OCEANOGRAPHY 100: OCEANOGRAPHY LECTURE (TTh)

Palomar College — Fall 2009

Instructor: Mr. Al Trujillo

Course Content

As a survey course, the content provides a foundation in science by examining oceanographic concepts, including the study of geologic, chemical, physical, and biologic oceanography. We will learn about how all the various disciplines of science are applied to the ocean in unique ways. Some topics covered include:

· Is the ocean's bottom really more important than the moon's behind?

· Where is Earth becoming unzipped?

· Why are diatoms the most important things you’ve (probably) never heard of?

· Why is iodine a "necessary nutrient"?

· What does an El Niño have to do with the price of eggs?

· How big was the biggest wave in recorded history?

· When was the last time syzygy was experienced?

· What is the best thing to do if you're caught in a rip current?

· Are San Diego County beaches starved?

· Is dilution the solution to ocean pollution?

· How likely is it to be attacked and killed by a shark?

· Which whales have a moustache?

This course is an interdisciplinary science course and therefore has a wide diversity of subject matter (which is one of the reasons why I like teaching it). The key point is to gain an understanding and appreciation of the dynamic processes that control the world's oceans (how the oceans work).
   

Contact Information

Instructor's Office: EC–808C Escondido Center

Office Hours: TTh 11:15-11:45 @ PCEC; Tu 4:30-5:30 @ PCEC; Wed 4:00-5:00 @ Main Campus NS-110; Tu 8:00-10:00 online via e-mail; and also by appointment

Office Phone: (760) 744–1150 ext. 2734

Instructor’s e-mail address: atrujillo@palomar.edu 

Instructor’s Website: http://daphne.palomar.edu/atrujillo/ 

If you leave me a message, I will try to respond to it within 24 hours but not later than 48 hours. Please keep me informed about significant events that affect your attendance in class. I tend to work with students who keep me informed; otherwise, I'm not very forgiving about students missing important class meetings. If you need to talk to someone on the main campus when I am not around, contact the Earth, Space, and Aviation Sciences Office at (760) 744-1150 ext. 2512. Brenda, the department secretary, is on campus weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
   

Teaching Philosophy

I truly believe that each student determines his or her own grade. In reality, I'm not the main factor in the outcome of your grade—you are. I encourage you to work hard to achieve the grade that you want, and to utilize me as your instructor to help facilitate your learning. This course is hard work but I will try my best to make the course interesting and worthwhile. I love teaching and I'm interested in helping you learn about the science of oceanography.
   

Textbooks and Other Supplies

1. Required: Essentials of Oceanography 9th Edition, Trujillo and Thurman (2008) (new copies include access to the Online Study Guide and the Student Animations CD)

2. Required: Access to the Essentials of Oceanography Online Study Guide (comes free with a new textbook; otherwise, it can be purchased online for $15 if you have a used textbook)

3. Recommended: The Geography Coloring Book 3rd Edition, Kapit (2003)

4. Recommended: The Comparative World Atlas, Hammond (2007)

Textbooks and Other Supplies (cont.)

Since I am the lead author for the textbook for this course, I will rely extensively on material from the textbook. Textbooks should be brought to each class meeting (to refer to figures in the text as they are discussed in class), as well as a few colored pencils or colored markers (for annotating drawings done in class).

In addition, there are two recommended books for this course: a geography coloring book and a world atlas. The geography coloring book is fun and will help you with the geographic locations you'll need to know for this course. The atlas is a handy size but if you already own a good world atlas, you won't need to buy a new one. Books can be purchased either at the on-campus bookstore or at Off Campus Books just west of the main campus on Mission Rd.
   

Point Totals, Exams, Assign-ments, Grading, and Make-up Policy

7 Exams @ 30 points each = 210 points

Note: lowest exam score dropped = –30 points

7 Internet Assignments @ 10 points each = 70 points

1 Writing Assignment: Article Review = 50 points

1 comprehensive Final Exam @ 100 points = 100 points

TOTAL = 400 points

All exams will cover two chapters in the textbook and will consist of a total of 30 multiple choice, matching, and true-false questions that will be submitted on a scan-tron answer sheet. You'll need to bring a scan-tron (#882, 100 questions) and a #2 pencil to each exam. Beginning in the third week of the semester, we will have an exam every other week during the last 20 minutes of class (see schedule below). The final exam is comprehensive and will contain material covered from all parts of the course. Your lowest exam score will be dropped without it adversely affecting your grade (which may represent an absence); therefore, there will be no make-up exams.

Internet assignments will relate to topics covered in class and consist of a project to be completed outside of normal class time. These assignments require you to have Internet access either at home or at any publicly available place (such as at Palomar’s library). The Internet assignments will be posted at my Website and you must e-mail me the assignment by the due date. The due date of each Internet assignment will vary; generally, you’ll have about one week to complete each one.

The writing assignment consists of writing a short (at least 1200 word) paper about a topic in oceanography of your choosing using 5 current articles. You will need to submit the assignment through the SafeAssignment software program that checks for Web plagiarism. See the Writing Assignment handout for more details.
   

Handouts

During the semester, you will receive several handouts from me. I will have the handout for the class meeting that the handout is used, and then for one more class meeting. After that time, it is your responsibility to get any handouts from another student for any missed class. In addition, it is your responsibility to get any notes and assignments from another student for any missed class.
   

Grading Scale

A = 90%

B = 80%

C = 65%

D = 55%

F = below 55%

I may lower this grading scale for your benefit, but I will not raise it. I don't have a problem giving out a lot of high grades, as long as students are willing to work for them.

Extra Credit

There will be a few opportunities to earn extra credit points during the semester. In the past, extra credit points have be awarded for attending talks given by speakers, for participating in beach clean-up days, for reviewing a chapter in the textbook or the companion website, for computer projects, for in-class quizzes, and for other oceanography-related activities. Class attendance is important for knowing when extra credit opportunities become available (no make-ups on any missed extra credit!).
   

Classroom Etiquette:

Attendance, 2-Minute Rule, Prep-aration, and Cell Phone Usage

Class time is valuable to me and I try to make efficient use of the time we have together. I highly recommend that you attend class regularly—you won't be able to succeed in this class if you don't. Please arrive on time for class meetings. Beginning the second week of the semester, I will enforce a "2-minute rule"—don't disturb the class by arriving more than 2 minutes late.

Also, you’ll need to be well prepared when you come to class. This means bringing supplies that will be used that day and reading the required material beforehand. We will be doing several group projects in class together so you’ll be working with classmates on a regular basis. Since your group will depend on you doing your part, your group will not be happy if you are not prepared and they may decide to work with others.

I encourage you to ask questions in class, but unnecessary talking will not be allowed. I'm not so concerned about your lack of attention in class, but I know that your talking does bother other students who are here trying to learn. In addition, it annoys other students when you rustle papers and notebooks trying to get ready to leave near the end of class time. Don't worry, I will let you out of class on time. Only rarely will you ever get out of class early. Also, please turn off your cell phone or other portable electronic device before you arrive in class; otherwise, if it rings or is used during class time, it becomes my property for an undetermined period of time.
   

Field Trips

Field trips are not offered in conjunction with the lecture portion of this course. However, the optional one-unit Oceanography 100 Lab course is very field-oriented and I would encourage you to enroll in the lab course concurrently (during the same semester that you take the lecture). Many former students comment on how much taking the lab facilitates their success in lecture.
   

Late Adds

Only students who are officially registered may participate in this class. If you are given a permission code to add this class, you must officially add the class prior to the next class meeting. If you have difficulty using the college's computerized enrollment system to add, please notify the instructor immediately. The deadline for adding any class or using a permission code to add is the end of the second week of classes. Under no circumstance will students be allowed to add this class after the add deadline.
   

Disabilities

If you have a disability that requires some accommodation, please contact me and provide documentation within the first two weeks of class. Reasonable accommodation will be made.
   

Academic Dishonesty

You are expected to act honorably and in accordance with the Palomar College Student Code of Conduct. Cheating of any type will not be tolerated. If you cheat on any exam or assignment, you will be given 0 points for that exam or assignment and expelled from class. Further, the incident will be reported to the Department Chair, Dean of Sciences, and the Director of Student Affairs.
   

Course Schedule (tentative): TTh 11:45 class (Escondido Center)

Semester Week Number

Calendar

Date

Topic

Calendar Date

Topic1

Textbook Chapter2

1

Tues.

Aug 25

Introduction; How to Succeed in this Class

Thurs.

Aug 27

Geographic Locations; Web Resources

Preface; Intro.

2

Tues.

Sept 1

Introduction to Planet "Earth"

Thurs.

Sept 3

Chapter 1 continued

1

3

Tues.

Sept 8

Plate Tectonics and the Ocean Floor

Thurs.

Sept 10

Chapter 2 continued; Exam #1 (Ch’s 1 & 2)

2

4

Tues.

Sept 15

Marine Provinces

Thurs.

Sept 17

Chapter 3 continued

3

5

Tues.

Sept 22

Marine Sediments

Thurs.

Sept 24

Chapter 4 continued; Exam #2 (Ch’s 3 & 4)

4

6

Tues.

Sept 29

Water and Seawater

Thurs.

Oct 1

Chapter 5 continued

5

7

Tues.

Oct 6

Air-Sea Interaction

Thurs.

Oct 8

Chapter 6 continued;

Exam #3 (Ch’s 5 & 6)

6

8

Tues.

Oct 13

Ocean Circulation

Thurs.

Oct 15

Chapter 7 continued

7

9

Tues.

Oct 20

Waves & Water Dynamics

Thurs.

Oct 22

Chapter 8 continued;

Exam #4 (Ch’s 7 & 8)

8

10

Tues.

Oct 27

Tides

Thurs.

Oct 29

Chapter 9 continued

9

11

Tues.

Nov 3

The Coast: Beaches & Shoreline Processes

Thurs.

Nov 5

Chapter 10 continued; Exam #5 (Ch’s 9 & 10)

10

12

Tues.

Nov 10

The Coastal Ocean

Thurs.

Nov 12

Chapter 11 continued

11

13

Tues.

Nov 17

Marine Life and The Marine Environment

Thurs.

Nov 19

Chapter 12 continued; Exam #6 (Ch’s 11 & 12)

12

14

Tues.

Nov 24

Biological Productivity and Energy Transfer

Thurs.

Nov 26

Holiday

13

15

Tues.

Dec 1

Animals of the Pelagic Environment

Thurs.

Dec 3

Chapter 14 continued; Exam #7 (Ch’s 13 & 14)

14

16

Tues.

Dec 8

Animals of the Benthic Environment

Thurs.

Dec 10

Chapter 15 continued

15

17

FINAL EXAM WEEK: Comprehensive final exam (Chapters 1-15) on:

Thursday December 17 @ noon

All

1Note that all exams will always be during the last 20 minutes of class on Thursdays

1Textbook chapters assigned above are to be read prior to discussing the topic in class. To do well in this course, it is imperative that you keep up on the reading!

And Finally…

Don't hesitate to contact me to discuss any questions you may have about the course.

Welcome aboard!

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