Spring, 2005
Historical Geology Syllabus
1.
This course is Historical
Geology - Geoscience 3422, There is
a prerequisite of Geosciences 1410, Physical Geology
2.
Instructor - Dr. R.
Schofield, Professor of Geology
3.
Instructor’s office - S224,
4.
Required materials:
The textbook The Earth Through Time by
Levin , 7 th edition
Course
requirements:
Be present for all scheduled lecture
tests plus the final exam
Complete all scheduled lab work
including field trips
6.
Course objectives: To become
knowledgeable about how we can learn about the history
of the earth. Also, to learn what that history actually is, especially for
7.
Lecture assignments: Read
the pertinent material below prior to each class lecture. These assignments are
from your textbook The Earth Through Time. There
will be roughly 1 - 1 1/2 weeks spent on each topic below.
Chap.
2 Earth Materials
Chap.
1 Introduction to Historical
Geology
Chap.
3 Sedimentary Archives
Test
1
Chap.
1 (just on radiometric dating)
Chap.
4 The
Fossil Record
Chap.
5 Earth Structure and Plate
Tectonics
Chap.
6 Early Earth
Test 2
Chap.
6 and 7 Archean
and Proterozoic Time
Chap.
8 Early Paleozoic Events
Chap.
9 Late Paleozoic Events
Chap.
11 The
Mesozoic Era
Chap.
13 The
Cenozoic Era
Test
3
Chap.
10,12, and 14
The History of Life on Earth
Test
4
8.
Field Trips: See lab
syllabus below.
9.
Attendance: All lab work
should be attended. If missed it must be made up. Lectures should also be
attended but formal attendance is not taken. You may suffer gradewise if you
don’t attend.
10.
Make-up
Policy: If you miss a test for a valid reason please make it up within three
days. If you do not make it up the grade turns into a zero. If you miss a lab
please see me ASAP about a make up. Again, if it is not made up the grade turns
into a zero.
11.
Grade Scale
A 92
A- 88
B+ 84
B 80
B- 76
C+ 72
C 68
C- 64
D 54
F below 54
Note:
75 % of the grade is based on two lecture tests plus the final exam. Each test plus the final counts equally toward your grade.
25% is based on lab work.
12.
Lab syllabus - below is the desired order of lab activities. Exact dates will
depend on everyone's schedule and will be determined early in the semester.
A.
Lab on igneous and metamorphic rocks in hand samples.
B.
Lab on sedimentary rocks in hand samples.
C.
Lab study of rocks in thin-section. This includes both mineral identification
and textural study. Students get an introduction to the polarizing microscope.
D.
Lab study of rocks in thin- section to be completed.
E.
Introduction to fossil identification. Hands sample work.
F.
Field trip to areas in the
G..
Map work on the field trip area plus quiz on the field trip
H.
History of Life videos
I.
Videos on the history of dinosaurs
Attendance and Make-Up Policy for Dr. Schofield
Usually class attendance and grades show a close
correlation so try to attend all classes if possible. Attendance at labs and
lecture exams is required and students should be there unless there is a valid
excuse. Those who miss my labs or lecture exams make extra work for me. Please
do not miss them if at all possible.
Labs – Come to your scheduled lab each week but if
you do miss it try to attend an alternative lab for the week. If you do miss a
weekly lab completely then you need to make it up ASAP. Check with me about how
to make it up. If you do not make it up
you get a zero for that lab. Also, the lab must be made up in a reasonable
period of time.
Lecture and Final Exams - if you miss an exam for any reason then I want
a typewritten note explaining why you missed it. A hand-written note from a
dean, coach, or doctor that you give me can substitute for this. If you
do not give me this note when you do make up the exam I reserve the right to
deduct points from your exam. Also, if you miss an exam for a non-valid reason
I reserve the right to deduct points from that exam. Employment during exams is
not an excuse to miss exams nor is " personal
business"!
Missed
exams should be made up ASAP (within four days of your return to school) and if
delayed too long may result in your being dropped from the course.
McMurry University abides by
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which stipulates that no
otherwise qualified student shall be denied the benefits of an education
“solely by reason of a handicap”. If you have a documented disability that may
impact your performance in this class and for which you may require
accommodations, you must be registered with and provide documentation of your
disability to the Disability Services Office, located in Old Main, Room 102.
For more information, contact James Greer at 793-4880 or jgreer@mcm.edu