GEOLOGY 1340

INTRODUCTION TO EARTH SYSTEMS

SPRING 2007

 

Dr. James R. Lawrence
Section # 10574 meets in room 128 SR1 on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4 to 5:30PM. Classes are also on Tapes or CDs (section # 10576) that can be purchased (call 1-800-880-9400 x240) or seen on the campus Blue Channel 3 from 10:30 PM to 1AM on Wednesdays (section # 10575).
Orientation: DE students can now complete our online orientation, called Pathway to Distance Education, via the internet using a regular web browser. Call Distance Education at 713-743-3327 or go to http://distance.uh.edu for more information.

E-mail: Contact by students should go through Web Vista. Call Distance Education at (713-743-1411) to receive instructions.
Web Page: http://www.uh.edu/~geos51/1340

Tel: 713-743-3410

Office hours (Room 327, SR1): by appointment Please E-mail me for an appointment.
Pre-requisite: College Algebra, equivalent or a higher level Math.

Text:  Earth Science Today, by Brendan Murphy and Damian Nance
Published by Brooks/Cole (1999) ISBN 0-534-52182-7. A revised paperback edition ISBN # 0-495-15350-8 is also available.

GRADING

1.There will be four (4) 1-hour examinations worth 25 points each. Exams will be given from 4 to 5:30 PM in room 206 Science and Engineering Classrooms on the following dates.

    A. Wednesday, February 7

    B. Monday, March 5

    C. Wednesday, April 4

    D. Monday, April 30

2.    The FINAL examination, worth 25 points will be given from 5 to 8 PM on Monday, May 7 in room 128 Science and Research #1. It will cover the entire course. If you are passing the course going into the final examination, failure to take the final will result in a grade of “I” if you contact me within 24 hours after the final. If you are failing the course going into the final examination, or do not notify me within 24 hours after the final if passing, failure to take the final will result in a grade of “F” in the course. ALL STUDENTS MUST TAKE THE FINAL EXAM.

3.    Exams must be taken at the scheduled time unless you have a valid excuse and contact me well ahead of the scheduled exam time to arrange another time. I determine what constitutes a valid excuse. If you have a valid excuse such as conflict with another class you must arrange with me for another time on the same day of the exam. Persons having a conflict with a job must show this exam schedule to their employer and request time off to take the exams. If the employer refuses your request you must obtain a note from the employer verifying that you have requested time off and then arrange another time to take the test on the same day as the scheduled exam. FAILURE TO TAKE THE FIRST EXAM WILL RESULT IN YOU BEING DROPPED FROM THE COURSE. 

4.   Tuesday, February 13 is the last day to drop a course without receiving a grade. If you drop the course after that date, a letter grade will be assigned at the end of the semester based on the grading method outlined above. Zero points will be assigned for any missed exam. April 3 is the last day to receive a W and you must obtain the appropriate forms and bring them to me for my signature. A W will not be given unless you are passing at the time you request a W. Missing an exam results in a grade of zero on that exam and often means you will not have a passing grade at the end of the semester. If you are eligible for a Q grade you must request it from February 14 to April 3.

5.    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 AFTER February 13 OR WILL AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVE A GRADE OF W. If you do not execute a drop form I will continue to carry you on the rolls and assign a grade based on the sum of your scores on the five exams. There are 125 possible points, 25 for each exam including the FINAL. If you feel that you have a problem, come to see me before you disappear from the class.

6.    If any of these instructions are not clear to you please contact me. Do not hesitate to email me through WEB_CT to set up an appointment to see me in my office, 327 SR1. 
 
 

ASSIGNMENTS AND LECTURES

 

1. The reading assignments prior to each exam are given below. It is important that you read two chapters per week in the order given below prior to the lectures. Copies of the Power Point slides used in the lectures are available from my web page given above. It is advisable that you view these before you watch the lectures. They can be printed from the web site. On the web page there are 18 lectures. These 18 lectures take 24 lecture periods to complete. So the lecture numbers on the web page do not match the lecture numbers on the VCR tapes or DVDs described below.

2. For students using tapes or DVD to view the lectures there are 24 lectures (labeled tapes 1 to 24) when watching the tapes or DVD. Lectures 1 to 6 are needed for the first exam, 7 to 12 for the second exam, 13 to 18 for the third exam, 19 to 24 for the fourth exam. The final is inclusive of all the reading and lectures. The last part of lecture 6 is needed for exam 2. Tapes are also available for viewing in the Geoscience Learning Center in room 9 of the Old Science Building and in the MD Anderson Library in the Reference Room. Lectures 2 and 3 cover material not given in the textbook. Lectures, in general, focus on the most difficult and important topics.

3. Examination questions will be derived from both the lectures and the text.

4. Chapters covered by exams:

    1st Exam    Chapters 1, 16, 15

    2nd Exam    Chapters 11, 12, 8, 9

    3 rd Exam    Chapters 2, 7, 4, 3

    4 th Exam    Chapters 13, 14, 19, 20

 

    Final    All the above Chapters

COURSE GOALS: Students will achieve an understanding of the basic physical and chemical processes that take place in the Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, earth and biosphere. Students will be able to assess the evidence that has led to our understanding of the evolution of the Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, earth and biosphere. Students will be better able to make judgments about man’s impact on the Earth’s environment.