GEOL 1376 HISTORICAL GEOLOGY

FALL SEMESTER 2011

Section 1, Class 17009, 10-11AM MWF

FACULTY: Dr. Rosalie F. Maddocks Professor, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences OFFICE HOURS: Room 336 SR1. 7:00-8:30AM MTWTHF and as available. I am in my office most of the time, except when I am in class or meetings, and no appointment is necessary if I am there. Please do walk in with your questions. E-mail: RMaddocks@uh.edu E-mail is a good way to ask questions, and I answer promptly during working hours. Check your mailbox again soon. Phone: 713-743-3429 If I do not answer, please try again later, and keep trying until you reach me. Please do not ask me to return your call.

I. THE COURSE: 1. Catalog Description 1376: [GEOL 1304 or GEOL 1404] Historical Geology Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites: GEOL 1330, and credit for, placement out of, or concurrent enrollment in MATH 1310 or 1311. Geologic history of the earth; introduction to the uses of geological principles to interpret earth history. 2. Purpose: This course may satisfy part of the Natural Science Requirement in the Undergraduate Core Curriculum. 3. Prerequisite: GEOL 1330: Physical Geology must have been completed. 4. Optional Accompanying Laboratory Courses: GEOL 1130: Physical Geology Laboratory This course provides hands-on experience with minerals, rocks, maps, diagrams and models of earth processes. It is a separate course with a separate grade. It is strongly recommended for all students who are enrolled in or have completed GEOL 1330. GEOL 1176: Historical Geology Laboratory This course continues the hands-on study of rocks, fossils, maps and diagrams with emphasis on stratigraphic and paleontological concepts. It is a separate course with a separate grade. It is strongly recommended for all students who are enrolled in or have completed GEOL 1376. The prerequisite is GEOL 1130. II. COURSE OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: 1. Understand, at an elementary level, principles of stratigraphy, tectonics and biological evolution, as applied to the history of the earth and of life. 2. Know and use the Geologic Time Scale. 3. Understand how geologists study earth processes in order to understand and reconstruct the past, present, and future. 4. Reason like a scientist, evaluating geological evidence and testing hypotheses. 5. Summarize the major events and conditions during each chapter of earth history, with emphasis on the geological evolution of North America.

III. COURSE CONTENT: 1

This course will include the following topics: 1. 2. 3. 4. Geologic time and change Early development of a science of earth history. Biological evolution The Relative Geologic Time Scale and modern concepts of stratigraphy 5. The numerical dating of the earth 6. The origin and early evolution of the earth 7. Mountain-building and tectonic concepts 8. Cryptozoic history IV. COURSE STRUCTURE AND POLICIES: 1. Attendance is required every day. There are no excused absences. Students may be dropped for excessive absences. 2. Turn off all telephones, computers, music devices, e-readers, and communications equipment and lock them away in your backpack (not your pocket). 3. Telephones, Laptops, iPads, E-readers, iPhones, Blackberries, and all electronic media are NOT permitted during class. 4. Please sit near the front, with a good view of the screen. Pick up any hand-outs on the table at the front. Have a pencil and paper ready to take comprehensive, hand-written notes of the lecture. When I explain a diagram, you may like to have your textbook (print copy) handy and make handwritten notes on that illustrations. 5. If you are late, please do come in. Please do not leave the room for any reason (except a medical emergency) after the lecture has begun. If you leave, please do not return. No in and out during the lecture. Such behavior is distracting to students and instructor and disrespectful of the educational process. 6. Food and drink are not permitted in any University classroom, to prevent infestations of vermin (ants, roaches, mice, rats). 7. Seating will be assigned for exams. You may not leave the room for any reason without surrendering the exam. V. TEXTBOOKS: 1. Prothero, Donald R., and Robert H. Dott, Jr. (2010) Evolution of the Earth, Eighth Edition. McGraw-Hill. ISBN 978-0-07-282684-5. This textbook is required. It is available from the University Bookstore and major online booksellers as a new or used copy, as a rental, or as an e-book for electronic download. If you purchase the rental or e-book, please read the restrictions carefully to be sure that you understand the terms of the contract. The changes from the Seventh Edition (2004) ISBN 0-07-252808-7 are relatively minor. If you happen to have a used copy of the Seventh Edition, you may use it (but be aware that page and figure numbers are different). If you buy a used copy online, be sure to verify the edition number, ISBN number, and condition before ordering. Some sellers offer older editions (cheap) that should not be used. The site I prefer for online used-book buying is www.abe.com, which is a consortium of independent booksellers. Be sure to read the descriptions carefully, realize that the thumbnail image might be for a different edition unless specified, and contact the seller directly with any questions before placing your order.) The textbook is heavy. You are not required to bring it to the lecture class, although some students like to do so in order to annotate the diagrams. It may sometimes be helpful to have it handy in lab. If you prefer an e-book, that's fine, but please be aware that you will not be allowed to access your e-book during class. 2 9. Cryptozoic life and the Cambrian explosion. 10. Earliest Paleozoic history 11. Ordovician history 12. Silurian and Devonian history 13. Late Paleozoic history 14. Mesozoic history 15. Cenozoic history 16. Pleistocene glaciation and Holocene history

2. Other required materials are available free online at the course VNET site <vnet.uh.edu>: PowerPoint lecture slides (as shown in the lecture class). Practice Quizzes (sample questions from previous exams, with answers). Homework (sample questions from previous exams about diagrams, with answers). Maps and diagrams. Vocabulary checklists.

VI. COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SUCCESS: 1. Reading Assignments (chapters in Prothero) must be completed by the date indicated on the Course Schedule. Several readings (not just one) of each chapter are recommended. It is helpful to make a handwritten outline of the chapter as you read, which will help you to understand, organize, learn, and remember the information. 2. Pay special attention to the illustrations in the textbook. Listen and take notes as these diagrams are explained in class. Then try the homework exercises concerning these figures to be sure you have understood and can apply these principles. 3. Review each lecture, soon after each class period, by viewing (again) the Lecture PowerPoint slides online at the Vnet site. Do not just print out these slides -- printing does not accomplish learning! View them onscreen and think about the concepts, one screen at a time. 4. Do the homework exercises and the practice quizzes, after (not before) you have studied the chapter, to test your understanding of this material. Write down your answers, check them, and compute your score. Is it a good score? Does this score predict success in the next exam? If not, study some more, and then try another quiz. 5. Warning: Do not try to "study the quizzes." Thats a waste of time. Quizzes are merely diagnostic tools. Study the Lectures and the Textbook! VII. SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES 1. Geosciences Learning Center: The Geosciences Learning Center is located in Room 9 of the (old) Science Building. This is a good place to ask questions, review key topics, study quietly, and get tutorial assistance for this course. It is open every weekday on a walk-in basis. The GLC staff welcomes your questions and offers many supplemental resources for your Geology courses.

2. VNET Site: <vnet.uh.edu> At this site registered students can access important course materials. These include the PowerPoint slides for all lectures, Practice Quizzes (with answers), Homework (with answers), maps, diagrams and vocabulary checklists. Go to <vnet.uh.edu> and follow the instructions to set up your Student Account on the Vnet site, if you have not previously done so. If you have trouble doing this, call the help number on the screen, and the Vnet staff will assist you. Then navigate to this course (College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, GEOL 1376, Dr. Maddocks). Follow the instructions to Request Registration. I will approve your registration. Then you will have access to the course materials.

3. Field Trips: Students enrolled in GEOL 1376 are eligible to participate in several geological excursions. To sign up for these trips and get more information, contact the Geosciences Learning Center in room 9 of the Science Building. VII. EVALUATION AND GRADING 3

1. Four multiple-choice exams will cover the assigned text chapters and the lectures. Dates of exams are given in the course schedule. 2. The course grade will be based on the average of the three best exam scores of four (the lowest exam score will be dropped). A missed exam counts as a score of zero. Don't ever miss an exam! 3. Unannounced Pop Quizzes may be given during class. These may count as extra credit on the final course grade. There is no make-up for pop quizzes. 4. There is no other "extra credit." In fairness to all students, the course policies and opportunities to earn credit are the same for all students.

VIII. MAKE-UP POLICY 1. Make-up exams are occasionally granted, if the circumstances are extraordinary and beyond your control. 2. You must notify me promptly, preferably before exam time on the same day, just as soon as possible. Send an email, or leave a telephone message. Explain the circumstances in detail and your reasons for requesting a make-up. 3. Then keep me informed of your circumstances frequently, by daily e-mails, until the matter is resolved. Explanatory documentation may be required. If a make-up exam is offered, that appointment will be scheduled for the earliest possible (not necessarily convenient) day and time. 4. For predictable circumstances, such as necessary out-of-town travel, you may request to take an exam early.

IX. POLICY ON GRADE OF I (INCOMPLETE): The University policy (see Undergraduate Catalog) regarding the grade of I will be followed strictly. This grade is available only to students who, because of circumstances beyond their control, are unable to complete a relatively small part of the course, and who are passing the course at that time. If an I is granted, the missing work must be made up at the earliest possible opportunity. The student should not re-enroll in the course, because this does not remove the I grade.

X. STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: Whenever possible, and in accordance with 504/ADA guidelines, the University of Houston will attempt to provide reasonable academic accommodations to students who request and require them. Please call 713-743-5400 for more assistance. Students who are registered with the Office for Students With Disabilities should bring me that documentation on the First Day of Class.

GEOL 1376: HISTORICAL GEOLOGY (Maddocks) FALL 2010 10-11 AM MWF class 17009 DAY DATE READ CHAPTER 1M Aug 22 1, 2 2W Aug 24 2 3F Aug 26 4 4M Aug 29 4 Mon Aug 29: Last Day to Add a Class 5W Aug 31 4 6F Sept 2 3 M Sept 6 LABOR DAY HOLIDAY NO CLASS 7W Sept 7 3 Wed Sept 7 Last Day to Drop or Withdraw Without Grade 8F Sept 9 3 9M Sept 12 5 10 W Sept 14 5 11 F Sept 16 6 12 M Sept 19 6 13 W Sept 21 EXAM 1 14 F Sept 23 7 15 M Sept 26 7 16 W Sept 28 8 17 F Sept 30 8 18 M Oct 3 9 19 W Oct 5 9 20 F Oct 7 9 21 M Oct 10 10 22 W Oct 12 10 23 F Oct 14 11 24 M Oct 17 11 25 W Oct 19 11 26 F Oct 21 EXAM 2 27 M Oct 24 12 28 W Oct 26 12 29 F Oct 28 12 30 M Oct 31 13 31 W Nov 2 13 Wed Nov 2 Last Day to Drop or Withdraw With W 32 F Nov 4 13 33 M Nov 7 14 34 W Nov 9 14 35 F Nov 11 14 36 M Nov 14 15 37 W Nov 16 15 38 F Nov 18 15 39 M Nov 21 15 W-S Nov 23-26 THANKSGIVING HOLIDAYS NO CLASS 40 M Nov 28 EXAM 3 41 W Nov 30 16 42 F Dec 1 16 M-T Dec 5-6 READING DAYS NO CLASS Wed Dec 14 EXAM 4 COMPREHENSIVE FINAL EXAM 11 AM 5