Geol 1003-1 (Spring 2010): Historical Geology (Earth System History)

Lecture Hall: H-R E130

Time: 9:40 am -10:30 am (MWF)

Instructor: Huiming Bao  Office: E338 (new H-R) E-mail: bao@lsu.edu Office hour: by appointment

Teaching assistant: Laurie Richards Office: 417D (old H-R) e-mail: lrich45@lsu.edu Office hour: by appointment

Purpose

Understand Earth Systems and their evolution through time. Enrich your sense of the 4th dimension (e.g. deep time). Learn in greater detail important geological and biological events in Earth history that have made the Earth and life we see today.

Structure

It consists of 39 lectures, 3 exams (2 session-exams and 1 final exam), and 8-10 in-class quizzes.

Textbook:

Earth System History (Steven M. Stanley)-3rd Edition (2nd Edition is ok)

http://www.whfreeman.com/osc/esh3e (has Online Study Center)
http://geol.lsu.edu/hbao/Geol1003-syl-2010.html

Grading (will be curved)

Session Exam I: 25% (only the contents covered by the first session)

Session Exam II: 25% (only the contents covered by the second session)

Final Exam: 40% (including contents covered by the third session and everything in the semester)

In-class quizzes: 10%

Raw scores (in 100-scale) will be given with a distribution pattern for each session exam.

The average composite score in my past GEOL1003 classes is at 60 to 70. Your will certainly get an “A” if your composite score is above 85. But you may also get an "A" if you are at the top 15-20% or so, which means you may get an "A" with a composite score of 80. I might increase the percentage of “A” students if I find you are an exceptional group of students. You will get an “F” if you fall on the lower tail of the grade "curve".

You are allowed to make up session-exams only if there are good reasons. You will have a chance to make up for part of the in-class quizzes you have missed. It is done by submitting a 3-page (minimum) essay reflecting what you've learnt from this class, what your previous view on one topic (of your choice) about the Earth history has changed. The essay emphasizes your personal view on a subject, not a review of a subject. The essay counts 2% of the composite score and is due on May 7, 2010.

Scheduled Exams (all in E130):

Session Exam I: Feb. 26, 2010

Session Exam II: March 31, 2010

Final Exam: May 14, 10:00 am to noon

What are in the exams?

Mostly multiple choices (~ 85%), T and F (~10%), and a couple of blank-fillings (no choices are given) (~ 5%). Blank-fillings appear in session-exams only.

How to study it?
Read the chapters assigned before coming to the class. I do a lot "questioning-and-answering" in the class.

Syllabus (Lecture ppt files can be acceessed via MOODLE):

Jan. 20: the first class

Part I: Materials, Processes, and Principles

Week 1: Overview and Earth as a System; Case study

Week 2: Minerals and rocks; Diversity of Life; 

Week 3: Diversity of Life; Environment and Life 

Week 4: Sedimentary Environment and Correlation of the rocks, Dating the rocks,
Week 5:

Feb. 14-17: Mardi Gras

Week 6: 1, 2, Sea-level change; Evolution and the fossil record

Feb. 26: Exam I

Week 7:  Evolution and the fossil record, Plate Tectonics; Major Chemical Cycles,

Week 8: Major Geochemical Cycles;

Part II: The Story of Earth

Week 9: The beginning and the Archean Eon;

Week 10: Proterozoic, and Neoproterozoic
Week 11: 1,

March. 28: Exam II

April 2-11:  Spring Break

Week 13: The Plaeozoic
Week 14: The Paleozoic and Mesozoic,
Week 15: The Cenozoic, (synthesis I - missing links; II, LIPs)
Week 16: The Holocene, syntheses,

May 8: Class end

May 14 (10:00 am - noon): Final Exam