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Livonia, Michigan
Your Success Is Our Greatest Achievement!
SYLLABUS OUTLINE
I.

Course Number and Title: ESS 3290 Online Principles of Astronomy

Semester Hours: 4 s.h.
Semester and Year: Fall 2014
Day and Time: On the Internet {Blackboard (Bb)

II. Instructor Name: Afif Jawad, Ph.D.

Office:
Telephone: 313-582 8049 Dearborn MI
Email Address: ajawad@madonna.edu
III. Course Description
Provides a comprehensive introduction to astronomy. Topics include the solar system, stars,
galaxies, cosmology, and history of astronomy. Astronomical laboratory investigations are part
of the course. Interdisciplinary course designed for non-science majors and for majors in
General and Integrated Science.
IV. Course Objectives/Learning Outcomes
After fulfilling the course requirements, students will be able to:
A. Apply the scientific method.
B. Explain the motions of celestial objects on the celestial sphere; describe lunar and solar
motions; explain celestial coordinate systems.
C. Explain the calendar and basis of time.
D. Understand, from a historical perspective, the contributions of key astronomers throughout
the ages towards understanding the physics of the solar system and the universe.
E. Explain the solar system and its components.
F. Explain electromagnetic radiation.
G. Explain telescopes, and other astronomical tools.
H. Describe the scale of the solar system, and the scale of the universe.
I. Explain the properties and lives of stars.
J. Describe the origin and structure of the Universe.
General Education Competency
This course meets the General Education Competency for 4.D. Scientific Bases of
Technological Realities/Physical Science
V. Required Texts
- The Cosmic Perspective: 6th Edition, Bennett, Donahue, Schneider and Voit, Pearson
Addison Wesley.
- Astronomy Media Workbook: 4th Edition, Michael C. LoPresto, Pearson Addison
Wesley.
- Edmund Scientific Star and Planet Locator (planisphere)

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Additional Materials:
Astronomy: Observations & Theories (20 episodes on 2-DVDs), (Get them from the

Library)
VI. Attendance Policy
Attendance is Required. Being online is the same as being in class. Assignments must be
done on due dates and late assignments will not be graded.
VII. Grading Computation
Criteria for Evaluation of Student Performance:
Letter grades will be assigned according to the following scale:
90-100%
= 4.0
=
A
80-89%
= 3.0-3.9
=
B
70-79%
= 2.0-2.9
=
C
60-69%
= 1.0-1.9
=
D
Less than 60%
= 0.0
=
F
Grading:
Tests
Two Papers
DVD Program Reviews
Observers Reports
Lab Assignments
Total points

Five
Two
20 summaries
25 observations
22

@ 6 points each
@ 5 points each
@ 0.5 point each
@ 1 point each
@ 1 points each

=
=
=
=
=
=

30 points
10 points
10 points
25 points
25 points
100 points

Evaluation/Assessment:
Assessment will be done by having the students
1.
take short answer/multiple choice tests after a series of viewing and readings
2.
write two papers, each three pages long. The first on an astronomer (woman,
minority, past, present, etc) and the other on a topic related to astronomy.
3.
write a short one-two paragraph review of each video episode that is assigned
4.
observe the sky using the sky chart
5.
do lab assignments as detailed in the class schedule on-line
6.
answer to questions in astronomy throughout the semester, just to keep things lively
and interesting when necessary.
A grade will be given at the end of the semester if and only if every component of the
requirements (tests, papers, reviews, observations, labs) was accomplished.
VIII. Student Opinionnaires
Students are invited to evaluate every course every semester, utilizing the University's online
student opinionnaire system. This is accessed from the opening page of the University's
Web site under the "Current Students" menu. Your instructor will inform you when during the
semester the opinionnaires are available for you to open.
IX. Emergency Continuation of Instruction:
In the event of a city-wide or regional crisis or emergency that prevents students from
traveling to campus (such as a flu epidemic), course instruction will be continued on the
class's Blackboard site, provided that campus technology and electricity are operating. If
campus facilities, technology, and electricity are not operational, students should continue
doing their reading and assignments until they receive communication from the instructor or
the University.

X.

Assignments and Miscellaneous Information

Papers:
You will be assigned two papers during the semester. These papers will be in the
Search format (see page 6). The papers will be graded on length, content, and
grammar. The first on an astronomer (woman, minority, past, present, etc) and the
other on a topic related to astronomy.

I-

Lab Assignments:
The lab assignments activities will give you a more hands-on feel on astronomy.
The Astronomy Media Workbook contains two sets of activities. The first set contains the
activities required for this semester same as on-line . Use the code from Mastering
Astronomy to get into the online site. Sign and log in. On the left hand side of the screen,
click on study area and look for tutorials. The screen now shows you the required lab
activities.
I need only the answers.
Observers Reports:
Astronomy has always been, and will continue to be, an observational science. In order
for you to get a feel for the scientific process and a better understanding of the night sky,
you will be required to keep an eye on the sky and report 25 observations of objects
you see (Sun, Moon, Stars, Planets, Comets etc.) in the night sky using the
planisphere (Star Chart). Make these observations with your naked eye, or with
binoculars or telescopes. Do not give me a weather report, like cloudy, or hazy. The
observations are due as stated in assighments.
It will be nice for those who want to explore these techniques a bit further to arrange an
observing session with a telescope at a nearby observatory and see some great views of
the Moon, planets, nebulae, and galaxies. A visit to a Planetarium, with proof (a short
summary of the visit), at the beginning of the semester is equivalent to Ten (10)
observations.
Weekly Video Reviews:
In an effort to assess your developing knowledge of Astronomy throughout the semester,
you will write a review of each of the videos you are assigned to watch and submit.
This, I believe, will give me a better understanding of your ability to grasp the topics.
Your assigned videos are your lectures for the semester, by watching the videos,
taking notes, then writing a synopsis (one or two short paragraphs), youll get a better
understanding of the material. Pay attention to spelling and grammar! All astronomers
(of which you all are for the semester) must be able to express and communicate their
ideas clearly and correctly.
The reviews are due as assigned in assignments.
Communication:
I will be checking your e-mail and postings a minimum of three times a week. Also you
will select a time when you can have an open session for all to share questions and
answers if necessary.

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XI. Course Schedule

Course Outline and Schedule of Assignments: 9-2-2014 to 11-15-2014

Due
Date s

9/2/14
To
9/7

Topics in Text

Text

DVD PROGRAMS

Assignments &
Activities

1- The Study of the

Universe

Begin
Observations(1-5)

2- Observing the Sky

3- Celestial Cycles
4- The Birth of
Astronomy

Do (Activities 1,2)
Start Paper #1
(Activities 3,4,)
(Activities 5,6)

Chapters

Our place in the

Universe
Discovering the
universe for
yourself
The Science of
Astronomy
Making Sense of
the Universe

1,2

9/11
To
9/15

Test 1 Due

5,6

5- Astronomical Tools
6- The Science of
Starlight

(Activities 7,8)

9/15
To
9/19

Our Planetary
System

16- Solar Systems

17- The Terrestrial Planets

(Activities 9,10)

9/19
To
9/14

Formation of the
Solar System

18- The Jovian Worlds

19- Solar System Debris

9/24
To
9/27

Planetary Geology

7- The Sun Our Star

8- The Family of Stars

(Activities 11,12)
Due: Paper # 1

9/27
To
10/5

Test 2 Due

10

9- Solar Births
10- Solar Debris

11,14,15)

10/5
To
10/13

Jovian planet
system
Remnants of Rock
and Ice

10/13
To
10/20

Test 3 Due

9/7
To
9/11

10/20
To
10/29
10/29
To
11/7

Try to observe Daily

3,4

Light and Matter

Telescopes

Planetary
Atmospheres

Other Planetary
Systems.
Our Star
Surveying the
Stars
Star Birth
Star Stuff
The Bizarre Stellar
Graveyard

Test 4 Due
Our Galaxy
Cosmology
Galaxy Evolution

11
12
13
14
15
16,17
18
19
20
21

(Activities

11- Stellar Remnants

12- Our Galaxy. The
Milky Way

(Activities16,17)

13- Galaxies
14- Active Galaxies

(Activities 18,19)

15- Cosmology
20- The Search for
Life
Beyond Earth

(Activities 20,21)

(Activities 22,23,24)
Due: Paper #2

Alignment to the
Michigan Science
Benchmarks
(V.4.E.1 ) (V.4.E.2 )
(V.4.MS.1 ) (V.4.MS.2 )
(V.4.MS.3 )
(V.4.HS.1 ) (V.4.HS.2 )
(V.4.HS.3) (V.4.HS.4)
( IV.3.E.1) ( IV.3.E.2)
( IV.3.E.3)
( IV.3.MS.1) ( IV.3.MS.2)
( IV.3.MS.4) ( IV.3.MS.5)
( IV.3.HS.2)
(IV.4.E.3) (IV.4.E.4)
(IV.4.MS.3) (IV.4.MS.4)
(IV.4.MS.5) (IV.4.MS.6)
(IV.4.HS.2) (IV.4.HS.3)
(IV.4.HS.4)
(IV.E.1 ) ( IV.MS.2 )
( IV.MS.3) ( IV.MS.4 )
( IV.MS.5 ) ( IV.2MS.1 )
( IV.2MS.3 ) ( IV.2MS.4 )
(IV.2.HS.3 ) (IV.2.HS.4)
(IV.2.HS.5 )
(V.4.E.1 ) (V.4.E.2 )
(V.4.MS.1 ) (V.4.MS.2 )
(V.4.MS.3 )
(V.4.HS.1 ) (V.4.HS.2 )
(V.4.HS.3) (V.4.HS.4)
(V.4.E.1 ) (V.4.E.12 )
(V.4.MS.1 ) (V.4.MS.2 )
(V.4.MS.3 )
(V.4.HS.1 ) (V.4.HS.2 )
(V.4.HS.3) (V.4.HS.4)
(V.4.E.1 ) (V.4.E.2 )
(V.4.MS.1 ) (V.4.MS.2 )
(V.4.MS.3 )
(V.4.HS.1 ) (V.4.HS.2 )
(V.4.HS.3) (V.4.HS.4)
( V.3.E.1 ) (V.3.E.2 )
(V.3.E.3 )
( V.3.MS.1 ) (V.3.MS.2 )
(V.3.MS.3 ) (V.3.MS.4 )
(V.3.HS.1 ) (V.3.HS.2 )
(V.3.HS.3 ) (V.3.HS.4 )
(V.4.E.1 ) (V.4.E.2 )
(V.4.MS.1 ) (V.4.MS.2 )
(V.4.MS.3 )
(V.4.HS.1 ) (V.4.HS.2 )
(V.4.HS.3) (V.4.HS.4)
(V.4.E.1 ) (V.4.E.12 )
(V.4.MS.1 ) (V.4.MS.2 )
(V.4.MS.3 )
(V.4.HS.1 ) (V.4.HS.2 )
(V.4.HS.3) (V.4.HS.4)
(V.4.E.1 ) (V.4.E.12 )
(V.4.MS.1 ) (V.4.MS.2 )
(V.4.MS.3 )
(V.4.HS.1 ) (V.4.HS.2 )
(V.4.HS.3) (V.4.HS.4)
(V.4.E.1 ) (V.4.E.12 )
(V.4.MS.1 ) (V.4.MS.2 )
(V.4.MS.3 )
(V.4.HS.1 ) (V.4.HS.2 )
(V.4.HS3) (V.4.HS.4)

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Due
Date s

Topics in Text

Text

DVD PROGRAMS

Assignments &
Activities

Chapters

11/7
To
11/13

Dark matter &

Energy
Time and Life

11/13/1
4

Test 5 Due

22,23
24
Assignments after
11/13/14 will not be
accepted.

All assignments
must be completed
on time.
It is my decision to
accept or reject late
assignments.

Alignment to the
Michigan Science
Benchmarks
(V.4.E.1 ) (V.4.E.12 )
(V.4.MS.1 ) (V.4.MS.2 )
(V.4.MS.3 )
(V.4.HS.1 ) (V.4.HS.2 )
(V.4.HS.3) (V.4.HS.4)
( V.3.E.1 ) (V.3.E.2 )
(V.3.E.3 )
( V.3.MS.1 ) (V.3.MS.2 )
(V.3.MS.3 ) (V.3.MS.4 )
(V.3.HS.1 ) (V.3.HS.2 )
(V.3.HS.3 ) (V.3.HS.4 )
( V.3.E.1 ) (V.3.E.2 )
(V.3.E.3 )
( V.3.MS.1 ) (V.3.MS.2 )
(V.3.MS.3 ) (V.3.MS.4 )
(V.3.HS.1 ) (V.3.HS.2 )
(V.3.HS.3 ) (V.3.HS.4 )

Very important: Assignments must be numbered properly.

Tests: Tests are due on the days as assigned

Test 1

Test 2

Test 3

Test 4

Test 5

9/11/14

9/27/14

10/13/14

10/29/14

11/13/14

Very important: Sending the assignments, they must be numbered properly.

In the sciences it is important to eliminate underachievement and under-representation by
developing competent students with positive attitudes.
It is necessary to employ a variety of integrated pedagogical techniques in order for students to
attain more meaningful learning. Their knowledge must be conceptual and interconnected making
learning a dynamic process where meaning is developed by searching for relationship.
The following strategies in teaching physics have proved successful and I think they are
appropriate for science learners.
1. Believe that each student is capable.
2. Give immediate feedback to their tests and questions.
3. Be available and make available all necessary materials.
4. Emphasize visualization of scientific concepts making them exciting and meaningful.
5. Take into consideration the cultural aspects of each student and appreciate the differences
to enrich the educational experience.
6. Get them to work in groups.
7. Grading is important, but the individual is more important. Students learn from wrong
answers more than from correct ones.
8. Redirect an answer back to the class to encourage discussions and to allow them to
analyze and synthesize.
9. Create an atmosphere where everyone has the chance to share and explain the way they
see and understand the question.

****************************************************************************
Note:

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All files must be saved and submitted using your name, subject and chapter number.
The same must be on the page when opened. My computer will reject all files not using
this format and will consider it a virus.
An I-Search paper is a type of limited research paper. There are several steps involved in
completing one.
Choose a topic (in Astronomy) that you are genuinely interested in and need to know more
information about.
Find out as much information about your topic as you can. Use a variety of sources: looking
up books, interviewing people, searching on the World Wide Web, etc. Do not take or copy
from your Text.
Write a paper explaining why you chose your topic, what happened during your search, and
what you found out about your topic while searching. Include source notes and a works
cited page.
Your I-Search paper will have three parts:
1. My topic and why I chose it. In this section, you will explain your choice of topic and
include a short summary of what you knew about your topic when you started.
2. My search. This section details your search process. Include lists of the sources you
consulted. You can use a chronological order for this portion, once it is essentially a
narrative.
.

What I learned about my topic. You have two options in approaching this section: you
may cover the highlights of your search if, for example, you knew your topic well when
you started and uncovered one or two surprising aspects during your search; or you may
summarize your findings, giving an overview, if your topic was relatively new to you.

This essay will be evaluated on the quality of the information, the clarity of the presentation,
and the degree which it records both your search and the results. My prime question will
be, how well does this essay cover the writers reasons for choosing the topic, the search
process s/he used, and the information gathered during the search? Other elements of
writing will also be evaluated (length of paper).
************************************************************************
Hi, my name is Afif Jawad Ph.D, a professor at Madonna University. Ive been teaching
Physics and Astronomy for many years. I believe that you are a remarkable group of
students, and, I am looking forward to work with you, and take you on a tour through a
new universe (so to speak).
I hope to be able to get you to appreciate astronomy as something more than what
youve seen on TV, or in the movies. Astronomy as a discipline is very vast and yet
interesting. To cover the entire topic, even in a general way, in one semester is tough to
do. Please keep in mind that this is a content (Science) class. I would like to have you
come away from this course with the ability and the knowledge of how to understand
astronomy (developing your own critical reasoning skills) so that you can go off and
discover more about it when the class is finished.
You will find the course easy and enjoyable. Dont let the weak students discourage you.
Students tend to fail or withdraw because they are discouraged or do not keep up
with their work. There are no extra credits or incompletes. Once the grades are

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submitted in, there will be no discussion or changes. I hope that I can make this class an
enjoyable learning experience for you!
Afif Jawad Ph.D

Note
1- The observations (25 of them).
You are required to look at the sky, use the sky chart, identify the constellations, stars, planets,
moon, sun, comets etc. at different times, and write a paragraph (4 to 5 lines) on what you see.
Date, time, and location are very important.
o
o
o
o
o

Do not give me a weather report, and dont tell me "it was cloudy, rainy, etc.
The observations (report) must be what you see.
A paragraph about 4 to 5 lines is what I expect from you for each observation.
Telling me you saw a star in the sky, or the sunset was beautiful, is not an observation.
Give me a college level report, and make sure they are numbered; otherwise it will not
be graded.

2- The essays.
Your I-Search essay will have three parts:
1. My topic and why I chose it.
2. My search.
3. What I learned about my topic.
This essay will be evaluated on the quality of the information, the clarity of the presentation, and the
degree which it records both your search and the results. My prime question will be, how well does
this essay cover the writers reasons for choosing the topic, the search process s/he used, and the
information gathered during the search? Other elements of writing will also be evaluated (length of
paper, three pages double spaced). Please see the syllabus for further explanation on an I-Search
paper.
3- The labs. (Activities)
You are to work on each one, answer the questions, and give only the answers to the questions.
Also make sure each chapter is numbered properly.
4- The videos:
Make sure you watch the videos weekly as assigned. They will help you with the tests and
observations. The video summaries are worth 10 percent of your grade. Write a short summary (5
to 8 lines) on each, telling me something from the video, and make sure they are numbered
correctly.
5- The tests.
You will find all the requirements in Assignments (Bb). After the due date of each, it will be taken
off-line and hence you do not get a grade.
Afif Jawad Ph.D.

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Madonna University
ajawad@madonna.edu