SUNY
Cortland Department of Geology
GLY
172: Earth History
Spring
2007 3 credit
hours
Mrs.
Joyce Office: 342 Bowers,
(607) 753-2915
Kruger-Knuepfer: E-mail:
krugerknuepfer@cortland.edu
Course WebCT
Office
hours: Mon 11:30--1pm, Thur 8:30-9:30
am
or by appointment
Lecture: Tue, Thu 11:40-12:55 in
Bowers 109
Required
Textbook: Wicander, R. and Monroe, J.S.,
2003, Historical Geology 4th ed., Brooks/Cole Publishers.
Catalog course
description:
“GLY 172: EARTH HISTORY-
Evolution of the earth based on geologic evidence with special emphasis on the
rock record of New York State. Not open
to students with credit for GLY 262 or GLY 470, or majors in geography,
mathematics or science. Prerequisite: GLY 171. (3 sem. hr.)*”
Course attendance policy:
Class attendance is expected. Exams, quizzes, and in-class assignments can only be made-up with a documented valid reason or prior notice of an approved activity for your absence, so if you want to complete all the assessed work in this course then make sure that you attend every class. Please familiarize yourself with the official college policy regarding attendance and absences (Section 410.12 of the College Handbook).
Be responsible for your own
education. Let me know in advance if you know that you’re going to miss a
class (email is best). If you miss course-assessed work you must contact
me immediately with a valid reason for your absence or you will receive a
zero. Pay attention in class, keep good notes on information that is
presented, but not listed. Do the
readings, ask questions, and get involved in class discussions and
activities. Your participation and attitude will be factored into
borderline final grade decisions.
Course Objectives:
The main objective of this
course is to provide the student with an understanding of the process of
scientific understanding and how those understandings change with time. A central goal is to provide a sense of place
on a planet with a complex system of rock, water, atmosphere and living
organisms. A sense of geologic time
connects this system and changes over times much greater than human lifetimes.
Grade Assessment:
Your grade will be based on
the following formula:
Exam 1 25%
Exam 2 25%
Final Exam 35%
Quizzes/Assignments 15%
Total 100%
Examinations:
There will be a total of
three (3) examinations during the semester, including the final. Each will cover approximately one-third of
the course material (and the final will have approximately 10% cumulative
questions derived from the first two exams).
Exams will be composed of multiple choice, true or false, or fill-in
type questions.
If you must be absent from an
exam for an approved valid reason, you must take a makeup within one week of
the date of the original exam. Any
makeup exam may be in a different format (e.g., essay) as the originally
scheduled exam. Your grade for the
semester will be determined by your examination and quiz average. Historically,
there has been a good correlation between poor attendance and poor or failing
grades in this course.
Problems or Questions:
Do not hesitate to ask
questions during the lecture; it is very likely that other members of the class
have the same question. I am available
for consultation during my office hours and my office in Room 342, Bowers Hall;
if impossible or inconvenient, you may call x2915 to set up an appointment, or
even better is to email your question to me at knuepferj@cortland.edu.
Academic Accommodations:
If you are a student with a
disability and wish to request accommodations, please contact the Office of
Student Disability Services located in B-40 Van Hoesen Hall or call (607)
753-2066 for an appointment. Information
regarding your disability will be treated in a confidential manner. Because many accommodations require early
planning, requests for accommodations should be made as early as possible.
Tentative Course Schedule
and Readings:
|
Week # |
LECTURE TOPIC (Subject to change) |
Reading Assignments |
|
Week
1 |
Introduction and Origin of
Earth and Solar System |
Ch 1 |
|
Week 2 |
Review of Minerals/Rocks
and Plate Tectonics |
Chs 2 & 3 |
|
Week 3 |
Rocks, fossils, and
Geologic Time |
Chs 4 & 5 |
|
Week 4 |
Earth’s Sedimentary
environments |
Ch 6 |
|
Week 5 |
Evolution of life |
Ch 7 |
|
**** |
EXAM 1 (February 27) |
********* |
|
Week 6 |
Precambrian History |
Chs 8 & 9 |
|
Week 7 |
Early Paleozoic History |
Ch 10 |
|
Week 8 |
Late Paleozoic History |
Ch 11 |
|
Week 9 |
Life of the Paleozoic: Invertebrates |
Ch 12 |
|
Week 10 |
Life of the Paleozoic: Vertebrates & Plants |
Ch 13 |
|
**** |
EXAM 1I (April 12) |
********* |
|
Week 11 |
Mesozoic History |
Ch 14 |
|
Week 12 |
Life of the Mesozoic: Age of Reptiles |
Ch 15 |
|
Week 13 |
Cenozoic History: Tertiary & Quaternary |
Chs 16 & 17 |
|
Week 14 |
Life of the Cenozoic |
Ch18 |
|
Week 15 |
Quaternary Ice Age, Primate
Evolution |
Chs 18 & 19 |
|
Week 16 |
Primate Evolution: Man |
Ch 19 |
|
**** |
FINAL EXAM (8am – 10am
on May 14) |
********* |