Geology I

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Geology I (ERTH-1100) Fall, 2009
  Syllabus Class Homepagehttp//www.rpi.edu/roe
cks/geo1.html  Instructor Steven
Roecker Office SC 1W06 Phone [phone] Office
Hours Tuesday 3-5 (Call first to be
sure) Electronic Mail roecks_at_rpi.edu
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Objectives This course will focus on Geological
Processes in the interior of the Earth and how
they are manifested at the surface. We will
discuss the age and origin of the Earth, how
rocks form, large scale Earth processes, and
energy sources. We will also review plate
tectonics and the evolution of the main features
of the Earth's surface (mountains, oceans, etc.).
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Format Material will be disseminated via twice
weekly lectures and once a week labs. Your
grade will be based on your performance on
quizzes and exams, along with the occasional
homework.
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Meeting times Lecture 2 lectures each week in
SAGE 3303 Monday and Thursday , from 1000 to
1150 AM Lab SECTION DAY
TIMES BUILDING/ROOM 1100-01 W 800 am -
950 pm J-ROWL/3W13 1100-02 W 1200 pm -
150 pm J-ROWL/3W13 1100-03 W 1000 am -
1150 am J-ROWL/3W13 1100-04 W 200 pm -
350 pm J-ROWL/3W13
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Main Text   Author Stephen Marshak Title Eart
h Portrait of a Planet, 3rd Edition Publisher Nor
ton ISBN 0-393-92502-1 Status Required   Lab
Book   Authors Norris W. Jones and Charles E.
Jones Title Laboratory Manual for Physical
Geology, 7th edition Publisher McGraw-Hill Stat
us Required  
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Other Reading Various articles and notes will be
on reserve in Folsom or in the class reserve
shelves in the headquarters of EES. You may
read them in the EES headquarters but they are
not to be removed from the room. There are
photocopy machines in the room that can be used
for a reasonable fee (see Kim Watson in the EES
main office for more information). Some of the
articles from scientific journals may also be
available in the Folsom library collection.
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Electronic Communication This class has a web
site that containing pages with news relevant to
the class such as updates on lectures, exams, and
various review materials. The page will be
updated about once a week more often if
important items come up. The URL of the web
site is http//www.rpi.edu/roecks/geo1.html
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Topics to be covered For the most part, we will
cover the parts of the text of Earth Portrait of
a Planet that are relevant to the Geo I course
objectives. We will, however, occasionally
diverge from the text into areas of particular
interest. Check the web site for updates. While
the content of the course will follow the order
of presentation shown in the a priori schedule,
it is impossible for me to tell you beforehand
exactly what the content of a particular lecture
will be. This information will be provided via
the web site (or just come to class and find
out!).
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Grading Grades will be based on performance in
homework, quizzes (short tests about 15 minutes
in duration - these will be announced one or two
lectures in advance), hour-long exams, and labs.
There will be 3 exams (two during the term and
a final on the last regular day of class).
Exams are cumulative and can cover all previous
material from lecture and readings, although most
of the questions will be on material covered
since the previous exam. Quizzes may include
material from the assigned readings that have not
been covered in lecture. You are expected to have
read the assigned chapters prior to class.
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Weights used in calculating the final grade are
assigned as follows  Homework/Short
Quizzes 20 Exams (3) 50 Labs 30  
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Rules of the Game Missed exams may be retaken
only if the instructor is satisfied with the
reasons given by a student for being absent from
the exam. If a student has an unavoidable
conflict of significance which he/she knows about
in advance of an examination he/she MUST notify
the instructor prior to the day of the exam. In
cases of emergency (e.g., health problems) the
student MUST provide sufficient evidence of the
emergency (e.g., a note from a doctor) to the
instructor before any action will be considered.
Exams will be retaken only at the discretion of
the instructor.
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Rules of the Game (cont.) Missed quizzes may
not be retaken as the logistics are too
difficult. However, I will throw out your two
worst performances on quizzes before calculating
your grade, so it is possible to miss two quizzes
without having any impact.
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Rules of the Game (cont.) Missed Labs ALL labs
count towards your grade. BUT NOTE that students
who miss more than 3 labs will not receive credit
for (i.e., will fail) Geo I. Students with
valid excuses for missing labs may be able to
make them up later this will be permitted at the
discretion of the TA or Instructor. As with
exams, students should notify the TA or
Instructor of an anticipated absence prior to the
lab. In cases of emergency, some evidence of the
emergency will in most cases be required. Note
that any makeups must be completed as soon as
possible (usually by the following week) waiting
to make up early labs at the end of the term will
not be permitted.
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Rules of the Game (cont.) Policy on Cheating
It is expected that each student do his or her
own work on any assignment (homeworks, quizzes,
and exams). I encourage students to confer with
each other for the purpose of gaining increased
understanding of concepts presented in the class.
However, I expect that assignments will reflect
the student's own thoughts and efforts anything
else will be considered cheating. If cheating
is discovered the student will receive a failing
grade for the class and the case will be turned
over to the Institute for additional action.
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A Few Extra Words of Advice Pay attention to
the material in the lectures (in class and
on-line). Don't just go by the book. Excuses
always sound better if I hear them BEFORE
something is due. You are responsible for
knowing what goes on in class. If you miss some
part of class, you need to find out what
happened. Talk to a friend, talk to me, check the
web site.