Introduction to Earth Science - Fall 2011 - Department of ...

Introduction to Earth Science - Fall 2011
12:003A Lectures only (3 s.h.) 12:003B Lectures and labs (4 s.h.)
Instructors: Dr. Bill McClelland (office: B21A Trowbridge Hall)
e-mail: bill-mcclelland@uiowa.edu office phone: 335 – 1827
office hours: Tues & Thurs 10:30 pm – 12:00 pm, & by appointment.
Dr. Guillaume Girard (office: 120F Trowbridge Hall)
e-mail: guillaume-girard@uiowa.edu office phone: 335 – 1799
office hours: Tues 10:30 am – 12:00 pm & Thur 2:30 pm – 4.00 pm, & by appointment.
Lecture TA: Huijuan Zou (office: B24B Trowbridge Hall); e-mail: huijuan-zou@uiowa.edu
office hours: Mon 3-5 pm, Wed 3-4 pm, & by appointment.
Lab TAs: Kathryn Rathbun (office: B24D Trowbridge Hall); email: kathryn-rathbun@uiowa.edu
office hours: Mon, Wed, Fri 10-11 am, & by appointment.
Tawny Tibbits (office: B24B Trowbridge Hall); email: tawny-bailey@uiowa.edu
office hours: Thu, 10 am-12 pm, Fri 11 am-12 pm, & by appointment.
William Ward (office: 19 Trowbridge Hall); email: william-ward@uiowa.edu
office hours: Tue, Thu 11 am-12 pm, Fri 9-10 am, & by appointment.
Jeff Bowen (office: B24B Trowbridge Hall); e-mail: jeffrey-bowen@uiowa.edu
office hours: Fri 9 am-12 pm, & by appointment.
Lab TA’s hold office hours in TH 31
Lecture meetings: Tuesdays & Thursdays 12:30 to 1:45 pm, W290 – Chemistry Building.
Required Materials: (all available at the Iowa Bookstore)
1. Textbook: ”Earth - An Introduction to Physical Geology” (10th ed)
by Tarbuck EJ, Lutgens FK, & Tasa D, 2008/2011, published by Prentice Hall, 724 p.
2. Laboratory manual (12:003B only): ”Laboratory manual in Physical Geology” (8th ed) by American
Geological Institute and National Association of Geoscience Teachers, ed Busch RM, Prentice Hall.
Course goals: This course introduces students to the Earth and the natural systems that work below,
on, and above the Earth’s surface. We will study the processes and principles involved in these
systems and how they affect our lives. You will gain the perspective on how Earth processes and the
study of the Earth through Geosciences influences your chosen field of study and impacts your life.
Amount of work expected: The College guideline is that one semester hour of credit is equivalent to
three hours of work (class time + out-of-class preparation) each week over the course of the
semester. In this class, three hours of lecture a week will require six hours of outside preparation for
class. This standard is the basis for the Registrar's Office assignment of credit hours for courses.
Attendance: Attendance is expected for every lecture and laboratory session. You are responsible for
all material covered in the class, whether or not you are in attendence. We expect you to arrive on
time, and stay for the entire class period. Please respect the other students in class by refraining
from talking, reading the newspaper, using your computer for any purpose other than taking notes,
texting, coming in late, leaving early, and other activities that may distract students from the materials
being discussed in class.
*** Please respect other students in class by turning off your cell phones ***

If you miss a class, you are responsible for obtaining the missing notes from a classmate.
Drop/Add: Drop/Add should be done in the University-required time frame (first two weeks).
12:003 Introduction to Earth Science - Fall 2011
Date Lecture # and Topic
Text
chapter(s)
T 08/23 GG 1. Introduction 1
Th 08/25 GG 2. Minerals & matter 3
T 08/30 GG 3. Igneous rocks 4
Th 09/01 GG 4. Volcanoes 5
T 09/06 GG 5. Weathering & soils 6
Th 09/08 GG 6. Sedimentary rocks 7
T 09/13 GG 7. Metamorphic rocks 8
Th 09/15 GG 8. Geologic time #1 9
T 09/20 GG 9. Geologic time #2 9
Th 09/22 GG Exam # 1 -
T 09/27 GG 10. Plate tectonics 2 & 13
Th 09/29 GG 11. Structural geology 10
T 10/04 GG 12. Earthquakes 11
Th 10/06 GG 13. Earth’s interior 12
T 10/11 GG 14. Mountain belts 14
Th 10/13 BMc 15. Mass wasting 24
T 10/18 BMc 16. Planetary geology 15
Th 10/20 BMc Exam #2 16
T 10/25 BMc 17. Groundwater 17
Th 10/27 BMc 18. Running water 18
T 11/01 BMc 19. Glaciers & glaciation -
Th 11/03 BMc 20. Atmosphere/ Oceans 22
T 11/08 BMc 21. Fossil record 22
Th 11/10 BMc 22. Climate Change 21
T 11/15 BMc 23. Deserts 19
Th 11/17 BMc 24. Shorelines 20
T 11/22 NO CLASS -
Th 11/24 NO CLASS -
T 11/29 BMc 25. Energy resources 23
Th 12/01 BMc 26. Energy resources 23
T 12/06 BMc 27. Mineral resources 23
Th 12/08 BMc 28. Careers in Geoscience -
Lab topic
NO LABS IN FIRST WEEK
Lab manual
chapter(s)
1. Introduction & minerals 3
NO LABS due to Labor Day
2. Igneous rocks & volcanoes
3. Lab Exam #1
& metamorphic rocks
4. Sedimentary rocks
& Geologic time
1, 4-5,
handout
7
6, 8
5. Structural geology 10
6. Lab Exam #2
& Earthquakes
16 & handout
7. Topographic maps 9
8. Stream processes & floods 11
9. Lab Exam #3 & Groundwater 12
11.Paleobiology 8 & handout
11. Coastal processes & oceans 15
NO LABS
13. Lab Exam #4
& student presentations
14. student presentations
F 12/16 final exam: 12:00 PM - FRIDAY, DEC 16, 12:00 PM
BMc = lecture by Dr. McClelland.
GG = lecture by Dr. Girard.

Academic responsibilities: Plagiarism and cheating are unacceptable. Plagiarism can be defined as
taking someone else’s work and presenting it as your own, whether through outright copying of other
students’ work, papers or websites, cheating on exams, or misattribution of source material. If we
discover that you have plagiarized or cheated on an exam or assignment, we will (as required by
University of Iowa policy) report it to the appropriate University personnel and give you a failing grade
on the assignment and may fail you for the semester. Please consult the current UI Undergraduate
Catalog for information regarding ethics and conduct.
Lecture examinations: Exams are multiple choice questions designed to test (1) your understanding and
applications of geologic concepts and (2) geologic terms and their meanings that are essential to
communicating effectively.
Lecture examination #1: Thursday, September 22 nd , in class: material from lectures 1 to 9.
Lecture examination #2: Thursday, October 20 th , in class: material from lectures 8 to 16.
Lecture final examination: Friday, December 16th at 12:00 pm. It will cover all material discussed in
lectures since examination #2 (lectures 17 to 28), plus review questions from lectures that preceded
examination #2 (lectures 1 to 16).
Laboratory examinations: Combinations of material testing and identification, problem solving, and
interpretations expressed by writing essays. More details will be provided by your lab TA.
12:003:B Grades (lecture + lab): The +/- grading system will be used (1000 maximum points).
• Lecture Component: 700 points
o Mid-term exam 1 (Lectures 1-9): 200 points.
o Mid-term exam 2 (Lecture 10-18): 200 points.
o Final exam (Lecture 19-28: 60 % of exam, Lectures 1-18: 40 % of exam): 300
points.
• Lab Component: 250 points
o 4 lab exams (50 points each): 200 points
o Lab assignments: 50 points
• Lab Presentation: 50 points
12:003:A Grades (lecture only): The +/- grading system will be used (750 maximum points).
• Lecture Component: 700 points
o Mid-term exam 1 (Lectures 1-9): 200 points.
o Mid-term exam 2 (Lecture 10-18): 200 points.
o Final exam (Lecture 19-28: 60 % of exam, Lectures 1-18: 40 % of exam): 300
points.
• Writing Assignment: 50 points
Final grades for 12:003:A&B will be curved to comply with the College of Liberal Arts recommended
grade distribution (http://www.clas.uiowa.edu/faculty/teaching/grading/grading_marks.shtml).
Absences: There will be NO make-up exams or lab assignments unless a student has a documented
reason for absence (e.g. documented illness and injuries, mandatory religious obligations, official
university activities, or other unavoidable circumstances). Written documentation must be provided.
For PLANNED absences (mandatory religious obligations, official university activities) PRIOR notice
must be given and make-up arrangements made BEFORE the absence. There will be NO make-up.
It is your responsibility to contact the instructors to make all arrangements. It is your responsibility to
provide appropriate documentation to the instructors. It is your responsibility to do these things within
a reasonable time frame of the event.
ICON: All course information such as lecture notes, course syllabus, lecture and lab schedules, TA office
hours and e-mail addresses, and student grades can be found on the course ICON web site at

http://icon.uiowa.edu Use your HawkID and password to login. Check it regularly as course
announcements will be posted here as well. We will use your official University of Iowa email, and no
other address, as your contact email. If you use another email, it is your responsibility to check your
UIowa email regularly and/or set up a forwarding system.
If the University is closed during our class time for any reason, you are responsible for checking
the class ICON homepage for immediate updates.
We reserve the right to modify this syllabus and/or course policies as the semester progresses.
Any changes will be presented in class and on ICON announcements.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Department of Geoscience Syllabus Information:
Department Office: 121 Trowbridge Hall Telephone: 319-335-1818
Department Chair (DEO): Prof. M.K. Reagan DEO Office: 121C TH
DEO Telephone: 319-335-1820 DEO Email: geologydeo@uiowa.edu
Administrative Home
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is the administrative home of this course. However,
add/drop dates and many policies and procedures for graduate student are governed by the
Graduate College. Questions may be addressed to CLAS (see the CLAS Student Academic
Handbook).
Electronic Communication
University policy specifies that students are responsible for all official correspondences sent to
their University of Iowa e-mail address (@uiowa.edu). Faculty and students should use this
account for correspondences. (Operations Manual, III.15.2. Scroll down to k.11.)
Accommodations for Disabilities
A student seeking academic accommodations should first register with Student Disability
Services and then meet privately with the course instructor to make particular arrangements. See
www.uiowa.edu/~sds/ for more information.
Academic Fraud
Plagiarism and any other activities when students present work that is not their own are academic
fraud. Academic fraud is a serious matter and is reported to the departmental DEO and to the
Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs and Curriculum. Instructors and DEOs decide on
appropriate consequences at the departmental level while the Associate Dean enforces additional
consequences at the collegiate level. See the CLAS Academic Fraud section of the Student
Academic Handbook.

CLAS Final Examination Policies
Final exams may be offered only during finals week. No exams of any kind are allowed during
the last week of classes. Students should not ask their instructor to reschedule a final exam since
the College does not permit rescheduling of a final exam once the semester has begun. Questions
should be addressed to the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs and Curriculum.
Making a Suggestion or a Complaint
Students with a suggestion or complaint should first visit the instructor and then the departmental
DEO (the departmental executive officer; Mark Reagan). Students with a suggestion or
complaint should first talk with one of the instructors about any concern or situation. However,
if the student feels for whatever reason that the instructor(s) cannot be approached directly, the
student should not bring the issue to the second instructor for the course, but instead should
discuss the problem directly with the department's DEO. Complaints must be made within six
months of the incident. See the CLAS Student Academic Handbook.
Understanding Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment subverts the mission of the University and threatens the well-being of
students, faculty, and staff. All members of the UI community have a responsibility to uphold
this mission and to contribute to a safe environment that enhances learning. Incidents of sexual
harassment should be reported immediately. See the UI Comprehensive Guide on Sexual
Harassment for assistance, definitions, and the full University policy.
Reacting Safely to Severe Weather
In severe weather, class members should seek appropriate shelter immediately, leaving the
classroom if necessary. The class will continue if possible when the event is over. For more
information on Hawk Alert and the siren warning system, visit the Public Safety web site.
Rights and responsibilities in the classroom. See:
http://www.registrar.uiowa.edu/registrar/catalog/StudentLifeatIowa/CodesPoliciesandStudentsRi
ghts.html for University-wide policies. The College’s statement on student rights and
responsibilities can be found at: http://www.clas.uiowa.edu/students/handbook/x/.
The CLAS policy and procedural statements have been summarized from the web pages of the
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and The University of Iowa Operations Manual.