GE2341: Physical Geology Course SYLLABUSLocation: Salisbury Hall, Room 115Time: MTWRF 11:00 to 11:50 a.m.

Instructor: Prof. Sheekela Baker-YeboahOffice: Kaven Hall 107 Phone: (617) 324-0062 Email: sbakeryeboah@wpi.edu

Office Hours: Tuesday - Thursday: 10:00 - 10:50 a.m.Also available by appointment (send email).

TAs: Xiaokong Yu xiaokong yu@WPI.EDU and Wenwen Yao wyao@WPI.EDU

Course DescriptionAn introduction to geology involves a survey of the materials, structure, and surface features ofthe Earth; the processes responsible for their development; and the application of geologicknowledge to environmental and resource problems. The major goal of this course is to increaseyour understanding of the principles and methods of science as applied to Planet Earth.

Course ObjectivesStudents will receive a broad exposure to major aspects of the Earth’s geological environmentand knowledge necessary to engage in contemporary discussions about the world beneath ourfeet. The goals of this course are to develop one’s understanding and appreciation of themethods of science as applied to the solution of geological problems and to promote anunderstanding the consequences of human interaction with the physical world. Students whosuccessfully complete this course should possess a basic ability to:

• Understand the geological origin and societal importance of a variety of common rocks andminerals

• Recognize and describe common geologic structures and interpret their origin

• Interpret relative ages of geologic events and appreciate the absolute scale of deep geologictime

• Recognize a variety of surficial landforms of the Earth and interpret their geologic origin

• Relate geologic materials and processes to the plate tectonics, which involves moving platesthat reposition our continents

• Understand the geologic causes of earthquakes and volcanoes, their impacts on humancivilization, and the role of geoscientists in analyzing their behavior

• Interpret the geologic forces that have shaped the landscape around them, wherever theymay go.

TextbookEarth: An Introduction to Physical Geology, 11th Edition, by Edward J. Tarbuck,Frederick. K. Lutgens, Dennis Tasa (2014). ISBN 10:0-0-321-81406-1. Additional readingmaterial will be provided to assist learning of important concepts. Online web links will also beprovided when used.

GradingYour grade will be determined from a combination of exams, class participation, article report,homework, and class projects. Submit your work on time to increase your chances of receivingfull credit. Note that late assignments, papers and projects will receive a 10% daily reductionuntil the following week, unless there is a compelling reason (medical form) for late homework orprior arrangements have been made with me in advance. Otherwise, late assignments will receivea maximum of 10 points out of 100, which is better than 0 points. Always hand in anassignment, even if it is late, to increase your chances of passing this course. The variouscomponents of the course will be weighted as follows:

• Homework 20%

• Class Projects 15%

• Exam 1 15%

• Exam 2 15%

• Exam 3 15%

• Current Event Article Report 10%

• Current Event Article Presentation 5%

• Class Participation 5%

Academic IntegrityCheating, plagiarism, and any additional academically reprehensible act will not be tolerated inthis course and will result in a no pass. Please review WPI’s Academic Honesty Policies athttp://www.wpi.edu/Pubs/Policies/Honesty/policy.html.

Disabilities Accommodation Statement and Services for StudentsWPI is committed to ensuring that all registered students are afforded an equal opportunity toparticipate in and benefit from its programs and services. Please contact the Disability ServicesOffice (DSO) for all relevant information, if you have a disability. DSO is located in Daniels Hall,phone: (508) 831-5235. Complete the necessary paperwork and provide a copy for my recordsbefore the third week of this semester. Feel free to come and talk with me about any concerns.

Class ProjectsClass Projects are listed in Table 1. You will be expected to complete and discuss some shortconcept questions based on reading assignments. Working groups with your peers will beassigned for these class projects. If have difficulty working in a group, come to talk with me andlet me know in advance.

Course ScheduleTable 1 presents a summary of lecture topics, exams, reading assignments, expected class projectdates, and due dates for homework assignments. Any changes to the course schedule will beannounced in class and posted on the class website.

Table 1: GE2341: Physical Geology class schedule. Homework (H.W.), Hand In (H.I.), Chapter(Ch).Week Day Date Lecture Topic [Prof. Baker-Yeboah] Reading Homework

1 R 28 Aug Introduction Ch1F 29 Aug Solid But Not So Solid Earth Ch2,Ch12

Continental Drift & Plate Tectonics2 M 01 Sep Labor Day

T 02 Sep Plate Tectonics & Ocean Basins Ch13W 03 Sep Plate Tectonics & Mountain building Ch14 HW#1 DueR 04 Sep Minerals I Ch3:81-96F 05 Sep Minerals Part II Ch3:96-115

3 M 08 Sep Energy and Mineral Resources Ch23Class Project & Discussion H.I.

T 09 Sep Exam IW 10 Sep Magma and Igneous Rocks I Ch4:102-123 HW#2 DueR 11 Sep Magma and Igneous Rocks II Ch4:126-163F 12 Sep Volcanoes: Natural Hazards Ch5

4 M 15 Sep Class Project and Discussion H.I.T 16 Sep Understanding Weathering & Soils Ch6W 17 Sep Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks I Ch7 HW#3 DueR 18 Sep Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks IIF 19 Sep Metamorphic Rocks I Ch8

5 M 22 Sep Metamorphic Rocks II Ch8:248-271T 23 Sep Geologic Time & Relative Dating Ch9:303-319 HW#4 DueW 24 Sep Geologic Time & Radioactivity Dating Ch9:320-333R 25 Sep Class Project & Discussion H.I.F 26 Sep Exam II

6 M 29 Sep Crustal Deformation I Ch10:335-341T 30 Sep Crustal Deformation II Ch10:342-359W 01 Oct Earthquakes: Natural Hazards Ch11:361-393 HW#5 DueR 02 Oct Class Project & Discussion H.I.F 03 Oct The Hydrologic Cycle Ch16:515-521

7 M 06 Oct Mass Wasting and Erosion Ch15:20 2-421T 07 Oct Streams and Drainage Systems Ch16:424-542W 08 Oct Ground Water Part I Ch17:458-481R 09 Oct Ground Water Part IIF 10 Oct Class Project & Discussion H.I.

8 M 13 Oct Glaciers and Glaciation Part I Ch18:591-617T 14 Oct Glaciers and Glaciation Part IIW 15 Oct The Evolving Earth and Climate Change Ch21:705-710R 16 Oct Exam III