FALL session 2015 Professor: Dr. Alessandro Grippo, Ph.D. 2435 - Geol 1, Introduction to Physical Geology 4243 - Geol 5, Earth History GENERAL INFORMATION Both of these classes are accessible to anyone with a basic knowledge of physics, chemistry, and biology. This accessibility does not imply that these classes are "easy". Both of these classes will require constant, continuous attention and dedication. If you want to be successful you will need to be present in class, read materials ahead and study steadily. You will need to pay constant attention to the topics discussed during our meetings and spend a considerable amount of time on the class materials. The pace of these classes is intensive and you can not afford to be absent or miss work for no reason. Absences will not only affect your grade but also your overall grasp and comprehension of the subject. As a student, you also need to recognize that your college education is above all a matter of opening yourself up to new dimensions of knowledge and understanding. Even if these classes do not cover topics relevant to your major, or you feel that you "have" to take one or both, you need to realize that these classes are interesting per se, and will enrich your intellectual background. As a professor of geology, I am here to illustrate and explain these materials to you, and it will be up to you to find your personal interest in them. If you have chosen to enroll in one or both of these classes it means that you should be able to move beyond your individual interests and take advantage of the opportunity of having scientific materials illustrated to you. These classes are intrinsically rich in interesting concepts, and should be seen as one tool for you to open up to new ideas, concepts, and possibilities. These classes will give you more interests and ideas, and consequently they will make you more knowledgeable and interesting as a person.   GEOL 1 - Introduction to PHYSICAL GEOLOGY Last Updated  •  December 4, 2015    This class is a three-units, general education class. An introduction to the basic principles of geology and plate tectonics is followed by a discussion on the chemical structure of rocks and minerals, with details on all kinds of rocks. Geologic Time ail be discussed before entering different kinds of sedimentary environments. This class is fully transferable to UC and CSU, but it might not satisfy GE requirements at some universities. Please verify with the college of your choice if that is the case. 2435 - GEOL 1, Introduction to PHYSICAL GEOLOGY Syllabus: Click here for a .pdf copy of the Syllabus Class Hours: Monday and Wednesday, 9:30 to 10:50, Drescher Hall, room 205 Required Textbook: C. C. Plummer and D. H. Carlson, Physical Geology, 15th edition (2015), McGraw Hill. Older editions of this book are available on the market. The difference between them is minimal, and any one of them will be fine. It is fine to buy a used copy of the Textbook. If for any reason you can not find a copy of the textbook at the SMC bookstore, look on Amazon (a link is provided by clicking on the book title above) or at the UCLA bookstore. Exams: Exam dates are as follows: exam 1 - Wednesday, September 23, 2015: study guide (available since September 16, 2015) exam 2 - Wednesday, October 21, 2015: study guide (available since October 18, 2015) exam 3 - Wednesday, November 18, 2015: study guide (available since November 13, 2015) exam 4 - Monday, December 21, 2015 (time change: exam is at 8:00 AM): study guide (available since December 4, 2015) A tombolo, a strip of sand connecting a small island to the mainland Piper's Lagoon, Nanaimo, British Columbia   GEOL 5 - EARTH HISTORY Last Updated  •  December 4, 2015     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 through the study of 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 - again - 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 fully transferable to UC and CSU, but it might not satisfy GE requirements at some universities. Please verify with the college of your choice if that is the case. 4243 - GEOL 5, EARTH HISTORY lecture and lab Syllabus: Click here for a .pdf copy of the Syllabus 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, 4th edition (2014), W. H. Freeman and Company, New York Lecture Textbook: J. R. Nudds and P. A. Selden, Fossil Ecosystems of North America, 1st edition (2008), The University of Chicago press, Chicago, Illinois Lab Manual:H. L. Levin and M. S. Smith, Laboratory Studies in Earth History, 10th edition About these textbooks, please note: It is fine to buy a used copy of both Lecture Textbooks. If for any reason you can not find a copy of these two textbooks at the SMC bookstore, 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 in the lab manual require that pages are teared off and turned in to me for grading after a lab. Many students who bought used copies in the past, either from the bookstore or from other students, soon found out that they had incomplete manuals in their hands, with several missing pages. I will only accept lab work from the original pages of the current edition of the lab manual (10th edition). I will not accept lab work from any of the following: older editions (even if brand new: questions are different, and/or not in the same order or on the same page) used copies of the new edition notebook pages / online editions xerox copies of the lab manual pages anything that is not on the original pages of the 10th edition of the lab manual So, for the lab manual, just buy a brand new copy of the 10th edition. Exams: All exams include lecture, lab and home assignments materials. The final exam will be partially cumulative: it will include a few questions on older materials covered in previous tests. Exam dates are as follows: exam 1 - Tuesday, October 6, 2015: study guide (available since September 29, 2015) exam 2 - Tuesday, November 10, 2015: study guide (available since October 24, 2015) exam 3 - Thursday, December 17, 2015: study guide (available since December 4, 2015) The principle of cross-cutting relationships, illustrated from Death Valley National Park, California © Alessandro Grippo 1994-2015 Los Angeles, CA Back to Top | Back to Home Page