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Geology 101- Introduction to Geology

Western Washington University Summer Quarter 2011

Phone: 650- 7796 Email: paul.thomas@wwu.edu

Instructor: Paul Thomas Office Hours: MW 11:00

Office: ES 114 Lecture: MWF 9:00, ES 100

Lab Thurs 9:00

Goal- Welcome to Geology 101! The goal of this class is to introduce you to the planet Earth and the processes that occur within and on it. My goal as the instructor is to help you understand “the big picture”, and appreciate the environment around you. Hopefully, you leave this course with a greater awareness of your surroundings.

Outcomes

• Understand how the three major rock types (igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic) form.

• Understand the generation of earthquakes and volcanoes, and their related hazards.

• Understand the role of plate tectonics as a general explanatory hypothesis for a variety of geological phenomena, including the creation and distribution of earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain ranges.

• Understand how water and gravity act to shape the Earth’s surface.

• Understand that Earth is 4.5 billion years old, and that great spans of time are necessary to accomplish many of the changes on Earth during its history.

• Understand that Science is an evidence-based dynamic process and that our explanations of nature are subject to re-interpretation in light of new evidence.

Text - Reading assignments are shown in the attached schedule. Please keep up with the reading…it will make the lectures that much more interesting! Your textbook is: GEOL by Wicander and Monroe

Office Hours – My office hours are MW @ 11:00. If these times don’t fit your schedule, come talk to me, and we’ll find sometime that works. If my office door is open, then come on in. You can always email me with any questions you may have....