR ANY MISSED EXAMS.
Extra Credit Group Project (Optional): The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board encourages team work in courses offered by state universities. In order to comply with this recommendation, extra credit will be awarded to those participating in group projects. Participation in a group project is optional. If you are interested in being part of a group project, then read the accompanying document Instructions For Group Project. Members of successful projects with have their final course average (average of the four exams) increased by three percent. See the instructions for more information.
Final Grade: Your final grade will be based on the average of four exams in addition to any extra credit earned from the Group Project. The grading scale is as follows: 90-100 (A), 80-89 (B), 70-79 (C), 60-69 (D), <60 (F). Letter grades include pluses and minuses.
4 Communication
My office location, office hours, and UH e-mail are noted at the top of this syllabus. We can also schedule an appointment via e-mail if you wish. We will mostly communicate in class and through Blackboard. Become familiar with the Messages tool located on the menu bar to the left of the Course Content page. Note that the Course Content page also includes a Chat Room for real-time communication. You can use the Chat Room for online study groups.
Dropping the Course
Wednesday, September 10, is the last day to drop a course without receiving a grade. Friday, October 31, is the last day to drop the course and receive a W. Keep in mind that the university does not allow instructors to assign a W after the deadline. It is your responsibility to drop the course if you so choose. If you simply stop coming to class, do not assume that you will be dropped from the course or will automatically receive a grade of W. If you do not formally drop the course, then I will continue to carry you on the rolls and assign a grade based on your scores at the end of the semester.
Beginning in Fall semester 2007, all students (current, transfer, and first time in college students) are permitted a total of six Ws (withdrawals), whether student or instructor initiated. Ws may be used at any time during their college career to drop a course up through the last day to drop a course or withdraw from all courses. When these six Ws have been used, the student must complete all subsequent courses.
ADA Guidelines
Whenever possible, and in accordance with 504/ADA guidelines, the University of Houston will attempt to provide reasonable academic accommodations to students who request and require them. Please call 713-743-5400 for more assistance.
Academic Honesty
Please review the UH policy on academic honesty at http://catalog.uh.edu/content.php?catoid=6&navoid=1025.
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