Spring 2021 Course Syllabus Course: GEOL-1304- Section: 71 Historical Geology

Instructor Information
Instructor	Karen Stelly
E-mail	stellyks@lamarpa.edu
Phone	(409) 984-6341
Office	Location: Educational I - Room: 133 Hours: Office Hours: By phone Virtual Hours: 10 am to 5 pm phone or text, 8-10 pm text only, Sunday-Saturday Office Phone: 409-554-3493
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	Lecture:     1. Describe how the application of the scientific method has led to our current understanding of Earth history.     Test 1, assignment 1 2. Explain the historical development of Geology as a science and how it was influenced by early interpretations of fossils and the theory of evolution.    Test 1, assignment 1, DQ1 3. Communicate how principles of relative and numerical age dating have been used to develop the Geologic Time Scale.     Test 1, assignment 1, DQ2, 4. Describe the processes involved in the formation and differentiation of the Earth and identify major milestones in the physical evolution of the planet.     Test 2, Assignment 2, 5. 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.     Test 2, 3, and 4, Assignment 2, 3, and 4 6. Explain how rocks and fossils are used to interpret ancient environments.    Test 1 and 2, Assignment 1, 2 7. Identify the major tectonic events in the geologic evolution of North America.    Test 2, 3, 4; Assignment 3, 4
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. Required Textbook & Lab Manual: Earth Through Time 11th ed; Levin and King, ISBN 978-1-119-22834-9 (Available through Redshelf.com; E-version works)
Lecture Topics Outline	Class Schedules: (With due dates) Weeks start on Mondays, end on Sundays Lecture Schedule: Week and date    Reading Lecture textbook    Lecture Topic    Lecture Due Dates (All work due by end of day Sundays**) Week 1 Jan 19    Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Discussion    Science of Historical Geology Early Geologists Tackle History’s Mysteries Introductions     Any time during week 1 Week 2 Jan 25    Chapter 3 Chapter 4 DQ1    Time and Geology Rocks and Minerals: Documents that Record Geologic Time     Due Thursday Jan 30 Week 3 Feb 1    Chapter 5 Chapter 6    Earth’s History Sedimentary Archives Life on Earth: What Do Fossils Reveal?     Assignment 1 Due Feb 9 Week 4 Feb 8    Chapter 7    Plate Tectonics Underlies All Earth History    Lec TEST 1 due Feb 16 (Chapters 1-7) Week 5 Feb 15    Chapter 8 DQ2    Earth’s Formative Stages and the Archean Eon Evolution     Due Feb 20 Week 6 Feb 22    Chapter 9    Proterozoic: Dawn of a More Modern World     Week 7 March 1    Chapter 10    Early Paleozoic Events     Assignment 2 Due March 8 Week 8 March 8    Chapter 11    Late Paleozoic Events    Lec TEST 2 due March 15 (Chapters 8-11) Week 9 March 15     Spring break! No school! Week 10 March 22    Chapter 12 DQ3    Paleozoic Life Paleozoic Life     Due March 26 Week 11 March 29    Chapter 13    Mesozoic Events     Assignment 3 Due April 5 Week 12 April 5    Chapter 14    Mesozoic Life    Lec TEST 3 due April 12 (Chapters 12-14) Week 13 April 12    Chapter 15 DQ4    Cenozoic Events Changing Climates     Due April 16 Week 14 April 19    Chapter 16    Cenozoic Life     Week 15 April 26    Chapter 17     Human Origins    Assignment 4 Due May 3 Week 16 May 3              **Test 4 due by end of day **Tuesday , May 4 Final Exam May 9    All Lecture chapters    Final exam    Due by end of day Sunday May 9
Major Assignments Schedule	GEOL_1304_71_202110_P00344370.pdf
Final Exam Date	May 9, 2021 - 12:01 AM
Grading Scale	90 - 100=A    80 - 89=B    70 - 79=C     60 - 69=D    Below 59 = F
Determination of Final Grade	All grades added together then divide by 1000 for final average
Course Policies
Instructor Policies	Grading Policy: Grading will be done over the 7 days after due date. Labs will have some questions with only one correct answer, while others will require explanation. All explanations must be unique to each student. Assignments must be unique in entirety. Late Policy: Work will be accepted within 5 days or the end of the semester. Work posted after 5 days must be approved by instructor. Procedure for Review of Test Grades: If the student has an issue about his/her grade, the instructor must be contacted no later than three (3) days after receiving the grade. Discussion Rules of Engagement: Response to discussion question (DQ) is due no later than Thursday of each discussion week (early is always good!). Students must reply to two (2) peers or instructor each discussion week for participation points. Participation posts may be posted any of the 7 days of the given discussion week. The DQ response is worth 30 points, and each reply to peers is worth 10 points each. DQ responses posted between Friday and Sunday will lose 1 point per day. DQ responses or participation posted after the discussion week will not be awarded points. Point earning responses to the DQ must address each part of the DQ, be as thorough as possible, with a minimum of 200 words. Point earning participation posts must either, add something new to the topic, or provoke deeper thinking. These can be accomplished by sharing a relevant website, posing a question deeper than 'what do you think,' sharing something you looked up, sharing a personal experience deeper than 'I didn't know that,' or 'I learned something new from your post.' No word limit on the participation posts! Just add something new! **Rules do not apply to introductions; length requirement only for response to the DQ itself, participation posts may be shorter.
Attendance Policy	As long as the student completes assignments and discussion requirements, attendance will be met. If you are unable to posted an assignment, take a test, or answer the discussion questions on time, permission from instructor must be obtained before the work will be accepted for grading.
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	No food or tobacco products are allowed in the classroom. Only students enrolled in the course are allowed in the classroom, except by special instructor permission. 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	In the event an internet signal is lost or other cause of test interruption, the student must contact instructor right away either by email or text to phone. After verification of test interruption, the test will be reset.
HB 2504	This syllabus is part of LSC-PA's efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504.
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.