Course Syllabus GLG/101 Version 3

Syllabus
Axia College/College of Natural Sciences GLG/101 Version 3 Geology with Lab
Copyright 2012 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved.

Course Description This course gives an overview of physical geology by introducing concepts such as plate tectonics and geologic time. Students gain familiarity with the processes that shape the Earths surface and recognize the relevance of studying geology. Topics include the rock cycle, weathering, formation of geological features, and preservation of geological resources. The weekly labs add a practical component to the class. The labs build upon the concepts in the text and offer a chance to interact with the material and further their understanding. Policies Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within the following two documents: University policies: You must be logged into the student website to view this document. Instructor policies: This document is posted in the Course Materials forum. University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read the policies at the beginning of each class. Policies may be slightly different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed modalities, read the policies governing your current class modality. Course Materials Murck, B. W., Skinner, B. J., & Mackenzie, D. (2010). Visualizing geology (2nd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. Freeman, T. (2009). Geoscience laboratory (5th ed.). New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons. All electronic materials are available on the student website.

Week One: Introduction to Geology, Earth Materials, and Geologic Time

Details
Objectives 1.1 Identify minerals and rocks. 1.2 Explain the rock cycle. 1.3 Recognize the role of fossils to geologic time. Read the course description and objectives. Read the instructors biography and post your own. Read Ch. 13 & 14 of Visualizing Geology.

Due

Points

Course Preparation Readings

Nongraded Activities and Preparation

Become familiar with WileyPlus, an interactive supplemental website designed to provide the chapter readings for this course. WileyPlus also provides additional resources such as video clips,

Course Syllabus GLG/101 Version 3

animations, interactive activities, and so forth, to help clarify the concepts covered in this course. The links to WileyPlus are available on the weekly course pages. Nongraded Activities and Preparation Assignment Week One Review Questions Review any Week One video resources available on the student website.

Resources: WileyPlus and Visualizing Geology Prepare a response to each of the following questions from the text. Provide an explanation in your responses. Be prepared to discuss these questions in class. Ch. 1: Critical and Creative Thinking Questions 3 & 5 Ch. 2: Critical and Creative Thinking Questions 1 & 3 Ch. 3: Critical and Creative Thinking Questions 3 & 4 Ch. 14: Critical and Creative Thinking Questions 1 & 4

Friday Day 5

100

Individual Minerals Lab

Resources: Ch. 2 of Visualizing Geology, Virtual Mineral Lab, and Appendices B & C Conduct the minerals lab by clicking on the following link: http://corptrain.phoenix.edu/%5Cvirtual_lab/virtual_lab.html. Record your observations and results using the mineral worksheet in Appendix C.

Sunday Day 7

40

Week Two: Interior Earths Internal Processes the Engine Within, Part I
Details
Objectives 2.1 Describe the earths interior. 2.2 Describe the theory of plate tectonics. 2.3 Analyze the relationship of plate tectonics to earthquakes, volcanoes, metamorphism, and mountain building. Read Ch. 46 & 910 of Visualizing Geology.

Due

Points

Readings

Participation

Participate in class discussion.

Posts are required 4 days per week.

Nongraded Activities and Preparation Assignment Discussion Questions

Review any Week Two video resources available on the student website.

DQ1: What are the three types of plate boundaries? How do they form?

Tuesday Day 2 and

20

Course Syllabus GLG/101 Version 3

(150-200 words) DQ2: What are the differences between the continental drift theory and plate tectonics theory? Did the plate tectonics theory derive from the evolution of the continental drift theory? Why or why not? (150-200 words).

Thursday Day 4

Week Three: Interior Earths Internal Processes the Engine Within, Part II
Details
Objectives 3.1 Describe the earths interior. 3.2 Describe the theory of plate tectonics. 3.3 Analyze the relationship of plate tectonics to earthquakes, volcanoes, metamorphism, and mountain building. Review any Week Three video resources available on the student website. Imagine you are the Director of Earthquake Preparedness for Los Angeles and have been tasked with writing a press release educating the public on earthquake preparedness. Prepare a 700- to 1,050-word press release that includes the following information: Descriptions of hazards associated with earthquakes in Los Angeles Origin and causes of earthquakes Relation of earthquakes to plate tectonics and faults in Los Angeles Historical disasters associated with past earthquakes Potential of future earthquake events Friday Day 5 100

Due

Points

Readings

Assignment Plate Tectonics Press Release

Format your references consistent with APA guidelines. Individual Earthquake Technology Lab Resource: Ch. 9 of Geoscience Laboratory and Appendices D & E Complete Appendices D and E by answering the following questions in Ch. 9 of Geoscience Laboratory: 9.1, 9.3, 9.5, 9.6, 9.10, 9.14, 9.17 (Longitude), and 9.20. Note that additional lab book questions and answers appear in the appendix to assist in your completion of the lab. Sunday Day 7 40

Course Syllabus GLG/101 Version 3

Week Four: Surficial Processes: Sculpting the Earths Surface, Part I

Details
Objectives 4.1 Examine the hydrologic cycle. 4.2 Analyze the interaction of the hydrologic cycle with earth materials. 4.3 Distinguish among the weathering and mass wasting processes in sculpturing the Earths surface. 4.4 Recognize how glaciers, deserts, and wind play a role in sculpturing the Earths surface. Read Ch. 7, 8, 11, & 13 of Visualizing Geology.

Due

Points

Readings

Participation

Participate in class discussion.

Posts are required 4 days per week.

Nongraded Activities and Preparation Assignment Discussion Questions

Review any Week Four video resources available on the student website.

DQ1: Describe the hydrologic cycle. How does this cycle affect the Earth? (150-200 words) DQ2: What are the different sources of water in the United States? Which source of water is mostly used in your region? How could we protect the sources of our water from drying up and contamination?

Tuesday Day 2 and Thursday Day 4

20

(150-200 words)

Week Five: Surficial Processes: Sculpting the Earths Surface, Part II

Details
Objectives 5.1 Examine the hydrologic cycle. 5.2 Analyze the interaction of the hydrologic cycle with earth materials. 5.3 Distinguish among the weathering and mass wasting processes in sculpturing the Earths surface. 5.4 Recognize how glaciers, deserts, and wind play a role in sculpturing the Earths surface.

Due

Points

Course Syllabus GLG/101 Version 3

Readings

Review any Week Five video resources available on the student website. Resource: Visualizing Geology Select a city or region that is faced with one of the following issues: Saltwater invasion in coastal wells Depletion of an aquifer for drinking or agricultural water Subsidence associated with water pumping Depletion or pollution of surface water from human use Landslides threatening the infrastructure of a region, such as roads, housing, or railroads Friday Day 5 100

Assignment Sculpturing the Earths Surface Paper

Prepare a 1,050- to 1,400-word paper in which you discuss the issue and potential solutions. Include the following: Geologic principles involved in the issue History of the region specifically associated with the depletion of resources or development of the problem Potential solutions to the hazard or problem

Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. Assignment Groundwater Lab Resources: Ch. 12 of Geoscience Laboratory and Appendix F Complete Appendix F by answering the following questions in your lab book: 12.2 A & B, 12.11, 12.18, 12.19, 12.20, 12.21, 12.24 & 12.25. Note that additional lab book questions and answers appear in the appendix to assist in your completion of the lab. Sunday Day 7 40

Week Six: Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climate Change, Part I

Details
Objectives 6.1 Explain the dynamics of the ocean. 6.2 Determine the relationship of plate tectonics to the features on the ocean floor. 6.3 Explain the dynamics of the atmosphere. 6.4 Describe the effects of climate change on the environment. Read Ch. 12 of Visualizing Geology. Review Ch. 13 of Visualizing Geology.

Due

Points

Readings

Participation

Participate in class discussion.

Posts are required 4 days per week.

Course Syllabus GLG/101 Version 3

Nongraded Activities and Preparation Assignment Discussion Questions

Review any Week Six video resources available on the student website.

Discussion Question 1 What is the Coriolis effect? Post your response to the Main forum by replying to this post. (150-200 words) Discussion Question 2 Yakutsk is located in Siberia at about 60 N latitude. This Russian city has one of the highest average annual temperature ranges in the world: 62.2 C (112F). What are the reasons for this very high annual temperature range? Post your response to the Main forum by replying to this post. (150-200 words)

Tuesday Day 2 and Thursday Day 4

20

Week Seven: Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climate Change, Part II

Details
Objectives 7.1 Explain the dynamics of the ocean. 7.2 Determine the relationship of plate tectonics to the features on the ocean floor. 7.3 Explain the dynamics of the atmosphere. 7.4 Describe the effects of climate change on the environment. Review any Week Seven video resources available on the student website.

Due

Points

Nongraded Activities and Preparation Assignment Deserts, Glaciers, and Climate

Resource: Visualizing Geology Review the following Ch. 13 video, China Desert: http://www.wiley.com/college/murck/0471747270/ngs_videos/china_ desert/index.html Review the following animations: Types of Dunes:

Friday Day 5

100

Course Syllabus GLG/101 Version 3

http://www.wiley.com/college/strahler/0471480533/animations/c h19_animations/animation4.html Glacial Landforms: http://www.wiley.com/college/strahler/0471480533/animations/c h20_animations/glaciers.html Compare and contrast the geological features of a desert landscape and glacial landscape. Describe at least one process that creates the resulting landforms of each. Review Global Climate Change in Ch. 13. Respond to the following: Summarize the climate changes that have occurred from the past to the present. Predict what you think the Earth will look like into the 21st century. Consider the weather and changes in geological features.

Post your responses. Responses must be a minimum of 350 words. Assignment Oceans and Atmosphere Worksheet Resources: Visualizing Geology and Appendix G Complete Appendix G. Sunday Day 7 40

Week Eight: Earths Resources, Part I

Details
Objectives 8.1 Examine Earths resources. 8.2 Analyze the effects of using Earths resources. Read Ch. 15 of Visualizing Geology.

Due

Points

Readings

Participation

Participate in class discussion.

Posts are required 4 days per week.

Nongraded Activities and Preparation Assignment

Review any Week Eight video resources available on the student website.

Discussion Question 1

Tuesday

20

Course Syllabus GLG/101 Version 3

Discussion Questions

What is the difference between renewable resources and nonrenewable resources? Provide an example of each type of resource. Describe the pros and cons to each example selected. Post your response to the Main forum. (150-200 words)

Day 2 and Thursday Day 4

Discussion Question 2 What are fossil fuels? Provide two examples of fossil fuels and describe their uses.

Post your response to the Main forum. (150-200 words)

Week Nine: Earths Resources, Part II

Details
Objectives 9.1 Examine Earths resources. 9.2 Analyze the effects of using Earths resources. Participate in class discussion. Posts are required 4 days per week. 8

Due

Points

Participation

Assignment Week Nine Questions

Resource: Visualizing Geology Prepare a response to each of the following questions from the text. Provide an explanation in your responses. Ch. 15: Critical and Creative Thinking Questions 15

Wednesday Day 3

100

Final Project Environmental Sustainability Paper

Select a product produced in your city or state that is made from earth, mineral, or energy resources. One example would be the tar paper used as a building material. (Do not use this example). Prepare a 700- to 1,050-word paper on a project you would like to institute to reduce waste associated with the production of the specific product you selected. Include an assessment of the following: Analysis of the waste associated with your resource Advantages and disadvantages of using alternate resources

Sunday Day 7

200

Course Syllabus GLG/101 Version 3

Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

Assignment Discussion Question

Discussion Question 1 What is physical geology? How influential is physical geology on people? Discussion Question 2 How do the demands of society impact the worlds natural resources? Could society run out of natural resources? Why or why not?

Tuesday Day 2

20

Thursday Day 4

Post your response to the Main forum. (150-200 words) NOTE: Responses must be comprehensive and thoughtful, meet the required word count and be substantive to get full points. Sentences must be concise and error free.

Always verify that you have posted the right assignment, and that your uploaded files are in a valid format that can be opened for grading.
Conflicting Course Instructions If there ever seems to be conflicting instructions posted in your course materials forum and syllabus, note that the syllabus always takes precedence over all other instructions and so you should go by your syllabus instructions. Do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.

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