Fall 2020 Course Syllabus
Course: GEOL-1304- Section: 71
Historical Geology 		LSCPA Logo Image
Instructor Information
Instructor Karen Stelly
E-mailstellyks@lamarpa.edu
Phone(409) 984-6341
Office
Location:Educational I - Room: 133
Hours:Virtual office hours by phone Mon-Sun 10am-5pm call or text - 409-554-3493
Department
General Education and Developmental Studies
Chair:Dr. Michelle Davis
E-mail:davisml1@lamarpa.edu
Phone:(409) 984-6341

If you have a grievance, complaint, or concern about this course that has not been resolved through discussion with the Instructor, please consult the Department Chair.
COVID 19 Information The Lamar State College Port Arthur (LSCPA) Student Code of Conduct COVID 19 Policy requires students who have been exposed to COVID 19 or diagnosed with COVID 19 to report their condition on the COVID 19 Notification Form (available via a link on the Student Code of Conduct COVID19 webpage). This information will be provided to the Dean of Student Services. In addition, this policy requires all students to wear face coverings in compliance with the criteria included in the policy. For more information please refer to the COVID 19 link on the LSCPA website.
Course Information
Description A comprehensive survey of the history of life and major events in the physical development of Earth as interpreted from rocks and fossils.
Prerequisites None
Learning Outcomes Describe how the application of the scientific method has led to our current understanding of Earth history.
Explain the historical development of Geology as a science and how it was influenced by early interpretations of fossils and the theory of evolution.
Communicate how principles of relative and numerical age dating have been used to develop the Geologic Time Scale.
Describe the processes involved in the formation and differentiation of the Earth and identify major milestones in the physical evolution of the planet.
Identify the major milestones in the evolution of life from its initial inorganic stages, through development of the major animal and plant groups, to mass extinctions.
Explain how rocks and fossils are used to interpret ancient environments.
Identify the major tectonic events in the geologic evolution of North America.
Core Objectives * Communication skills: Students will demonstrate effective written, oral and visual communication.
* Critical Thinking Skills: Students will engage in creative and/or innovative thinking, and/or inquiry, analysis, evaluation, synthesis of information, organizing concepts and constructing solutions.
* Empirical and Quantitative Skills: Students will demonstrate applications of scientific and mathematical concepts.
* Teamwork: Students will demonstrate the ability to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal and consider different points of view.
Program Student Learning Outcomes
Textbooks Textbook Purchasing Statement: A student attending Lamar State College Port Arthur is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from the college-affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including an online retailer.

Earth Through Time 11th ed; Levin and King, ISBN 978-1-119-22834-9 (Available through Redshelf.com; E-version works)
Lecture Topics
Outline		 GEO1304
Class Schedule: (With due dates) All assignments and tests are due by end of day Sundays. All initial discussion responses are due by end of day Thursday of the discussion week. Replies to fellow learners should be complete prior to end of day Sunday of the discussion week but may be posted any day during the week.

Week and date    Reading Lecture textbook    Lecture Topic     Lecture Due Dates
    Discussion Topic    Discussion Topic    Discussion Due Dates
Week 1
Aug 24    Bad Laura
Week 2
August 31    Bad Laura
Week 3
Sept 7/8    Chapter 1
Chapter 2
    Science of Historical Geology
Early Geologists Tackle History’s Mysteries    
    Discussion Board
    Introductions
    Due during Week 1

Week 4
Sept 14    Chapter 3

Chapter 4    Time and Geology

Rocks and Minerals: Documents that Record
    
Week 5
Sept 21    Chapter 5

Chapter 6
    Earth’s History Sedimentary Archives

Life on Earth: What Do Fossils Reveal?    Lec Assignment 1 due Sept 27
    DQ 1    Evolution    Due Thursday Sept 24
Week 6
Sept 28    Chapter 7    Plate Tectonics Underlies All Earth History    Lec TEST 1 due Oct 4
(Chapters 1-7)
Week 7
Oct 5    Chapter 8

Chapter 9    Earth’s Formative Stages and the Archean Eon
Proterozoic: Dawn of a More Modern World    Lec Assignment 2 due Oct 11
    DQ 2    Geologic Time    Due Thursday Oct 8
Week 8
Oct 12    Chapter 10
Chapter 11    Early Paleozoic Events
Late Paleozoic Events    Lec TEST 2 due Oct 18
(Chapters 8-11)
Week 9
Oct 19    Chapter 12    Paleozoic Life    
    DQ 3    Paleozoic Life    Due Thursday Oct 22
Week 11
Nov 2    Chapter 13    Mesozoic Events    Lec Assignment 3 due Oct 25
Week 12
Nov 9    Chapter 14    Mesozoic Life    Lec TEST 3 due Nov 8
(Chapters 12-14)
Week 13
Nov 16    Chapter 15
Chapter 16    Cenozoic Events
Cenozoic Life    
    DQ 4    Climate Change    Due FRIDAY Nov 19    
Week 14
Nov 23    Chapter 17    Human Origins    Lec Assignment 4 due Nov 29
Week 15
Nov 30    Last week         Lec TEST 4 due by end of day Tuesday, Dec 1
(Chapters 15-17)
Final Exam    Comprehensive    FINAL EXAM    Due by Sunday Dec 8
Major Assignments
Schedule		 GEOL_1304_71_202090_P00344370.pdf
Final Exam Date December 6, 2020 - 8:00 AM
Grading Scale  90 - 100=A    80 - 89=B    70 - 79=C     60 - 69=D    Below 59 = F
Determination of
Final Grade		 Sum of Discussion Questions, Assignments, and Tests divided by total points available.
Course Policies
Instructor Policies All work must be your own work.
Attendance Policy Class attendance will be met by submitting timely Discussion Questions, assignments, and tests.Technology Requirements:

You should have a computer with Windows 8 or more recent.
You should have MS Office, specifically Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
If you do not have Office already, you can down load a free version called OpenOffice available at https://www.openoffice.org/download/ (If you use this, you should save your documents as .docx files)
You should have a printer with scanner OR phone with camera for the purpose of making a digital image of some lab work
Academic Honesty Academic honesty is expected from all students, and dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the LSC-PA policies (Section IX, subsection A, in the Faculty Handbook) for consequences of academic dishonesty.
Facility Policies
  1. No food or tobacco products are allowed in the classroom.

  2. Only students enrolled in the course are allowed in the classroom, except by special instructor permission.

  3. Use of electronic devices is prohibited.
Important Information
ADA Considerations The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the the Office for Disability Services Coordinator, Room 231, in the Madison Monroe Building. The phone number is (409) 984-6241.
MyLSCPA Be sure to check your campus E-mail and Course Homepage using MyLSCPA campus web portal (My.LamarPA.edu). When you've logged in, click the email icon in the upper right-hand corner to check email, or click on the "My Courses" tab to get to your Course Homepage. Click the link to your course and review the information presented. It is important that you check your email and Course Homepage regularly. You can also access your grades, transcripts, and determine who your academic advisor is by using MyLSCPA.
Other Technology Requirements:

You should have a computer with Windows 8 or more recent.
You should have MS Office, specifically Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
If you do not have Office already, you can down load a free version called OpenOffice available at https://www.openoffice.org/download/ (If you use this, you should save your documents as .docx files)
You should have a printer with scanner OR phone with camera for the purpose of making a digital image of some lab work
HB 2504 This syllabus is part of LSC-PA's efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504.