GE2341: Physical Geology Course SYLLABUS

Location: Salisbury Hall, Room 115

Time: MTWRF 11:00 to 11:50 a.m.
Instructor: Prof. Sheekela Baker-Yeboah
Office: Kaven Hall 107 Phone: (617) 324-0062 Email: sbakeryeboah@wpi.edu
Office Hours: Tuesday - Thursday: 10:00 - 10:50 a.m.
Also available by appointment (send email).
TAs: Xiaokong Yu xiaokong yu@WPI.EDU and Wenwen Yao wyao@WPI.EDU

Course Description
An introduction to geology involves a survey of the materials, structure, and surface features of
the Earth; the processes responsible for their development; and the application of geologic
knowledge to environmental and resource problems. The major goal of this course is to increase
your understanding of the principles and methods of science as applied to Planet Earth.
Course Objectives
Students will receive a broad exposure to major aspects of the Earths geological environment
and knowledge necessary to engage in contemporary discussions about the world beneath our
feet. The goals of this course are to develop ones understanding and appreciation of the
methods of science as applied to the solution of geological problems and to promote an
understanding the consequences of human interaction with the physical world. Students who
successfully complete this course should possess a basic ability to:
Understand the geological origin and societal importance of a variety of common rocks and
minerals
Recognize and describe common geologic structures and interpret their origin
Interpret relative ages of geologic events and appreciate the absolute scale of deep geologic
time
Recognize a variety of surficial landforms of the Earth and interpret their geologic origin
Relate geologic materials and processes to the plate tectonics, which involves moving plates
that reposition our continents
Understand the geologic causes of earthquakes and volcanoes, their impacts on human
civilization, and the role of geoscientists in analyzing their behavior
Interpret the geologic forces that have shaped the landscape around them, wherever they
may go.
Textbook
Earth: An Introduction to Physical Geology, 11th Edition, by Edward J. Tarbuck,
Frederick. K. Lutgens, Dennis Tasa (2014). ISBN 10:0-0-321-81406-1. Additional reading
material will be provided to assist learning of important concepts. Online web links will also be
provided when used.

Grading
Your grade will be determined from a combination of exams, class participation, article report,
homework, and class projects. Submit your work on time to increase your chances of receiving
full credit. Note that late assignments, papers and projects will receive a 10% daily reduction
until the following week, unless there is a compelling reason (medical form) for late homework or
prior arrangements have been made with me in advance. Otherwise, late assignments will receive
a maximum of 10 points out of 100, which is better than 0 points. Always hand in an
assignment, even if it is late, to increase your chances of passing this course. The various
components of the course will be weighted as follows:
Homework

20%

Class Projects

15%

Exam 1

15%

Exam 2

15%

Exam 3

15%

Current Event Article Report

10%

Current Event Article Presentation

5%

Class Participation

5%

Academic Integrity
Cheating, plagiarism, and any additional academically reprehensible act will not be tolerated in
this course and will result in a no pass. Please review WPIs Academic Honesty Policies at
http://www.wpi.edu/Pubs/Policies/Honesty/policy.html.
Disabilities Accommodation Statement and Services for Students
WPI is committed to ensuring that all registered students are afforded an equal opportunity to
participate in and benefit from its programs and services. Please contact the Disability Services
Office (DSO) for all relevant information, if you have a disability. DSO is located in Daniels Hall,
phone: (508) 831-5235. Complete the necessary paperwork and provide a copy for my records
before the third week of this semester. Feel free to come and talk with me about any concerns.
Class Projects
Class Projects are listed in Table 1. You will be expected to complete and discuss some short
concept questions based on reading assignments. Working groups with your peers will be
assigned for these class projects. If have difficulty working in a group, come to talk with me and
let me know in advance.
Course Schedule
Table 1 presents a summary of lecture topics, exams, reading assignments, expected class project
dates, and due dates for homework assignments. Any changes to the course schedule will be
announced in class and posted on the class website.

Table 1: GE2341: Physical Geology class schedule. Homework (H.W.), Hand In (H.I.), Chapter
(Ch).
Week Day Date
Lecture Topic [Prof. Baker-Yeboah] Reading
Homework
1
R
28 Aug Introduction
Ch1
F
29 Aug Solid But Not So Solid Earth
Ch2,Ch12
Continental Drift & Plate Tectonics
2
M
01 Sep Labor Day
T
02 Sep Plate Tectonics & Ocean Basins
Ch13
W 03 Sep Plate Tectonics & Mountain building
Ch14
HW#1 Due
R
04 Sep Minerals I
Ch3:81-96
F
05 Sep Minerals Part II
Ch3:96-115
3
M
08 Sep Energy and Mineral Resources
Ch23
Class Project & Discussion
H.I.
T
09 Sep Exam I
W 10 Sep Magma and Igneous Rocks I
Ch4:102-123
HW#2 Due
R
11 Sep Magma and Igneous Rocks II
Ch4:126-163
F
12 Sep Volcanoes: Natural Hazards
Ch5
4
M
15 Sep Class Project and Discussion
H.I.
T
16 Sep Understanding Weathering & Soils
Ch6
W 17 Sep Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks I
Ch7
HW#3 Due
R
18 Sep Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks II
F
19 Sep Metamorphic Rocks I
Ch8
5
M
22 Sep Metamorphic Rocks II
Ch8:248-271
T
23 Sep Geologic Time & Relative Dating
Ch9:303-319
HW#4 Due
W 24 Sep Geologic Time & Radioactivity Dating
Ch9:320-333
R
25 Sep Class Project & Discussion
H.I.
F
26 Sep Exam II
6
M
29 Sep Crustal Deformation I
Ch10:335-341
T
30 Sep Crustal Deformation II
Ch10:342-359
W 01 Oct Earthquakes: Natural Hazards
Ch11:361-393 HW#5 Due
R
02 Oct Class Project & Discussion
H.I.
F
03 Oct The Hydrologic Cycle
Ch16:515-521
7
M
06 Oct Mass Wasting and Erosion
Ch15:20 2-421
T
07 Oct Streams and Drainage Systems
Ch16:424-542
W 08 Oct Ground Water Part I
Ch17:458-481
R
09 Oct Ground Water Part II
F
10 Oct Class Project & Discussion
H.I.
8
M
13 Oct Glaciers and Glaciation Part I
Ch18:591-617
T
14 Oct Glaciers and Glaciation Part II
W 15 Oct The Evolving Earth and Climate Change Ch21:705-710
R
16 Oct Exam III