Syllabus - OCEA 112 - Memorie Yasuda

Syllabus: Introduction to Oceanography
OCEA 112 (3766) )- Spring 2008
Instructor: Memorie Yasuda
Wednesday 2:00-4:50 Room 38E-101

Syllabus	http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/oceanography
Weekly Schedule	http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/oceanography/weekly.html
Lecture note summmary:	http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/oceanography/lecturenotes.html
Earthguide	http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/index.html
E-mail	myasuda@ucsd.edu
Phone/voice-mail	858 534-6510 Note: This is not on-campus.

General Information

What Will You Learn?

This course provides an introductory overview of oceanography and highlights current topics. Class materials and activities are designed to teach specific science concepts and skills in Oceanography, and to develop skills in analytical thinking and communication skills within the context of the course. You will learn about the origins of the oceans, how ocean systems work and interact with other earth systems, how the ocean supports life on earth, about resources derived from the sea and human impacts. This course is designed to prepare you for more advanced coursework in related fields, to help you understand and engage in current issues related to oceans, and to satisfy your personal interest in all things related to the sea.

Required Text

Garrison, T., OCEANOGRAPHY an Invitation to Marine Science, 6'th edition, Thomson - Brooks/Cole Publishers.
Any material in assigned reading may appear on exams and quizzes. The textbook is intended to serve as a general reference and to supplement lecture. Additional reading materials may be distributed during class or via the web. I expect that independently acquired resources, such as those found on the web, will be used to enhance learning and that you will use judgment skills in choosing appropriate resources.

Grading

Items

Point value

Letter Grade

A = 875 points

B = 750 points

C = 600 points

D = 475 points

F < 475 points

Midterms (1 1/4 hours each)

300

Final (2 hours)

300

Quizzes and Homework
(alternating weekly)

300

In-class activities

100

Total:

100 %

1000 points

You must take the final in order to receive any credit for this course. If you do not take the final, regardless of the number of points you have, you will receive a grade of F for the course.
Extra credit will not replace work on regular assignments. Any "extra" effort should go into regular assignments.
If you are caught cheating on a midterm or final, you will receive a grade of F for this course.
Any assignment that includes plagiarized materials will receive no credit for the entire assignment.
If you miss class, you will miss content that will not be repeated otherwise.
It is your responsibility to drop the class by the appropriate dates posted by Grossmont College.
If you have any questions regarding grading policies, please ask.

Class Policies

All class policies are intended to provide each student with a fair and positive college learning environment, within guidelines and goals set by Grossmont College, appropriate for a lecture-formatted course in Oceanography. Class policies are intended to be consistent with the expectations of both collegial and work place environments.

How to Find Me Outside of Class

1) Talk with me right before or after class, 2) e-mail me, or 3) call me. I don't have regular office hours, but individual appointments are always available.

In-class activities

In-class activities will include a written portion that will be collected at the end of each class starting in the second week. You must be in attendance to participate in the activity. If you leave early or appear just at the end of class, it will not be counted. If you miss two or more in-class activities for any reason, you may be dropped from the class.

Exams and assignments

Exams consist of multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions. You will need to construct as well as analyze essays, maps, diagrams, and pictures to answer questions. I will not mark off for poor spelling, poor handwriting or grammar unless I cannot understand your answer or it is unclear that you identified the correct answer. You may makeup a missed exam only in cases of "unforeseeable, emergency, and justifiable" reasons, and only if I am contacted in advance, or within two days of an emergency. Makeup exams consist of ten essay questions. The final exam is cumulative. If you miss the final exam, your must file a petition for an Incomplete or receive a grade of F in the course. No cell phones, calculators or other electronic devices will be allowed during exams. Exams and quizzes are closed-book and closed-note.

Weekly assigments consists of alternating quizzes and homework. No makeup quizzes will be given and no homework will be accepted past the original due dates for any reason. Quizzes will be given at the start of class and homework due at the start of class. If you arrive late to class, you will miss the only opportunity to take the quiz that week and/or turn in homework. It is your responsibility to anticipate traffic and other delays to make sure that you arrive on time. Homework will not be accepted by e-mail because this is an attendance-based lecture course. If you arrive late or need to excuse yourself from the class, as a courtesy, please let me know in advance. In order to minimize class disruption, I will ask you to wait until a convenient break to pick up papers and handouts if you miss these at the start of class. If you miss either quiz or homework due to illness or other emergency, I will still provide feedback on your work even though no credit will be given.

If you miss more than three quizzes or homeworks total, you may be dropped from the course. If you need assistance with your studies or learning skills, consult a study partner and/or the instructor in a timely manner. Identify potential study partners during class. If you are stuck on a problem, or a needed resource such as a website is unexpectedly unavailable, you must seek a solution by contacting me by noon of the Monday before homework is due. Discovery of such problems the day before an assignment is due, is not an acceptable excuse for an incomplete assignment. Make sure to have an alternative printing location in case your normal printer fails.

Incomplete

Students seeking an Incomplete must initiate and file a petition with the instructor citing unforseeable, emergency, and justifiable reasons. The instructor cannot initiate this action. An incomplete is highly undesirable because it will result in a grade of F if the incomplete work is not completed within set time limits.

Classroom Standards

All students are expected to behave in a professional manner. I expect each and every one of you to be in class every time, on time. Overlapping class and work hours are unacceptable because you cannot be in two places at once. Handouts and other materials passed out at the start of class will only be available during break. Disruptive or other nonparticipating students will be suspended from the classroom for the remainder of the class period and referred to counselors and other appropriate personnel at Grossmont College. Students using laptops for activities other than note-taking or matters directly related to the lecture will be suspended from the remainder of the class period. Use of laptops is not encouraged because it detracts from participation in class discussion and making your own illustrations in notes. Action will be taken so that all students can enjoy a quality learning environment. Anyone who comes to class unprepared for activities and discussion will not be able to participate and special class time will not be taken to accommodate related deficiencies. All cell phones must be turned off during class. After the second case of cell phone disruption, including audible ringing, answering or leaving class to answer, you may be suspended for the remainder of the class. Disruptive students will be asked to leave the remainder of the class period.

Academic Integrity

"Cheating and plagiarism (using as one's own ideas, writings or materials of someone else without acknowledgement or permission) can result in any one of a variety of sanctions. Such penalties may range from an adjusted grade on the particular exam, paper, project, or assignment to a failing grade in the course. The instructor may also summarily suspend the student for the class meeting when the infraction occurs, as well as the following class meeting. For further clarification and information on these issues, please consult with your instructor or contact the office of the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs." - Grossmont College

Anyone caught cheating on a midterm or final will receive a grade of F for this course. If you engage in plagiarism, you will receive no credit for that entire assignment.

Supervised Tutoring Referral

Students are referred to enroll in the following supervised tutoring courses if the service indicated will assist them in achieving or reinforcing the learning objectives of this course:

IDS 198 - Supervised Tutoring to receive turtoring in general computer applications in the Tech Mall;
English 198W - Supervised Tutoring for assistance in the English Writing Center (Room 70-119); and /or
IDS 198T - Supervised Tutoring to receive one-on-one tutoring in academic subjects in the Tutoring Center (Room 70-229, 644-7387 (depending on the semester, there may or may not be a specific tutor for Oceanography).

To add any of these courses, students may obtain Add Codes at the Information/Registration Desk in the Tech Mall. All Supervised Tutoring courses are non-credit/non-fee. However, when a student registers for a supervised tutoring course, and has no other classes, the student will be charged the usual health fee.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

Students with disabilities who may need accommodations in this class are encouraged to notify the instructor and contact Disabled Student Services & Programs (DSP&S) early in the semester so that reasonable accommodations may be implemented as soon as possible. Students may contact DSP&S in person in room 110 or by phone at (619) 644-7112 (7119 is TTY for deaf).

Materials from Grossmont College

1.  Fall 2008 Calendar
     http://www.grossmont.edu/schedule/
2.  2007-2008 Catalog    http://www.grossmont.edu/admissions/catalog.asp
     Refer to the Grossmont College Catalog to learn more about applicable
     academic policies. The Catalog is available online and for purchase at the Bookstore.

By enrolling in this class, you accept the terms of this syllabus.