EXPLORATIONS & OBSERVATION

    If you have some imagination, if you can surround yourself with an ethereal fog of space-time, this course is about explorations.  We will explore the development of the earth, changing sky, sea and land.  We will explore life, living things through space and time.  We will explore ourselves, children of God and universe.
    Geology more than any other science profoundly changed man's view of himself.  The Earth tells its own story, The Book of Earth.  Its pages, like the commandments, cast in stone.  We will attempt to read the story on those pages.   And if we are lucky, we will glimpse the beauty of creation.

The Universe is not only stranger than we imagine;
it is stranger than we can imagine.
                                                                   J. B. S. Haldane

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On Learning (or The Rules of the Game)

My Part :
For my part I shall attempt to always keep in mind the words of Sir George Savile (Lord Halifax) who said,

                    "The vanity of teaching often tempts a man to forget he is a blockhead."

    I will endeavor to make the material we cover interesting.  It should also be challenging.  I will treat you as adults.  Your assignments and quizzes will be graded and returned in a timely fashion.

Your Part :
    I expect that you are here to learn.  I expect you to attend class, to ask questions, and participate.  I expect you to keep up with the course material.  I expect you to respect your fellow human beings in the class.   Remember that this is a laboratory class.  It is very difficult (for the most part impossible) to make up laboratories.

How to do poorly in this class :
Don't come to class.  Don't do the laboratories.   Don't study.

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Exams and Exam Policy

Quizzes and Final Exam :
I haven't yet determined how I will grade this class.

Make-up quizzes and exams:
NO Make-ups FoR QUIZZes. 
IF we have quizzes You Can Drop ONE quiz score.  
You must have a valild (health related excuse if you miss the midterm).  MIDTERM Makeup arranged (but you probably would rather not).

THERE IS NO MAKE-UP FOR THE FINAL EXAM.  IF YOU MISS THE FINAL YOU WILL RECEIVE AN INCOMPLETE FOR THE CLASS.

QUIZZES and TESTS usually have extra credit questions.    Makeup exams have no extra credit.

A Grade of wp will be given anytime.

Special Requirements:
If you have special requirements for taking the exam, please see me at least a week in advance to make the arrangements.

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OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF

Laboratory Exercises and Other Assignments :
Most of the laboratory exercises are designed to be completed while in lab.  If you use your time well, it will get done.  You must attend lab.  Laboratory will count 100 points of your total.
    There will be assignments given out in lecture.  These assignments are designed to make you think on an expansive scale.  They will not require much time as far as hitting the books.  They will require thinking time, organizing your thoughts, and expressing yourself so someone (me) can understand what it is you are endeavoring to say.  Writing assignments must be typed (unless otherwise instructed), double spaced, 10 or 12 pt. font size.  Assignments are due at the beginning of class on the date due.  Assignments turned in late, but the same day to my mail box (Geology Department,  Bevill 202) will be accepted with a point deduction.  No later assignments will be accepted except for the same reasons as missing the mid-term.

Working together and plagiarism :
Work together on assignments and many of the laboratory exercises.  BUT, material you turn in must be your own work.  Do not copy someone else's work.  Do not copy material from a book, journal, paper, magazine, etc.  If you have questions about what is and is not plagiarism and cheating, ask me.  If we suspect someone is not turning in their own material we will bring it to their attention.
    Remember:   Ignorance of the law is no excuse.

My Office Hours and Office Location:
My office Hours are ______________ Room 118 Bevill Building,
or by appointment (most anytime at my office in Bevill).  My office is in the Tom Bevill Building.  The Tom Bevill Building is by the amphitheater, north of Ferguson Center across from the main parking lot.  It is the building with the greenhouse windows on the south side.   OFFICE IS 105 BEVILL.

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Send Me A Message

To send me a message, submit a question or answer (the Great Carnack), or comment about this web site, Geology 101, or just life in general,  send e-mail to mbersch@wgs.geo.ua.edu.