Physical Geology, CRN 61224 (3 credits), Spring 2003
Location: Portland State University
Lecture SH 212 9:00-9:50 am MWF
Instructor: Prof. Alex Ruzicka
CH 17K, 503-725-3372
e-mail: ruzickaa@pdx.edu
Office Hours: 10:00-11:00 am Monday, or by appointment.
Course Description: Introduces physical geology which deals with
minerals, rocks, rock-forming processes, plate tectonics, igneous activity,
weathering and soil formation, deformation, earthquakes, and Earth's interior.
There is no prerequisite for this course, although there is a co-requisite
lab (G204).
Text: Earth-An Introduction to Physical Geology,
by E. Tarbucks and F. Lutgens, 7th Ed., Prentice-Hall.
Class website: A class website (found at http://web.pdx.edu/~ruzickaa/G201
) will contain copies of this syllabus, answer keys and score distributions
for exams, and announcements.
Exams: There will be three lecture exams during the term. Exams
will be multiple choice and will cover material given in lecture and in
the assigned readings. The lowest exam score of the 3 exams will be dropped.
Consequently, no make -up exams will be given. In addition,
there is a mandatory, comprehensive Final Exam, which will be held on Tuesday,
June 10, from 8:00-9:50 in SH 212. After each exam, answer keys and score
distributions will be posted on the class website. You should study the
answer keys, as some questions will re-appear in the Final. You will need
to obtain Scantron forms for the exams and Final (four copies of Form 882-ES).
These can be purchased at the bookstore.
Extra Credit: You can earn up to 2% extra on your total point
score in an extra credit assignment, by attending a field trip to Central
Oregon from May 16 (2 PM) to May 18 (evening), and submitting a 3 page
typed report. The field trip will be led by Dr. Cummings as part of a separate
G200 course. More information about the field trip can be obtained by picking
up a syllabus for G200 from the Geology office in CH17; additional information
will also be made available on the class website. The extra credit is not
required but is an excellent way to boost grades. The report should indicate
what you did and learned, an assessment of the usefulness of the trip,
what you liked about the trip, and what you didn't like. Photographs add
interest. The report will be graded on a subjective basis and is
due in class 5/23.
Grades: Grading is done on a straight scale although curves will be used at my discretion. Grades will be assigned based on scores as follows: 95% or above = A, 90-94.99% = A-, 87-89.99% = B+, 83-86.99% = B, 80-82.99% = B-, 77-79.99% = C+, 73-76.99% = C, 70-72.99% = C-, 67-69.99% = D+, 63-66.99% = D, 60-62.99% = D-, less than 60% = F.
Grades will be determined from performances on:
2 best lecture exams ...... 60%
Final .............................. 40%
Extra Credit.................... up to an additional 2%
Students who do not attend classes during the first two weeks or hand in an "acknowledgment of syllabus receipt" form may be withdrawn by the instructor.
PSU policy allows students to request "Audit" status or a "Pass/No Pass" grade in lieu of a letter grade within the first five weeks of class. If you decide to change your grading status, please submit written notification to me in addition to changing your grade status with the registrar.
I generally do not give "I" grades.
If you have a disability and need an accommodation, please make arrangements
to meet with me outside of class. PSU students requesting accommodations
must provide documentation of disability and work with the Disability Services
for Students (DSS) office (503-725-4150).
Announcements: The lectures may include announcements, including
changes in the tentative class schedule. Major announcements will also
be posted on the class website.
Attendance: Students are expected to attend all classes. Each
student is responsible for all of the content of all of the classes, including
lecture material which may not be in the text. You are responsible
for ALL of the lecture content, whether you are present or not.
If you miss a lecture, you should get notes from a classmate.
TENTATIVE COURSE OUTLINE:
M 3/31 Ch. 1 (introduction)
W 4/1 Ch. 1 (introduction)
F 4/2 Ch. 1 (introduction)
M 4/7 Ch. 2 (matter & minerals)
W 4/9 Ch. 2 (matter & minerals)
F 4/11 Ch. 2 (matter & minerals)
M 4/14 Ch. 3 (igneous rocks)
W 4/16 Ch. 3 (igneous rocks)
F 4/18 Ch. 3 (igneous rocks)
M 4/21 Exam 1 (Ch. 1,2,3)
W 4/23 Ch. 4 (volcanoes & other igneous activity)
F 4/25 Ch. 4 (volcanoes & other igneous activity)
M 4/28 Ch. 4 (volcanoes & other igneous activity)
W 4/30 Ch. 5 (weathering & soil)
F 5/2 Ch. 5 (weathering & soil)
M 5/6 Ch. 6 (sedimentary rocks)
W 5/8 Ch. 6 (sedimentary rocks)
F 5/10 Ch. 6 (sedimentary rocks)
M 5/12 Exam 2 (Ch. 4,5,6)
W 5/14 Ch. 7 (metamorphism & metamorphic rocks)
F 5/16 Ch. 7 (metamorphism & metamorphic rocks)
M 5/19 Ch. 15 (crustal deformation)
W 5/21 Ch. 15 (crustal deformation)
F 5/23 Ch. 15 (crustal deformation); extra credit due
M 5/26 NO CLASS-Memorial Day holiday
W 5/28 Ch. 16 (earthquakes)
F 5/30 Ch. 16 (earthquakes)
M 6/2 Exam 3 (Ch. 7,15,16)
W 6/4 Ch. 17 (Earth's interior)
F 6/6 Ch. 17 (Earth's interior)
T 6/10 Final Exam
G201 CRN #61224, PSU, Spring 2003
I have received a copy of the course syllabus for this class, and the
instructor has discussed the contents of this syllabus.
NAME (please print) ____________________________________________________
Last
First
MI
Signature ______________________________________ Date__________________
STUDENT ID #_________________________________
A phone number where you can be reached: _______________________________
e-mail address:______________________________
Have you had any previous Geology classes. If so, what and where?
What field are you majoring (planning to major) in?
Why did you choose to take this particular class?