Welcome to Elements of Geology!

This is going to be a challenging, rewarding, and (I hope) enjoyable semester. Here's what I hope we accomplish:

§ We will explore the way the Earth works, what it is made of, and how it changes over time.

§ We will examine how scientists approach problems and, in particular, how earth scientists "know" the way the Earth works.

§ We will examine the history of earth science as a field of human endeavor, illustrated through the lives and accomplishments of men and women who have worked and contributed to the development of the science of the Earth.

          § We will examine how geology relates to other science disciplines.


I will have these four goals in mind every time I step into the classroom, although I may not always stress them equally.

I will also consider them as I write exams. As we all move through the course together, I hope that we can share some of the excitement of earth science, and that you will see how a scientific appreciation of the Earth is important for you.

How Should I Study in Elements of Geology?

This course will introduce you to new observations and unfamiliar ideas, as well as a lot of new vocabulary. It will also expect you to reinterpret things that you thought you already knew about the Earth. Keep your eyes open and your mind sharp. As we encounter a new topic, focus on basic questions like these:

§ Do I understand the vocabulary that is being used?

§ Do I understand the concept that the words are meant to convey?

§ How does this process work?

§ How is this geologic feature formed?

§ Where could I go to see the geologic feature being described?

§ What evidence do earth scientists have that they are interpreting this process or feature correctly?

§ How is this observation or idea related to others we have considered?

§ How is it related to things I have learned elsewhere?

§ Why do earth scientists care about this topic?

§ Why should I care?

Write yourself questions like these as you take notes in class. Scribble questions in the margins off your book while you are reading. Write down complete answers for these questions as often as you can. Especially when you run across concepts that are difficult, take time to write a brief essay that addresses your questions.

I encourage you to try this approach because earth science is more than a body of facts to be memorized. If you get in the habit of asking questions as you study instead of just learning answers, you will have a much better understanding of why the answers are important. Also, the system of writing questions, discussing them with other students, and then answering them in writing demands some mental organization. It also leaves you with a record that you can review later as you prepare for an exam.