Paleoceanography

 

Grading Policy: Students are expected to attend class, do the reading, and consult the instructor throughout the term. These steps will help you to learn the material covered in class on the exams, and in your term paper. Class participation is an important part of this class. If you do not attend class, arrive unprepared, or do not contribute to class discussion, your grades will suffer. Late assignments will be docked 1/3 letter grade per class period. Class participation will allow you to gauge your progress. Grades will be based on the assigned work as follows:

Grades will be determined as follows:

Class Participation and Paleoceanographic Case Studies: During Weeks 6-10 of the class we will study interesting case histories of past worlds reconstructed through the use of a variety of paleoceanographic data (e.g. physical properties of sediments, microfossils, and geochemical tracers). We will select five of the following topics and explore each for a one week period using the class text and readings from the literature as a guide:

            The Snowball Earth                                                          Mountains and Climate

            Polar Amplification of Climate                                          Of Monsoons and People

            The Mid-Pleistocene Revolution                                        Climate Gateways

            Abrupt Climate Change                                                     Ice Free Worlds

Students will have the opportunity to vote on which of these topics they would like to study. Each week will consist of a setup lecture by the instructor followed by group discussion of the class based on material from the text and from published papers. For each topic, the instructor will select student teams who will have the responsibility of finding publications on the topic and presenting these to the class for discussion. Readings will thus be: Selected from the class text, handouts provided by the instructor, and provided by student group leaders selected for each topic. For the participation part of their grade, students will be graded on the basis of the research they conduct for their presentation, their preparation for their presentation, the quality of their presentation and their participation in class discussions during the term.

Final Term Paper: All classes at Kent State must have a substantive final assessment as part of the grading processes. The Final Term Paper will serve this purpose in Paleoceanography. Students who do not complete this assignment will not receive a passing grade in the class. The final class paper will be due before 5 pm on the last class meeting before the beginning of exam week (May 5^th). Student should begin working on this project by the third week of class and are expected to be prepared to discuss progress on their topic during class and to meet with instructor during the term to seek guidance and provide progress reports. The final term paper will be graded on the quality of the components of the project: outline, draft and completed final paper.

Exams: Written, in-class exams will test your knowledge of the material. These will include short answer and conceptual essay questions. Remember to write out your answers in a clear methodical fashion and to show all your work.

Make-up Exams: Students are expected to manage their academic and personal activities responsibly during the term. Students who miss an exam must provide a legitimate written excuse in a timely manner in order to receive a make-up exam. Legitimate excuses for missing an exam include written documentation for the following: conflict with another Kent State University academic activity (such as an off campus field trip), your own illness, a death in the family, and military or intercollegiate athletic commitments. If you are involved in military or official university athletic activities, review the exam schedule at the beginning of the term and consult with the instructor prior to the exam if you have a conflict.  If you have an illness, personal crisis, or family tragedy that results in missing an exam, you must contact the instructor by phone or email no later than 48 hours after the scheduled start time of the exam.  It is very important that you provide your name and a telephone number where you can be reached in your phone or email message.

How grades are calculated: Grades are based on a weighted average of your class scores using the following equation:

Class GPA  = 0.6*(Average Midterm GPA) + 0.15*(Class Participation) + 0.25*(Final Term Paper)

Your Class GPA is then converted to a letter grade using the table below:

University Policies

1. Students have the responsibility to ensure that they are properly enrolled in their classes and attending the proper section. You are advised to review your official class schedule during the first two weeks of the semester to ensure that you are properly enrolled in this class and section.

2. Academic Honesty: The use of the intellectual property of others without giving them appropriate credit is a serious academic offense. This includes misrepresenting the source, nature, or conditions of your academic work to get undeserved credit. It the University's policy that cheating or plagiarism will result in receiving a failing grade for the work or course. Repeat offenses can result in dismissal from the University. See the section on Student Cheating and Plagiarism in the University's "Digest of Rules and Regulations" for additional information about University policies in this area.

3. For Spring 2006, the last day to withdrawal from class without a grade of W is 29 Jan 2006. The last day to withdraw from the class with a grade of "W" is March 26, 2006. For more information, see the Spring semester withdrawl page on the registrar's web site. Students enrolled after 26 March 2006 will receive a grade for the course on the official university plus-minus scale which will appear on their official transcript (A(-), B(+/-), C(+/-), D(+), F, IN, SF, NF) based on their performance during the term. Student who never attend, or stop attending class will receive grades of NF or SF in accordance with university policy. For additional information see the Registrar’s website: http://www.registrars.kent.edu/

4. Please check the final exam schedule for the classes in which you are enrolled.  In the event that you have a conflict with another scheduled exam, the instructor will make suitable arrangements.  Students who have conflicts or more than three examinations on the same day should consult with the Dean of his or her college at the earliest possible time for assistance in making alternative arrangements.

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