Geology 101 Geology of Planet Earth
Syllabus subject to change
Instructor: Jennifer Pavia
Course Number: 15347
Email: Jennifer.Pavia@csun.edu
Room: Live Oak Hall 1220
Office Hours: Mondays from 11am-12pm
Meeting time: 8:00-9:15am
Text: "Earth, An introduction to Physical Geology" Eleventh Edition by Tarbuck,
Lutgens, and Tasa with MasteringGeology. ISBN-13: 9780321813930
Course Objectives: Welcome to Geology 101, Geology of Planet Earth. It is my hope
that each of you will develop an appreciation for the world around you, or at the very
least to learn one thing that you will use at some point in your lifetime. This course will
provide background on the geologic materials that make up this amazing planet, as well
as the processes that shape the earth and our environment. This class is 3 units and counts
as a lower division G.E. in section D, natural sciences.
Course Requirements: Class attendance is mandatory. All exams required to pass the
class will not be rescheduled without a documentable emergency. Class assignments and
quizzes cannot be made up. Grades will be determined through homework assignments,
quizzes, and tests.
Dropping: If you decide that you no longer want to take this class, then it is your
responsibility to do so before the third week of class.
Quizzes: There will 3 quizzes. This is both to prepare you for the exams and the final,
and to give you an opportunity to improve your grade. Quizzes will be completed
individually and cheating is absolutely not allowed. If I find evidence of cheating, that
student or students will be given an F on the quiz and it will be reported to the
administration. For more information see the university policy on cheating in the class
catalog. Quizzes will be worth 15% of your grade. Questions will be drawn from the
reading assignments and the lectures that I give in class.
Tests: There will be 3 exams and the final. Each of the exams and the final are worth
15% of your grade. The final will be at least partially cumulative. I will give you a study
sheet before each test. I will try to hand out the review sheets 1 week before the test. No
notes will be allowed during quizzes or tests, and again cheating is not allowed.
Please bring a scantron form 19641 for the exams and final. You will not be allowed
to take the test without one, and I will not have extras. You also must bring at least one
number 2 pencil. No make-up exams.
Homework Assignments: For every chapter you will have at least one homework
assignment. I will assign work on a Monday and it will be due the following Monday
through MasteringGeology. You will need access to a computer and internet in order to
complete your assignments. If you are unable to gain access to MasteringGeology
alternative assignments will be provided. The library has computers available for student
use. Homework is worth 20% of your grade.
Grading Policy: See below, late work will not be accepted for any reason.
Project:
Homework:
Quizzes:
Exams (3):
Final:
Total:
Grading >91%
Scale: 90-91
5%
20%
15%
45%
15%
100%
A
A-
88-89
82-87
80-81
B+
B
B-
77-79
69-76
67-68
C+
C
C-
65-66
58-64
56-57
D+
D
D-
<56 F
Extra Credit: Choose up to two of the following: California Science Center, LA
Museum of Natural History, or La Brea Tar Pits
Whichever museums you choose you need to do a 300 word report (up to two of the
above). You need to include when you went, who went with you if anyone, some
kind of evidence that you were there (parking stub, ticket, photo with the time and
date stamp), what you did while you were there. At the museum find an exhibit that
you can relate to what you are learning in this class and describe it. Each report is
worth 10 points for a total of 20 points possible.
Tentative Class Schedule:
Week 1
January 22: Introduction
Week 2
January 27: Chapter 1: An Introduction to Geology
January 29: Chapter 3: Matter and Minerals
Week 3
February 3: Quiz 1 and Chapter 3 cont.
February 5: Chapter 4: Igneous Rocks and Intrusive Activity
Week 4
February 10: Exam 1
February 12: Chapter 5: Volcanoes and Volcanic Hazards
Week 5
February 17: Chapter 6: Weathering and Soils
February 19: Chapter 7: Sedimentary Rocks
Week 6
February 24: Quiz 2 and Chapter 8: Metamorphism and Metamorphic Rocks
February 26: Chapter 15: Mass Wasting: The Work of Gravity
Week 7
March 3: Exam 2
March 5: Chapter 16: Running Water
Week 8
March 10: Chapter 17: Groundwater
March 12: Chapter 18: Glaciers
Week 9
March 17: Chapter 11: Earthquakes and Earth’s Interior
March 19: Chapter 2: Plate Tectonics
Week 10
March 24: Chapter 9: Geologic Time
March 26: Chapter 19: Deserts and Wind
Week 11
March 31: Cesar Chavez holiday
April 2: Quiz 3 and Geologic Tools and Mapping
Week 12
April 7: Spring Break
April 9: Spring Break
Week 13
April 14: Chapter 20: Shorelines
April 16: Chapter 21: Global Climate Change
Week 14
April 21: Chapter 22: Earth’s Evolution through Geologic Time
April 23: Chapter 23: Energy and Mineral Resources
Week 15
April 28: Chapter 24: Touring Our Solar System
April 30: Projects due
Week 16
May 5: Projects due
May 7: Review
Week 17
May 12: Final from 8-10am in Live Oak Hall 1219
Class Rules: There will be no eating in class; water, soda, Jamba Juice, coffee, etc. are
acceptable so long as you are careful around equipment. I reserve the right to revoke this
at any time. Cell phones are to be turned on silent before class. Please do not be late
for class, it not only disturbs me, but it will cause the whole class to turn and look at you.
And please do not talk while I’m addressing the class. The first time I will issue a
warning, the second time I will ask you to move, and the third time, I will ask you to
leave the classroom for the day. Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated and will
be reported to the administration. Cheating or plagiarism on any assignment, quiz, or
exam will result in an instant zero on that assignment, quiz, or exam. Do not use cell
phones, ipods, earphones, earplugs, or pdas in class. I will ask that you turn them off and
do not have them out! If you need to take a call, leave the room. Labtops are only to be
used to take notes and will not be allowed during quizzes or exams. If you want to read a
book or surf the internet do it when you are not in class. Finally I would just like to say
that I glad that you all are taking my class, and I hope my enthusiasm for geology will
help you to enjoy this class. I am looking forward to working with each of you. Geology
rocks!