Course Design Guide GLG/101 Version 3

Course Syllabus
Axia College/College of Natural Sciences GLG/101 Version 3 Physical Geology
Copyright 2011 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved.

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 Earths 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. Policies Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within the following two documents: University policies: You must be logged into the student website to view this document. Instructor policies: This document is posted in the Course Materials forum. University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read the policies at the beginning of each class. Policies may be slightly different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed modalities, read the policies governing your current class modality. 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 the student website.

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

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Objectives 1.1 Identify minerals and rocks. 1.2 Explain the rock cycle. 1.3 Recognize the role of fossils to geologic time. Read the course description and objectives. Read the instructors biography and post your own. Read Ch. 13 & 14 of Visualizing Geology. 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

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Course Preparation Readings Nongraded Activities and Preparation

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concepts covered in this course. The links to WileyPlus are available on the weekly course pages. Nongraded Activities and Preparation Assignment Week One Review Questions Review the Week One video resources available on the student website. Resources: WileyPlus and Visualizing Geology Prepare a response to each of the following questions from the text. Provide an explanation in your responses. Be prepared to discuss these questions in class. Individual Minerals Lab Ch. 1: Critical and Creative Thinking Questions 3 & 5 Ch. 2: Critical and Creative Thinking Questions 1 & 3 Ch. 3: Critical and Creative Thinking Questions 3 & 4 Ch. 14: Critical and Creative Thinking Questions 1 & 4 40 100

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.

Week Two: Interior Earths Internal Processes the Engine Within, Part I
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Objectives 2.1 Describe the earths interior. 2.2 Describe the theory of plate tectonics. 2.3 Analyze the relationship of plate tectonics to earthquakes, volcanoes, metamorphism, and mountain building. Read Ch. 46 & 910 of Visualizing Geology. Participate in class discussion. Review the Week Two video resources available on the student website. 20 10

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Readings Participation Nongraded Activities and Preparation Assignment Discussion Questions

Week Three: Interior Earths Internal Processes the Engine Within, Part II

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Objectives 3.1 Describe the earths interior. 3.2 Describe the theory of plate tectonics. 3.3 Analyze the relationship of plate tectonics to earthquakes, volcanoes, metamorphism, and mountain building. Review the Week Three video resources available on the student website. 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 700- to 1,050-word press release that includes the following information: Descriptions of hazards associated with earthquakes in Los Angeles Origin and causes of earthquakes Relation of earthquakes to plate tectonics and faults in Los Angeles Historical disasters associated with past earthquakes Potential of future earthquake events

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Readings Assignment Plate Tectonics Press Release

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Format your references consistent with APA guidelines. Individual Earthquake Technology Lab Resource: Ch. 9 of Geoscience Laboratory and Appendices D & E Complete Appendices D and E by answering the following questions in Ch. 9 of Geoscience Laboratory: 9.1, 9.3, 9.5, 9.6, 9.10, 9.14, 9.17 (Longitude), and 9.20. Note that additional lab book questions and answers appear in the appendix to assist in your completion of the lab. 40

Week Four: Surficial Processes: Sculpting the Earths Surface, Part I

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Objectives 4.1 Examine the hydrologic cycle. 4.2 Analyze the interaction of the hydrologic cycle with earth materials. 4.3 Distinguish among the weathering and mass wasting processes in sculpturing the Earths surface. 4.4 Recognize how glaciers, deserts, and wind play a role in sculpturing the Earths surface. Read Ch. 7, 8, 11, & 13 of Visualizing Geology. Participate in class discussion. 10

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Readings Participation

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Nongraded Activities and Preparation Assignment Discussion Questions

Review the Week Four video resources available on the student website. 20

Week Five: Surficial Processes: Sculpting the Earths Surface, Part II

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Objectives 5.1 Examine the hydrologic cycle. 5.2 Analyze the interaction of the hydrologic cycle with earth materials. 5.3 Distinguish among the weathering and mass wasting processes in sculpturing the Earths surface. 5.4 Recognize how glaciers, deserts, and wind play a role in sculpturing the Earths surface. Review the Week Five video resources available on the student website. Resource: Visualizing Geology Select a city or region that is faced with one of the following issues: Saltwater invasion in coastal wells Depletion of an aquifer for drinking or agricultural water Subsidence associated with water pumping Depletion or pollution of surface water from human use Landslides threatening the infrastructure of a region, such as roads, housing, or railroads 100

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Readings Assignment Sculpturing the Earths Surface Paper

Prepare a 1,050- to 1,400-word paper in which you discuss the issue and potential solutions. Include the following: Geologic principles involved in the issue History of the region specifically associated with the depletion of resources or development of the problem Potential solutions to the hazard or problem

Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. Assignment Groundwater Lab Resources: Ch. 12 of Geoscience Laboratory and Appendix F Complete Appendix F by answering the following questions in your lab book: 12.2 A & B, 12.11, 12.18, 12.19, 12.20, 12.21, 12.24, & 12.25. Note that additional lab book questions and answers appear in the appendix to assist in your completion of the lab. 40

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

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Objectives 6.1 Explain the dynamics of the ocean. 6.2 Determine the relationship of plate tectonics to the features on the ocean floor. 6.3 Explain the dynamics of the atmosphere. 6.4 Describe the effects of climate change on the environment. Read Ch. 12 of Visualizing Geology. Review Ch. 13 of Visualizing Geology. Participate in class discussion. Review the Week Six video resources available on the student website. 20 10

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Readings

Participation Nongraded Activities and Preparation Assignment Discussion Questions

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

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Objectives 7.1 Explain the dynamics of the ocean. 7.2 Determine the relationship of plate tectonics to the features on the ocean floor. 7.3 Explain the dynamics of the atmosphere. 7.4 Describe the effects of climate change on the environment. Review the Week Seven video resources available on the student website. Resource: Visualizing Geology Review the following Ch. 13 video, China Desert: http://www.wiley.com/college/murck/0471747270/ngs_videos/ch ina_desert/index.html Review the following animations: Types of Dunes: http://www.wiley.com/college/strahler/0471480533/anim ations/ch19_animations/animation4.html Glacial Landforms: 100

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Nongraded Activities and Preparation Assignment Deserts, Glaciers, and Climate

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http://www.wiley.com/college/strahler/0471480533/anim ations/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: Summarize the climate changes that have occurred from the past to the present. 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. Assignment Deserts Lab Resources: Ch. 15 of Geoscience Laboratory and Appendix G Complete Appendix G by answering the following questions from your lab book: 15.4, 15.8, 15.16, 15.18, 15.19, & 15.20. Note that additional lab book questions and answers appear in the appendix to assist in your completion of the lab. 40

Week Eight: Earths Resources, Part I

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Objectives Readings Participation Nongraded Activities and Preparation Assignment Discussion Questions 8.1 Examine Earths resources. 8.2 Analyze the effects of using Earths resources. Read Ch. 15 of Visualizing Geology. Participate in class discussion. Review the Week Eight video resources available on the student website. 20 10

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Week Nine: Earths Resources, Part II

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Objectives Assignment Week Nine Questions 9.1 Examine Earths resources. 9.2 Analyze the effects of using Earths resources. Resource: Visualizing Geology Prepare a response to each of the following questions from the text. Provide an explanation in your responses. Ch. 15: Critical and Creative Thinking Questions 15 100

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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 700- to 1,050-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: Analysis of the waste associated with your resource Advantages and disadvantages of using alternate resources

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Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. Optional Discussion Questions Week Two Discussion Questions How are seismic waves used to determine the layers of the earth? What is the composition of each layer? What are the three types of plate boundaries? How do they form? What would Alfred Wegener say about the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 and Mt. Vesuvius recurring eruptions in Italy? What are the differences between the continental drift theory and plate tectonics theory? Did the plate tectonics theory derive from the evolution of the continental drift theory? Why or why not? What are the differences between active and passive continental margins? What is the relationship between plate tectonics and the various features? Provide an example of each continental margin. What is the difference between the western and eastern United States continental margins in terms of the plate tectonics theory? How did the discovery of magnetic anomalies and reversals process contribute to our current acceptance of plate tectonics theory? Will plate tectonics eventually turn off and cease to operate on Earth? Why or why not?

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Is there any relationship between the plate tectonics theory and the abundant amount of oil in the Arabian plate? Explain your answer. What is an earthquake? What causes earthquakes? What are seismic waves? Describe the different types of seismic waves. Why is most of the volcanic activity in the United States located in the Pacific West region? What features of the Hawaiian Islands are not explained by plate tectonics? What features of the Hawaiian Islands are explained by plate tectonics? How did the Hawaiian Islands form geologically? How could the relative age of the islands be determined? In what ways are the Sierra Nevada and the Andes mountain ranges similar? In what ways are they different? How can the Appalachian Mountains be considered a collision-type mountain range when the nearest continent is 5,000 kilometers (3,000 miles) away? Week Four Discussion Questions Describe the hydrologic cycle. How does this cycle affect the Earth? Based on your reading, do you believe that we are in a period of glacial or interglacial stage? Why or why not? What are the current factors that might cause the acceleration of one stage over the other? What is the impact of soil erosion on farmland? What are the tools that could be used to minimize the loss of farmland to soil erosion? How does deforestation of the rainforest affect the hydrologic cycle? Consider issues such as transpiration, evaporation, infiltration, runoff, and so forth. What is the potential danger due to mass wasting in your state or region? What is the effort spent to minimize the impact of mass wasting? Is soil erosion a natural process or primarily the result of inappropriate land use by people? Explain your answer. How are soils depleted? Which type of weathering predominates in each region of the United States? Which of the rocks weathers most rapidly in each region? Why? The 1993 Midwest flood caused major destruction. Why was this flood called the 100-year flood? What are the geological and environmental impacts of this flood on the area? What precautions are currently taken to minimize the impact of future floods? What are the different sources of water in the United States? Which source of water is mostly used in your region? How could we protect the sources of our water from drying up and contamination? 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?

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Week Six Discussion Questions How do oceans regulate climate? What is the composition of the Earths atmosphere? What are the four layers of the Earths atmosphere? Describe these layers. What is the composition of seawater? What does salinity mean? Beach erosion is related to natural process such as longshore current. How is beach erosion also related to human activities? What are at least two effective techniques used to stabilize the shore? How can an observer experience two unequal high tides during a day? What are the features of the ocean floor that can be explained by plate tectonics? What are the ocean dynamics that cause ocean pollution from being a local coastal problem? What is the Coriolis effect? How does the atmosphere regulate Earths climate? Why is ozone important to life on Earth? What are the differences and similarities between the good ozone and the bad ozone? What is the relationship among global warming, good ozone, and bad ozone? What are at least four possible consequences of global warming? One of the problems that can result from global warming is that polar ice will melt and sea level will rise. What features of the ocean floor are involved in submerging coasts? There is a concept based on some studies indicating that Australians are the people most impacted by skin cancer. What is the validity of this concept based on your reading and research? How do source regions and the nature of the surface in these source regions affect air masses? Yakutsk is located in Siberia at about 60 N latitude. This Russian city has one of the highest average annual temperature ranges in the world: 62.2 C (112F). What are the reasons for this very high annual temperature range? The Arizona cities of Flagstaff and Phoenix are relatively close to one another yet have contrasting climates. Why does this difference occur? How could the thermal inversion process contribute to global warming? Which regions or cities of the United States are influenced by thermal inversion? Why is the weather still unpredictable? Week Eight Discussion Questions
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.

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How do the demands of society impact the worlds natural resources? Could society run out of natural resources? Why or why not? Are natural resources considered to be renewable resources, nonrenewable resources, or both? Explain your answer. Is nuclear energy considered to be renewable or nonrenewable? Why? What is biomass energy? What are fossil fuels? Provide two examples of fossil fuels and describe their uses. What are mineral resources? Are these considered to be renewable or nonrenewable resources? Why? How do plate tectonics relate to mineral deposits? How are mineral resources obtained? Is there a preferred method? Explain your answer. How do the demands of society impact the worlds natural resources? Could society run out of natural resources? Why or why not? How influential is physical geology on people? Copyright
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