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Introduction to Oceanography (OCEA& 101)
Walla Walla Community College
Fall Quarter 2013- Course Syllabus
Instructor: Tamera Loveday
Office: 217E (Micro lab room)
Office Hours: By appointment only
Phone (office): 527-3658
Email: tamera.loveday@wwcc.edu ← * This is the best way to contact me.*
Course code: OCEA&101
Item: 1489
Required Text: Essentials of Oceanography, 4th Edition, Tom Garrison, Thomson/Brooks Cole
publishing
Lecture: MWThF 10:30-11:20 Room: 2062 (Water Center)
Laboratory: T 10:30-12:20 Room 228 (Main building)
Course Description
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Involves the fundamental principles of ocean science; the geography and geology of ocean basin;
chemistry of sea water; physical dynamics of currents, waves, and tides; coastal processes; and the
biology of diverse ecosystems such as deep sea vents, coral reefs, and estuaries. Lab work required.
Prerequisite: Appropriate placement score or grade of C or higher in ENGL 087; or permission of the
Science Division Chair or designee. Recommended: READ 088. Formerly OCE 101, Intro to
Oceanography.
Student Outcomes
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Describe how geology, chemistry, physics, and biology are all applied in ocean systems
Diagram the theory of plate tectonics and explain plate interactions using features of the Earth’s
surface
Identify common elements found in ocean water and sediments
Explain the properties of ocean water, such as temperature and salinity and how those can be used
to explain the layered structure of the oceans, the generation of horizontal and vertical ocean
currents, and the geographic distribution of marine organisms
Describe the relationship between energy and waves and diagram the parts of a wave (length,
frequency, amplitude).
Demonstrate knowledge of specific terms and concepts associated with ocean ecology, ecosystems
and the classification of marine organisms
Note for students regarding disabilities: If you have a disability for which you may be requesting an
accommodation, contact Claudia Angus, Ph.D., Coordinator of Disability Support Services (phone: 5274262 or email: claudia.angus@wwcc.edu ) as early as possible in the quarter. I cannot give you
accommodations until you do so.
The instructor reserves the right to modify this syllabus at any time.
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Grading
The point breakdown is tentatively as follows:
Lecture Portion:
Homework assignments
=50 points
Lecture quizzes (~15 x 3 points)
= 45 points
Exam 1
= 100 points
Exam 2
= 100 points
Final Exam (comprehensive)
= 100 points
Laboratory Portion:
Lab reports (~7 x 15 points)
Lab final
Research Poster
Research Paper
= 105 points
= 40 points
= 50 points
= 50 points
Total points possible in class = 640 points*
*Number of points is approximate. Minor changes may be made at the discretion of the instructor.
Final letter grades will be assigned according to the final percentages:
Grade
GPA
Percentage range
A
4.0
93
100 %
A3.7
90
92 %
B+
3.3
87
89 %
B
3.0
83
86 %
B2.7
80
82 %
C+
2.3
77
79 %
C
2.0
73
76 %
C1.7
70
72 %
D+
1.3
67
69 %
D
1.0
60
66 %
F
0.0
0
59 %
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I always round to the nearest letter grade for the overall final grade assigned.
The instructor reserves the right to modify this syllabus at any time.
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Attendance
I expect you to attend every lecture and laboratory session for the full amount of time that it is scheduled.
(DO NOT SCHEDULE APPOINTMENTS OR ANYTHING ELSE DURING SCHEDULED CLASS
TIME!) Since you are adults, I will not dock you points for missing a class. You will, however, be held
responsible for all of the material covered in the course regardless of whether or not you were in attendance
when it was presented. Additionally, you will be held to the due date for an assignment even if you were not
in class when it was assigned. If you ever have to miss a class, ask one of your fellow students to pick up an
extra copy of any handouts and assignments for you. Make sure that you get the notes they took in class, too.
If all else fails come and see me to get any assignments you may have missed. Under no circumstances will I
allow students to copy my lecture notes after they have missed a class. REMEMBER - NOT KNOWING
THAT I ASSIGNED SOMETHING IS NOT A VALID EXCUSE FOR IT BEING LATE.
Quizzes
A 3 point lecture quiz may be given at the end of each class period. These quizzes are intended to
encourage lecture attendance and good note-taking skills as well as to prepare you for your upcoming test.
They will consist of multiple choice and short answer questions. You may use any notes that you have
taken during the class period. Quizzes will be given five minutes before the end of the class period and
must be handed in before you leave. These quizzes cannot be made up.
Exams
All exams will cover the material given in lecture and in the textbook. The format of the exams may
include such features as multiple choice, short answer, long essay, fill-in-the-blank, true or false, and
figure drawing. You will be allowed to bring a handwritten 3x5 notecard with notes to each of the
exams. Every notecard must be made by the person intending to use it. You are not allowed to “share”
notecards.
There are NO MAKE-UP Exams given! There will be 3 Lecture Exams given but only two will count
towards your grade for the class. Your lowest exam score will be dropped. YOU CANNOT DROP
THE FINAL EXAM GRADE HOWEVER.
Research Paper
Due to the breadth of oceanography, each of you will select a topic of interest and research and write a 46 page research paper. Further details will be given out on this during the quarter. This paper will be due
Friday November 8th.
The instructor reserves the right to modify this syllabus at any time.
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Labs
Lab will meet once a week (Tuesday, 10:30-12:20) in Room 228. Laboratory content will vary and will
often correlate with what we are discussing in lecture. Content may include videos, internet research,
worksheets, or hands-on activities. Each lab is worth 15 points. There are no make-up labs. You will
have a research poster to complete and present for lab that will be due Tuesday, November 19th. More
information on this will be given out later in the quarter.
A lab final will be given near the end of the quarter (Tuesday, December 3rd). It will cover what we
have studied in lab throughout the quarter (comprehensive). The best way to study for this exam is to pay
attention and participate during labs as well as study lab handouts.
Late Work Policy
Late work will be penalized 20% of the total possible points for the assignment. Assignments turned in
more than 2 school days after the assigned due date will not be accepted for credit.
Academic Dishonesty
Cheating and/or plagiarism will not be tolerated in this course. If you are caught cheating or plagiarizing,
reactions on my part can range from giving you an F for the assignment or exam in question to
recommending expulsion from the Community College. The following excerpt is from “Code of Conduct”
in the Student Handbook:
PLAGIARISM/CHEATING
1. Plagiarism is defined as the buying, borrowing, or stealing of written material for the purpose of
fulfilling or partially fulfilling any assignment or task required as part of the student’s program of
instruction at the College. Any student who plagiarizes shall be subject to disciplinary action.
2. Any student who aids or abets the accomplishment of such activity as defined in subsection (1) above
shall also be subject to disciplinary action.
3. An instructor may take reasonable action against any student who is deemed to have been guilty of
plagiarism or cheating. Course of action might include but not be limited to:
a. student receive warning and lowered grade;
b. student receive failing grade for the course;
c. student dropped from course;
d. student be recommended for suspension or dismissal from the College;
e. case referred to civil action.
An instructor taking action against any student for an act of academic misconduct shall report such action
to the Vice President of Instruction and the Vice President of Student Services, as soon as possible, but no
later than five working days after the incident. Any student subject to action of an instructor for a
violation of this section may seek review of that action by the Vice President of Student Services, if such
request is submitted in writing within five working days from the date of the complained-of action.
The instructor reserves the right to modify this syllabus at any time.
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Tentative Lecture Schedule
I did not include a detailed topic list since I am not sure how long we will spend on each topic. Some
topics/chapters may take us longer to cover than others so there is some flexibility in the schedule. Also
keep in mind that the lab topics may be ahead of the lecture topics (and vice-versa) but I will try and keep
them as congruent in the schedule as possible.
Topic
Introduction / Syllabus review
Origins of the Oceans
History of Oceanography
Plate Tectonics
Ocean Basins
Sediments
Characteristics of Water
Atmospheric Circulation
Ocean Currents
Wave Dynamics
Tides
Coasts
Life of the Ocean
Ocean Communities
Conservation of Marine Resources
Text Chapter(s)
N/A
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13-14
15
Lab Schedule (Tuesdays 10:30-12:20 Room 228)
September 24th-Lab Safety and Atmospheric and Ocean Circulation
October 1st-Poster Research (in library)
October 8th-Plate tectonics
October 15th- Ocean Basins
October 22nd- Algae and Photosynthesis
October 29th-Microscopes and Marine Plankton
November 5th-Ecosystems and Food Web
November 12th-Marine Invertebrates
November 19th-Poster Presentations (Advising Day)
November 26th -No Class (Thanksgiving Break)
December 3rd- Lab Final
The instructor reserves the right to modify this syllabus at any time.
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Important Dates to Remember
Exam #1: Wednesday October 16th
Exam #2: Monday October 28th
Exam #3: Monday November 18th
Final Lecture Exam: Tuesday December 10th
Lab Final: Tuesday, December 3rd
Research Posters due: Tuesday, November 19th
Research Papers due: Friday, November 8th
Last Day to Drop:
Tuesday, November 12th
NO CLASS:
November 11th (Veteran’s Day), November 25th-29th (Thanksgiving Break)
THINGS THAT IRK ME
I think it is only fair that I let you know some of the things that upset me, so that you can avoid doing
them. If you really want to make me mad, you should…
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Let your cell phone ring in class.
Read or send a text message while in class.
Carry on a conversation while I am trying to lecture.
Show up for class late.
Gather up your books and shuffle around before I am done talking.
Whine a lot about having too much information on a test.
Ask me what you have to get on your next exam in order to pass; this is up to you to calculate
the exact number!
The instructor reserves the right to modify this syllabus at any time.
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WHAT I EXPECT FROM YOU
As a student in my class, I expect that you will…
1. Show due respect to your fellow students and to me.
2. Frequently review course material.
3. Do all of the reading in the text and lab handouts which supports what we discuss in lecture and
lab.
4. Keep track of your progress. In other words, if you are doing poorly, you should realize it early
and come to see me before it is too late.
Tips for Success
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Don’t miss class. Participating in lectures and labs is crucial to understanding the material. Also,
not all material for the course will be found in the textbook and can only be learned in the lectures.
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Take good notes. Part of being successful in class is knowing what was discussed and what key
concepts were focused on. Write down what I do on the board but also some of the things I SAY
but don’t write.
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Rewrite your notes. Sometimes students find it useful to rewrite their notes a few times before an
exam. This repetition helps get it into your brain!
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Read in small, concentrated doses. Each chapter is broken up into separate ideas. Read a
section, and then stop to review what you’ve learned.
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Focus on key concepts. Our textbook places key concepts in tan boxes. Make sure that you
understand the core ideas prior to filling in the small details.
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Budget your time. Studying daily and reviewing what you’ve learned is much more effective
than cramming for a test.
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Enjoy the class. The ocean is huge and so are the possible topics. If there’s something you want
to know, feel free to ask about it during class or after class. Take this opportunity to enrich your
knowledge about the ocean!
The instructor reserves the right to modify this syllabus at any time.