Geology 1    

Professor Joseph Holliday                   

El Camino College

               

Bookstore:

    “Exploring Geology“ by Reynolds...

    Lecture Notes (Mr. Holliday)

    Scantrons (882)

Class Hours:   TBD

I.   OBJECTIVE

At the end of this course, you should be able to recognize the various components of earth (such as rocks, sediments, water, earth's interior, earthquakes, and volcanoes) and how they interact with each other and with our lives.

II.  COURSE CONTENT

                   

III. GRADING:

GRADES:   Grades will be based on the following:

  

EXAMS:

THE EXAMS NORMALLY CAN NOT BE MADE UP.  The replacement tests for students who contact me before test time are all essay!     If you cannot be at an exam, CALL ME at  310-660-3371 (my office) before the exam.   Any cheating will result in a class failure.  All exams contain multiple choice and short essay questions.   PLEASE BRING A SCANTRON (882) to each exam. 

QUIZ:

The quiz is during the third week and is on geographical places that are on the list in your notes.

(list and maps on page 2-4 in notes)

HOMEWORK:

There will be homework assigned every week.  This is often questions to be answered from the textbook.  However, there will be many fun assignments based on movies, newspapers, and television.  They are to be turned in at the BEGINNING of the lecture period that they are due, and they will be graded down for lateness.

* 10% of homework grade will be attendance at one of three field trips.

* 10% of the homework grade will be on news articles (newspaper, magazine, or internet) on     geology-related news, along with a three-sentence written analysis or summary, every week.

RESEARCH OUTLINE:

It is to be a typed, one-page outline summary of a scientific journal articles dealing with geology. Detailed directions are in the end of your class notes, and I will be discussing these later in the semester.  They are mandatory and are absolutely due during the 14th week of the semester.

IV.INSTRUCTOR/STUDENT MEETINGS:

Feel free to confer with me about your grades and study habits, particularly if you are earning less than a "C" following the first exam.  I am available after class, as well as during office hours.

If you do not pass a test, I expect to talk to you about using study cards.

My office is room NATS 212-C.   My phone number is (310)-660-3371.

My office hours are usually held in my office or NATS classrooms and are:

     Monday           12:30  - 1:00

               Tuesday           10:30 -  11:00

               Wednesday     12:30  - 1:00,  5:30 – 6:00

               Thursday         10:30 -  11:00                    

You can also contact me by email at JoeWHolliday@yahoo.com

V.   ATTENDANCE and PARTICIPATION:

College students are responsible for class attendance. Attendance accounting will be taken at each class meeting, and excessive unexcused absences will have a negative affect on the student's grade (see catalog for details).   Any cheating or plagiarism will result in the failure of the assignment and possibly the class.

Lecture notes are the best indication of what subject matter from the text will be on the exams.  Each student is responsible (whether attending or absent) for the content of all lectures, assignments, and text readings.

The textbook reading for each chapter is to be completed before the topic is covered in class.  Our textbook is probably the best geology book in the country, but much of the technical information in the textbook will left out of the lectures and will not be included in the exams. 

I think you will consider this book to be one of your favorite textbooks by the end of your college and will decide to keep it forever!

Withdrawals:  The last day to add is the second week, to withdraw without a W is the fourth week,  and to withdraw (with a W) is the 12th week.  After that date, withdrawals are not permitted, except for serious reasons such as health. 

Lab:  The geology lab (Geol.3 or Geol.32) are not required, but recommended this semester since it has a great positive influence on this (lecture class) grade.

I look forward to a fun, yet educational, semester with you. We are going to prove that a science course can be fun, interesting, and full of practical information you will use the rest of your lives.

© Copyright 2007