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COURSE DESCRIPTION
General Earth Science develops your basic understanding of science and your knowledge and curiosity about Earth in particular. The subject matter of the course ranges from Earth to the stars, with an emphasis on the oceans and weather, rocks and mountains, and the solar system and the stars beyond. The course is not designed for science majors but rather for those who have a general interest in and a curiosity about Earth.
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COURSE OBJECTIVES
Through studying the text Earth Science and viewing the seven one-hour video programs blended into the reading material, you should be able to:
- Explain why earthquakes happen and how they are measured.
- Discuss the basic structure of Earth’s interior and explain how different layers are identified using seismic waves.
- Describe the basic types of volcanoes and other igneous activity including where and why each form.
- Relate the theory of plate tectonics (including continental drift and sea floor spreading) to major Earth processes such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain building.
- Explain the processes that form mountains and their characteristics.
- Explain the age of Earth, methods used to decipher Earth history, and the record of life preserved in the rock record.
- Describe major seafloor features such as the continental margins, deep ocean basins, and mid-ocean ridges.
- Describe and explain the formation of major ocean current systems and their impact on climate and human activity.
- Explain the structure and composition of the atmosphere as well as atmospheric characteristics used to describe weather and climate, such as clouds, precipitation, temperature, wind, and so on.
- Discuss regional and global weather patterns and the formation of weather phenomena such as severe storms.
- Describe the classification of climates and discuss human influence upon and natural variation in climate patterns.
- Explain the history and origins of modern astronomy, the characteristics of the sun and planets in our solar system, and the description and evolution of stars.
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COURSE MATERIALS
You will need the following materials to do the work of the course. These materials are available from the textbook supplier, MBS Direct.
Textbook
Earth Science, 12th ed., by Edward J. Tarbuck and Frederick K. Lutgens (Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall Pearson, 2009).
Video Programs
Planet Earth (7 one-hour video programs, produced by WQED/Pittsburgh, in association with the National Academy of Sciences).
Note: The video programs are being offered via streaming video technology through this course site. Each viewing assignment will include the necessary links for accessing the video stream.
Publisher's Web Site
Use of this site is optional. It provides resources for additional learning and links to Web sites for the study of earth science topics. The publisher requires that you register to use this companion Web site. If you have a new book with an access code, use that to enter the companion Web site at the log-in page. If you don't have an access code, you will need to purchase online access by clicking the "get access" button at the log-in page and following the instructions for students. To get to the log-in page, go to http://www.prenhall.com/tarbuck, scroll down to the cover for Earth Science 12e © 2009, and click the cover.)
If you use the site, click the chapter you want for the following study items:
- Quizzes organized by topic and Chapter Quizzes: These are self-grading multiple-choice and true/false items. You learn whether you answered correctly when you click Submit Answers for Grading, and if you did not, you are given the correct answer and relevant feedback. Please do not submit any of these self-checks to your mentor. You are to submit only your Written Assignments and your Online Class Discussions for grading.
- Web Sites: By clicking "Links" in the navigational bar on the left of each chapter's screen, you will come to the publisher's suggested Web links for further study, which are arranged according to topic. You may find this feature helpful as you do your research for your online discussions or for your written assignments. Be certain that you give proper credit to any source you use in your coursework.
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COURSE STRUCTURE
General Earth Science is a three-credit online course. Learning activities include reading from the course textbook, watching video programs, preparing written assignments, and participating in class discussions. You are required to complete six written assignments, participate in four graded online discussions, and take two (2) examinations: a proctored midterm examination and an unproctored, online final examination. Time management is a critical consideration as you progress through the course.
For the course's assignment modules (study assignments, online discussions, and written assignments), go to the Assignment Modules area of the course Web site.
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ONLINE PARTICIPATION
General Earth Science has four (4) graded online discussions, each focusing on an earth science issue. There is also an ungraded but required discussion in Module 1 titled "Introductions." All class discussions take place on the class Discussion Board.
Communication among fellow students and with the mentor is a critical component of online learning. Participation in online discussions involves two distinct activities: an initial response to a posted question (discussion thread) and subsequent comments on classmates' responses. Meaningful participation is relevant to the content, adds value, and advances the discussion. Comments such as "I agree" and "ditto" are not considered value-adding participation. Therefore, when you agree or disagree with a classmate, the reading, or your mentor, state and support your agreement or disagreement. You will be evaluated on the quality and quantity of your participation. Responses and comments should be properly proofread and edited, professional, and respectful.
For additional information on online discussions, see Online Discussions in the Online Student Handbook.
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WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS
General Earth Science has six (6) written assignments, one per module. Take the time to familiarize yourself with the Assignment Modules area of the course Web site, and read through the written assignment questions before you begin the assigned reading and viewing for an assignment. For Assignments 1-5, answer all the questions. Assignment 6 requires a five-page paper on the topic assigned.
Answer each of the assignment questions as completely as possible. When you use material from your readings or videos or from supplementary sources, be sure to cite it properly. Do not merely copy answers from your reading and viewing materials. Formulate answers in your own words, citing study materials where you feel it is appropriate (i.e., strengthens your answer).
Prepare your written assignments using whatever word processing program you have on your computer. Include your name at the top of the paper, as well as the course name and code and the semester and year in which you are enrolled.
Before submitting your first assignment, check with your mentor to determine whether your word processing software is compatible with your mentor's software. If so, you can submit your work as you prepared it. If not, save your assignment as a rich-text (.rtf) file, using the Save As command of your software program. Rich text retains basic formatting and can be read by any other word processing program.
When satisfied that your assignment represents your best work, submit it to your mentor by means of the
>>View/Complete Assignment
link provided at the bottom of the respective assignment page. Use the Browse button within this link to locate and submit your assignment file.
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EXAMINATIONS
You are required to take two examinations: a proctored midterm examination and an unproctored, online final examination. Consult the course Calendar for the scheduling of these exams.
To help prepare for these exams, it is suggested that, in addition to reviewing your relevant written assignment answers, you answer the "Review Questions" at the ends of assigned chapters in the textbook. Reviewing the "Chapter Summary" and understanding the "Key Terms" at the ends of chapters will also assist you in preparing for the examinations.
Midterm Examination
The midterm exam consists of multiple choice questions, as well as essay questions. The exam is two hours in duration, and you will not be allowed to have any material with you. The midterm exam covers all material assigned in Modules 1-3. You may take the midterm examination only during the designated exam week, at an approved location, and with an approved proctor. In this regard, you need to schedule your midterm exam and submit your "Proctor Request Form" with the necessary documentation no later than the end of the first week of the semester (see Administrative Forms in the General Information area of the course Web site).
If you are on a course extension and have not yet taken the midterm exam, you must let your examination proctor know when you plan to take the exam and contact the Office of Test Administration (609-984-1181) two weeks in advance to request that your exam be sent to the proctor.
For more information on scheduling a proctored examination, see the section Examinations and Proctors in the Online Student Handbook.
Final Examination
The final exam is a closed-book, unproctored, online exam. It is two hours long and covers all material assigned in modules 4-6. It consists of multiple choice questions, as well as essay questions.
The final exam is taken online in Blackboard. An exam link will be activated and made available to you in the Tests & Quizzes
area of the course Web site (see Test & Quizzes > Final Examination) at the start of final exam week. You may take the final exam at any time during that week, but no later than midnight Saturday (eastern time). If you are on a course extension, you will need to arrange with your mentor a time to reschedule the final exam.
Sample Examination
You will find a sample online examination in the Tests & Quizzes area of this course site. Use this sample exam to familiarize yourself with the online testing setting and format before you take your online exam. Keep in mind the following potential differences between the sample exam and your online exam:
- The content of your exam will match the content of your course; the sample exam has some generic questions on art history, world history, and environmental science.
- Your exam is likely to include only one type or at most several types of questions (such as multiple choice or essays). The sample exam includes all the types that you might encounter in an online assessment at Thomas Edison State College.
- You will be able to enter and take your final exam just once—once you have entered the exam you must complete it. The sample exam may be taken as often as you like.
- There will be a penalty for exceeding the time limit in your actual exams (see the "Statement about Cheating" below), whereas there is no corresponding penalty with this sample exam.
Statement about Cheating
The final examination in this course is an unproctored exam. That means you will not be supervised while taking the test. You are on your honor not to cheat during the exam. Cheating means:
- Looking up any answer or part of an answer in an unauthorized textbook or on the Internet, or using any other source to find the answer.
- Copying and pasting or in any way copying responses or parts of responses from any other source into your online test. This includes but is not limited to copying and pasting from other documents or spreadsheets, whether written by yourself or anyone else.
- Plagiarizing answers.
- Asking anyone else to assist you by whatever means available while you take the exam.
- Copying any part of the exam to share with other students.
- Telling your mentor that you need another attempt at the exam because your connection to the Internet was interrupted when that is not true.
If there is evidence that you have cheated or plagiarized in your exam, the exam will be declared invalid, and you will fail the course.
Please also note that the exam is time-limited. That means you only have the allotted time in which to complete the exam. If you exceed the time limit on the exam, you will be penalized by having two points deducted for every minute that you exceed the time limit. This may also result in your failing the course.
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GRADING AND EVALUATION
Your grade in the course will be determined as follows:
| Written Assignments (6) |
40
percent |
| Online Discussions (4) |
10 percent |
| Midterm Examination |
30 percent |
| Final Examination |
20 percent |
Letter grades for online participation, written assignments, and the course examinations are based on the following numerical grades:
| A |
= |
93–100 |
C+ |
= |
78–79 |
| A– |
= |
90–92 |
C |
= |
73–77 |
| B+ |
= |
88–89 |
C– |
= |
70–72 |
| B |
= |
83–87 |
D |
= |
60–69 |
| B– |
= |
80–82 |
F |
= |
Below 60 |
To receive credit for the course, you must earn a letter grade of D or higher on the weighted average of all assigned course work (e.g., exams, assignments, discussion postings, projects, papers, etc.). You will receive a score of 0 for any work not submitted.
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STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS
First Steps to Success
To succeed in this course, take the following first
steps:
- Read carefully the entire Syllabus, making sure that all aspects of the course are clear to you and that you have all the materials required for the course.
- Take the time to read the entire Online Student Handbook. The Handbook answers many questions about how to proceed through the course, how to schedule exams and arrange for proctors, and how to get the most from your educational experience at Thomas Edison State College.
- Arrange to take your midterm examination by following the instructions in the Online Student Handbook. Then complete the "Proctor Request Form" and submit it to the Office of Test Administration (OTA). You must make arrangements to take your midterm examination and send in your "Proctor Request Form" to OTA before the end of the first week of the current semester. (See Administrative Forms in the General Information area of the course Web site.)
- Familiarize yourself with the Blackboard environment—how to navigate it and what the various course areas contain. If you know what to expect as you navigate the course, you can better pace yourself and complete the work on time.
- If you are not familiar with Web-based learning, or specifically with the Blackboard platform, be sure to review the processes for posting responses online and submitting assignments before class begins.
Study Tips
Consider the following study tips for success:
- To stay on track throughout the course, begin each week by consulting the course Calendar. The calendar provides an overview of the course and indicates due dates for submitting assignments, posting discussions, and scheduling and taking your examinations. For details on each assignment module and a complete listing of learning activities, go to the Assignment Modules area of the course Web site.
- We suggest that you begin your studies by reading the preface to Earth Science, which will give you a broad spectrum appraisal of the subject matter and the features of the text. Then read the textbook's "Introduction" (Chapter 1), which discusses the different sciences that seek to understand Earth and its neighbors (see, in particular, the section "What Is Earth Science?"). Finally, browse through appendixes A-D in the textbook to see what information is available at the very end of the text.
- To prepare for the midterm and final exams, it is suggested that, in addition to reviewing your written assignment answers, you answer the "Review Questions" at the end of each assigned chapter in the textbook. Reviewing the "Chapter Summary" and understanding the "Key Terms" at the end of each assigned chapter will also assist you in preparing for the examinations.
- Remember that both exams are closed-book. You may not have any course materials or notes with you when you are taking your exams. This is especially important to remember for the online, unproctored final exam because it is given on the honor system. See the Statement about Cheating in the Examinations section of this Syllabus for details.
- Check the Announcements page and class Discussion Board regularly for new course information.
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