4/18/13 WMU Webmail Plus

https://webmail.wmich.edu/zimbra/h/printmessage?id=25355 1/1

From : Robb Gillespie <robb.gillespie@wmich.edu>

Subject : COGE - GEOS 2500 - 1020 Planetary Geology

To : Lauren Carney <lauren.carney@wmich.edu>,'Kathryn Wright' <kathryn.wright@wmich.edu>,mohamed.sultan@wmich.edumohamed.sultan@wmich.edu<mohamed.sultan@wmich.edu>

WMU Webmail Plus l4carney@wmich.edu

COGE - GEOS 2500 - 1020 Planetary Geology

Thu, Apr 18, 2013 09:14 AM

3 attachments

Hi Everyone:Attached is the requested: 1.) Syllabus, 2.) Schedule, and 3.) Catalog Description. Thissupports the request to change Planetary Geology GEOS 2500 to a new course numberGEOS 1020.

This semester, I used a new textbook just out on the market and re-organized the coursearound it's layout. The course is now more basic (introductory) in nature. Also, the newtextbook contains better illustrations which streamlines, simplifies and integrates keyconcepts. The old text (now out of print) was dated, an issue corrected by the new text.

I am also moving more of the course exams to the D2L system to allow for morelecture/discussion time in class. In-class clickers are still being used for ongoing quizzes.The course also has a customized web-page linking course materials with NASA's website,and providing access to power-point presentations from class and power-points developedspecifically for the web site.

The old version of the general course description in the catalog is still appropriated for therevised course, and I see no reason to change it at this point.

Robb Gillespie

Current Catalog Description.docx14 KB

Schedule - PLANETARY Spring 13.doc37 KB

Syllabus - PLANETARY Spring 13.doc75 KB

WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY

SYLLABUS

PLANETARY GEOLOGY GEOS 2500 - (CRN 13205)

(Fulfills Requirements as a General Education Area VI Course)

Course Description

This course is an introduction to the origin and geological diversity of the planets,

and other bodies that make-up our universe. Emphasis is placed upon

understanding how and why these planetary systems occur and operate, what

makes Earth so unique, how these systems affect people around the world, and

how geosciences and technology can be used to better understand our Universe.

Two lectures (1 hour/15 minutes each), 1 lab per week.

Schedules

Lecture: Dr. Robb Gillespie

Class time: 9:30 – 10:45 a.m.

Days: Tuesday, Thursday

Building: Rood Hall

Room: 2722

Lab #1 Mr. Andrew Macleod

Class time: 11:00 a.m. – 12:50 p.m.

Days: Thursday

Building: Wood Hall

Room: 1214

Lab #2 Mr. Andrew Macleod

Class time: 1:00 – 2:50 p.m.

Days: Thursday

Building: Wood Hall

Room: 1214

Instructor: Office Phone: E-mail

Dr. Robb Gillespie 3341 Rood Hall 269-387-536 robb.gillespie@wmich.edu

Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday 10 – 11 a.m.

Tuesday and Thursday 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. - or by Appointment

Mr. Andrew Macleod Graduate Student Offices – Rood Hall

andrew.k.macleod@wmich.edu

Geosciences Department Office: 269-387-5485

Course Goals and Learning Outrcomes

The Principle goal is for the student to become familiar with and understand the

origins and geological diversity of our solar system.

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

Identify the major components of our Solar System

Relate geological processes at work on Earth with those operating on other

planetary bodies

Understand the processes that give rise to these bodies and keep them

operating

Envision what makes Earth so geologically unique

Develop insight to current scientific efforts aimed at identifying, predicting,

and “managing” our Universe

Separate “fact” from “fiction” in the Hollywood/press portrayal of Planetary

Exploration

Other Related Courses (NOT pre-requisites for GEOS 2500)

Geos 1000 (Earth Studies)

Geos 1300 (Physical Geology)

Physics 1030 – Introduction to Sky and Solar System Lab, AND

Physics 1040 – Introduction to Sky and Solar System Lecture

Physics 1050 – Stars and Galaxies Lab, AND

Physics 1060 – Introduction to Stars and Galaxies Lecture

Required Textbook and Related Materials

Text – Exploring the Solar System by: Peter Bond

Wiley-Blackwell Publishers, 2012 (available in soft cover)

Clicker – i-clicker Student Response Control (clicker)

Lab Materials – Planetary Geology, National Aeronautics and Space

Administration (NASA) – Spacelink on the Internet

Attendance and Participation in classroom discussions will be considered a

subjective element in assigning final grades. Your instructors reserve the right to

depart from the grading scale by raising grades for those whose classroom

participation is better than their exams, or by lowering final grades for those who

do not participate actively in lab projects or whose attendance is poor (eight or

more hours of absent time).

There will be opportunities to earn “Extra Credit” points in the form of

“additional” questions on the Unit Exams. There are no other extra credit

opportunities. No provision will be made to raise a grade through extra

assignments such as an essay, term paper, or a research or library project. To pass

the class, start early studying for exams, attending lectures and reading the

textbook. Be sure to attend and complete labs at your assigned time.

We will use i-clickers during the lecture portion of the to earn quiz question

points and participation points. These points will account for 20% of the student’s

grade. Be sure to have your i-clicker available for each lecture class. These can be

purchased at the bookstore along with your textbook.

Makeup Exams will be given only as absolutely needed. Prior explanation as to

why a regular exam can not be taken must be provided. Makeup exams may be

different from the regularly scheduled exam.

Evaluation

20% Lecture Quiz (i-clicker) Points

(Each quiz question is worth 2 points – 1 “participation” point for

simply answering the question - right or wrong, and 1 “correct” point

for the correct answer)

30% Lab Section – (collaborative activities and homework)

30% Unit Exam #1 (on-line exam)

Unit Exam #2 (on-line exam)

Unit Exam #3 (on-line exam)

Your Lowest Exam Grade from Unit Exams #1, 2 and 3 will be dropped –

This 30% EXAM portion of your final course grade will be the average of

your 2 best unit exams

20% Final Exam (comprehensive, full semester, in-class – Scantron exam)

You may NOT Drop the Final Exam grade

Final grades will be determined using the following scale:

Percentile Grade

93-100 A

85-92 BA

80-84 B

75-79 CB

68-74 C

63-67 DC

58-62 D

Below 58 E

SCHEDULE

Introduction

Part 1. Origins of the Solar System and How It Works (weeks 1-6)

Introduction - Overview of the course

Cosmic Perspective

Overview of the Solar System

Survey of Planets

Celestial Mechanics

Origin of the Solar System

o Big Bang, Star Formation

o Solar Nebular Theory, Condensation Theory

Meteorites

Comets

Exam #1

Part 2. Comets, Moon, Mercury, Earth and How it Works, and Venus (weeks 7-

11)

Our Moon

Mercury

Earth

o Earthquakes

o Earth’s Interior

o Plate Tectonics

o Rock Types

o Surficial Processes (Rivers, Mass Wasting, Glaciers, Deserts)

o Ocean Systems

o Atmosphere and the Origins of Life

Venus

Exam #2

Part 3. Rocky and Jovian Planets, Atmosphere and Life (weeks 12-15)

Rocky Planets

o Geology of Mars

Jovian Planets

o Geology of Jupiter

o Geology of Saturn

o Geology of Neptune

o Geology of Uranus & Pluto

Exam 3

Part 4. Large and Small Satellites, Beyond Our Solar System, Earth’s Destiny

(week 16)

Geology of Moons of Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus

Exoplanets - Other Solar Systems

Earth’s Destiny

Final Exam

STATEMENT CONCERNING ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

All laboratory work must be completed on an individual basis. The exception

comes if a group project has been assigned, in which case each person is expected

to be an equal participant in the group. Any attempt to circumvent individual work

by copying another person’s answers, providing answers to another person,

copying a project done by someone else during a previous semester, or operating

another person’s i-clicker for them will result in an automatic failing grade for that

exercise and a possible failing laboratory grade for the semester. All examinations

will be the exclusive work of each individual. Using hidden notes, electronic

information of any type, or copying another’s exam will result in at least a zero on

the exam and a possible failing grade in the course. If you arrive for an exam after

any other student has turned in their exam and left the room – then you have

missed that exam.

You are responsible for making yourself aware of and understanding the policies

and procedures in the Undergraduate Catalog that pertain to Academic Integrity.

These policies include cheating, fabrication, falsification and forgery, multiple

submissions, plagiarism, complicity, and computer and clicker misuse. If there is

reason to believe you have been involved in academic dishonesty, you will be

referred to the Office of Student Judicial Affairs. You will be given the opportunity

to review the charge(s). If you believe you are not responsible, you will have the

opportunity for a hearing. You should consult with me if you are uncertain about

an issue of academic honesty prior to the submission of an assignment or test.

4/22/13 – 4/26/13 FINALS WEEK The final exam will be comprehensive covering the entire semester.

It will be a traditional “hard-copy,” Scantron exam that must be taken in class.

This will account for 30% of your grade.

4/22/13 Monday FINAL EXAM - 10:15 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.

2722 Wood Hall

4/27/13 Saturday End of Semester – Commencement

4/30/13 Tuesday Grades Due at Registrar at Noon

GEOSCIENCES 2500

Planetary Geology CRN # 13205

(Fulfills Requirements as a General Education Area VI Course)

SPRING 2013

Lecture

(Tues, Thurs 9:30 – 10:45 a.m.)

Dr. Robb Gillespie

Laboratories

Thurs 11:00 a.m. – 12:50 p.m. & Thurs 1:00 – 2:50 p.m.

Mr. Andrew Macleod

Date Day Subject Reading

JANUARY

1/07/13 Monday First Day - Classes Begin at 8:00 a.m.

1/08/13 Tuesday Introduction – Logistics, How Science Works Chapter 1

1/10/13 Thursday Introduction – Getting to Know Our Neighbors Chapter 1

1/10/13 Thursday Lab #1 Scientific Principles - Density, Kepler’s Laws, Newton & Gravity

(Macleod, Based Upon Chapter 1- Textbook)

1/15/13 Tuesday Beginnings - Finding Our Place in Space Chapter 1

1/17/13 Thursday Beginnings - Finding Our Place in Space Chapter 1

1/17/13 Thursday Lab #2 Geologic Landforms Seen on Stereoscopic Photos (NASA – Exercise #3)

1/21/13 Monday Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation Activities – No Classes

1/22/13 Tuesday The SUN - An Ordinary Star Chapter 2

1/24/13 Thursday The SUN - An Ordinary Star Chapter 2

1/24/13 Thursday Lab#3 Impact Cratering (NASA - Exercise #4)

1/29/13 Tuesday Comets, Asteroids and Meteorites Chapter 13

1/31/13 Thursday Meteorites - Remnants of Creation Chapter 13

1/31/13 Thursday Lab #4 Comparative Cratering Processes (NASA – Exercise #5)

FEBRUARY

2/05/13 Tuesday Asteroids - Building Blocks of the Inner Planets Chapter 12

2/07/13 Thursday Asteroids and Comets – The End of the World? Chapter 12

2/07/13 Thursday Lab#5 Impact Cratering on a Rainy Day (NASA – Exercise #6)

2/12/13 Tuesday Comets - Messengers from the Cold, Dark Past Chapter 12

2/14/13 Thursday Pluto and the Kuiper Belt Chapter 12

2/14/13 Thursday

Lab #6 Mid-Term Lab Exam

ON-LINE EXAM #1

OPEN 2/14/13 - CLOSE 2/21/13 (noon)

\

2/19/13 Tuesday The Moon - Our Ancient Neighbor Chapter 4

2/21/13 Thursday The Moon - The Space Race

2/21/13 Thursday Lab #7 Photogeologic Mapping on the Moon (NASA – Exercise #16)

2/08/13 Tuesday Mercury and the Moon - Strange Relatives Chapter 5

2/10/13 Thursday Earth – Our Home Planet Chapter 3

3/10/13 Thursday Lab #8 Landform Mapping: The Terrestrial Planets (NASA – Exercise #10)

MARCH

3/01/13 Friday Spirit Day No Classes

3/04/13 Monday Spring Break Begins No Classes

3/11/13 Monday Classes Resume

3/12/13 Tuesday Earth – Our Home Planet Chapter 3

3/14/13 Thursday Earth - Our Home Planet Chapter 3

3/14/13 Thursday Lab #9 Geologic Features of Venus (NASA – Exercise #12)

3/18/13 Monday Last Day to Withdraw from Classes

3/19/13 Tuesday Chapter 10 – Venus: Earth’s Exotic Twin Chapter 6

3/21/13 Tuesday Chapter 10 – Venus: Our Future? Chapter 6

3/21/13 Thursday Lab #10 Geologic Features of Mars (NASA – Exercise #11)

ON-LINE EXAM #2

OPEN 3/21/13 - CLOSE 3/28/13 (noon)

3/26/13 Tuesday Mars - The Planet Most Like Earth Chapter 7

3/28/13 Thursday Mars – Curiosity Chapter 7

3/28/13 Thursday Lab#11 3-D Geowall Geologic Features of Mars, Rover Driving (Macleod )

APRIL

4/02/13 Tuesday Jupiter – The Frozen Gas Giants Chapter 8

4/04/13 Thursday Jupiter – The Largest of All Planets Chapter 8

4/04/13 Thursday Lab#12 Features of Outer Planet Satellites (NASA- Exercise # 13)

4/09/13 Thursday Saturn – A Smaller Jupiter? Chapter 9

4/11/13 Thursday Uranus – The Frozen Ice Giants Chapter 10

4/11/13 Thursday Lab #13 Planets in Stereo (NASA - Exercise #14)

ON-LINE EXAM #3

OPEN 4/11/13 - CLOSE 4/18/13 (noon)

4/16/13 Tuesday Neptune – At the Outer Edges Chapter 11

4/18/13 Thursday Exoplanets - Destiny and Distant Worlds Chapter 14

4/18/13 Thursday

Lab #14 Final Lab Exam

4/22/13 – 4/26/13 Monday - Friday FINALS WEEK

FINAL EXAM

4/22/2013 Monday

10:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

2722 Wood Hall

4/27/13 Saturday End of Semester, Commencement

4/30/13 Tuesday Grades Due At Registrar at Noon

Current Catalog Description

GEOS 2500 - Planetary Geology

An introduction to the origin and geological diversity of the planet, and other bodies that make-up our

universe. Emphasis is placed on understanding how and why these planetary systems occur and

operate, what makes Earth so unique, how these systems affect the lives of citizens in the United

States and around the world, and how geoscience and technology can be used to better understand

our universe.

Credits: 4 hours

Notes: This course satisfies General Education Area VI: Natural Science with Laboratory