Instructor: Jennifer Pavia
Course Number: 18515
Email : Jennifer.Pavia@csun.edu
Room: Live Oak Hall 1219
Office Hours: Live Oak Hall 1220 Wednesdays from 11am-12pm
Meeting time: 9:30-10:45am
Text: Visualizing Earth History by Loren E. Babcock 1st edition ISBN-13: 978-
0471724902
Course Objectives: Welcome to Geology 110, Earth History. It is my hope that each of you will develop an appreciation for the complex and fascinating history of the Earth, or at the very least to learn one thing that you will use at some point in your lifetime. To this end the primary objective of this class is to study the history of the Earth, and how we use geology to do so. “The present is the key to the past.” This course will provide background on the geologic materials that make up this amazing planet, as well as the processes that shaped the earth and our environment and continue to so today. 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:
5%
20%
Quizzes:
Exams (3):
15%
45%
Final:
Total:
15%
100%
Grading >91%
Scale: 90-91
A
A-
88-89 B+
82-87 B
80-81 B-
77-79 C+
69-76 C
67-68 C-
65-66 D+
58-64 D
56-57 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 Earth System History
January 29: Chapter 1: Continued
Week 3
Week 4
February 3: Chapter 2: Earth Materials and Features
February 5: Chapter 2: cont

February 10: Quiz 1 and Chapter 3: Geologic Time
February 12: Chapter 3 cont.
Week 5
February 17: Exam 1
February 19: Chapter 4: Life on Earth and Its Fossil Record
Week 6
February 24: Chapter 5: Biologic Evolution
February 26: Chapter 6: Interpreting Sedimentary Environments and Global Change
Week 7
March 3: Chapter 6: Cont.
March 5: Chapter 7: Plate Tectonics in Earth History
Week 8
March 10: Quiz 2 and Chapter 7: cont
March 12: Chapter 8: Archean World
Week 9
March 17: Chapter 8: cont
March 19: Chapter 9: Proterozoic World
Week 10
March 24: Exam 2
March 26: Chapter 9: cont
Week 11
March 31: Cesar Chavez holiday
April 2: Chapter 10: Paleozoic World
Week 12
April 7: Spring Break
April 9: Spring Break
Week 13
April 14: Chapter 10: Cont
April 16: Chapter 11: Mesozoic
Week 14
April 21: Quiz 3 and Chapter 11: cont
April 23: Chapter 12: Cenozoic World

Week 15
April 28: Exam 3
April 30: Chapter 12 cont.
Week 16
May 5: Projects
May 7: Projects cont. and review
Week 17
May 14: Wednesday: Final exam in room 1219 from 8:00-10:00am
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!