Monday
Room 108
Fall 2008
Instructor: David Carr
Work Phone:
(210)To Be Announced
Email Address: david.carr@wayland.wbu.edu
Web Address: http://satx.wbu.edu/david.carr
Textbook Web
Address: http://www.masteringastronomy.com
Office
hours: You may contact me by phone or
email, anytime.
Attendance:
Class attendance is required. The
University will be notified after 2 absences.
If you are going to be absent for any reason, please call or email me in
advance.
Goal and Expected Outcome:
I will introduce you to the scientific study of our universe, from a
geologic standpoint. You will be able to
acquire an understanding of how science works as a process of inquiry and
testing of ideas. You will take 2 exams,
receive quizzes, and complete 10 lab exercises.
In class, I will explain how the text book publisher’s online tutorials
will greatly help you.
I expect you
to study in advance of each lecture.
Doing so, will help you formulate questions and give you an opportunity
to participate in class. I expect you to
follow basic mathematical formulas and will provide explanations of how they
work. Additional expectations, such as
absences, are outlined in the current university catalogue.
I have posted
all lectures (and more) on the above class web address. It is, also, accessible through
Blackboard. Feel free to look the web
site over. You will find the chapter
lectures in the ‘Related Links’
page.
Required Text:
The
Essential Cosmic Perspective,
Bennett, Donahue, Schneider, Voit, Pearson/Addison Wesley Publishers. The
Wayland Bookstore has exactly what you need for this course. If you purchase a text book from a place,
other than the Wayland Bookstore, you not get the right material.
Exams:
You will have two (2) exams.
Quizzes: Your quiz average will be worth 15% of your
final grade. Quizzes are provided in
class based on the chapter(s) previously covered. You will not be able to make up the quizzes
if you miss class.
Research Paper:
A research paper is extra credit.
Write a six page, APA formatted, paper on the following: Why the Moon?
What will scientists gain by going back?
Laboratory Work:
Laboratory assignments will take advantage of the online tutorials and/or
SkyGazer software to improve the quality of your understanding.
Grades:
I will weigh the grades as follows:
Midterm Exam--------------------35%
Labs----------------------------15%
Quiz average--------------------15%
Final Exam----------------------35%
Total
- 100%
Course
Schedule:
Week
1: Introduction,
review syllabus.
Lecture (Chs. 1)and Quiz
Week
2: Lecture
(
Week
3: Star
Party or Lecture (
Tutorial discussion
Week
4: Lecture
(
Week
5: Midterm
Exam (No Lecture)
Week
6: Lecture
(
Week
7: Lecture
(Ch. 11/12) and Quiz.
Week
8: Lecture
(
Laboratory Assignment.
Week 9:
Lecture (
Week
10: Lecture Ch.16 and Quiz
Week
11:
Note
1: It is the university policy that no
otherwise qualified disabled person be excluded from participation in, be
denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any educational
program or activity in the University.
(Source: Academic Catalog).
Note
2: It should be understood that a
student that fails to attend class, and that has not made prior arrangements
with the instructor, will receive a reduced score and no make-ups will
be allowed.
Note
3: Wayland reserves the right to change
the course schedule without prior notice.
Note
4: Each student will take the quizzes
and exams in class. There will be no
makeups for quizzes. Makeups for the
midterm or final exam must be arranged, with me, in advance of the scheduled
exam date given above.