Department of Geological Sciences
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

GEOL 18: EARTH, CLIMATE AND LIFE THROUGH TIME

Professor: Dr. Donna Surge
Contact Info: 225 Mitchell Hall, donna64@unc.edu
Web Address: www.unc.edu/~donna64/surge.html
Office Hours: By appointment

Course Description: With the present trend of global warming, it is critical to understand the workings of our planet. This course will take an Earth systems approach to understanding the interactions within and among the geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere. Key topics will include: origin of the solid earth; plate tectonics, earthquakes, and volcanic hazards/prediction; evolution of the atmosphere and oceans; climate change; ecological systems; biogeochemical cycles; origin of life, evolution and mass extinctions.

Textbook: The Blue Planet, 2^nd edition, by Skinner, Porter, and Botkin

Exams: Three exams will be given during the class period and a fourth exam during the assigned time for the final (see syllabus for dates and times). There will be 2 to 3 versions of each exam to discourage wandering eyes and increase fairness and honesty. There will likely be some quantitative questions on each exam; therefore, bring a calculator to the hourly and final exams. Review sessions are scheduled during class time before each exam. However, these review sessions will not be reiterations of prior lectures, so come prepared with questions. The material covered on the exams will be taken largely from lecture material and videos shown in class, so it is important to attend all lectures.

The lowest grade of the hour-long, in-class exams will be dropped. Therefore, there will be no make-up exams except in the following circumstances. Students who have to miss exams for legitimate reasons (recognized religious holidays, participation as a team member in away athletic events, etc.) must make arrangements at least 2 lecture periods before the scheduled exam for making up the exam to be missed. If you miss an exam, that missed exam will count as your dropped lowest grade. If you qualify for taking a make-up, the make-up exam will be in essay format. Graded exams will be kept in my office, but available for your review in my office during scheduled office hours or by appointment. They will not be handed back for you to keep.

Pop Quizzes: Pop quizzes will happen occasionally. They will be 2 multiple-choice questions and will occur in the first 5 minutes of class.

Attendance: Attending lectures (including videos) is required and is part of the participation portion of the course grade.

Final Course Grades: Final course grades will be determined by a "curve" with the average placed at C+/B!. Individual exam grades will not be curved. There is NO possibility of improving your final grade by doing extra-credit work except as indicated above. It is unfair to give only some students this privilege, and there is insufficient time to grade extra-credit projects for the entire class.

Lecture Assistant is not responsible for providing class notes for missed lectures. If you miss a lecture, it is your responsibility to get the notes from a fellow student.

No grade information will be given out over the phone or by e-mail.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE