GY101 Earthquakes and Volcanos

Half-Block

Tentative Syllabus

 

M Jan 6                     Introduction, Historical beliefs about earthquakes

                                

Tu Jan 7                     Theory of seismology; stress, strain, waves;

                                 Nature of earthquakes: magnitude, intensity, location of epicenter                               

 

W Jan 8                     The stress cycle and elastic rebound theory; engineering, prediction;

                                 Ecofeminist perspectives

 

Th Jan 9                     Case histories (student presentations); slide review

 

F Jan 10                    PAPER DUE (9 AM, letter-grade penalty for lateness); Introduction to volcanos, nature and property of magmas; silicate minerals and igneous rocks

 

M Jan 13                   Eruptions: observed origins, observed products and classification

 

Tu Jan 14                   Volcanic hazards; prediction; case histories

                                 (student presentations)

 

W Jan 15                   Slide review; Plate tectonics - the modern explanation for earthquakes and volcanos (slide show)

 

Th Jan 16                   PAPER DUE (12:00 PM noon, letter-grade penalty for lateness)

 

Expectations

 

1.        Text readings - Simply read the appropriate chapters (starting with introductions and chapter one) from the texts. I believe any educated citizen today should be aware of the issues in the entire book.

 

2.        Attendance - You are expected to be present for all classes, to make at least one case history presentation and to pose questions as they arise. I will use your participation this way to decide borderline grades.

 

3.        Grading - Is based on two 3-page papers; one will be on an earthquake event (due Friday Jan. 11 at 9:00 AM), one will be on a volcanic eruption (due Thursday Jan. 17 at noon). The three-page limit is absolute and indicates my desire to have you read the background material, draft a paper; then work on re-organizing and re-writing it until you have a concise, complete, well-written statement. It must be both accurate and well-composed to earn an A. Feel free to use the writing center.

 

Your class grade will be the average of the two paper grades weighted by your participation.