1 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 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. 2 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 % 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. 3 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. 4 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. 5 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. 6 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. 7 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 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. 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. 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! 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. 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. Budget your time. Studying daily and reviewing what you’ve learned is much more effective than cramming for a test. 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.