Geology 102: Planet Earth Syllabus
Graduate Teaching Assistant:
Kalin McDannell
Office: Brooks G42 - Structural & Tectonics Lab (downstairs)
Office hours: Tues. 1-2, Weds. 2-3, Thurs. 10-11
E-mail: kmcdanne@mix.wvu.edu
Faculty coordinator: Professor Richard Smosna
Department of Geology & Geography, 245 Brooks Hall, e-mail rsmosna@wvu.edu
Learning objectives: GEOL 102 is designed to satisfy WVU’s General Education Curriculum
Objective 2B concerning basic mathematical skills and scientific inquiry. Students will learn to
use quantitative and scientific knowledge effectively. Specific objectives for students in the
course include:
Attendance required: GEOL 102 requires students to attend class weekly to conduct simple lab
experiments and to analyze geological data pertaining to minerals, rocks, earthquakes, coal
mining, and the like. There are no make-up labs. If you are in lab and do the work you receive
15 pts. per lab session, if you miss class you get 0 pts.
Three exams will be given through the semester, and students are required to take all exams at
their regularly scheduled times. Make-up exams are only for students with an acceptable excuse
which must be presented in writing to the instructor as soon as possible after the missed exam.
Make-up exams will often be different from the regularly scheduled exam and may be harder, so
it is in your best interest to be there for exams!
You must attend the lab section in which you are enrolled, with one exception. Labs that meet on
Labor Day Monday, weekday football game, Election Day Tuesday, M.L. King Monday, or
Good Friday will have to take one class with another section. Students may choose any other lab
offered during the week. To get the 15 points for attendance, you must have that TA sign your
lab manual.
Exams: Each of the three exams comprises a mix of questions including fill-in-the-blank,
definitions, short answers, matching, and multiple-choice, as well as identifying unknown
minerals and rocks, constructing and interpreting graphs, and making simple mathematical
calculations. Questions are based exclusively on the preceding lab exercises which make class
attendance essential.
Grading: The grading scheme, based on a combination of mandatory attendance and exam
scores, is as follows:
Maximum
Lab work and participation, 15 points per lab . . . . . . . . . . .
165 pts
Three exams, 100 points each. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
300 pts
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
465 pts
Final course grades
A = 418 or more total points (90-100%)
B = 372-417 total points (80-89%)
C = 325-371 total points (70-79%)
D = 279-324 total points (60-69%)
F = 278 or fewer total points
Academic dishonesty: Faculty, students, and administrators share the responsibility to maintain
the university’s academic integrity. Academic dishonesty includes plagiarism; cheating and
dishonest practices in connection with examinations, papers, and projects; and forgery,
misrepresentation, and fraud. Cheating and plagiarism are condemned at all levels of university
life. Refer to the official university policy on academic dishonesty at
http://www.arc.wvu.edu/rightsa.html.
Social justice: West Virginia University is committed to social justice. We concur with that
commitment and expect to foster a nurturing learning environment based upon open
communication, mutual respect and non-discrimination. Our university does not discriminate on
the basis of race, sex, age, disability, veteran status, religion, sexual orientation, color or national
origin. Any suggestions as to how to further such a positive and open environment in this course
will be appreciated and given serious consideration. If you are a person with a disability and
anticipate needing any type of accommodation in order to participate in this class, please advise
the department and make appropriate arrangements with Disability Services (293-6700).