|
GEOS 322: Introduction to Geophysics Spring 2008 Syllabus
Lectures: M-W 9:00 - 9:50 am Gould Simpson Rm 209 Lab Section #1: Th 1:00 - 3:50 pm Gould Simpson Rm 213 Lab Section #2: Fr 1:00 - 3:50 pm Gould Simpson Rm 213
Instructor: Rick Bennett Office: Gould-Simpson Rm 530 Office Hours: TBA & by appointment Phone: 621-2324 Email: rab@geo.arizona.edu
Teaching Assistant: Andy Frassetto Office Hours: TBA & by appointment Email: andyf@email.arizona.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION: GEOS 322 is a 3-unit introductory geophysics course, which provides students an understanding of applications of physics to studies of Earth structure and dynamics from crust to core. Laboratory sessions provide hands-on experience in measurement and analysis of geophysical data. Prerequisites: One semester of introductory physics and introductory calculus.
REQUIRED TEXT: Whole Earth Geophysics by Robert Lillie, 1999 (Prentice Hall Inc.). This text is available at the bookstore.
LISTSERV: A listserv has been established for the course. The listserv address is geos322@listserv.arizona.edu. If you do not have a computer account allowing access to email, you can establish an account through CCIT at no charge.
WEBSITE: A website has been established for the course. The website URL is http://geo.arizona.edu/geo3xx/geos322/. Many of the handouts including the syllabus and course schedule will be accessible from the website.
LABORATORY SESSIONS: The purpose of the lab session is to provide a variety of hands-on experiences with geophysical methods and data. Lab sessions will involve: (1) problem solving with pencil, paper, and a calculator; (2) using instruments (e.g. gravimeter) to make geophysical measurements; and (3) using the CLUE lab computers for exercises in modeling geophysical data to obtain a geologic interpretation. Attendance at lab sessions is absolutely mandatory. There will not be opportunities to make up missed lab sessions and a major portion of the course grade is based on lab performance. In most cases, it should be possible to complete the lab assignment within the three-hour lab session. In some cases, final analysis and/or written work may be completed after the lab session.
LAB MATERIALS: Each student should have the following materials for lab sessions: pencil and sharpener, eraser, calculator, graph paper (standard x-y style), protractor, ruler, tracing paper, some type of read-write computer storage media (memory stick). We will inform you each week what materials will be required for that week's lab session.
COMPUTER ACCESS: CLUE Lab (228 Gould-Simpson) accounts and access cards will be required. They are available from Norm Meader, Rm 214 Gould-Simpson (621-4845). The access card must be returned before you will get a grade in the class.
ATTENDANCE: Attendance at lectures and laboratory sessions is required. Exams emphasize material covered in lecture as well as information in the text. Your ability to earn a high grade depends on attending lectures, taking careful notes, doing all of the required reading, and completing all laboratory assignments. It is very unlikely that students with poor attendance will obtain a passing grade.
READING QUIZZES: On the first day that a new chapter is to be started in lecture (date indicated on schedule), we will have a short reading quiz on the material in that chapter. The reading quizzes are designed to be easy for those who have carefully read the chapter and virtually impossible for those who have not. The obvious point is that you will get much more out of lectures and labs having read carefully the corresponding textbook chapter.
LITERATURE REVIEW: During the semester, you will read 9 articles published in scientific journals. These articles are classic works in geophysics. Reading these articles is included to: (1) develop your ability to read scientific literature; and (2) familiarize you with the history and process by which geophysical science operates. The due date for reading each article is indicated on the course schedule. You will write a short review of each article and hand this in at the beginning of lecture on the due date. Reviews will not be accepted after the due date. We will have a class discussion of each article at the beginning of lecture on the due date. The lowest Literature Review score for each student will be dropped from grade calculation.
EXAMS: Three exams will take place on the dates shown on the class schedule. The two midterm exams will concentrate on the material since the previous exam — they are not cumulative. The final exam will be comprehensive but will emphasize material covered after the second midterm exam. Make-up exams will only be given in cases of verifiable illness or family emergency.
GRADING: Two midterms (100 points each) 200 Comprehensive Final exam 100 Reading Quizzes (8 @ 25 points each) 200 Literature Reviews (8 @ 25 points each) 200 Laboratory Exercises 300 1000
GRADING OF EXAMS AND ASSIGNMENTS: We will attempt to grade
exams and assignments promptly to provide timely feedback on your performance.
All materials will be graded carefully and consistently.
We encourage you to bring possible numeric errors (adding scores, etc.)
to our attention immediately after you receive graded papers so any error
can be corrected. If you do not
understand the concepts or details on an exam question or a lab assignment
for which you did not receive full credit, we will work with you so you can
understand those concepts or details.
However, we will not entertain debates of a "points badgering" nature. CHEATING: DON'T DO IT! Cheating is any attempt to represent someone else’s work (on exams, labs, or any other course work) as your own. Cheating can result in a failing grade for this course and expulsion from the university. Refer to the Code of Academic Integrity posted in the Learning Center and available in the Geosciences Main Office (Gould-Simpson Rm 208). This class operates on the honor system but we monitor exams carefully and read all submitted material in detail. Never underestimate our ability to recognize cheating when we see it. A number of students have made that mistake and paid for it. We consider ourselves "user-friendly" instructors but we are insulted by attempts to cheat in our class. We react swiftly and harshly when cheating occurs.
SPECIAL NEEDS? Students requiring accommodation in testing or note taking must deliver to Bennett the Disability Resource Center faculty letter specifying accommodations within the first few days of the course.
|