Instructor: John Stimac
Office: 139 Physical Science
Telephone: 581-7016
Email: cfjps@eiu.edu
Class time: MWF 1300 - 1350
Office hours: T (0900 - 1000, 1500 - 1600); W (1000 - 1200, 1400 - 1600), and by appointment - contact me via email to setup an appointment, or talk with me after class.

TUTORING
The Geoscience Club will be offering free tutoring to any ESC/GEL 1300 student in room 138 Physical Science.  They are offering a very good service and are willing to help with class material or labs.  If you cannot stop by my office hours for help, I suggest that you try to stop and talk with them.

Times will be announced as soon as possible

PRACTICE QUIZZES
Links to practice quizzes will be found here - remember, however, the actual quizzes will NOT be multiple choice, but will instead be short answer, completion, and draw or label the diagram.

Quiz #1 Review - actual quiz to be given 1/19
Quiz #2 Review - actual quiz to be given 2/2
Quiz #6 Review - actual quiz to be given 4/20
Final Review Sheet - Examination to be held Tuesday, May 3, from 2:45 - 4:45

Required texts
Physical Geology, 3rd edition, Monroe and Wicander
GeoScience Laboratory Manual, 2nd edition, Freeman

Scope of Course
During this course, I hope that you'll gain an appreciation of science and the world around us - specifically how geology can, and does, relate to your life and the community.  Everyone should be able to discuss, and give examples of, geology's significance to our everyday life and why it's important.  There are a number of geologically important issues that will affect the way you live the rest of your life, such as natural hazards, global warming, and life on other planets: I want you to be able to critically assess those issues, so you don't have to depend on Rush Limbaugh, Al Gore, or Ralph Nader to do your thinking for you.  You will also be able to identify the common rock-forming minerals and be able to identify rocks that are found locally and discuss their significance.  Concepts covered will include geologic time, the Earth's structure and origin, common rocks and minerals, and plate tectonics.  Finally, a number of you will use geology in your careers, and I want you to be prepared for that.
 

Students with Disabilities (Whether learning, physical, hard of hearing, psychiatric, or sensory) Eastern Illinois University promotes equal educational opportunities for students with disabilities. If you have a disability and may need any assistance, please notify your instructor and make an appointment immediately with the Office of Disability Services (Buzzard House, or call 581-6583)

Makeups, Missed, and Late Assignments:
No makeups will be allowed for missed questions of the day or quizzes or labs; examination makeups will only be allowed for unusual circumstances that are discussed with the instructor, preferably ahead of time.  Late assignments will be docked 5 percent of the grade per class, or lab, missed.

Classroom policy
I assume you are in this class to learn so disruptions will not be tolerated.  Not only is this disruptive to me, but also to your fellow classmates.  With this in mind, I ask that you arrive to the class on time and that there be no classroom conversations or other distractions.  If you must talk, please take it outside, or I will ask you to do so.

Grading
Grading will be based on merit; that is, you will be graded primarily against your fellow students.  A tentative breakdown is as follows:
 

Questions of the Day: 3 pts. each.  The Questions of the Day will be handed out at the beginning of each class and are due at the end of class.  The question will concern some aspect of that day's lecture.  Total value: approximately 102 pts.

Quizzes:  50 pts. each.  Quizzes will primarily cover material taught since the previous quiz or examination, but may also include earlier material.  Format will be short answer, label the diagram, multiple choice, and completion.  Quizzes will last 30 minutes and will be given at the end of class.  After the quiz, you are to either go into the hall while others finish or remain quietly in your seats.  The last 20 minutes of class will be regular class time.  Total value: 300 pts.

Labs:  10 pts. each.  Labs will cover the rock-forming minerals, the three major rock types, structural geology and physics of the earth's interior.  Labs will be approached in a hands-on type of atmosphere -- the same manner in which the Lab Final will be given.  There will be fourteen (14) labs.

Mid-term Examination: 150 pts.  The mid-term examination will have the same format as the quizzes and will cover everything up to, and including, metamorphic rocks and processes.  The mid-term examination will last one hour.  Total value: 150 pts.

Lab Final: 100 pts.  There will be a practical lab final.  The final will test the student's ability to correctly identify hand specimens and solve basic geologic exercises using topographic and geologic maps.  The lab final will last one hour and forty minutes.  Total value: 100 pts.

Final Examination: 200 pts.  The final examination will have the same format as the mid-term examination and will cover the entire course.  This may include ideas presented in lab.  The final exam will last two hours.  Total value: 200 pts.

Report:  50 pts.  There will be one report due from each student.  Topics can be anything covered in class or agreed upon with the instructor.  Topics must be approved no later than Wednesday, 14 February.  A reference list is due to me no later than Friday, 23 March.  Your final report is due on Friday, 13 April.  Total value: 50 pts.  The report must be less than seven pages in length.  There is no minimum length.  All references, including web sources, must be cited.  Figures can be included and do not count towards to the total page length.

Grading of the reports will be done using the following scale.  I will assign two grades varying between 0 and 5 then will scale those to the total value of the assignment.
 

Fieldtrips
We will try to have at least one, and maybe two fieldtrips this semester.  The first field trip is scheduled for Fox Ridge Park.  Since this is an optional fieldtrip, extra credit is offered, but transportation is up to you (see me if that's a problem).  The Geoscience Club will also be offering a trip to Charleston Stone Quarry (fossil collecting), Fox Ridge State Park, and Lake Charleston.  Details will be announced.  Both fieldtrips are optional, however, you will receive some extra credit points.  More importantly it helps you learn the material that is presented in class.