Week | Date | Topic (click for Learning Objectives) | Book Reading pages (Sections)* | Slides - Posted after class |
One | Tues, Jan 5 | 1: The Search for Life Elsewhere ![]() |
pp 1 - 12 (sections 1.1-1.4) | Class 1 slides |
Thurs, Jan 7 | 2: Science History, Pseudoscience & Theory ![]() |
pp 16-26, 31-38 (2.1, parts of 2.2, 2.3) | Class 2 slides | |
Two | Tues, Jan 12 | 3: Stars, Galaxies, the Universe ![]() |
pp 48-63, 66-69 (3.1, most of 3.2) | Class 3 slides |
Thurs, Jan 14 | 4: Our Solar System ![]() |
57-63, 66-80, 83-88 (most of 3.2,3.3) | Class 4 slides | |
Three | Tues, Jan 19 | 5: Earth: Geological History ![]() |
83-88,100-112, (3.4: phases, light, 4.1, most of 4.2) | Class 5 slides |
Thurs, Jan 21 | 6: Earth: Geological Evolution ![]() |
113 - 123 (rest of 4.2, 4.3, start of 4.4) | Class 6 slides | |
Four | Tues, Jan 26 | TEST 1 (click for study sheet) ![]() |
Chapters 1 - 4 (not all pages!) | |
Thurs, Jan 28 | 7: Earth: Geology ![]() |
123-133 (rest of 4.4, start of 4.5) | Class 7 slides | |
Five | Tues, Feb 2 | 8: Earth Habitability ![]() |
132-138, 149-154 (rest of 4.5, start of 5.1) | Class 8 slides |
Thurs, Feb 4 | 9: Life on Earth ![]() |
154-160, 165-171, 178-181 (parts of Ch 5) | Class 9 slides | |
Six | Tues, Feb 9 | 10: Origin & Evolution of Life on Earth ![]() |
pp 191-197, 206-214 (6.1, 6.3) | Class 10 slides |
Thurs, Feb 11 | 11: Extinction, Life Needs ![]() |
215-221, 236-242 (Ch 6.4, 7.1) | Class 11 slides | |
Seven | Tues, Feb 16 | SNOW DAY CLASS CANCELED | ||
Thurs, Feb 18 | TEST 2 (click for study sheet) ![]() |
Chapters 4 - 7 (not all pages!) | ||
Eight | Tues, Feb 23 | 12: Mars Geology & History ![]() |
pp 264-278 (Ch 8.2, start of 8.3) | Class 12 slides | Thurs, Feb 25 | 13: Is (or was) Life on Mars? ![]() |
276-283, 287-290 (8.3, start of 8.4, 8.5) | Class 13 slides |
Nine | Tues, Mar 2 | 14: Europa, Habitability, Exoplanets ![]() |
(parts of Ch 9, 10, 11) | Class 14 slides |
Thurs, Mar 4 | 15: Drake Eq., SETI, Fermi Paradox ![]() |
(parts of Ch 12, 13) | Class 15 slides | |
Ten | Tues, Mar 9 | TEST 3 (click for study sheet) ![]() |
Chapters 8 - 13 (not all pages!) | |
Thurs, Mar 11 | Review for TEST4 (click for study sheet) ![]() |
Only the 20 learning objectives given on study sheet | will be on Test 4 | |
FINALS | Tues, Mar 16 8-10am | TEST 4 (cumulative Final Exam) |
The means the learning objectives have
been posted and can be downloaded to prepare for class!!
Students are expected to have completed the assigned reading before coming to class and will heavily use their textbook and PRS. Buy them both and bring your PRS to every class (book in class is optional).
Exams, taken closed book and individually, will make up 90% of the grade and reflect the material and work covered during class time and the assigned textbook reading. The 4 exams will be made up of multiple choice and two short essay questions. Exams can NOT be made up for any reason, however the lowest scoring exam will be dropped (this CAN be the final exam). The remaining 10% of the grade will come from work done in class (PRS) and some of which is handed in at the end of class. In class work can NOT be made up for any reason, however the lowest 3 (of ~15) in class assignments will be dropped.