Instructor: Alan Kehew; Rood 3325; 7-5495;

GEOLOGY 4320 GEOMORPHOLOGY - SPRING 2011

Lab Instructor: Jason Asmus

Text: Geomorphology: A systematic analysis of late Cenozoic landforms, 3rd ed. A.L. Bloom

DATE READING (CH)

January

10Intro 1;2

12Cenozoic climates and climate change 3,4, 18

14Lab 1

17Martin Luther King Day, no classes

19Climate change (con’t)18

21Lab 2

24Tectonic landforms 5

26Volcanic landforms6

28Lab 3

31Rock weathering7

February

02Soils7

04Lab 47

07EXAM I

09Soils (con’t)7

11Lab 5

14Karst landscapes8

16Karst (con’t)8

18Lab 6

21Mass Wasting9

23Mass wasting(con’t)9

25Spirit Day, no class

28-March 04Spring Break; no class

07The fluvial system10

09The fluvial system (con’t)10

11Lab 7

14Fluvial processes and landforms11

16Fluvial processes and landforms (con’t)11

18Lab 8

21Fluvial processes and landforms (con’t)11

23EXAM II

25Lab Quiz

28Arid and Savanna landscapes13

30Arid and Savanna landscapes (con’t) 13

April

01Lab 9

06Glaciers 16

07Glacial landforms 17

08-10 Field Trip (Southern Indiana)

11Glacial landforms (con’t)17

13Coastal Processes 19

15Lab 10

18Coastal Landforms 19

20EXAM III

22Lab Final

Final Exam: Tuesday April 26 10:15-12:15

Geomorphology 432 is a writing intensive course. To meet this objective this year, 3 short research papers will be written on the topics covered in lecture. Laboratory exercises will be also designed to give you an opportunity to practice your writing skills, AND your use of the language will be graded and will form a part of your grade for each lab exercise. In addition, essay questions on all exams will be graded for both content and writing.

The purpose of the research papers is to improve your ability to write technical reports and papers in a format similar to those written by professional geologists. Each paper will consist of 2 pages of double-spaced text (no more or no less—with the exception of the fluvial paper). References and figures/diagrams/images can be added in additional pages. A title page can be used in front of the text. Only a few major headings and subheadings can be used. The fluvial paper should be 4 pages of text due to the breadth of the topic. Each paper should summarize the specific topic. An average paper would simply review the text and the lecture material on a topic and be well written. A good to outstanding paper would also incorporate material from references located by the student and be well written. Researching the current literature is incredibly easy using on-line data bases available. One reference that is very useful is the Encyclopedia of Quaternary Science, which is a large on-line reference on many topics of interest to this course. Excellent paper topics can be found in the “vignettes” compiled on the following web site: http://www.uvm.edu/~geomorph/textbook/. However, if you choose one of these for a topic, you must go beyond what is included in the vignette.

References should appear in the text as author’s last name and date in parentheses. The format for references in the bibliography should be consistent with the Geological Society of America Bulletin. Further instructions will be given in class. Each paper will be reviewed by the instructor and returned to with comments for revision. The first draft will not be graded independently but the final grade for the paper will be based on the quality of the first draft (both technical content and writing) and the revisions made to complete the final draft. Grading criteria for the paper include technical content (number and relevance of references, integration of material from different sources), organization (logical subdivisions of material), and grammar, style, and clarity of sentences. Citations in text and bibliography must follow GSA Bulletin style. Each paper is due on the second class period after assignment. The revised papers are due on the second class period after the first drafts are returned. A LATENESS PENALTY OF 10% OF THE GRADE FOR THE PAPER PER CLASS PERIOD WILL BE ASSESSED FOR EACH PAPER.

Grades:

Exam I10%

Exam II10%

Exam III10%

Final Exam10 %

Lab25%

Papers35%

Class attendance is critical in this course, as is true for all courses in your major. As a result, on your fourth unexcused absence from class and/or lab, your grade for the semester will drop by 1 letter grade and after that by one grade per absence. Documented medical absences are acceptable (“I felt really bad yesterday” is not acceptable). Other absences, like conferences, field trips for other courses, etc. may be acceptable, but only when I am notified in advance.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY STATEMENT

You are responsible for making yourself aware of and understanding the policies and procedures in the [Undergraduate Catalog (pp.274-276)/Graduate Catalog (pp. 26-27)] that pertain to academic integrity. These policies include cheating, fabrication, falsification and forgery, multiple submission, plagiarism, complicity and computer misuse. If there is reason to believe you have been involved in academic dishonesty, you will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct. You will be given the opportunity to review the charge(s). If you believe you are not responsible, you will have the opportunity for a hearing. You should consult with me if you are uncertain about an issue of academic honesty prior to the submission of an assignment or test.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY IS CRITICAL FOR THE WRITING IN THIS COURSE. PAPERS MUST BE WRITTEN IN YOUR OWN WORDS AND NOT EXTRACTED FROM REFERENCES. IT IS USUALLY RELATIVELY EASY FOR ME TO DETERMINE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUR WRITING AND THE WRITING IN A BOOK OR PAPER. THE PENALTY FOR PLAGERISM WILL BE A ZERO FOR THAT PAPER.