Lecture: Monday, Wednesday, & Friday, 12:40-1:30, Halbouty 101
Labs: 501 – M 3:00-5:50; 502 – T 11:10-2:00; 503 – T 2:20-5:10;
504 – Th 11:10-2:00; 505 – W 6:00-8:50; 506 – W, 9:10-12:00
All labs will be held in Halbouty 170

SYLLABUS

Catalog Course Description and Prerequisites: “Historical Geology. (3-3). Credit 4.
Hypotheses of Earth's origin; age dating of geologic materials; development and history of life;
plate tectonic reconstructions, geologic history, and paleogeography, with emphasis on the North
American plate. Prerequisite: GEOL 101 or equivalent.”

Learning Outcomes or Course Objectives: This course focuses on the physical, chemical, and
biologic changes that have taken place on Earth since its formation 4.6 billion years ago.
Particular emphasis will be placed on the biosphere and how scientists use the fossil record to
help reconstruct Earth’s past. Students will see how the logic of scientific discovery is applied to
reconstruct the past and will have numerous opportunities to engage in geologic inquiry. In the
opinion of the instructor, this is the single most interesting subject for any college course, ever.
It is assumed that students will have successfully completed a college-level course in Physical
Geology (GEOL 101 or equivalent) and have knowledge of basic science and math at a high
school level or above.

Teaching Assistants:
Name: Angela Van Boening Sally Scott
Sections: 501, 504, 505 502, 503, 506
Office: Halbouty 311 Halbouty 267
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Textbook: Stanley, S.M., 2009, Earth System History, 3rd ed. Freeman, 551 p.

Grading Policies:
Participation, Quizzes, Assignments: 25%
Mid-semester Exam #1: 15%
Mid-semester Exam #2: 15%
Final Exam: 20%
Lab: 25%
Letter grades will be assigned on the following scale:
A ≥ 90% > B ≥ 80% > C ≥ 70% > D ≥ 60% > F.

If, for any reason, it is necessary for a student to make up an exam due to a foreseeable event,
the student is required to notify the instructor (by phone or e-mail) to obtain approval at least 24
hours prior to the originally scheduled time of the exam. If a student misses an exam for an
unanticipated reason, opportunity to take a make-up exam will require a written excuse approved
by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for the College of Geosciences (Sarah Bednarz, 202
O&M Building, 979-845-3651, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ). Under any circumstances, make-up
exams must be taken no later than one week after the original exam.

Class and lab assignments will be due at the beginning of class or lab one week after they are
assigned, unless otherwise specified; 25% of the assignment’s full credit will be lost for each day
late (i.e., 24 hour period) until no credit will be given (at which point the assignment will not be
accepted).

Quizzes will occur during the scheduled class time. There will be NO make-up quizzes.
However, students can make up quiz points by posting questions and comments on line (see
section below on TopHatMonocle).

All grades will be posted on eLearning; exams will not be returned, but students may arrange
an appointment to go over their exams in the instructor’s office.

Top Hat Monocle: This class will be using MonocleCAT, a web-based system that allows
students to answer questions during class (including quizzes), post questions at any time during or
outside of class, and complete assignments using laptops, ipods, smartphones, and cell-phones
(i.e., I expect you to bring appropriate devices to class).

MonocleCAT is licensed by student subscription, with unlimited courses per student. (A
student can access all of their courses using the system throughout the subscription term with a
single subscription.) Student subscriptions are available directly on the Top Hat Monocle website
at http://www.tophatmonocle.com/register/ ($20.00 for 4 months, $38.00 for 60 months, or
$120.00 for lifetime VIP).

MonocleCAT will be used to give quizzes during class, post reading guides, and to post and
answer questions on-line using a discussion board.

Format of the Class: This class will be organized in a “flipped” format – i.e., instead of content
being delivered as lectures during the scheduled class time, I will prepare a slideshow and
accompanying podcast that students will be expected to watch/listen to BEFORE each class.
There will be an opportunity to post questions arising from the podcast on-line (and answer each
others’ questions) using TopHatMonocle (see above), as well as a means for other students to
“like” questions that have already been posted. For each podcast, the students who post the two
questions with the most “likes” will each receive a point that can be used to replace missed quiz
questions from any point in the semester.

Each class will start with an opportunity for students to ask questions on the assigned material
before taking a quiz (i.e., there will be a quiz virtually every day of class). Class time will be
spent answering student questions (from the on-line forum and those that arise during class),
discussing fundamental concepts, presenting demonstrations, and doing in-class exercises.
Disruption of Class: Disrupting class by any means (e.g., cell phone ringing, snoring, loud
talking, turning newspaper pages, surfing the web, arriving to lab or class late, leaving lab or class
early, etc.) diminishes the educational experience and is fundamentally disrespectful of other
students, the professor, and the material being presented. The policy for dealing with disruptions
will be determined by majority consensus of the students during the first week of class (again,
using the on-line forum). What constitutes a disruption will be determined at the discretion of the
professor.

Expectations: Maximizing the quality of the educational experience in a course setting requires
effort from both the instructor and the student. Effective learning depends on a relationship in
which both parties, the student and the instructor, fulfill their obligations and responsibilities to
the other party. As the instructor, I genuinely believe that there is no topic more interesting than
the history of the Earth-Life system (i.e., the focus of this course) and I will do what I reasonably
can to help you, the student, master the course content. However, I expect an equal degree of engagement and effort from you.

As the instructor, it is my job to provide you with timely access to the educational materials
(through lectures, readings, and labs/assignments) you will need to learn the current scientific
understanding of the history of the Earth-Life system. You have the right to expect me to be
prepared for class, make assignment instructions clear, and to report grades in a timely manner.
You have the right to transparency in how points were distributed on graded assignments and
exams. You have the right to be dealt with in a courteous and respectful manner.

In return, I expect that you, the student, will actively participate in the learning process.
When something is confusing or unclear, you are expected to ask questions in class, post
questions on-line, see me during office hours, make an appointment for further clarification
outside of class, or make the effort to teach yourself from other sources if necessary (including
consulting your student colleagues). For each hour of class, you are expected to spend 2-3
hours studying, reviewing, and preparing; this includes listening to course podcasts,
completing assigned reading from the textbook, additional readings that will be made available
to you, and reviewing lecture notes and materials. I expect that you will treat me, the teaching
assistants, and other students in a courteous and respectful manner (this includes abstaining from
disruptive behavior during class or lab). I expect assignments, labs, and all other graded activities
to be done neatly and completely.

Last but not least, I expect you to put forth your BEST effort in all aspects of this class – I
expect that you will be prepared for class; that you will do the best you can on assignments, labs,
quizzes, and exams; and that you take the value of a college education seriously. If you are
taking this class with the attitude of doing only the minimum required to pass, you should drop
the course immediately. Such an attitude is disrespectful of my time, the subject matter, and
your expense.