GEOSCIENCES 212

INTRO TO OCEANOGRAPHY

Spring Semester 2008

GOALS: Our main goals this semester are to: 

(1) enhance your appreciation for the significance and beauty of the oceans
(2) help you do well in this course
(3) facilitate your growth and development as a student at the University of Arizona

TEXT: No text, but you need to purchase a copy of the Physical Map of the World, which is available from the UA bookstore (for $16.99).

LECTURE OUTLINES: You are encouraged to bring a printed copy of the lecture outline with you to class every day. Outlines will be posted on the class web site by 3:00 on the afternoon prior to each lecture.

ATTENDANCE: You need to come to every class and take careful notes, as there is no book for the course and only outlines of lectures are on the web!

STUDY GROUPS: Study groups will be on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons/evenings. These are for students who want to learn a bit more than we typically cover during lecture or on the homework exercises, or for students who may need some extra help on with homework. And they are a lot of fun!!!  These study groups will be run by your TA's and Preceptors.   Sign up from http://www.geo.arizona.edu/geo2xx/geo212_lab/

GRADE REPORTING: Grades will be available through D2L.

GRADED WORK: All graded papers will be returned to boxes outside of GS 208. You have one week to pick up papers and make sure they were graded correctly -- bring to G. Gehrels if not! Papers will be removed from the boxes after one week.

LECTURE EXAMS :

· Three 100 point exams will be given during the semester, and there will not be a final exam during final exam week. You can take each exam either on Tuesday evening, Wednesday evening, or in class on Thursday. You will need your Cat Card with you for each exam.

· The exams cover only material since the previous exam.

· Exams will emphasize a general understanding of the topics, rather than an ability to memorize details. Slides, diagrams, and videos shown in class commonly are used during exams! Format will consist of about 50% written answers or drawing diagrams, and about 50% multiple-choice questions that are keyed to diagrams or real-world pictures.

· To help you prepare for the exams, review sheets will be available one week before each exam, review sessions are scheduled on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings before each exam, and exams from Spring 2007 will be available on the class web s ite.

· If you will miss an exam, you can take a make-up exam as shown on the lecture schedule.  No other make-up exams are available.

HOMEWORK: There will be eight homework assignments during the semester. These assignments emphasize material that will be covered on the exams. Each will be worth 10 points. Most of the exercises will be based on information gathered from the internet. No late homework will be accepted. Papers will be returned to the alphabetical boxes outside of  GS 208. Grading problems must be discussed within one week after papers have been returned.

QUIZZES: There will be four unannounced quizzes during the semester, each worth 5 points, and we only count your best two scores.  Questions asked on the quizzes will be similar to questions on upcoming exams.

EXTRA CREDIT : There will be several opportunities to earn extra credit during the semester, as described below. You will be allowed to earn up to 20 extra credit points, where each extra credit point counts the same as an exam or a homework point. Opportunities are as follows:

• Help us get to know you (5 points): We will try hard to get to know you this semester. Help make this happen by giving us a mug shot and telling us a bit about your background and interests -- use the form on the web page. Please turn in paper copies of the form and attach a photo that shows your face (turn in during class or bring to GS 208 or GS 529 by 5:00 PM on Jan 31).
  

• Research Proposal (up to 10 points, only one!): Write a proposal to do a research project that would help you solve a problem or question dealing with some aspect of oceanography. You must base your proposal on a topic described in a magazine article or newspaper story. Magazines such as National Geographic commonly contain articles that bear on oceanography. You should propose a realistic, scientific study that will contribute new and important information and thereby help solve a problem or answer a question. Describe your proposed project in a typed (double-space) paper (with figures if appropriate), and you must divide your proposal into the following sections (use these as headings):

o · Title of project and your name

o · Statement of Problem (~1/2 page)

o · Proposed Research (3 pages)

o · Significance of Research (~1/2 page -- how your work bears on problem)

o · Statement of personnel, facilities, and costs involved (1/2 page)

o · Reference List (list books, journals, or web sites from which you gathered information)

Include a photocopy of the main article that you used.

DO NOT write a standard report on your article -- you must propose something NEW!

Proposals are due April 24 at 5:00 pm (turn in to GS 208 or 529).

• In-Class Presentations (up to 10 points): This is an opportunity to earn extra credit points by presenting non-traditional oceanographic information to the class. Your presentation could be (1) a slide show in which you describe the oceanography or geology of some place that you have visited or lived, (2) a song (performed live!) with oceanographically oriented lyrics, (3) a multimedia depiction of a marine process, (4) a diagram that you have developed which describes a marine feature or process, etc. Almost anything goes!!  Note that I need to approve your idea beforehand, your presentation must be scheduled at least one week in advance, and we will do only one presentation per class period. Also note that points are awarded mainly on the basis of scientific content.

• In-Class Activities (up to 10 points): I will commonly ask for volunteers to work through a problem, describe a process, or help with a demonstration in class.

• Volunteer at the Tucson gem and Mineral Show on Feb 15, 16, or 17 (up to 10 points)  You will help K-12 children collect/identify minerals and fossils, help with a treasure hunt, or operate a demonstration.  Shifts will be 4 hours in length.

• Attend Cholla Bay file trip on April 4-6 (up to 10 points).  This will be a great learning experience and a ton of fun. 
  

WRITING ASSIGNMENT: This assignment provides an opportunity to work on your writing skills. You will be asked to write a letter that addresses some aspect of marine conservation that is discussed during class. Details will be given as part of class discussion, and will be posted on the web site. This exercise is worth a maximum of 10 points.

GRADING: 420 points are possible from exams (300 points), homeworks (80 points), quizzes (10 points), writing assignment (10 points), and extra credit (20 points).

Grades are calculated by percent out of 400 points:

A = >89.5% = 358-420 points

B = 79.5% to 89.4% = 318-357 points

C = 69.5% to 79.4% = 278-317 points

D = 59.5% to 69.4% = 238-277 points

E = <59.5% = <238 points

CHEATING: Cheating is any attempt to represent someone else’s work (on exams, quizzes, homework, extra credit exercises, etc.) as your own. It’s great to work outside of class with friends, but material turned in must be your own thoughts and words. Do not include someone else’s sentences or statements without appropriate reference. Identical work will be given a zero the first time. The second time, you will be referred to the Dean of Students, it will go on your academic record, and you may be expelled from the University. For more information, refer to the Code of Academic Integrity at http://w3.arizona.edu/~studpubs/policies/cacaint.htm

HONORS STUDENTS: Honors students can earn Honors credit in this course by signing up for Geos 212 2H (section 2).  You will earn honors credit by serving as a preceptor in the course, which involves leading a one-hour-per-week study group (see above description of study group activities).  You will also need to attend once-a-week meetings on Fridays 4:00-5:00 in GS 203.  During these meetings you will learn all you need to lead the study groups, and we will also talk about general aspects of teaching, grading, etc.  We will also encourage you to attend the Cholla Bay trip (see above), but this is not essential.

HOW TO GET HELP IN THIS COURSE: You are encouraged to seek assistance from any of us during our scheduled office hours or through email. We will also try to be available at other times if necessary. If you are having any trouble, please come see G. Gehrels or any of the TAs or preceptors or lecture assistants!!!

LEARNING/TESTING CHALLENGES: If you are in SALT or DRC, or if you have learning/testing difficulties, please see G. Gehrels. If at any time you are not doing as well in the class as you should be, please seek some advice!