Dr. J. Steven Kite
222-223 White Hall
Office Hours M 3:30-5:00 TU TH 4:00-5:00 *Other times by appointment
304-293-5603 (ex. 4330) Kite@GEO.WVU.EDU
http://www.geo.wvu.edu/~kite/teaching.htm

Geology/Geography 127 is a 3 credit class with two 150 minute lab meetings each week. (Note: Geo 127 is now three credits, vs. two credits listed in the preliminary schedule.) The class includes work on topographic maps, air photos, remote-sensing imagery, and many other map forms. The class is intended for sophomore and junior level students in geology, or for sophomore, junior, and senior level students in environmental geosciences and geography. Because of the diversity of the background of students, the class must have a focused target audience. That focal audience is geology majors early in their undergraduate careers (before taking structural geology).

The only official prerequisites for this class are Geology 1 and 2, or Geology/Geography 10 and 11. In order to get the maximum benefit from this class, Geology majors should take this class after taking trig (Math 4) and Geology 3 and 4. On the other hand, those who have already taken Geology 253 (Structural Geology) can't use this class as a geology major elective and are encouraged to take an upper-level Geology class that will be more challenging than 127.

The primary goal of this class is to prepare students for the interpretation of geological data, based on a firm foundation in the fundamentals of physical geology. Another important objective is to introduce many maps and images used in the geosciences, and develop skills required to use these tools.

Grades will be based on 3 in class tests (25 % each), quizzes and class participation (20 %) and a notebook that includes all of your work for the semester (5 %). Make a special effort to be prepared for the first test, so you will not be rudely disappointed. Information and skills learned in the class builds from week to week; consider both test 2 and test 3 (the final) to be "comprehensive". Quizzes will be infrequent if class members work hard during the entire assigned lab periods, but will be common if students habitually come unprepared and leave early.

You must attend class regularly in order to learn the material and perform well in class. I am aware that circumstances may arise that will cause conflicts with GEO 127, but everyone will be expected to complete work on schedule. Accordingly, you may not be allowed to take tests unless 75% of the work on preceding labs is complete. If you miss an exam because of incomplete assignments, you will not be allowed to take a make-up test or exam and will receive a "zero" as a grade. Exceptions will be made for illness or extraordinary circumstances, but these exceptions must be made prior to the exam if at all possible. In case of prolonged illness or other legitimate long-term absences, you must arrange to make up missed work ASAP.

All extra credit work will be averaged into the rest of the class grade, rather than added on. This means that extra-credit work must be of superior quality for it to improve your grade. Extra credit will be graded under the same rigorous standards as other work in the class. Students who want to do extra credit work most submit a formal typed 100-200 word proposal describing the project before 2 November. The proposal will be approved or denied within 1 week of receipt.

If your are a person with a disability and anticipate needing any type of accommodation in order to participate in this class, please advise me early in the semester, and make appropriate arrangements with Disability Services (293-6700).

Several required local field trips will be run during normal lab times. I hope to give at least 1 week advance notice for these trips. Please come dressed in appropriate attire and footwear. There is no valid statistical basis for the myth that my scheduling a field trip tends to stimulate 100 year rainfall events, but the myth persists in certain circles!

A list of important dates is as follows:

Test 1 28 Sept
Local Field Trips 7 Sept, 14 Sept, 17 Oct
Test 2 26 Oct
No Classes 7 Nov (Election Day),  14-16 Nov (Kite @ GSA), 21-23 Nov (Thanksgiving)
Test 3 Thursday 7 Dec. (10:00-12:30)

Maltman, Alex, 1998, Geological Maps, 2^nd edition, New York, John Wiley and Sons, 260 p.

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