CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, FRESNO Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences Fall 2013 EES 112: Planet Earth

through Time G.E. Integration Area IB, 3 units This is a Blackboard (online) course
Online Exam 1 on Thursday 9/19 Online Exam 2 on Thursday 10/24 Final Exam on Tuesday 12/17 or Wednesday 12/18 (Note: Final Exam is proctored on-campus and taken in person). Dr. C. John Suen Science 2, 270 (559) 278-7888 john_suen@csufresno.edu (IMPORTANT: You must include EES112 on Subject line!!!) Skype Name: geoprof2 In-Person Office Hours: Tuesday, 3-5:30 PM Online Office Hours (via Skype & Blackboard): Wednesday, 3-5:30 PM Flex Time Consultation Hours: By appointments only. Please call or e-mail. Dept. Office: Science II, 114 (Belinda Rossette, Admin Coordinator.) Phone: 278-3086 GENERAL EDUCATION GOALS AND OBJECTIVES Goal for Area IB: Physical Universe and Its Life Forms The Integration component of General Education Area IB provides instruction at the upperdivision level that integrates material from the lower-division Breadth Area B. Primary Learning Outcomes: Students completing this course will be able to: Relate facts and principles that form the foundations of earth and life sciences, Distinguish between science and non-science (the limitations of scientific endeavors, namely, what is the evidence and how was it derived?) Apply scientific methodology, including the development and testing of hypotheses, to simple investigations in the physical and life sciences, Understand the basic geologic principles and processes, Describe the interrelationships between earth science and biological sciences, Delineate the chronology of major events in the evolution of life on earth, Know how rocks and fossils are used to reconstruct past environments, and Learn the specific scientific principles and results that support life and ecosystems on Earth. More specific learning outcomes of each chapter are also listed in the study materials provided on the Blackboard. Instructor: Office: Phone: E-mail:

COURSE INFORMATION Course description: This course teaches the principles of Geology used in the interpretation of the history of Earth as revealed in rocks and fossils. It includes origin of the solar system,

evolution of atmosphere and oceans, origin of life, rise and fall of species such as dinosaurs, plate tectonics, ice ages, climate history and climate change. Independent library research and writing a term paper is required. Course objectives: To develop an understanding of the physical and biological factors controlling the earths environment and particularly the geological processes in shaping the history of the earth. Prerequisites: Completion of General Education Foundation and Breadth Area B. Textbook (required): Earth System History (3rd edition) by Steven M. Stanley (2005), Freeman. Students can use any versions best suit their budget - bound, loose leaf, or digital. The web resources are located at: http://bcs.whfreeman.com/esh3e/ (Paid subscription to the textbook website is optional. The textbook website can help you study and it may be beneficial to most students). Class website: The class web page is located at http://blackboard.fresnostate.edu . Your user name and password are the same as for your Fresno State email account. You may change your password once you log onto Blackboard. HOW TO LEARN IN THIS WEB-BASED COURSE 1. If you are not familiar with Blackboard, review Blackboard 9.1 Student Guide and watch the On Demand Video Tutorials under the STUDENTS tab. Contact Blackboard Resource Center (559-278-7373, tiltsupport@csufresno.edu ) for additional help. 2. With your computer connected to the internet, log onto your Blackboard account (http://blackboard.fresnostate.edu/) using the login name and password of your Fresno State e-mail account. Click on the link for this course. Read Announcements. 3. Click Course Documents and follow the link of Week 0 Module to go through the basics, read Syllabus and install required computer software plugins Adobe PDF Reader and Mozilla Firefox web browser with Java and Adobe Flash Player and/or Apple QuickTime plugins enabled. (You may already have them in your computer). 4. To begin the course work, first go to the "Weekly Modules to overview the "Chapter Guidelines", review the Lecture Notes, and then attend the online PowerPoint lectures when assigned. Weekly lecture attendance is required. Next read the related chapters. Finally, answer the review questions the end of each chapter. Only after answering the review questions, look at the answers provided by the instructor. If you have not done well, reread the chapter. (You are not required to submit your answers). 5. You must answer the questions on the "Discussion Board" to earn the attendance score. Please also read the inputs from others on the "Discussion Board", so that you get the benefit of learning from your peers. 6. Private or personal questions (such as grade concerns) should be sent to the instructor via e-mail. Do not post your private questions or personal data on Discussion Board or Online Chat. 7. Check Announcements regularly at least twice a week for additional materials, bonuses, and assignments. GRADING AND ASSIGNMENTS Attendance/Class Participation 10% (Based on Blackboard statistics) Term paper 20% (5 % proposal + 15% term paper, must be at least 2000 words) Exam 1* 20% Exam 2* 20% Final exam* 30% (On-campus; proctored) Final Grade will be based on the 100-point scale (weighted percentage as shown above) 90-100% = A; 80-89% = B; 70-79% = C; 60-69% = D; below 60% = F.

* No extra credit will be given. * Make-up exams are not given except in the case of unforeseen emergencies, such as illness or death of immediate family members (Complete official documentation is required).
Attendance

will be calculated based on Blackboard statistics. Your regular activities including "Discussion Board", "Weekly Modules", and "Student Resources" will be used to calculate your on-line attendance. You must follow the class schedule closely. Discussion Board on assigned chapters is closed one week after the assigned date.

COURSE SCHEDULE: EES 112: Planet Earth through Time (Subject to change and corrections)
Week 0 Week of 8/18 (Class available on 8/22) Contents Getting familiar with Blackboard and course requirements and contents Reading Syllabus and course info, Bb 9.1 Student Guide Homework (Assignments) Preliminary search online for term paper topic. Any topic of your interest about the earth and its environment are acceptable. Ch.1 review questions Chapters 2 and 5 review questions. Submit term paper descriptive title by 5 PM Friday. Chapters 3 and 4 review questions One to two-page term paper proposal due at 5 PM Friday of Week 4 (09/20/13) Chapter 7 review questions Chapters 6 review questions Chapters 8 and 9 review questions Chapters 11 and 12 review questions

1 2

8/25 9/1

Earth as a System Geologic Principles Minerals and Rocks Sedimentary Environments The diversity of Life Environments and Life Term Paper Proposal Review of chapters 1-5 Exam 1 on Thursday 9/19 The origin of life Evolution of life Geologic time and dating Tectonics and Mountain building The Archean Eon The Proterozoic Eon Plate

Ch.1 Ch.2 Ch.5

9/8

Ch.3 Ch.4

9/15

Review Q&A on Bb

5 6 7

9/22 9/29 10/6

Ch.7 Ch.6 Ch.8 Ch.9

10/13

Ch.11 Ch.12

10/20

10

10/27

11 12 13

11/3 11/10 11/17

Term Paper Draft Review of chapters 6-12 Exam 2 on Thursday 10/24 Early Paleozoic earth Middle Paleozoic animals Late Paleozoic biota
Mesozoic (Triassic, Jurassic dinosaurs, Cretaceous) Cenozoic-Tertiary Paleogene (mammals) Cenozoic-Tertiary Neogene (Climate and Ice Age)

Review Q&A on Bb

Term paper preliminary version due at 5 PM Friday of Week 9. Chapters 13 and 14 review questions Chapters 15 review questions Chapter 16 and 17 review questions Chapter 18 review questions Chapter 19 review questions. Thanksgiving Recess (11/ 27-11/29). Term paper final version due, Week 14, Tuesday (11/26), 5 PM. No exceptions! Chapter 20 review questions

Ch.13 Ch.14

Ch.15 Ch.16 Ch.17 Ch.18

14

11/24

Ch.19

15

12/1

16 17

12/8 12/15

CenozoicQuaternary Holocene, Anthropocene (Rapid Climate Change) Review of chapters 13-20 Final Exam on Tues, 12/17 or Wed 12/18

Ch.20

Review Q&A on Bb Time and location will be announced in November. There will be no make-up exam. !! You must plan ahead !!

TERM PAPER AND E-MAIL RULES For the term paper grade (max 20 percentage points), you will get a maximum of 5 percentage points for a proposal (one to two pages, single-spaced, 12-pt fonts) and a maximum of 15 percentage points on term paper report, see detailed instructions on Bb. Late submissions of term paper proposal are not permitted. How to write a Term Paper: You are required to find facts either supporting (or opposing) existing ideas and show your analysis and conclusions. List bibliography at the end of the term paper (See detailed instructions on Bb). Use a MS Word-compatible word processing software to type your work (proof read and save the file). Submit your term paper through Blackboard Assignments before the deadline. (Always save a copy). Individual questions can be e-mailed to your instructor at: john_suen@csufresno.edu E-mail Subject Line: On the SUBJECT line of your e-mail, type EES 112 followed by the class number and your last name then first name and the subject (for example, EES 112-74631 Doe John: A question about my status). If the SUBJECT line is wrong, your e-mail will not be received by my EES 112 in-box (thus your mail could be lost and may never be read). If that happens, do not blame the instructor, because you are at fault.

ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES:

Disability Notice: If you have special needs as addressed by the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and need course materials in alternative formats, notify your course instructor immediately. Reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate your special needs. Cheating, Plagiarism and Disruptive Classroom Behavior Notice: Please refer to the Universitys General Catalog and Schedule of Courses. All Case Studies and project report must be completed independently. Copying the work of others (e.g., from the internet) without putting in any substantial individual effort constitutes plagiarism, which will be subject to disciplinary actions in accordance with University policy. University Honor Code: "Members of the CSU Fresno academic community adhere to principles of academic integrity and mutual respect while engaged in university work and related activities." Students should: a) understand or seek clarification about expectations for academic integrity in this course (including no cheating, plagiarism and inappropriate collaboration); b) neither give nor receive unauthorized aid on examinations or other course work that is used by the instructor as the basis of grading; and c) take responsibility to monitor academic dishonesty in any form and to report it to the instructor or other appropriate official for action. For more details, please check out APM-236 for the complete text of the Honor Code at www.csufresno.edu/aps/documents/apm/236.pdf .

Classroom etiquette: Please refer to Blackboard under the Syllabus tab for Netiquette. Withdrawal Policy in the College of Science and Mathematics Withdrawals from classes after the deadline will only be granted to students who provide verification of a "serious and compelling reason that makes it impossible for the student to complete course requirements". Serious and compelling reasons are medical, emotional, and certain other reasons acceptable to the Dean that meet the letter or spirit of University regulations. A licensed health care professional, a certified counselor, an employer, or other individual who can certify that conditions make it impossible for the student to complete the course must provide the written verification. Additional details are available in the Dean's Office - Science II, 309. It is obviously to a student's advantage to DROP EARLY in the semester. Subject-to-change notice: This syllabus and the class schedule are subject to change in the events of extenuating circumstances. It is your responsibility to check online announcements at least twice a week. Any substantive changes to this syllabus will be accompanied by the posting of a revised syllabus.