[pic] Course Syllabus GLG/101 Geology with Lab

Please print a copy of this syllabus for handy reference.

Whenever there is a question about what assignments are due, please remember this syllabus is considered the ruling document.

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Facilitator Information
Michael Gutierrez gofiguretravel@email.phoenix.edu (University of Phoenix) gofiguretravel@q.com (Personal)
602-301-2633 (mountain)
Facilitator Availability

I am available from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Mountain Time on most days, but I attempt to reserve Saturday for my family. On Sundays, I tend to be online in the late evening only. If these times are not convenient for you, please let me know. I will be happy to accommodate your schedule, if possible. I provide you with these times to make it easier to communicate with me, and not to limit our contact.

I want you to know that, should you need to contact me outside these time frames, you should not hesitate to do so.
For emergencies, when you are not able to gain access to messages on the Online Learning System (OLS), please send a message to my personal email address. In the event a third party needs to contact me, please direct them to my contact information listed under "facilitator information." No third party should use your login credentials to gain access to the classroom.
Where to Go to Class

Main: This is the main forum for the class and is where discussion is conducted. It has read-and-write access for everyone.

Chat-Room: This is a read-and-write access forum. It is designed as a place to discuss issues not related to the course content. This is the forum to which we will send our bios.

Course-Materials: This is a read-only forum, which means you can read messages here but cannot send any. This is where I will post the course syllabus and materials.

Individual Forum: You will see one forum with your name on it. This is a private forum, shared only by you and me, the facilitator. Your classmates will not have access to this forum. You can ask questions here. However, if you have general questions about instructions of assignments, please post those in the Main forum, since other students may benefit by that exchange as well.
Where to Submit Your Assignments

Assignment Section: This is where you will submit all formal assignments. Navigate to the Assignments link on eCampus. Locate the link to submit your assignment as an attachment. Your assignments must be attached in a WORD document in order to receive points.
Policies

For class policies, please see the "Policies" link on the left side of the Materials page for the course on eCampus. Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within that link. University policies are subject to change so please be sure to read them at the beginning of each class as it may have changed since your last class. Policies may be slightly different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed modalities it is important you read the policies governing your current class modality.
Late Policy
All required work is to be submitted on the given date to avoid loss of points. Work that is submitted past the 11:59pm deadline Arizona time on the required date will be subjected to a one day late penalty of 10%. Any work submitted beyond one day late will not be accepted and will receive a score of zero. It is expected that work be turned in on the due date to avoid the loss of points or a zero.
Technical Support

Technical Support is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Call 1-877-832-4867, or use the e-mail support form.
Answers to the most common issues are found in the Knowledge Base by clicking Help, found at the top of every student Web site.
Feedback

Each week, I will provide grades or scores and comments on your assignments.
Grading Formula
|Points |Grade |
|941 |A |
|900-940 |A- |
|870-899 |B+ |
|846-869 |B |
|800-845 |B- |
|770-799 |C+ |
|746-769 |C |
|700-745 |C- |
|670-699 |D+ |
|646-669 |D |
|600-645 |D- |
|< 599 |F |

Course Description

This course gives an overview of physical geology by introducing concepts such as plate tectonics and geologic time. Students gain familiarity with the processes that shape the Earth’s surface and recognize the relevance of studying geology. Topics include the rock cycle, weathering, formation of geological features, and preservation of geological resources. The weekly labs add a practical component to the class. The labs build upon the concepts in the text and offer a chance to interact with the material and further their understanding.

Course Topics & Objectives

Week One: Introduction to Geology, Earth Materials, and Geologic Time

• Identify minerals and rocks. • Explain the rock cycle. • Recognize the role of fossils to geologic time.

Week Two: Interior Earth’s Internal Processes – the Engine Within, Part I

• Describe the earth’s interior. • Describe the theory of plate tectonics. • Analyze the relationship of plate tectonics to earthquakes, volcanoes, metamorphism, and mountain building.

Week Three: Interior Earth’s Internal Processes – the Engine Within, Part II

• Describe the earth’s interior. • Describe the theory of plate tectonics. • Analyze the relationship of plate tectonics to earthquakes, volcanoes, metamorphism, and mountain building.

Week Four: Surficial Processes: Sculpting the Earth’s Surface, Part I

• Examine the hydrologic cycle. • Analyze the interaction of the hydrologic cycle with earth materials. • Distinguish among the weathering and mass wasting processes in sculpturing the Earth’s surface. • Recognize how glaciers, deserts, and wind play a role in sculpturing the Earth’s surface. •

Week Five: Surficial Processes: Sculpting the Earth’s Surface, Part II

• Examine the hydrologic cycle. • Analyze the interaction of the hydrologic cycle with earth materials. • Distinguish among the weathering and mass wasting processes in sculpturing the Earth’s surface. • Recognize how glaciers, deserts, and wind play a role in sculpturing the Earth’s surface.

Week Six: Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climate Change, Part I

• Explain the dynamics of the ocean. • Determine the relationship of plate tectonics to the features on the ocean floor. • Explain the dynamics of the atmosphere. • Describe the effects of climate change on the environment.

Week Seven: Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climate Change, Part II

• Explain the dynamics of the ocean. • Determine the relationship of plate tectonics to the features on the ocean floor. • Explain the dynamics of the atmosphere. • Describe the effects of climate change on the environment.

Week Eight: Earth’s Resources, Part I

• Examine Earth’s resources. • Analyze the effects of using Earth’s resources.

Week Nine: Earth’s Resources, Part II

• Examine Earth’s resources. • Analyze the effects of using Earth’s resources.

.
Course Materials
Murck, B. W., Skinner, B. J., & Mackenzie, D. (2010). Visualizing geology (2nd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

Freeman, T. (2009). Geoscience laboratory (5th ed.). New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons.

All electronic materials are available on your student website.
Point Values for Course Assignments
| |
|Week One |
|Assignment: Week One Review Questions |100 |
|Assignment: Minerals Lab |40 |
|Week Two |
| Discussion Questions |20 |
|Participation |10 |
|Week Three |
|Assignment: Plate Tectonics Press Release |100 |
| Assignment: Earthquake Technology Lab |40 |
|Week Four |
|Discussion Questions |20 |
|Participation |10 |
|Week Five |
|Assignment: Sculpturing the Earth’s Surface Paper 100 |
|Assignment: Groundwater Lab |40 |
|Week Six |
|Discussion Questions |20 |
|Participation |10 |
|Week Seven |
|Assignment: Deserts, Glaciers, and Climate |100 |
|Assignment: The Oceans and Atmosphere Worksheet |40 |
|Week Eight |
|Discussion Questions |20 |
|Participation |10 |
|Week Nine |
|Assignment: Week Nine Questions |100 |
|Final Project: Environmental Sustainability Paper |220 |
|Point Total |1,000 |

Week One

Introduction to Geology, Earth Materials, and Geologic Time

• Identify minerals and rocks. • Explain the rock cycle. • Recognize the role of fossils to geologic time.

Course Assignments

1. Course Preparation

• Read the course description and objectives. • Read the instructor’s biography and post your own.

2. Readings

• Read Ch. 1–3 & 14 of Visualizing Geology.

3. Nongraded Activities and Preparation

• Become familiar with WileyPlus, an interactive supplemental website designed to provide the chapter readings for this course. WileyPlus also provides additional resources such as video clips, animations, interactive activities, and so forth, to help clarify the concepts covered in this course. The links to WileyPlus are available on the weekly course pages.

• Review the Week One video resources available on the student website.

4. Assignment: Week One Review Questions

• Resources: WileyPlus and Visualizing Geology • Prepare a response to each of the following questions from the text. Provide an explanation in your responses. Ch. 1: Critical and Creative Thinking Questions 3 & 5 o Ch. 2: Critical and Creative Thinking Questions 1 & 3 o Ch. 3: Critical and Creative Thinking Questions 3 & 4 o Ch. 14: Critical and Creative Thinking Questions 1 & 4

3. Assignment: Minerals Lab

• Resources: Ch. 2 of Visualizing Geology, Virtual Mineral Lab, and Appendices B & C • Conduct the minerals lab by clicking on the following link: http://corptrain.phoenix.edu/%5Cvirtual_lab/virtual_lab.html. • Record your observations and results using the mineral worksheet in Appendix C.

Weekly Reminders
Summary of Week 1 Deliverables
|Assignment |Location |Due |
|Week 1 Questions |Assignment Tab |Day 3 – Wednesday |
| Minerals Lab |Assignment Tab |Day 7 - Sunday |

Week Two

Interior Earth’s Internal Processes – the Engine Within, Part I

• Describe the earth’s interior. • Describe the theory of plate tectonics. • Analyze the relationship of plate tectonics to earthquakes, volcanoes, metamorphism, and mountain building.

Course Assignments

1. Readings

• Read Ch. 4–6 & 9–10 of Visualizing Geology.

2. Nongraded Activities and Preparation

• Review the Week Two video resources available on the student website.

3. Discussion Questions

Week Two DQ 1: Post a 150- to 300-word response to the Week Two DQ 1 thread in the Main forum by Day 2.

• What are the three types of plate boundaries? How do they form?

Week Two DQ 2: Post a 150- to 300-word response to the Week Two DQ 2 thread in the Main forum by Day 5.

• What is an earthquake? What causes earthquakes?

Weekly Reminders
Discussion Questions
Discussion question responses will NOT count towards the class participation requirement.
Only posts in the Main classroom forum will count towards your class participation score. Participate with at least two substantive comments in the Main forum at least 4 out of 7 days.
Summary of Week 2 Deliverables
|Assignment |Location |Due |
| DQ 1 – Plate boundaries |Main Forum |Day 2 – Tuesday |
| DQ 2 – Earthquakes |Main Forum |Day 5 – Friday |

Week Three
Interior Earth’s Internal Processes – the Engine Within, Part II

• Describe the earth’s interior. • Describe the theory of plate tectonics. • Analyze the relationship of plate tectonics to earthquakes, volcanoes, metamorphism, and mountain building.

Course Assignments

1. Assignment: Plate Tectonics Press Release

Imagine you are the Director of Earthquake Preparedness for Los Angeles and have been tasked with writing a press release educating the public on earthquake preparedness.

• Prepare a 500- to 750-word press release that includes the following information:

o Descriptions of hazards associated with earthquakes in Los Angeles o Origin and causes of earthquakes o Relation of earthquakes to plate tectonics and faults in Los Angeles o Historical disasters associated with past earthquakes o Potential of future earthquake events

• Format your references consistent with APA guidelines.

2. Assignment: Earthquake Technology Lab

• Resource: Ch. 9 of Geoscience Laboratory and Appendices D & E • Complete Appendices D and E in Ch. 9 of Geoscience Laboratory

Weekly Reminders Summary of Week 3 Deliverables
|Assignment |Location |Due |
|Press Release |Assignment Tab |Day 3 - Wednesday |
| Earthquake Lab |Assignment Tab |Day 7 - Sunday |

Week Four
Surficial Processes: Sculpting the Earth’s Surface, Part I

• Examine the hydrologic cycle. • Analyze the interaction of the hydrologic cycle with earth materials. • Distinguish among the weathering and mass wasting processes in sculpturing the Earth’s surface. • Recognize how glaciers, deserts, and wind play a role in sculpturing the Earth’s surface.

Course Assignments

1. Readings

• Read Ch. 7, 8, 11, & 13 of Visualizing Geology.

2. Nongraded Activities and Preparation

• Review the Week Four video resources available on the student website.

3. Discussion Questions

Week Four DQ 1: Post a 150- to 300-word response to the Week Four DQ 1 thread in the Main forum by Day 2.

• Describe the hydrologic cycle. How does this cycle affect the Earth? Be sure to include the four major storage reservoirs for water on the planet (hint; not the lithosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, etc…)

Week Four DQ 2: Post a 150- to 300-word response to the Week Four DQ 2 thread in the Main forum by Day 5.

• One philosophy about pollution of water is that water can always be cleaned, such as by the use of distillation. Is this a viable solution? Why or why not?

Weekly Reminders
Discussion Questions
Discussion question responses will NOT count towards the class participation requirement.
Only posts in the Main classroom forum will count towards your class participation score.
Participate with at least two substantive comments in the Main forum at least 4 out of 7 days.
Summary of Week 4 Deliverables
|Assignment |Location |Due |
| DQ 1 – Hydrologic cylce |Main Forum |Day 2 – Tuesday |
| DQ 2 – Water pollution |Main Forum |Day 5 – Friday |

Week Five
Surficial Processes: Sculpting the Earth’s Surface, Part II

• Examine the hydrologic cycle. • Analyze the interaction of the hydrologic cycle with earth materials. • Distinguish among the weathering and mass wasting processes in sculpturing the Earth’s surface. • Recognize how glaciers, deserts, and wind play a role in sculpturing the Earth’s surface.

Course Assignments

1. Assignment: Sculpturing the Earth’s Surface Paper

• Resource: Visualizing Geology • Select a city or region that is faced with one of the following issues:

o Saltwater invasion in coastal wells o Depletion of an aquifer for drinking or agricultural water o Subsidence associated with water pumping o Depletion or pollution of surface water from human use o Landslides threatening the infrastructure of a region, such as roads, housing, or railroads

• Prepare a 500- to 750-word paper in which you discuss the issue and potential solutions. Include the following:

o Geologic principles involved in the issue o History of the region specifically associated with the depletion of resources or development of the problem o Potential solutions to the hazard or problem

• Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

2. Assignment: Groundwater Lab

• Resources: Ch. 12 of Geoscience Laboratory and Appendix F • Complete Appendix F. Note that additional lab book questions and answers appear in the appendix to assist in your completion of the lab.
Weekly Reminders
Summary of Week 5 Deliverables
|Assignment |Location |Due |
|Water issues |Assignment Tab |Day 3 - Wednesday |
|Groundwater Lab | Assignment Tab |Day 7 - Sunday |

Week Six
Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climate Change, Part I

• Explain the dynamics of the ocean. • Determine the relationship of plate tectonics to the features on the ocean floor. • Explain the dynamics of the atmosphere. • Describe the effects of climate change on the environment.

Course Assignments

1. Readings

• Read Ch. 12 of Visualizing Geology. • Review Ch. 13 of Visualizing Geology.

2. Nongraded Activities and Preparation

• Review the Week Six video resources available on the student website.

3. Discussion Questions

Week Six DQ 1: Post a 150- to 300-word response to the Week Six DQ 1 thread in the Main forum by Day 2.

• What is the composition of seawater? What does salinity mean?

Week Six DQ 2: Post a 150- to 300-word response to the Week Six DQ 2 thread in the Main forum by Day 5.

• What is the Coriolis effect?

Weekly Reminders
Discussion Questions
Discussion question responses will NOT count towards the class participation requirement.
Only posts in the Main classroom forum will count towards your class participation score.
Participate with at least two substantive comments in the Main forum at least 4 out of 7 days.
Summary of Week 6 Deliverables
|Assignment |Location |Due |
| DQ 1 – Seawater |Main Forum |Day 2 – Tuesday |
| DQ 2 – Coriolis Effect | Main Forum |Day 5 – Friday |

Week Seven
Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climate Change, Part II

• Explain the dynamics of the ocean. • Determine the relationship of plate tectonics to the features on the ocean floor. • Explain the dynamics of the atmosphere. • Describe the effects of climate change on the environment.

Course Assignments

1. Nongraded Activities and Preparation

• Review the Week Seven video resources available on the student website.

2. Assignment: Deserts, Glaciers, and Climate

• Resource: Visualizing Geology • Review the following Ch. 13 video, China Desert: http://www.wiley.com/college/murck/0471747270/ngs_videos/china_desert/index.html

• Review the following animations:

o Types of Dunes: http://www.wiley.com/college/strahler/0471480533/animations/ch19_animations/animation4.html o Glacial Landforms: http://www.wiley.com/college/strahler/0471480533/animations/ch20_animations/glaciers.html

• Compare and contrast the geological features of a desert landscape and glacial landscape. Describe at least one process that creates the resulting landforms of each.

• Review “Global Climate Change” in Ch. 13. Respond to the following:

o Summarize the climate changes that have occurred from the past to the present. o Predict what you think the Earth will look like into the 21st century. Consider the weather and changes in geological features.

• Post your responses. Responses must be a minimum of 350 words.

3. Assignment: The Oceans and Atmosphere Worksheet

• Resource: Visualizing Geology • Complete the Axia College Material: The Oceans and Atmosphere Worksheet, located on the student website.

Weekly Reminders
Summary of Week 7 Deliverables
|Assignment |Location |Due |
| Deserts, Glaciers, Climate |Assignment Tab |Day 3 - Wednesday |
| Oceans and Atmosphere |Assignment Tab |Day 7 - Sunday |

Week Eight
Earth’s Resources, Part I

• Examine Earth’s resources. • Analyze the effects of using Earth’s resources.

Course Assignments

1. Readings

• Read Ch. 15 of Visualizing Geology.

2. Nongraded Activities and Preparation

• Review the Week Eight video resources available on the student website.

3. Discussion Questions

Week Eight DQ 1: Post a 150- to 300-word response to the Week Eight DQ 1 thread in the Main forum by Day 2.

• What is the difference between renewable resources and nonrenewable resources? Provide an example of each type of resource. Describe the pros and cons to each example selected.

Week Eight DQ 2: Post a 150- to 300-word response to the Week Eight DQ 2 thread in the Main forum by Day 5.

• What are fossil fuels? Provide two examples of fossil fuels and describe their uses.
Weekly Reminders
Discussion Questions
Discussion question responses will NOT count towards the class participation requirement.
Only posts in the Main classroom forum will count towards your class participation score.
Participate with at least two substantive comments in the Main forum at least 4 out of 7 days.
Summary of Week 8 Deliverables
|Assignment |Location |Due |
| DQ 1 – Nonrenewable vs. |Main Forum |Day 2 – Tuesday |
|renewable | | |
| DQ 2 – Fossil Fuels |Main Forum |Day 5 – Friday |

Week Nine
Earth’s Resources, Part II

• Examine Earth’s resources. • Analyze the effects of using Earth’s resources.

Course Assignments

1. Assignment: Week Nine Questions

• Resource: Visualizing Geology • Prepare a response to each of the following questions from the text. Provide an explanation in your responses.

o Ch. 15: Critical and Creative Thinking Questions 1–5

2. Final Project: Environmental Sustainability Paper

• Select some product produced in your city or state that is made from earth, mineral, or energy resources. One example would be the tar paper used as a building material. (Do not use this example).

• Prepare a 500- to 750-word paper on a project you would like to institute to reduce waste associated with the production of the specific product you selected. Include an assessment of the following:

o Student selects product of natural resource in their region. o Student includes analysis of the waste associated with the selected product o Student includes advantages and disadvantages of using alternate resources for their selected product o Student creates a project to reduce waste associated with the selected product

• Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

Weekly Reminders
Summary of Week 9 Deliverables
|Assignment |Location |Due |
| Week 9 Questions. |Assignment Tab |Day 3 - Wednesday |
| Final Project |Assignment Tab |Day 6 - Saturday |