Spring 2020 Course Syllabus
Course: GEOL-1304- Section: 3C
Historical Geology 		LSCPA Logo Image
Instructor Information
Instructor Ronald Taylor
E-mailtaylorrs@lamarpa.edu
Phone(409) 984-6337
Office
Location:Madison Monroe - Room: 147
Hours:T 8:30-9:30, R 8:30-9:30
Department
Inmate Instruction
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.
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 CSLO 1--Develops an ability to illustrate, express, and correctly organize processes involved in Earth cycles.
CSLO 2--Develops an ability to understand, add to, and link the intricate workings of Earth Cycle systems.
CSLO 3--Demonstrates data-management, trend analysis, and graphing of relationships through lab assignments.
CSLO 4--Demonstrates the ability to work together cooperatively in small groups on projects
that require shared conclusions.
Core Objectives Communication skills: Students display communication skills in the classroom

Critical thinking skills:Students demonstrate creative or innovative thinking

Empirical and quantitative skills- Students demonstrate scientific & mathematical skills.

Teamwork: Students work together effectively and support each other.
Program Student Learning Outcomes PSLO 1--Students will demonstrate effective written, oral, and visual communication.
PSLO 2--Student will engage in creative and/or innovative thinking, and/or inquiry, analysis, evaluation, synthesis of information, organizing concepts, and constructing solutions.
PSLO 3--Students will demonstrate applications of scientific and mathematical concepts.
PSLO 4--Students will demonstrate the ability to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal and consider different points of view.
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.

1 Interpreting Earth History (Manual), 8th edition, Waveland Press, 2015. Lab work requires writing/drawing on lined paper provided by the instructor. Please avoid the temptation to mark in or
otherwise mar the Government-owned textbook or lab-manual.
2 The Changing Earth (Textbook), 7th Edition, Cengage Publishing, 2017.
Lecture Topics
Outline		 See below
Major Assignments
Schedule		 Week 1: Introduction; Geologic Time
Week 2: Geologic Time; Minerals
Week 3: Plate Tectonics
Week 4: Lecture Exam; Rock Cycle
Week 5: Fossils
Week 6: Sedimentary Rocks; Depositional Environments
Week 7: Facies and Depositional Environments; Lecture Exam
Week 8: Lithostratigraphy; Biostratigraphy
Week 9: Physical Correlation; Facies and Sea Level changes
Week 10: Significance of Climate & Mass Extinctions; Evolutions
Week 11: Lecture Exam; Paleogeographic Maps
Week 12: Folded Sedimentary Rocks; Ancient Rocks
Week 13: Paleozoic Orogenies; Cordilleran Orogenies
Week 14: Hot Spot Geology; Tectonic Cycle
Week 15: Final Review; Final Exam
Final Exam Date May 7, 2020 - 5:30 PM   Through  May 7, 2020 - 9:00 PM
Grading Scale  90 - 100=A    80 - 89=B    70 - 79=C     60 - 69=D    Below 59 = F
Determination of
Final Grade		 Three lecture tests - 45%, Quizzes - 15%, Lab exercises - 15%, Final exam 25%
Course Policies
Instructor Policies Please avoid conversations during class time--it is distracting to those trying to concentrate...
Attendance Policy Every absence undermines the course grade. To receive credit for a lecture exam, quiz, lab exercise, or final exam, attendance is required. Only one missed lecture exam of the three scheduled can be made up by using the score of the equivalent missed content as taken from the final exam. The three lecture tests and the final exam require closed-book memorization of Earth-cycles/sequences whereas the opened-book exam topics require use of either a textbook/outline handout source or a Wikipedia source from a smartphone.
The video quizzes are based on the content of the teaching videos--not attending the showing of a video lowers the credit received for the accompanying quiz. Missed lab assignments cannot be made up because most assignments require materials such as models, specimens, additional instructions provided by the instructor.
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.
MyLamarPA Be sure to check your campus E-mail and Course Homepage using MyLamarPA 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 MyLamarPA.
Other Do not get discouraged--most students improve their grade as the semester progresses
HB 2504 This syllabus is part of LSC-PA's efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504.