McConnell, D. (2001) The Good Earth (Web Site) McGraw Hill. The address for this on-line textbook, which has no printed version, is <http://www.mhhe.com/earthsci/geology/mcconnell/mcconnell/>. There is an enormous amount of information at the web site including 19 chapters with many animations, hyperlinks to web sites and resources, questions for thought, chapter summaries, interactive quizzes, Internet exercises, and Internet links to chapter topics. In addition, there is an on-line index and environmental calendar that describes events in environmental history. You will need access to The Good Earth web site not only to do assigned readings but also to complete homework assignments. There are a few brief reading assignments from 2 textbooks: Murck, Skinner, + Porter (1997) Dangerous Earth: An Introduction to Geologic Hazards, and Keller (2000) Environmental Geology (8th ed.). Several copies of these readings are on reserve in the Geology library, 223 NHB.
Follow the following steps:
a) Go to <http://www.mhhe.com/earthsci/geology/mcconnell/>
b) Click on the link, 'If you do not have a code card, you must
purchase access here'.
c) At the next screen, indicate that you are a student in a US
College or University by clicking on the top button. Then, click
on the 'Next' button.
d) At the next screen, type Urbana for city, then click on the
'Next' button.
e) Indicate that you are at University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign
(8th button), then hit the 'Next' button.
f) Now you are ready to purchase. Verify that the correct school
shows, then click on the link, 'Purchase: The Good Earth for $33.00'.
g) You will be asked for ordering information, including a
credit card. Follow the steps on the screen to complete your
transaction.
The following course materials will be on reserve in the Geology library (223 NHB) during the semester: extra assigned readings from Murck et al. + Keller, and question sheets for exams and quizzes after everyone has taken them. The hours for the Geology library are: M - Th = 8:30 am - 9 pm, F = 8:30 am - 5 pm, Sat = 1 - 5 pm, + Sun = 1 - 9 pm.
The GEOL 118 Class Web site <http://classes.geology.uiuc.edu/05FallClass/geo118> contains summaries of lecture notes, homework assignments, syllabus, class handouts, announcements, exam information, and links to natural disaster Web sites. Before contacting Prof. Altaner, please look at the FAQ file, also located using a link from the homepage of the Class Web site. Many routine questions are answered there.
Student grades are available through the Gradebook in the Illinois Compass Web site for GEOL 118 located at <http://compass.uiuc.edu>. Use your University network ID and University password to log onto the Illinois Compass Web site and click on the link labeled 'GEOL 118-Natural Disasters-Fall 2005-Section A'. Then, click on the link 'My Grades' in the upper right area. Check your scores regularly to ensure our records agree with yours and report any differences to the TA immediately. NOTE: The Illinois Compass Web site is used only for student grades. Go to the Class Web site (URL given in above section) for lecture notes, homework assignments, and other important information.
| Exams (3) | 66% |
| Quizzes (3) | 6% |
| Web Exercises (6) | 22% |
| Writing Assignment | 6% |
There are three exams, each worth 22% of your grade. Two exams are during the semester and one is during finals week. The final exam is non-cumulative, covering only the final third of the semester. Questions are based on lecture notes only. Exam format is multiple choice, true/false, and matching. Bring a photo ID to all exams. Make-up exams are provided to students with valid excuses. Contact Prof. Altaner BEFORE the exam to schedule a make-up exam. Because exam #1 is held in the evening, one class period on Oct. 7 has been canceled in accord with University rules.
Optional question and answer sessions will be held before each exam at the following times and locations:
| Wed., Sept. 28, 5 - 6 pm | For Exam #1 | 100 Gregory Hall |
| Th., Nov. 3, 5 - 6 pm | For Exam #2 | 112 Gregory Hall |
| Sat., Dec. 10, 11 am - noon | For Final Exam | 314 Altgeld Hall (1409 W. Green) |
There are six homework exercises, which will involve reading materials at various Web sites, doing activities at the Web site, and answering questions based on the Web materials.
The topics + probable due dates for the web exercises are:
Sept. 12 - Population Growth + Natural Disaster Information
on the Web
Sept. 23 - Earthquakes
Oct. 10 - Volcanoes
Oct. 21 - Landslides
Oct. 31 - Severe Weather
Dec. 5 - Floods
One week before each web exercise is due, it will be made available through the Class Web site only. Answers are entered on a bubble sheet, available in class. All of the exercises have 20 questions and are worth 20 points, except for the Severe Weather exercise, which has 12 questions and is worth 12 points. The Severe Weather exercise counts as extra credit to your grade. Contact the TA if you have questions about the web exercises. Unless you have an official University excuse (e.g., verified family emergency or illness such as a letter from Emergency Dean or notice of McKinley visit), you are assessed a 10% penalty for each day the exercise is late. Exercises more than 5 days late are not accepted.
Based on your personal experiences, thoughts, and emotions, you will write a 300 - 500 word essay about a natural disaster that has affected your life most or one that frightens you the most. The essay is due by 3 pm on Nov. 11. In addition, by 3 pm on Nov. 18 you will review and rate example essays written for this assignment, 3 essays written by other students in the course, and your own essay. All work is submitted on line. On Nov. 4, detailed instructions will be available at the Class Web site. If you do not submit the essay by 3 pm on Nov. 11, you will not be able to complete any of the assignment. If you do not submit the essay reviews by 3 pm on Nov. 18, you will not get credit for that part of the assignment. No time extensions will be given unless you can verify a major illness or personal emergency.
At random times in the semester, there will be three quizzes, covering material in the current lecture. Quizzes are given at any time in a class period. During the quiz, students are allowed to consult their notes. Each quiz lasts 5 minutes and consists of 5 questions in a variety of formats including multiple choice, true-false, and matching. Quizzes can be made up only if the student has an official University excuse. Please do not contact Prof. Altaner or the TA to ask if a quiz will be given on a specific future date or to inform them of a planned future absence. When a quiz is given, an announcement will be posted on the Class Web site and you will be allowed one week to take the quiz. Contact the TA to schedule a make-up quiz.
GEOL 118 satisfies the physical sciences general education requirement.
To obtain appropriate accommodation, students with physical or learning disabilities must contact the Division of Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES) at 1207 S. Oak St., Champaign (Tel: 333-4603; email: disability@uiuc.edu). Students must complete a form provided by DRES and then deliver the form to the instructor explaining what accommodation is needed. No accommodation can be made without this form. The DRES WWW address is <http://www.disability.uiuc.edu/>.