Greg Wiles gwiles@wooster.edu
office: Scovel 119
phone: 263-2298
Department of Geology
The College of Wooster
Wooster, OH 44691
Preparation Questions 
Top Ten List
Geology Department

 General: This is the web syllabus for the Spring 2007 Environmental Geology course at The College of Wooster (http://www.wooster.edu/geology/geo110/geo110.html). Web resources via links, announcements and assignments will be added to these pages each week. See class notes at the bottom of this page for general class logistics.

Introduction: We live in a world that is increasingly vulnerable to environmental change. 2005 was the warmest year in more than century, over the past 30 years, the Earth has warmed by 0.6 degrees C. Should we worry about this recent warming of our planet? We know that far more drastic climate variations have occurred in the past, like the Ice Ages. What is the cause of this warming? Questions like these will be explored from the long-term perspective of the geologic record.

Issues of environmental change on local to global scales can be placed into an earth systems science perspective by first examining the evolution and structure of our planet's atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and lithosphere, and how these systems naturally interact. Emphais is placed on understanding biogechemical cycles. From this perspective we can better evaluate the effects of anthropogenic perturbations in the systems such as the introduction of pollutants in groundwater or land degradation associated with agriculture.

Texts: 1(M) - Environmental Geology , 7th edition by Carla Montgomery (2006), A Civil Action by Jonathan Hare. Additional readings will be handed out in class. Students are expected to read the assigned material before the class meeting.

Environmental Geology - Geology 110 - Spring 2007
Instructor - Greg Wiles
Class: Scovel 105   9:00-9:50 MWF

Preparation questions: At the beginning of each class I will handout a sheet of two or three preparation questions that should be answered before the start of the next class. I will occasionally collect these at the start of the class and correct them as a quiz. A complete set of questions will be available on this web page if you need to miss a class.

Exercises: Three exercises and two written reports are required. Written reports will be based on exercises associated with A Civil Action and class handouts. Due dates will be listed on assignment handouts and above in the course schedule.

Class attendence and conduct: You must come to class and participate. You should review your Code of Academic Integrity in The Scott's Key. Plagarism and cheating on assignments, quizzes and exams will result in an F in the course.

There will be three exams, two mid-terms (20% each) and one comprehensive final (25%). Ten quizzes will also be given, students not attending lectures when quizzes are given will receive a zero. I will drop the lowest two quiz grades rather than allowing makeups. Preparation questions will occasionally be collected as quizzes.

Academic Honesty and the Code of Academic Integrity

The College’s understanding and expectations in regard to issues of academic honesty are fully articulated in the Code of Academic Integrity as published in the Scot’s Key and form an essential part of the implicit contract between the student and the College. The Code provides a framework at Wooster to help students develop their own personal integrity.

While you are a student at this college, you will be treated as an adult. You are expected to know and abide by the rules of the institution as described in the Scot’s Key and The Handbook of Selected College Policies. You should cite your sources to avoid plagiarizing ideas and text. Particular attention should be directed to the appropriate use of materials available on-line through the Internet. It is important that you read and understand the ethical use of information. Whether intentional or not, improper use of materials can be considered a violation of academic honesty.
Cheating in any of your academic work is a serious breach of the Code of Academic Integrity and is grounds for an F for the entire course. Such violations include turning in another person’s work as your own, copying or paraphrasing from any source without proper citation, going beyond what is allowed in a group project, fabricating excuses and lying in connection with your academic work. You will be held responsible for your actions. If you are unsure as to what is permissible, always consult your course instructor.

Schedule Conflicts

The faculty of the College has recently approved a new policy regarding conflicts between extracurricular and academic events. The policy reads as follows: "The College of Wooster is an academic institution and its fundamental purpose is to stimulate its students to reach the highest standard of intellectual achievement. As an academic institution with this purpose, the College expects students to give the highest priority to their academic responsibilities. When conflicts arise between academic commitments and complementary programs (including athletic, cultural, educational, and volunteer activities), students, faculty, staff, and administrators all share the responsibility of minimizing and resolving them. As a student you have the responsibility to inform the faculty member of potential conflicts as soon as you are aware of them, and to discuss and work with the faculty member to identify alternative ways to fulfill your academic commitments without sacrificing the academic integrity and rigor of the course."

Teaching Assistants: Emily Cunningham will be the TA, she is a senior Geology major.

Instructor:Each week I will post office hours outside my office (Scovel 119) - sign up for an appointment. I can also be reached via email or at 2298.

Greg Wiles
gwiles@wooster.edu
office: Scovel 119
phone: 263-2298
Department of Geology
The College of Wooster
Wooster, OH 44691