Learning Tactics: To encourage you to take an active role in your own learning, I expect you to
–research specific course-related issues using a variety of sources, including the Internet;
–write regularly, both out of class and in class; and
–cooperate as a member of temporary research teams.
Because self- and peer-teaching activities depend on regular attendance of all class members, missed classes will be reflected in poorer grades.
You must access the course Web site (and other links) to complete some assignments. SJSU provides appropriate computing facilities if you do not have a home Web connection.
Evaluation: I will calculate your grade using the following criteria:
Midterm exams (2) (2 Mar, 18 Apr) 32%
Final exam (Thur 19 May, 9:45 am) 20%
Field trip (Sunday 1 May 12:30–4:30 pm) 4%
Homeworks (2) 4%
Structural engineering paper (tentatively 13 Apr) 10%
Discussion papers (3) (14 Feb, 21 Mar, 11 May) 24%
In-class papers (3) 6%
Midterm exams will consist of essay, map-based, and (rarely) multiple-choice questions.
The final exam will be held as scheduled in the Schedule of Classes. The final will cover material from the last third of the course, and will also include questions that ask you to draw on content covered throughout the course. I’ll distribute a study guide during the last week of class.
The field trip to the Hayward fault in Fremont will leave from SJSU at 12:30 pm and will return by 4:30 pm on Sunday, 1 May 2005 (more transportation details will be available later). If you wish, you may meet us at the first stop and follow us in your own vehicle; you must do so if you bring family, friends, or anyone not in our class. If you cannot attend on the scheduled date, let me and we can discuss alternative arrangements.
Two short homeworks will be assigned. One will require application of basic mathematics skills.
In the 3- to 4-page structural engineering paper, you will investigate and evaluate the risk you face in your current residence or workplace. The assignment (in Course Reader, on course Web site) walks you through the questions you need to address. The paper will be graded according to the rubric spelled out on the next page; please follow the writing guidelines on the final page.
I will assign three discussion papers (2 pages each) that require outside research and thinking. Bring two copies of each discussion paper to class. I will grade one copy according to the rubric on the next page. You will need the other copy to support your position in small-group discussions that will conclude with a short, independently written in-class paper.
If you miss a midterm, your final exam will consist of the regularly scheduled final PLUS an extra section that covers the midterm material. Historically, your predecessors have not scored well on such “make-ups,” so I strongly encourage you to take midterms as scheduled.
Late writing assignments (engineering paper, discussion papers) will be accepted ONLY due to an acute, documented medical emergency.
It is the policy of the University and this Department that the deadline for dropping a course without receiving a W is Census Day. After this date, drop requests will be processed only for serious and compelling reasons. Unsatisfactory performance in course work is not considered a serious and compelling reason.
If health or learning issues may affect your performance in the class, be sure you are registered with the Disability Resource Center (Administration 110, 924-6000).
Grading Rubric for Written Assignments
All take-home writing assignments will be graded according to the rubric described below. As specified in the guidelines for GE courses, I will assess not only the content but also the quality and clarity of your writing. Note that the two components are equally weighted.
score (~grade) Content criteria
5 (A+) Outstanding response with superior supporting examples or evidence; unusual insights, creative and original analysis, reasoning, and explanation; superior mastery of content; goes well beyond minimum required for the assignment.
4 (B+) Good, solid response that uses excellent supporting examples or evidence; excellent reasoning and explanations; goes beyond the minimum required for the assignment.
3 (B-) Good, solid response that meets minimum required by assignment. Reasoning and explanations are adequate.
2 (C-) Response is accurate but cursory, and does not meet the minimum required for completeness; some inaccuracies or reasoning flaws; response is too general, lacks specific evidence.
1 (D) Response doesn’t effectively address the question; response fails to support assertions with data or examples; major flaws in reasoning; explanations are unclear; displays inadequate understanding of content.
0 (F) Response is missing or not submitted, or does not address the question.
score (~grade) Writing criteria
5 (A) Meets criteria for 4, plus demonstrates superior grammatical correctness and sense of personal style. Effortlessly readable prose.
4 (B+) Very effective organization of paragraphs and paper; interesting, varied sentences; good grammar (usage, punctuation, etc.); few spelling mistakes; does not read like a first draft.
3 (C+) Reasonably effective organization of paragraphs and paper; serviceable prose; numerous errors of grammar or spelling; reads like a first draft.
2 (C- )Structurally disorganized; paragraphs lack topic sentences or are not developed effectively; awkward sentence structure; poor grammar; poor spelling.
1 (D-) Similar to 2, but even harder to read.
I REQUIRE and EXPECT you to read and abide by writing guidelines:
Formatting
All writing assignments (except in-class) should be printed on a computer printer using the following standard format (see me if your printer cannot cope with these requirements):
Do not use a folder or plastic cover.
Double-space the entire manuscript, and leave 1-inch margins on all sides of the page.
Use a 12-pt font, preferably Times New Roman (NOT Courier).
Single-space your name, the date, and “Geology 112” in a header at the top of page 1. Follow this header with the title of your paper. Do not use a separate title page. Save a twig.
Number all pages, and staple the paper in the upper left corner.
College-Level Writing
Any papers you write for this course will be research-oriented, and thus should NOT contain:
(1) passages such as “Have you ever wondered why xyz?”
(2) casual references to “you” (the second person), as in “When you look at xyz.”
(3) slang or other overly informal expressions.
(4) filler words that can be omitted without loss of meaning; for example,
“There are several factors that affect xyz” should be “Several factors affect xyz.”
Direct Quotes
Avoid direct quotes wherever possible, which should be in almost all cases. Direct quotes show no thought, analysis, or other higher-level skills on your part, and do nothing to convey your understanding of the content. The more direct quotes you use, the lower grade you will earn.
Originality
The paper/project must be an original for this class, i.e., it cannot have been previously submitted in another course or submitted in another course this semester.
Attribution
All sources (including interviews) should be fully referenced, whether through footnotes1, endnotes2, or internal citations (Smith, 1994, p. 33) keyed to a reference list. Consult a style manual for the appropriate format, procedures, etc. YOU MUST USE internal citations, footnotes, or endnotes for (1) direct quotes (shown in quotation marks) and (2) ideas, sentences, or paragraphs from other sources, even if rewritten or paraphrased. Material in the course reader can be considered common knowledge, so you don't have to cite it.
Guidelines for writing assignments, continued
When citing a Web source, try to include all of the following:
Specific author or source (e.g., Mary Smith, U.S. Geological Survey, CQ Systems, Inc.)
Date the information was posted to the Web site (look for “this site was last updated on...”)
Title of text, image, etc., if any.
Complete URL (e.g., http://marysmith.usgs.gov/marystuff/prediction.html)
Date accessed by you
Academic Integrity
The university maintains a strongly worded policy regarding academic integrity. Plagiarism (presenting someone else's work as your own) or cheating will earn you an F and endanger your chances of passing the course, of retaining any academic or athletic scholarship you currently receive, and of remaining enrolled at this university.
Turnitin.com
To minimize the potential for plagiarism, you must submit some papers required for this class to turnitin.com, an on-line review system. If I require that you use turnitin.com for a paper, submit the paper to turnitin.com before the due date, and before you turn it in to me.
Directions for on-line submissions via turnitin.com:
In your favorite browser, open www.turnitin.com/
Select create a new user profile (top right of page)
Create your personal profile: e-mail address and password on first page, name and address on the second page.
After verifying your personal profile, click login.
Fill out the brief login screen, enter student as user type, and click login.
Click enroll in a class the first time you use the system for this course
Enter class ID 1247678
Enter password hayward
Click on the course name (“Geol 112 Sp05”).
Click on the paper icon beneath submit to submit your paper. You can submit by uploading a file in one of many formats (MS Word, WordPerfect, PostScript, PDF, HTML, RTF, plain text), or you can choose the cut-and-paste option.