TENTATIVE COURSE SYLLABUS--HONORS SECTION
(Course Ref 27032)
Dr. Mark Francek
I. IDENTIFYING INFORMATION
COURSE SCHEDULE: MW 12-1:50
COURSE LOCATION: Dow 270
FACULTY INFORMATION: OFFICE ADDRESS: Dow 285, CMU, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859
PHONE: (517) 774-7617
OFFICE HOURS: 9:00-10:45, 2:15-3:15 MW
E-MAIL: Mark.Francek@cmich.edu
III. COURSE GOALS
Learn about the lithosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere, how these
spheres interact, and how these spheres impact our daily lives. Maps will be
used extensively to analyze patterns associated with these four earth spheres. Non discipline
specific goals include the improvement of oral, written, computer, and graphic design,
and research skills through
service learning and photo portfolio projects.
IV. PREREQUISITES
There are no course prerequisites. We will going on daily field trips both on
and off campus to make
observations. Dress accordingly. CMU
provides individuals with disabilities
reasonable accommodations to participate in educational programs, activities and
services. Students with disabilities requiring accommodations to participate in
class activities or meet course requirements
should contact me as early as
possible.
V. METHODS AND COURSE PHILOSOPHY
Lecture is supplemented with daily field trips, video, small group activities, student
presentations, and demonstrations. Occasionally, class time will be used to
prepare for the portfolio and service learning projects.
VI. REQUIRED TEXTBOOK
1. Christopherson, R.W. 2004. Elemental Geosystems Prentice Hall.
VII. COURSE ASSIGNMENTS
1. Synthesize book, research, and class notes to complete service learning and photo portfolio projects.
2. Weekly laboratory assignments.
VIII. COURSE EVALUATION
Photo Portfolio Project
35%
Weekly Quizzes with Laboratory Questions
20%
Service Learning Project
20%
Midterm and Final Essay Exam
20%
Computer Skill Practicum
5%
ATTENDANCE POLICY: One half a letter grade is
automatically deducted for every class session missed after two absences. Leaving early or arriving late for class constitutes an absence. Laboratories
and projects will be completed on time.
WEBSITES THAT YOU WILL USE IN THIS COURSE:
-
ESC105 HOMEPAGE:
http://www.cst.cmich.edu/users/Franc1M/esc105/syllabH.htm
This site contains study guides, practice quizzes, the syllabus, class
notes, and other handouts.
-
EARTH SCIENCE RESOURCE
HOMEPAGE: http://personal.cmich.edu/~franc1m/homepage.htm
This
site features over 820 web sites with links relating to earth science,
environmental science, geography, education,
and much more. Use this
site as your first stop in seeking to incorporate references for class projects.
II. COURSE DESCRIPTION
| Date |
Topic
|
Readings |
Web
Sites/Computer Skills (C) |
Quizzes/Field Trips/Tasks |
| 8/25M |
--Class Introduction
--Lecture Objectives |
1 |
|
|
| 8/27W |
Map Reading,
Navigation Skills, and GPS: Making our Lives Easier,
--Introduction
to Orienteering.
--Lecture Objectives
|
1 |
|
|
| 9/3W |
Map Reading,
Navigation Skills, and GPS: Making our Lives Easier,
--Lecture Objectives |
1 |
|
|
| 9/8M |
Map Reading,
Navigation Skills,
and GPS: Making our Lives Easier
--Lecture Objectives |
1 |
|
|
| 9/10W |
Hydrosphere:
Flooding, Water Quality, and You |
11 |
 | image capture, word wrapping, and clipping (C) |
|
| Q2 |
| All period campus field trip to Upton Drain and Woldt computer lab
(meet in classroom) |
|
| 9/15M |
Hydrosphere: Flooding, Water
Quality, and You, |
11 |
|
|
| 9/18W |
Lithosphere:
Michigan Lakes and Ski Hills: Gifts of the Glacier |
14 |
|
| Q3 |
| All Period Campus Field Trip to Glacial Landforms Park
(class meets at the Glacial landform park) |
|
| 9/22M |
Lithosphere: Michigan Lakes and
Ski Hills: Gifts of the Glacier |
14 |
|
|
| 9/25W |
Lithosphere: Impact
of Weathering, on Roads, Homes, and Buildings
--Weathering Objectives
--Gang of Four field trip
|
10 |
| keystroke commands, picture toolbar, enhancing image
quality,image capture, cropping, word wrapping, powerpoint notes pages
view (C) |
|
|
| 9/29M |
Lithosphere: Impact of Weathering,
on Roads, Homes, and Buildings
|
10 |
|
|
| 10/1W |
Biosphere: Soils:
Know Where to Build Your House, Locate Business or Plant Your Garden |
15 |
|
|
| 10/6M |
Biosphere:Soils:
Know Where to Build Your House, Locate Business or Plant Your Garden |
15 |
|
|
| 10/8W |
Project/Midterm Research
Day |
|
|
| Q6
|
| Research time at Woldt computer lab. |
|
| 10/13M |
Hydrosphere: Michigan Beaches,
Lakes: How they originate and why they Change: Video: Beach:
River of Sand |
13 |
|
|
|
10/15W |
Midterm Essay Exam,
What causes the Seasons?
Midterm grading rubric
|
13 |
|
|
|
The Atmosphere |
| 10/20M |
What causes the
Seasons? Video: Private Universe. |
2 |
|
|
|
10/22W |
Why we need an atmosphere: the importance of CO2, O3, and H20,
Video: |
2 |
|
| Q7 |
|
|
10/27M |
Why
we need an atmosphere: the Importance of CO2, O3, and H20 Deep
Impact |
2 |
|
|
|
10/29W |
Determining how the atmosphere is heated |
3 |
|
|
| 11/3M |
Determining how the
atmosphere is heated, Video: Titanic |
3 |
| Squint and Save a Tree (C) |
| Intellicast national weather map |
|
|
| 11/5W |
Atmospheric
Circulation: What causes the wind to blow?, Video: Total Recall |
4 |
|
| Q9 |
|
| 11/10M |
Atmospheric
Circulation: What causes the wind to blow? |
4 |
|
|
| 11/12W |
Humidity, Human
Health, and Weather Prediction
Learning Objectives |
5 |
| moving images (C) |
| blinking text (C) |
| subscripts (C) |
|
|
| 11/17M |
Humidity, Human
Health, and Weather Prediction |
5 |
|
|
| 11/19W |
Clouds and Weather Prediction; Atmospheric optics |
5 |
|
| Q11 |
| Download and study Q12 study guide |
|
| 11/24M |
Predicting Weather with Weather Maps |
5 |
| top and end of files (C) |
| clear cache (C) |
| enhancing browser speed (C) |
| change homepage (C) |
|
|
Q12 |
|
| 11/26W |
Predicting Weather
with Weather Maps |
5 |
|
|
|
12/1M |
Service Learning
Project at Fancher Elementary School |
|
|
|
|
12/3W |
Severe Weather |
5 |
|
| Submit for evaluation materials used for service project |
|
