Dr. Keith B. Miller                                                                                               Fall 2006

 

GEOLOGY 120

THE AGE OF DINOSAURS

M, W, F  9:30 AM

Thompson 213

 

WEEK                        TOPIC                                                TEXT READING

 

1                      What is science?
2                      Discovering Earth History

3                      History of Dinosaur Discovery                             p. 10-44

4                      From Fossil to Reconstruction                               p. 46-89

                        Dinosaur Classification & Evolution                    p. 128-144

Sept 18           -------- EXAM #1--------
5                      Before the Dinosaurs

6                      Life of the Triassic and Dinosaur Origins            p. 204-215

7                      Biology & Ecology of Triassic Dinosaurs

8                      Life & Environments of the Jurassic                      p. 215-221

                        Biology & Ecology of Jurassic Dinosaurs
Oct 16             -------- EXAM #2 --------

9                      Jurassic Dinosaurs continued
10                      Life & Environments of the Cretaceous              p. 221-230

11                    Biology & Ecology of Cretaceous Dinosaurs       p. 267-293

12                    Cretaceous Dinosaurs continued

Nov 10           -------- EXAM #3 --------

13                    Dinosaurs and the Origin of Birds                         p. 169-202

14                    Dinosaur Energetics and Life Styles                      p. 295-344

15                    Extinction of the Dinosaurs                                     p. 345-390

Dec    --------FINAL EXAM-------- 

 

TEXT:  SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN BOOK OF DINOSAURS

Gregory S. Paul, editor

St. Martin's Press, 2000

ISBN: 0-312-26226-4

 

OFFICE HOURS:                ROOM 212  Thompson Hall

W, F  10:30 -11:30 am  and other times by appointment.

Please take advantage of my office hours to obtain help.  If you have any questions concerning either the readings or lecture see me as soon as possible!  My e-mail address is kbmill@ksu.edu

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Dinosaurs were one of the most successful and longest-lived groups of terrestrial vertebrates to have ever lived.  This course will reconstruct the world of the dinosaurs, and place it in the context of Earth history.  Our view of dinosaurs and their world has changed dramatically over the years, and this course will include the most recent discoveries and interpretations.  The inferred biology and ecology of the amazing diversity of dinosaur species will be discussed, and the theories concerning their origin, evolution, and extinction will be presented.

 

ASSIGNMENTS & CLASS ATTENDANCE: You will be expected to have read the assigned pages from the text.  Class lectures will complement, but not reiterate, the text.  Homework assignments will also be based on material presented in class.  Regular class attendance is thus essential for you to be able to succeed in this course.  Because of the rapidly changing nature of dinosaur studies and continuing fossil discoveries, additional readings will be assigned.  Required readings from sources other than the text will be made available at the reserve desk of the library. 

 

RESEARCH PAPER:  You are required to write a 5-10 page research paper on a topic of your choice related to the course content and approved by the instructor.  It will utilize a minimum of 4 scientific sources.  You will be required to attend a workshop on library research at Hale before writing your paper.  Paper topics must be approved by September 25.  A detailed outline of your paper and a list of your sources must be submitted by October 23.  The final paper will be due December 4.

 

GRADING:  There will be four exams (including the final) on the dates indicated, and each will be worth 20% of your final grade.  All exams will include multiple choice, matching, and short answer questions.  The remaining 20% of your grade will be determined by your research paper (15%), and occasional homework assignments (5%).  Your final grades will be adjusted (curved) based on the class average.  If the class average is less than 75%, the difference between the actual class average and 75% will be added to each persons percentage score.

 

HONOR CODE:  The honor system for undergraduate students at K-State became effective in the Fall of 1999.   In this system, the honor pledge is implied, whether or not it is stated: "On my honor, as a student, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this academic work."   You will be required to sign this pledge on all exams and papers.  A grade of  XF can result from a breach of academic honesty.  An XF would be failure of the course with the X on the transcript indicating failure as a result of a breach of academic honesty.  In addition to cheating on exams or homework, failure to  properly  cite  sources  in your research paper is considered a violation of the honor code.  All violations of the honor code will be reported to the Honor Code Office.

 

MAKEUP EXAMS: Makeup exams will be allowed ONLY if you have a written signed excuse for the date of the exam/quiz from your medical doctor, academic dean, or advisor.  These excuses must be on letterhead stationary from the appropriate doctor, dean, or advisor.  I also must be notified of the absence either before the exam or by the next regularly scheduled class period.

 

NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT:  Copyright © 2006  (Keith B. Miller) as to this syllabus and all lectures.  During this course students are prohibited from selling notes to, or being paid for taking notes by, any person or commercial firm without the express written permission of the professor teaching this course.