Summer Sessions 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: Virtual office hours by phone Mon-Sun 10am-5pm call or text; 8-10pm text only - 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	Upon successful completion of this course, students will: 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 11 th ed, Levin and King, Wiley Pub 978-1-119-22834-9 (also available through Redshelf for $20.90 https://www.redshelf.com/search/
Lecture Topics Outline	Week 1 Chapter 1 Science of Historical Geology Chapter 2 Early Geologists Tackle History’s Mysteries Chapter 3 Time and Geology Chapter 4 Rocks and Minerals: Documents that Record Week 2 Chapter 5 Earth’s History Sedimentary Archives Chapter 6 Life on Earth: What Do Fossils Reveal? Chapter 7 Plate Tectonics Underlies All Earth History Week 3 Chapter 8 Earth’s Formative Stages and the Archean Eon Chapter 9 Proterozoic: Dawn of a More Modern World Chapter 10 Early Paleozoic Events Chapter 11 Late Paleozoic Events Week 4 Chapter 12 Paleozoic Life Chapter 13 Mesozoic Events Chapter 14 Mesozoic Life Week 5 Chapter 15 Cenozoic Events Chapter 16 Cenozoic Life Chapter 17 Human Origins
Major Assignments Schedule	Week 1 Assignment 1 Week 2 Discussion 1 Geologic time; Test 1 Week 3 Discussion 2 Evolution; Assignment 2; Test 2 Week 4 Discussion 3 Paleozoic Life; Assignment 3; Test 3 Week 5 Discussion 4 Changing Climate; Assignment 4 (Group Project); Test 4; Final Exam
Final Exam Date	August 14, 2021 - 8:00 AM
Grading Scale	90 - 100=A    80 - 89=B    70 - 79=C     60 - 69=D    Below 59 = F
Determination of Final Grade	Final grade determined by average of 1000 points available.
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	Class is asynchronous so attendance is determined by submitting gradable work, either discussion, assignments, or tests.
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	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.
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.