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Course Information
Introduction to Geology-Fall | Earth Science I & II | Extra Credit

 

 

Seton Hall University Earth Science
Course: ERTH 1019 - INTRODUCTION TO GEOLOGY
Professor: Martha Schoene    E-mail: schoenma@shu.edu
Office Telephone: 761-9050 (9-noon)
 
Text: Essentials of Geology by F.K. Lutgens Eighth Edition (Prentice Hall, 2003).
The readings and chapter review exercises are from the Lutgens text. Students are advised
to read the chapter before each class lecture in preparation for the discussion.
In addition to the readings, questions and vocabulary students will be expected to turn
in three written assignments consisting of in class lab data, handout questions and
assigned text questions. ( handouts and due dates to be provided ).

Syllabus

 
Topics: READING AND WRITTEN EXERCISES
 
Introduction to Geology CHAPTER 1
 
Rocks Versus Minerals CHAPTER 2
 
Volcanoes and Igneous Rock CHAPTERS 3 & 4
 
 
Weathering and soil Chapter 5
EXAMINATION 1 and
Sedimentary Rock Chapter 6
 
Metamorphic Rock Chapter 7
 
Water Running & Ground Chapters 9 & 10
 (First written assignment due ) Choose one in-class lab report for Ch 1,2,5 & 7
 
Chapter 11
Glaciers and Glaciation
 
EXAMINATION 2 and Chapter 12
Deserts and Winds
 
Chapter 13 & 14
Shoreline Versus Ocean Floor
 
Chapter 15
Earthquakes
 
Chapter 16 & 17
Plate Tectonics & Mountains
 
 
Chapter 18
(Second written assignment due ) Choose one in class lab report from Ch 9,10,11,13 & 17
Geologic Time & Fossils
 
Earth’s History Chapter 19
(Final Homework assignment due ) written summary of discussion board question
 
 
FINAL EXAMINATION: ALL MATERIALS COVERED DURING THE SEMESTER
WITH EXTRA EMPHASIS on the MATERIAL COVERED SINCE THE LAST EXAM.
 
Your final grade is computed on the basis of:
Three well written Assignments ( turned in on time ) : 15 points ( 5 points each )
Exam 1: 20 points
Exam 2: 25 points
Final Exam 40 points
In addition, class attendance and participation is take very seriously. They can only improve your grade .
Note that makeup exams are not offered. If you miss an exam, for a documented legitimate reason, your other exam and the final exam will count for 40 and 45 points. Otherwise, the missed exam will count as zero.

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Earth Science Course Outline-Semester 1& 2

Course Description:

This course will introduce students to the study of the planet Earth, placing emphasis on viewing it as a dynamic ever changing globe. Students will be expected to carry out laboratory investigations from which they can draw a conclusion and to relate their studies to current issues from the newspaper and other media about the environment. As well as developing an understanding geological events that have shaped the Earth in the past. The classes will consist of lectures, class discussions, demonstrations, lab activities, text readings and chapter questions, media exposure, tests, and homework. There may be field trips included in this course.

Materials:

Text: Prentice Hall Earth Science and Lab workbook

Media materials in the Library

Course Content: First Semester

  1. Formation of the Earth

    1. Development of hydrosphere, lithosphere and atmosphere

  2. Atoms to minerals

    1. Theory of atoms

    2. Formation of compounds

    3. Minerals and identification

  1. Rock Formation

    1. Hutton’s theories

    2. Rock groups

    3. Minerals and identification

  2. Resources and Energy

    1. What are they?

    2. Origins of fossil fuels

    3. Resources VS reserves

  3. Ecology

    1. What’s man’s role in ecology?

    2. What are local concerns?

    3. Acid rain, toxic wastes and greenhouse effect

  4. Earth’s History

    1. Formation of the Universe

    2. Formation of the Solar System

    3. Earth, moon and sun

    4. Geologic calendar

    5.  Fossil record

    6. Methods of determination of the age of rocks and fossils

  5. Oceans

    1. Methods used to study the seas

    2. Seafloor and seafloor sediments

    3. Economic potential of the seas

    4. Climatological  effects of the sea

 

Course Content: Second Semester

 

  1. Weathering

    1. Effect of the atmosphere on the earth’s face

    2. Agents of chemical and mechanical weathering

    3. Soil formation

  2. Underground Water

    1. Hydrological cycle

    2. Water budgets

    3. Water tables

    4. Landformations caused by ground water

    5. Cave formation

    6. Mineral deposition

  3. Running Surface Water

    1. Effect of rivers on the earth’s surface

    2. Life cycles of rivers

    3. Topological changes caused by rivers

    4. Flood management techniques

  4. Glaciers

    1. History and types

    2. Effects of types on the topography

    3. Climatological effects

  5. Plate Tectonics

    1. Defined

    2. Nature of Movement

    3. Crustal topography changes as a result of movement

    4. Effect of convection currents on the lithosphere

  6. Volcanism

    1. Formation and movement of magma

    2. Rift and subduction eruptions

    3. Volcanic cone types

  7. Earthquakes

    1. Origins

    2. Wave types

    3. Use of seismograph

    4. Ground motion and damage assessment

    5. Prevention VS prediction

  8. Mountains

    1. Formation of chains

    2. Volcanic

    3. Seafloor changes

    4. Types of mountains

    5. Formation in geologic time

 

Evaluation:

  A.    Each student is expected to attend class and to keep a notebook containing lecture notes and lab data.

B.    Lab reports will be worth 15% of your final grade

C.    The first Test will be worth 20% of your final grade

D.   The second Test will be worth 25% of your grade. 

E.  The Final examination will be worth 35% of your final grade

F.     Class participation and homework assignments will be worth 5% of your final grade

Class participation and class attendance are taken seriously. They can only improve your grade.

Handing in written descriptions handed in on time of any assigned home labs, extra current event analyses or creation of an Earth Science web page can also improve your grade, as extra credit added to your next test or examination. ( 5 points for each well done assignment with a maximum of 10 points on each exam )

***Please note that makeup tests or exams are not offered. If you miss a test, for a documented legitimate reason, your other test and exam will count for 35 % and 45%.Otherwise the missed test will count as a zero.

 

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Extra Credit
Click here for Word Document Form of the Extra Credit Paper
Name:
_____________________________________________ Class:  ____________________Date______________                                                                                                                        
 
EARTH SCIENCE CURRENT EVENT  Possible 5  POINTS PER ASSIGNMENT added to your next exam
 
 
NOTE: Two different current events may be submitted, one anytime before each exam, with a 5 point
maximum for each different article and explanation.  Articles used in class will be counted towards class participation.
 
Find a magazine or newspaper article on one of the topics in the Table of Contents of our Text for example Glaciers, Ice Age, N. J. Beaches, Plates Tectonics, Minerals, Floods, Volcanoes, Earthquakes, Mountain Ranges, Oceans or Fossils.
 
 
Photocopy the article and attach the photocopy to this handout.
 
Answer the following questions for full credit.
 
1.  The name and date of the source of this article                                                                                               
 
                                                                                                                                                                   
 
2.  The Earth Science Topic(s)                                                                                                                           
 
                                                                                                                                                                   
 
3.  In your own words explain the article.  Include an explanation or definition of each Earth Science terms.
 
                                                                                                                                                                    
 
                                                                                                                                                                    
 
                                                                                                                                                                    
 
                                                                                                                                                                    
 
                                                                                                                                                                    
 
                                                                                                                                                                    
 
                                                                                                                                                                    
 
                                                                                                                                                                    
 
                                                                                                                                                                     
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