GEOL 112: Earth and Life Through Time Laboratory
Spring 2016
Instructor: Annelisa Moe
Office hours:
LO 1224 Thursday 2pm - 4pm, or by appointment
Phone:
Office/818-677-2039; Department Office/818-677-3541
Email:
annelisa.moe.907@my.csun.edu
Course Objectives
GEOL 112 fulfills one of the two natural science lab requirements of the CSUN General Education program, as well as
an introductory lab for the geology major. The course allows you to:
1. Demonstrate understanding of important concepts in Earth history;
2. Use the scientific method to evaluate and interpret scientific data and to reach reasoned conclusions;
3. Recognize the logical foundations and boundaries of geological science;
4. Recognize the contribution that an understanding of Earth history can make to assessing real world issues that
affect Earth’s present and future.
Attendance and Coming Prepared for Lab
It is essential that you attend all labs, arrive on time, and stay until your group has completed the lab. If you are more
than 15 minutes late, you will receive a 5-point deduction for the lab. If you are more than 30 minutes late, you
receive a 15-point deduction for the lab. In order to get credit for the lab, you must be present when your group lab
is submitted to the instructor. THERE ARE NO MAKE-UPS FOR MISSED LABS.
You are responsible for printing and bringing in the lab each week. They are posted on Moodle, and you should
check the class Moodle page often.
The last day to drop the course through SOLAR is February 12, 2016. The last day to drop with a hardcopy form is
February 19, 2016 at 4 pm. NO DROPS ARE PERMITTED AFTER THIS DATE.
Lab Reports and Lab Groups
Each member should print and bring their own copy and record the answers so that you have it to study for the
exams. You will usually work in a lab group of four to six people. Each group will turn in one lab report, for which you
will all get the same grade. Everyone must be a contributing member to their group. If there are problems, I will do
my best to resolve them to ensure fairness of grades.
Classroom Etiquette
Phones (talking and texting) are a rude distraction during the lab. Please respect me and your classmates and turn
them off during lab. Engage with actual humans instead of your mobile devices. Treat each other and me with
courtesy—and have fun with the lab exercises and making new friends.
Academic Dishonesty
I will not tolerate any form of academic dishonesty. This includes, but is not limited to copying answers during an
exam, plagiarism, facilitating cheating by another student, and altering answers after I have graded your work. If I
find evidence of academic dishonesty, I will report it to the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and
recommend either a letter of admonishment or disciplinary action. If you are caught cheating on an exam or
assignment, you will receive a failing grade for the exam or assignment AND will receive a full grade deduction for the
entire course.
Grading
There will be two exams: a midterm (labs 1-4) and a final (labs 5-9). The midterm is worth 30 points, and the final is
worth 40 points. The final is not cumulative. There are no make ups on exams. I will evaluate individual cases where
documentation of a serious emergency or illness is provided.
Each lab report is worth 20 points. I will record grades through Moodle. Final grading will be on the +/- CSUN system.
lab reports
lab exams
total
180 points
70 points
250 points
>232 points
>225 points
>217 points
>207 points
A
AB+
B
>200 points
>193 points
>183 points
>175 points
BC+
C
C-
>168 points
>158 points
>150 points
<150 points
D+
D
DF
NO GRADE OF INCOMPLETE WILL BE GIVEN FOR THIS COURSE.
Laboratory Topics and Schedule.
This schedule is subject to change. Check Moodle often for revisions.
DATE
January 27
February 3
February 10
February 17
February 24
March 2
March 9
March 16
March 23
March 30
April 6
April 13
April 20
April 27
TOPIC
Introduction to lab. Review of syllabus, class policies, and Moodle.
Lab 1. Properties of sediment grains , Part 1
Lab 2. Properties of sediment grains, Part 2
Lab 3. Detrital sedimentary rocks and depositional environments
Lab 4. Chemical and biochemical rocks and depositional environments
MIDTERM: Labs 1-4
Lab 5. Geologic Time, Fossil Preservation, Marine Ecosystems
ONLINE LAB, NO IN CLASS MEETING
Lab 6. Major fossil Groups from Marine Realm
Spring Break: No lab meetings this week
Cesar Chavez Day: No lab meetings this week
Lab 7. Dinosaurs
Lab 8. Mammal Skulls Reveal What they Ate
Lab 9. Becoming Human
FINAL: Labs 5-9. This is your final exam and the last lab meeting of the semester.