Class Notes & Grading

Class Location & Time (for lecture): Hutchison 138, T/Th 11:05-12:20 AM

Instructor: Prof. Carmala Garzione (Carmie)
Office phone: 273-4572, Hutchison 210
Office hours: 12:00-1:30PM on Tuesday; 4:00-5:00PM on Thursday
Email: garzione (at) earth.rochester.edu

Teaching Assistant: Dave Auerbach, Hutchison 209/205/116 (auerbach (at) earth.rochester.edu)

Introduction
Principles of Sedimentology and Stratigraphy (EES 203) is a 4-credit lab and lecture course intended to introduce you to basic concepts and methods in the study of sedimentary rocks, including sedimentologic and stratigraphic and analysis - the description and analysis of sedimentary processes, paleoenvironmental interpretation of stratified rock bodies, the determination of their age relations, and their implication for processes in earth history.  The course will also provide you with a solid understanding of the role of sedimentary processes as they impact humans and modern environment.  The prerequisites are Physical Geology and Historical Geology. 

Lecture attendance: Mandatory.

Exams 
Two lecture exams (each 10% of total grade) and a (non-cumulative) final exam (15% of total grade) are scheduled.  All exams are a combination of multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions.  All exams will be graded by the professor. Unannounced quizzes may be scheduled. 

Field Trips
It is next to impossible to learn about rocks without seeing them in the field. To that end, two weekend field trips and during lab will be excursions to outcrops in the vicinity of Rochester. The field trips are mandatory, so mark your calendars now.  The data you collect during these field trips will be the basis of written reports that make up part of your grade in this class.  If you have scheduling conflicts with a required field trip, please let us know now. Click here for more information about the field trip.

Laboratory 
The lab grade (40% of final grade) will be based upon your performance on a series of exercises during the lab session, and on take-home projects.  The breakdown of individual lab projects and exams is given with the lab schedule. 

Grades
Final grades will be based on lab exercises and exams (40%), lecture exams (35%), and field trip reports (25%). See below for a breakdown of lab grades.
Lab                              40%
Lecture Midterm I       10%
Lecture Midterm II      10%
Final Exam                 15%
Field trip I                    10%
Field trip II                   15%

Reading Assignments
Required readings are from Boggs (2006), Principles of Sedimentology and Stratigraphy (available in the bookstore). Occasional journal articles may also be assigned.  A schedule of reading assignments is given on p. 2, along with the list of lecture topics. You should skim the assigned chapters before coming to class and then reread them carefully and critically after the lecture. Please keep up with the reading. It will greatly improve your ability to take in what we talk about in class.

Missed Days/Assignments
If you miss lecture, a lab, or an assignment, it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to take care of making them up. Contact the professor or a TA about getting caught up. We are here to help you learn, but not here to baby-sit you.