PhysicalGeology.html
Physical Geology


%The Butler Does It%



Dr. John C. Butler
Physical Geology - OnLine
Fall Semester, 2001

Office: Room 304 Science Research I
743-3411
jbutler@uh.edu



Introduction

The Role of the Internet

In The Beginning

    I urge everyone to purchase their own copy of the Text. The publisher maintains a good web site for the Text. There is a link to the site at the end of each chapter of this resource.

    In the back of the book is a copy of a CD that accompanies the text. I urge you to use the CD along with all of the other resources.

    A good friend of mine (Warren Huff) teaches a physical geology course at the University of Cincinnati. Warren and I are both curious as to your background in science in general and the earth sciences in particular. He has designed an Internet Review that I urge you to explore. For those with limited Internet experience, this is a good way to begin. This is not a test and there is nothing to hand in. Topics covered in his review are all of current interest. During this course we will touch on all of these.

    Once the semester gets started you will be able to keep track of your grades and how you compare with the rest of the class. I will use the last 4 digits of your social security number. If you would rather provide me with a 4 digit code that will be fine. Grade Book

Expectations and Grading Policy

    Grades will be based on examinations held on campus (see the reading list for dates and times), homework, and a semester project.

    1. 300 points on Examinations
    2. 160 points for Homework - Exercises 1-10 are worth 10 points each. In addition there are two longer exercises - IA and IB that are worth 30 points total.
    3. 60 points for the quizzes that will be distributed by e-mail. You will have one week to respond. If you respond and don't get full credit, you may resubmit .... if there is time!
    4. 40 points for surveys that are distributed throughout the semester. Pay attention to the submission dates. I don't want you to search these out and do them all at one time!

    5. 560 Total Points

    There are three on-campus examinations scheduled during the semester and a fourth examination scheduled during the finals period. As noted below, the final is optional.

    Prior to the final exam I will post the grade distribution for the class based on all points earned -- tests, homework, the project, quizes and extras. The final is optional. If you take the final it will replace the lowest grade you earned on the first three exams. Each examination is "worth" 100 points.

    I find it nearly impossible to make up a "fair" make up exam. If you miss an examination, you will receive a 0.0 and that will be the exam that you get to drop. In that case you would have to take the final. Don't miss two exams!

    Each exam is a "final" in the sense that all material covered up to that point is "fair game" although the emphasis will be on material covered since the last examination.

    There will be some unannounced quizes that will be distributed by the listserv. You will have a week to answer the quiz. If you don't get it right the first time, I will give you something to think about and you can try again.

    Get in the habit of checking your e-mail once a day or more often and look at the Internet pages at least 2 to 3 times a week. Who knows, there may be something extra added from time to time.

    Thus, there will be 560 total points. You must earn a minimum of 280 to pass the course.

Summary

    This course is designed to introduce you to the principles of physical geology - how the Earth works. I want you to get in the habit of relating the lecture and supplementary materials to what you read in the newspapers, hear on the radio or see on TV. For example, every Monday the Houston Chronicle publishes the Discovery Page which has one or two short features plus a log of what has been happening - earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, etc. In between looking at the comics, sports scores, or stock prices, get in the habit of scanning the Discovery Page. The articles that appear are written at a level appropriate for the papers that you will submit.

    If you are not familiar with "word processing" this would be a good semester to develop that skill. UH offers a number of short courses in computing and I will post these throughout the semester. I would appreciate a typed "essay" but will read a "neat" hand written copy.

    Perhaps in the future it will be said that the ideal education environment would be a student at one end of a log and an Internet Service Provider (ISP) at the other!

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