Fall Semester 2009 -  Weekly Topics and Assignments

Test Dates:
Test #1 - September 22
Test #2 - October 15
Test #3 - November 12
Test #4 Section 9 - December 15 (10:30 AM)
Test #4 Section 10 - December 17 (1:00 PM)

Important: MTSU H1N1 (Swine Flu) Guidance

Week of Monday, August 31:
Tuesday - Professor Introduction and Course Description: Course Introduction (pdf file)

Thursday - Course pretest. This is a multiple choice test of your pre-course knowledge of Earth Science. This test does not count toward your grade. Please bring a #2 pencil to take the test. Answer sheets will be provided.

Week of September 7:
Tuesday - Minerals: Read Chapter 2 pp. 30-48. Study Chapter 2 Review Questions 1-14, D2L Quizzes 2.1-2.6, GEODe CD-ROM Earth Materials - Minerals. Print and bring to class Lecture Notes - Minerals. (Optional: Lecture PowerPoint Slides (pdf))

Thursday - Print and bring to class Silicate Mineral Structures (jelly beans and toothpicks will be provided); Watch Earthquakes in the Midwest, a PBS clip on how the study of minerals which form in caves helps geologists understand the history of earthquakes near Memphis.

Week of September 14:
Tuesday - Igneous Rocks: Read Chapter 3, pp.52 - 61. Study Chapter 3 Review Questions 1-5, D2L Quizzes 3.1-3.3, GEODe CD-ROM Earth Materials - Igneous Rocks. Print and bring to class Lecture Notes and Study Questions - Igneous Rocks (Optional: Lecture PowerPoint Slides)

Thursday - Sedimentary Rocks: Read Chapter 3, pp. 62-70. Study Chapter 3 Review Questions 6-11, D2L Quiz 3.4, GEODe CD-ROM Earth Materials - Sedimentary Rocks. Print and bring to class Lecture Notes and Study Questions - Sedimentary Rocks (Optional: Lecture PowerPoint Slides)

Week of September 21:
Tuesday - a) TEST #1: Minerals, Igneous Rocks, Sedimentary Rocks. You must bring to the test your MTSU ID, a No. 2 pencil, and a scantron (No. 19641). b) Test #1 Extra Credit Assignment and links: Earthquakes in the Midwest, Lava Hazard Maps Causing Angst for Consumers on Big Island

Thursday - Metamorphic Rocks: Read Chapter 3, pp. 75. Study Chapter 3 Review Questions 12-16, D2L Quiz 3.5, GEODe CD-ROM Earth Materials - Metamorphic Rocks. Print and bring to class Lecture Notes and Study Questions - Metamorphic Rocks (Optional: Lecture PowerPoint Slides)

Week of September 28:
Tuesday - Earthquakes: Read Chapter 8, pp. 220-238. Study Chapter 8 Review Questions 1-18, D2L Quizzes 8.1-8.4, GEODe CD-ROM Forces Within - Earthquakes. Print and bring to class Lecture Notes and Study Questions - Earthquakes/Earth's Interior (Optional: Lecture PowerPoint Slides)

Thursday - Earth's Interior: Read Chapter 8, pp. 238-243. Study Chapter 8 Review Questions 19-22, D2L Quiz 8.5, GEODe CD-ROM Forces Within - Earth's Interior. (Optional: Lecture PowerPoint Slides)

Week of October 5:
Tuesday: Current Events Reading Assignments on this week's deadly earthquakes:
Indonesia Earthquakes
Samoa Earthquakes and Tsunami
Geologists at the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center (CNN)

Thursday - Earth Structure: A Virtual Journey to the Center of the Earth

Week of October 12: MTSU National Earth Science Week events
All week: Test #2 extra credit opportunities. You may receive 5 points extra credit (20 points total) for attending each of the following events: 'Global Dimming', 'Understanding the Environment with GPS and Satellite Images', and 'Geoscience as Green Science',  and the lecture by Dr. Jonathan Gilligan on climate change. Click here for instructions on how to receive the extra credit. 

Tuesday - Plate Tectonics: Read Chapter 7, pp. 188-214. Study Chapter 7 Review Questions 1-21, D2L Chapter 7 Quizzes, GEODe CD-ROM Forces Within - Plate Tectonics. Print and bring to class Lecture Notes and Study Questions - Plate Tectonics (Optional :   Lecture PowerPoint Slides).

Thursday - Test #2: Metamorphic Rocks, Earthquakes, Earth's Interior, Current Events Reading Assignments (Indonesia and Samoa earthquakes). You must bring to the test your MTSU ID, a No. 2 pencil, and a scantron (No. 19641).

Week of October 26
Tuesday - Continue Plate Tectonics. Print and bring to class Paleomagnetism exercise. You will need a pencil and a protractor to complete the exercise.

Week of November 2:
Tuesday - Finish Plate Tectonics (tectonic setting of western North America). Important: Watch and study the GEODe CD-ROM unit on Forces Within - Plate Tectonics - Formation and Breakup of Pangaea.

Thursday - Volcanoes and Other Igneous Activity: Read Chapter 9, pp. 248-279. Study Chapter 9 Review Questions 1-24, D2L Chapter 9 Quizzes, GEODe CD-ROM Forces Within - Igneous Activity. Print and bring to class Lecture Notes and Study Questions - Magma Formation and Behavior and Volcanoes and Intrusive Landforms. (PowerPoint slides: Magma Formation and Behavior, Volcanoes and Intrusive Landforms)

Week of November 9:
Tuesday - Continue Magma Formation and Behavior, and Volcanoes and Intrusive Landforms.

Thursday - Test #3: Plate Tectonics, Magma Formation and Behavior. You must bring to the test your MTSU ID, a No. 2 pencil, and a scantron (No. 19641). Test #3 extra credit assignment: Letter from Alfred Wegener (10 points maximum) or Plate Tectonic Map (20 points maximum). You may turn in only one of the extra credit assignments.

Week of November 16:
Tuesday - Volcanoes and Intrusive Landforms (see Week of Nov. 2 for reading assignment and notes)

Thursday - Volcanoes and Intrusive Landforms

Week of November 23:
Tuesday - Finish Volcanoes and Intrusive Landforms