CLASS SYLLABUS: GEOSC 20

(Fall Semester, 1998)

Planet Earth

Instructor: Prof. Terry Engelder Hours: by appointment to be made before or after class or through e-mail (engelder@geosc.psu.edu).

Lab Teaching Assistant: Each laboratory section is assigned a teaching assistant. At the time of the first lab meeting each T.A. will supply his/her e-mail address.

Objective of GEOSC 20: Mankind is traveling through space on a platform (Earth) that was constructed from a dust cloud almost five billion years ago. That dust cloud was the product of the destruction of an ancient star sometime after the origin of the universe about 10-15 billion years ago. Most all of mankind's endeavors are a product of physical processes that took place during the evolution of the earth over the past five billion years. Physical processes, both inside the earth and on its surface, are responsible for shaping the earth as we know it today. The objective of GEOSC 20 is to give the student an opportunity to understand the major physical processes that have given rise to the earth and its environment. This understanding will be acquired through attending a series of lectures, field trips, completing laboratory exercises, and reading the text.

Geology attracts many young men and women because it is a science which offers many opportunities for work outdoors in many exotic places in the world. Geologists call this field work. Many regard this type of endeavor as fun. The science is based on field observations that often involve measurements in remote places accessible only on foot, often climbing or fighting through thick vegetation. During the past century many important geological discoveries were made during expeditions that differ little, in spirit, from those made by early North American explorers such as Lewis and Clark during their cross-continent expedition almost two centuries ago. The laboratories will feature five field trips. It is hoped that under the boundary conditions (i.e., a two-hour lab), GEOSC 20 students will gain a detailed understanding of the geology in the vicinity of the Nittany Valley and in the process learn about some of the more important principles of Physical Geology.

Instructor's Background: Terry Engelder is active in geological research involving structural geology and rock mechanics. His work has great bearing on such subjects as the exploration for petroleum and natural gas, the exploitation of geothermal energy, the disposal of nuclear waste, and the understanding of earthquakes. During his research, T.E. has worked throughout the United States as well as along the Bristol Channel of England, the Apennine Mountains of Italy, the Gulf of Suez in Egypt, the Patagonian Andes of Chile, the Alps of Switzerland, the Salt Range of Pakistan, the Pamir Range of Tadzhikistan, the Negev Desert of Israel, and the Lachlan foldbelt of Australia. T.E. presently has a project supported by several international oil companies to study petroleum and natural gas reservoirs subject to very high fluid pressures. He has a number of former Ph.D. students who are tenure track faculty members at other North American universities. During the semester, he will draw upon his field work and that of his graduate students to illustrate many important points concerning geology. One of T.E.'s goals as a teacher is to share the excitement of his career as a geologist while teaching at one of the world’s outstanding research universities.

Textbook and Lab Manual: Required Text. "Essentials of Geology - 2nd Edition" by S. Chernicoff and H.A. Fox: Saunders College Publishing (ISBN 1-57259-109-9). Required Lab Manual. "Experiments in Physical Geology" by Terry Engelder: printed by ProCopy of State College. One of the major goals of GEOSC 20 and the lab manual is to use the geology of the Nittany Valley as a template for learning about some of the most important concepts of Physical Geology.

GEOSC 20 Homepage: Information concerning GEOSC 20 will appear by clicking on the GEOSC 20 Homepage on the Web: -- http://www.geosc.psu.edu/~engelder/ --. The home page includes GEOSC 20 news as well as some lecture notes to supplement other study material.

Course Format: Two lectures and one double-period lab each week. Participation in laboratory work is required; students who are not registered for both a lecture section and a laboratory section should complete their registration promptly. See Mrs. Romig in Room 403 Deike during DROP-ADD period.

THE FIRST LABORATORY MEETING WILL BE Monday, August 31. Labs meet weekly. As classes are canceled on Labor Day, the lab cycle after the first week will start on a Tuesday and the Monday Labs become the last day of the cycle.

Grading: Grades will be based on two 50 minute exams during the semester, a final examination given during the final examination period, class attendance, and the laboratory work. Mid-term examinations are not cumulative; each will cover the material of the preceding 4 - 5 weeks. The final will be cumulative. Each lecture exam will follow the multiple-choice (i.e., forced-answer) format. Students should NOT plan to leave State College before the date of the scheduled final examination! There will be no exceptions. The distribution of credit toward a final grade is as follows:

Your Attendance: Lectures meet as scheduled in 104 KELLER on Mondays and Wednesdays throughout the semester; you may attend either lecture section at your convenience but you must take all exams during the period in which you have registered. While attendance at lectures is not required, it is a good practice and will be rewarded up to ten percent of your grade. Attendance will be taken several times during the semester . The dates for attendance will not be announced ahead of time. Laboratories will meet, beginning August 31 in Rooms 002 and 004 Deike. Attendance in labs is required. If you need to miss a lab because of travel on university business, be sure to inform your lab teaching assistant prior to your trip. Lab grades will be based on your best 12 lab scores. This allows for one absence, either excused or otherwise. A second unexcused absence will be awarded a zero for the lab that day.

Fees: There will be a modest special fee (a few dollars) to help pay the cost of each field trip in the lab.

Questions: Problems and questions concerning class should be directed to Prof. Engelder either before or after class or through e-mail. Questions concerning lab procedures should be directed to your T.A during lab or through e-mail.

Emergencies: You can leave messages via e-mail to your instructor. Make-up exams will be permitted in the event of a medical emergency (doctor's excuse is required) or if a valid excuse is recorded via e-mail <engelder@geosc.psu.edu> BEFORE the time of the scheduled exam. The excuse of a death in the family must be validated by some appropriate documentation including a letter from parents or guardians. In the event that some valid excuse keeps a student from the lecture exams, the make-up exam will be scheduled at a later date.

Class Honor Code: Grades in Penn State classes the size of GEOSC 20 are determined by performance on exams. Better performances get better grades. Someone who performs well by cheating will drive down the grades of others who don't cheat. The only effective way to stop cheating is to install a class honor code that states "GEOSC 20 students will not tolerate classmates who cheat". If the student suspects that a classmate has cheated, the student is honor bound to report the incident to the instructor.

Cheating on Exams: Don't do it! According to Senate Policy 49-20 academic integrity is a requirement of this course. Exams and quizzes must represent an individual effort. If caught copying other people's work, the individual involved will be given an immediate F for the course and asked to leave the class. Copying can be verified by checking for commonalty of answers.

Class etiquette: Plan to arrive before the class starts. Please do not disturb your classmates by talking during the lecture. Please do not read the Collegian during class. All hats must be removed from heads during exams. Please to not tune out and shuffle notebooks five minutes before the end of the lecture.