GEOLOGY 202Physical Geology, CRN 61218 (3 credits), Spring 2009
Location: Portland State University
Lecture EB 103, 12:00-13:40 TR
Instructor: Dr. Alex Ruzicka
CH 17K, 503-725-3372
e-mail: ruzickaa@pdx.edu
Office hours: Wednesday 11:30-12:30. Please make arrangements with me if you would like to meet outside of this time.Class website: http://web.pdx.edu/~ruzickaa/G202 This website will include answer keys and score distributions.
Course Description: Introduces physical geology which deals with surface processes (weathering, mass wasting, streams, groundwater, glaciers, wind, and coastal processes). There is no prerequisite for this course, although there is a required laboratory section (G205, 1 credit; or G207, 2 credits). G207 together with G202 can also be used for Sophomore Inquiry UNST credits.
Text: Geology-- An Introduction to Physical Geology, by Chernicoff and Whitney, Fourth Edition.
Exams: There will be three Midterm Exams during the term. Exams will be multiple choice. The best 2 of 3 scores on midterms will be used to determine grades for the class. No make-up exams will be given unless a student is able to provide a signed doctor’s note acknowledging sickness or unless mutually acceptable arrangements can be made to take the test in advance. In addition, there is a comprehensive final, on Thursday, June 11, from 10:15-12:05. You will need to obtain Scantron forms for the Midterms and Final (four copies of Form 882-ES). These can be purchased at the bookstore.
Extra Credit (optional): You can earn additional points in an extra credit assignment. Different project types and amounts of extra credit are offered. Extra credit projects include: (1) Attend a field trip to the Cascades (G200 sec 002 day field trip TBA) or Central Oregon (G200 sec 001, field trip date 2 PM Friday May 15-May 17; see PSU Course Catalog) sponsored by the Geology department, and write a 2-page, typed summary of what you thought about the trip [up to 2% extra for your total score for the class]; (2) Read three or more geology-related articles in a popular magazine, and provide a 3-page typed critique of the articles, including the titles and authors of the articles, their length, and the name and date of the magazines in which they appeared, focusing your critique on what you liked and didn’t like about the articles, and whether you would recommend them to your peers [up to 1% extra for your total score for the class]; (3) Participate in a “Geoscavenge hunt” by traveling and obtaining good pictures of various geological features discussed in this class [up to 2% extra for your total score for the class; see the class website for more details]. Multiple extra credit can be obtained. Extra credit will be graded on a subjective basis and is due no later than the beginning of class on May 28. Extra credit turned in after this date will not be accepted.
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:
3 Midterm Exams ................ 60% (best two of three)
Final Exam........................... 40%
Extra Credit......................... up to an additional 1-5%, depending on project(s) chosenOther policies: 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. If at any time you decide to change your grading status, please submit written notification to me. 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). Each student is responsible for all of the content of all of the classes, including lecture material which may not be in the text. If you miss lecture, it is your responsibility to learn the material covered.
TENTATIVE COURSE OUTLINE & CHAPTERS COVERED IN BOOK:
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3/31– Introduction
(parts of Ch. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7)
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4/2– Introduction;
Geologic time (Ch. 8)
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4/7– Geologic time
(Ch. 8)
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4/9– Mass movement
(Ch. 14)
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4/14– Mass movement
(Ch. 14); Streams & floods (Ch. 15)
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4/16– Streams &
floods (Ch. 15)
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4/21– Streams &
floods (Ch. 15)
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4/23– Exam 1;
Groundwater (Ch. 16)
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4/28– Groundwater (Ch.
16)
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4/30– Glaciers &
ice ages (Ch. 17)
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5/5– Glaciers &
ice ages (Ch. 17)
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5/7– Deserts &
the work of winds (Ch. 18)
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5/12– Deserts &
the work of winds (Ch. 18); Shores & coastal processes (Ch. 19)
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5/14– Shores &
coastal processes (Ch. 19)
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5/19– Exam 2 Plate
tectonics & the Earth’s interior (Ch. 1, 11)
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5/21– Plate tectonics
& the Earth’s interior (Ch. 1, 11)
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5/26– Plate tectonics
& formation of the Earth’s ocean basins (Ch. 12)
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5/28– Extra credit
due; Plate tectonics & formation of Earth’s continents (Ch. 13)
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6/2– Plate tectonics
& formation of earth’s continents (Ch. 13)
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6/4– Exam 3
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6/11– Comprehensive
Final Exam
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ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF SYLLABUS RECEIPT:
NAME (please print) ____________________________________________________
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?