110 SYLLABUS

HONORS: GEOLOGY (110; 5 credits)

SPRING SEMESTER, 2019

INSTRUCTOR: William N. Mode OFFICE: Harrington 214

EMAIL: mode@uwosh.edu PHONE: 424-7004

OFFICE HOURS: 10:20 to 11:20 a.m., M, W, F; or by appointment or chance

TEXTBOOKS: The Changing Earth (7^th ed.), J. S. Monroe and R. Wicander

Laboratory Manual for Physical Geology (8^th ed.), C. E. Jones & N. W. Jones

Honors Geology Course Manual (2019), W. N. Mode

MEETING HOURS: Lecture: 9:40 to 11:10 a.m., Tuesday and Thursday in Harrington 217

Discussion: 3:00 to 4:00 p.m., Thursday in Harrington 217
Lab: 3:00 to 5:10 p.m., Tuesday in Harrington 114

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course provides the scientific foundation to understand how the earth works and why geologic events occur when and where they do. It is divided into three areas of study. The first considers the materials which make up the earth and the processes that produce them. These materials include the common minerals and rocks of the earth as well as the scarce ones that are so important for our economy. Next, a thorough treatment of internal earth processes provides the foundation for understanding the large-scale motions and upheavals of the earth including continental drift, the formation of mountains, eruption of volcanoes, and the origin of earthquakes. The third part of the course studies the surface processes that wear down the mountains and sculpture our landscape into varied and interesting configurations we see today. The laboratory provides hands-on experience with the three aspects of geology and introduces the student to geological methods of scientific inquiry. A field trip is part of the laboratory. Prerequisite: Enrolled in good standing with The Honors College with prior or concurrent enrollment in HNRS 175. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: Geology 102, 110 or 150. Students cannot earn credit in both an honors course and a non-honors course of the same title. Special fees may apply.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: Students will learn: 1) basic principles of geology and how to apply them in to laboratory, field, and other practical situations; 2) ways in which geology influences their life and ways in which humans influence geologic systems; and 3) to see connections between geology and other areas of human endeavor such as art, literature, and politics. These objectives embody the goals of a liberal arts education. Because it deals with earth resources and hazards, this course addresses the USP signature question concerning sustainability.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will be able to: 1) utilize principles of geology to interpret Earth history; 2) outline major events in the history of the Earth; 3) analyze geologic data and hypothesize explanations for these data; and 4) explain the roles played in Earth history by plate tectonic, earth-surface, and biologic processes.

INSTRUCTIONAL SYSTEM: This is a traditional lecture course with four scheduled examinations. Laboratory and discussion require active participation by students.

ATTENDANCE: Laboratory and discussion attendance is required, and I strongly recommend attending lecture. Your chance for success in the course will be much greater if you attend every class session.

EXAMINATIONS: Four required exams are given. Exams will consist of a mixture of essay, short answer, matching, and multiple choice questions. The Course Manual contains a study guide and sample exam questions.

EXAM 1: Thursday, February 28; covers Chaps. 1 – 5 & 8 in Monroe and Wicander.

EXAM 2: Thursday, March 21; covers Chaps. 6, 7 & 9 - 12 in Monroe and Wicander.

EXAM 3: Thursday, April 18; covers Chaps. 13 - 18 in Monroe and Wicander.

EXAM 4: Thursday, May 16; covers Chaps. 19 - 24 in Monroe and Wicander

COURSE PROJECT: The course project will consist of journal writing each week, a 10-page paper due April 25, and a brief oral presentation of the paper in class.

FIELD TRIP: The required field trip is scheduled for Saturday, April 27. A special course fee will be charged for travel on the trip.

GRADING: Lecture exams, the course project, and laboratory score will determine the grade for the course. The course score will be determined by the four exam scores, given a weight of 15% each; the course project, 20%; and the laboratory score, 20%. The laboratory score is determined by participation (20%) and four quizzes (20% each). The grade scale will be no more rigorous than:

93 - 100% A
90 - 92 A-

87 - 89 B+

83 - 86 B

80 - 82 B-
77 - 79 C+

73 - 76 C
70 - 72 C-

67 - 69 D+

63 - 66 D
60 - 62 D-

<60 F

COURSE SCHEDULE

WK	LECTURE TOPICS	ASSIGNED READING IN TEXT (required)	LAB
1	T: Fundamentals and plate tectonics Th: Plate tectonics	Chapters 1 & 2 & p. 252-254	Jones², Chap. 16 & 17, earthquakes and plate tectonics
2	T: Minerals Th: Rocks and igneous rocks	Chapters 3 & 4	Jones², Chap. 1 & 2, Minerals
3	T: Igneous Rocks & Volcanism Th: Metamorphic rocks	Chapters 4, 5, & 8	Jones², Chap. 3, Igneous rocks
4	T: Weathering, erosion, and soil Th: Exam 1	Chapter 6	Jones², Chap. 4 & 5, Sedimentary & metamorphic rocks
5	T: Sediment and sedimentary rocks Th: Earthquakes	Chapters 7 & 9	Quiz on minerals & rocks; Jones², Chap. 6, Topographic maps
6	T: Mountain building Th: Mass wasting	Chapters 10 & 11	Jones², Chap. 14, Structural geology
7	T: Running water Th: Exam 2	Chapter 12	Jones², Chap. 8 & 9, Streams and groundwater,
8	T: Groundwater Th: Glaciers and glaciation	Chapters 13 & 14	Quiz on Chap. 16, 17, 6, & 14; and Jones², Chaps. 10 & 12, Glaciation & dunes
9	T: Wind and deserts Th: Shorelines	Chapters 15 & 16	Jones², Chap. 11 & 13, Shorelines & geologic time
10	T: Geologic time & Evolution Th: Exam 3	Chapters 17 & 18	Fossils
11	T: Precambrian earth Th: Precambrian life	Chapter 19	Quiz on Chap. 8 - 13; Paleozoic fossils; Field trip, Saturday, April 27
12	T: Paleozoic life Th: Paleozoic earth	p. 167-168 and Chapters 21 & 20	Mesozoic fossils
13	T: Mesozoic life Th: Mesozoic earth	Chapter 22	Cenozoic fossils
14	T: Cenozoic earth and life Th: Exam 4	Chapters 23 & 24	Quiz on fossils & field trip