Dr. Alessandro Grippo, Ph.D. - Fall 2011 classes

This class is a 4-units, general education class that includes both lecture and lab; an introduction to the basic principles of geology and plate tectonics is followed by a more detailed study of sedimentary rocks and the principles of stratigraphy, sedimentology, and paleontology. Knowledge of these principles will help the students understand how Earth history can be deciphered from the rock and fossil record. The main physical, chemical and biological changes that occurred in the 4.6 billion years of existence of our planet will be outlined.

If you already have a basic knowledge of geology (for instance, you already took Geology 1 or Geology 4) you might find yourself at a slight advantage. Nonetheless, you will see throughout the class that all materials will be explained thoroughly and the class is fully accessible to anyone with a genuine curiosity and desire to learn. You also need to be aware that this class will require continuous and constant attention and that, in order to succeed, you will need to dedicate a considerable amount of time to study and work on its materials.

This class is transferable to UC and CSU, but you should verify if it satisfies GE requirements at the college of your choice.

4226 - GEOL 5, EARTH HISTORY lecture and lab
Class Hours:
Tuesday (lecture), 6:45-9:50, Drescher Hall, room 128
Thursday (lab), 6:45-9:50, Drescher Hall, room 128

Required Textbooks:
Lecture Textbook: S. M. Stanley, Earth System History, 3^rd edition (2009), W. H. Freeman and Company, New York
Lecture Textbook: J. W. Schopf, Cradle of Life, 1^st edition (1999), Princeton University Press, Princeton and Oxford
Lab Manual:H. L. Levin and M. S. Smith, Laboratory Studies in Earth History, 9^th edition

About these textbooks, please note:
It is fine to buy a used copy of both Lecture Textbooks. If you can not find a copy of these two textbook, look on Amazon (links are provided by clicking on the book titles above) or at the UCLA bookstore.

For what concerns the lab manual, DO NOT buy a used copy for any reason; questions and exercises on the lab manual require that pages are teared off and turned in to the instructor for grading after a lab. Many students who bought used copies in the past, either from the bookstore or from other students, found out after a week or two that they had incomplete manuals in their hands, with several missing pages.

I will only accept lab work from the current edition of the lab manual (9^th edition). I will not accept lab work neither from older editions (even if brand new: questions are different, and/or not in the same order or page), nor from used copies of the new edition.
I will not accept lab work on notebook pages. So, for the lab manual, just buy a brand new copy of the 9^th edition.

Exams:
All exams include lecture, lab and home assignments materials.
The final exam will be partially cumulative: it will include a small section on older materials covered in previous tests and a larger section on new materials covered after the second test.

Exam dates are as follows:
exam 1 - Tuesday, September 20, 2011: study guide (available since September 9, 2011)
exam 2 - Tuesday, November 8, 2011: study guide (available since October 28, 2011)
exam 3 - Thursday, December 16, 2011: (cumulative final exam): study guide (available since November 26, 2011)

Please, refer to the class syllabus for further information and/or details