GEOL 180 – Introduction to Oceanography
Fall 2008 - Syllabus
Instructor: Haydee Salmun
Email: ocean180@hunter.cuny.edu
Office
hours:
Room 1041 North Tuesdays &
Fridays, 11 am – 12 noon
Please note: the best way to contact me is via email AND at the above address ONLY.
Course Prerequisite: It is assumed that all students taking this class have taken and passed the New York State Regents Earth Science exam or have the equivalent background.
Course
Description: This
course will offer an introduction to the fascinating and complex subject of
Oceanography. We will discuss physical, chemical, geological and some
biological aspects of the oceans. We will learn about the structure
and motion of the atmosphere and how they influence ocean circulation. In
addition we will discuss waves, tides, coasts and estuaries. An important focus of this course is the role
the oceans play in our climate and how learning about the oceans helps us
understand past, present and possibly future climate processes and
evolution.
Required Text:
Oceanography – CUNY,
Keep in mind: This is a science-base course and it will require that students learn to understand physical, and some quantitative, concepts. It requires that students keep in mind that ‘everything relates to everything else’ and that information need to be analyzed and synthesized, not simply memorized. One of your best friends in this course is the textbook. Review questions at the end of each chapter in the assigned textbook are the best guide to study the material covered in lectures.
Makeup Exams: will NOT be given except in the most extreme cases.
Academic Dishonesty:
Grades: Grades are
based on three midterms and a final, as follows:
3 midterms – 22% each
final exam
– 34%
Grading is as follows: 90-100=A; 80-89=B; 70-79=C; 60-69=D; <60=F.
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Syllabus: General Information, Guidelines, Course
Policy
It is strongly
recommended that you read this document thoroughly.
Exams:
·
The exams will be
based on the text and on the material covered in class. The exam dates
are CLEARLY posted in the syllabus of the course.
·
The dates are set
from day one and cannot be changed.
·
ALL exams count
toward your final grade: it is NOT the policy of this course to drop ignore
(drop) any work done by students.
Attendance:
·
Attendance will
be taken during regular lectures, but it does not count EXPLICITLY toward the
final grade as the exams do. Record of attendance will improve your grade (as
much as ½ grade up in many cases), as we regularly check the percentage of
total attendance for each student before we set the final grade.
·
Lectures are
crucial to understand the material, keep up with the course and to have a clear
sense of what exams will include. Therefore, if you miss class and fail to get
the notes from another student your test grade might be negatively
impacted. I strongly suggest that students plan on attending all the
lectures as this will be the easiest and most efficient way to learn the
material.
Homework:
There are no fix homeworks for this course. On occasions, the professor may assign some extra work in lectures and you are expected to complete them, which will reflect positively on your final grade.
General advice to
students:
1. Come to class, participate (then
participate some more!) and if you encounter difficulties, bring them to the
professor’s attention as soon as you find them, do not wait till the end
of the semester! 2. Come to class, ask questions and then ask more questions
after class if you need to.
Study Habits:
a) As a general rule of thumb for a college course you should plan to study two hours outside of class for each hour spent in class. This little ‘formula’ makes it 6 hours of study per week for this course!
b) Do not expect to understand everything that I say the moment I say it, but do keep trying to understand it. The study of oceanic phenomena is like a jigsaw puzzle, as each new piece is added the whole picture will become more clear.
c) The following are useful tips to do well in this or any class:
1. Attend class & take YOUR own notes. A file with all the frames that I use in my lectures is generally available before the time of the lecture. Bringing along a hard copy to write your own notes on it is a great way to make sure you follow the lectures and can refer back to the textbook afterward.
2. Read the assigned material in the text before coming to class.
3. Re-write your notes as soon as possible after class. This will allow you to fill in the details still fresh in your memory, and prepare questions for the next time the class meets.
4. Test yourself by answering the questions in the book and on the web-site.
5. Carefully study the diagrams and charts in the book and in the lectures. Practice explaining the charts and the information they convey to as many kindergarden kids as you can find in your way! You can always imagine a group of little ones and practice that way.
About My Office Hours:
a) These are clearly indicated on the course syllabus and on my door; all other times by appointment only. If you come to my office at any other time I may not be able to see you: my job involves many other activities in addition to teaching.
b) Please prepare your questions ahead of time.
c) I encourage all students to make use of my office hours. If you have a few questions, e.g. about points in a lecture or problems in the book, feel free to come and discuss them.
Examinations:
a) If the school is unexpectedly closed, e.g. because of snow, on the day of a scheduled examination other than the final, that exam will be given during the next regular class meeting. If the school is unexpectedly closed on the day of the final examination you should do what I will do: listen to the radio and/or contact the school for information.
b) The grading on examinations is: 90-100 = A; 80-89 = B; 70-79 = C; 60-69 = D; <59 = F.
c) Examinations are 1 hour and 25 minutes for mid-terms and 2 hours for the final exam and must be turned in promptly. If you arrive late, you loose that time. If you arrive too late, after a student has already finished the exam you will NOT be allowed to take it.
d) If you miss an exam and have a D or F average in the course at that point, you fail the course irrespective of the reason you missed it.
e) I will automatically agree to the CR-NCR option only if you QUALIFY for them and if you earn grades such that you accumulate at least 50 points total in the course. If you do not meet this criterion I strongly suggest you come to speak with me during my office hours before the end of the term. Students on probation are not eligible for this option.
a) If you choose the CR-NCR option, then a grade of ≥ 70 = CR and a grade of <70 = NCR, and I will not agree to “a B if I get a B and a CR if I get a C.” If you want a B in this course, work towards that goal from day one!! If you want an A in this course, work towards that goal form day one!
a) Arrive late or miss classes on a regular basis.
b) Wait too long to contact me with questions or if you are having difficulties with the material
c) Maintain the belief that I will grade you differently because of personal difficulties you are experiencing.
d) Stop attending class without notifying the registrar. If you are not officially dropped from the course by the registrar you will be assigned a final grade of WU, which means you failed for non-academic reasons. Every semester at least one student who hasn’t been to class in 8 weeks arrives just before the final pleading with me not give this grade, claiming they were unaware of the rule (you are all now aware). They want a NC, or a chance to make up the work. I will grant neither.
e) Do not skip exams without notifying the professor that your circumstances were extreme (illness, hospital, accidents or such similar events). At the end of every semester students in deep trouble ask if there is anything they can do to raise their grade. When I look at grades and my notes, almost always these are students who have consistently failed to hand in homework over the semester, and/or have missed an exam. If you want a good grade in the class, consistently work towards that goal from the first day onwards
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|
Lect. No |
|
Month & Date |
|
Day |
|
Subject |
|
|
|
1 |
|
Aug 29 |
|
Friday |
|
Introductory Lecture
– Chapter 1 |
|
Chapter 1 |
|
2 |
|
Sept 2 |
|
Tuesday |
|
Space, time, origins |
|
Chapter 1-2 |
|
3 |
|
5 |
|
Friday |
|
Origins and Evolution of
Earth |
|
Chapter 2 |
|
4 |
|
9 |
|
Tuesday |
|
Earth Structure |
|
Chapter 3 |
|
5 |
|
12 |
|
Friday |
|
Earth Structure
– Plate Tectonics |
|
Chapter 3
|
|
6 |
|
16 |
|
Tuesday |
|
Continental Margins
– Ocean Basins
|
|
Chapter 4 |
|
7 |
|
19 |
|
Friday |
|
Continental Margins - Ocean
Basins |
|
Chapter 4 |
|
8 |
|
23 |
|
Tuesday |
|
Review Midterm Exam I – bring questions! |
|
|
|
9 |
|
26 |
|
Friday |
|
Midterm
Exam I
Chapters 1, 2, 3 and 4
|
|
|
|
|
|
30 |
|
Tuesday |
|
No Classes Scheduled |
|
|
|
10 |
|
Oct 3 |
|
Friday |
|
Sediments
|
|
Chapter 5 |
|
11 |
|
7 |
|
Tuesday |
|
Sediments
|
|
Chapter 5 |
|
12 |
|
10 |
|
Friday |
|
Water and Ocean Structure |
|
Chapter 6 |
|
|
|
14 |
|
Tuesday |
|
No Class – Classes follow Monday Schedule |
|
Chapter 6 |
|
13 |
|
17 |
|
Friday |
|
Water and Ocean
Structure
|
|
Chapter 6 |
|
14 |
|
21 |
|
Tuesday |
|
Ocean Structure, Ocean
Chemistry
|
|
Chapter 6 - 7 |
|
15 |
|
24 |
|
Friday |
|
Ocean Chemistry
|
|
Chapter 7 |
|
16 |
|
28 |
|
Tuesday |
|
Midterm
Exam II
Chapters 5, 6 and 7
|
|
|
|
17 |
|
31 |
|
Friday |
|
Circulation of the Atmosphere |
|
Chapter 8 |
|
18 |
|
Nov 4 |
|
Tuesday |
|
Circulation of the
Atmosphere |
|
Chapter 8 |
|
19 |
|
7 |
|
Friday |
|
Circulation of
Atmosphere & Ocean
|