View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by University of New Orleans University of New Orleans ScholarWorks@UNO University of New Orleans Syllabi Fall 2015 EES 1006 Kraig Derstler University of New Orleans Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.uno.edu/syllabi This is an older syllabus and should not be used as a substitute for the syllabus for a current semester course. Recommended Citation Derstler, Kraig, "EES 1006" (2015). University of New Orleans Syllabi. Paper 311. https://scholarworks.uno.edu/syllabi/311 This Syllabus is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@UNO. It has been accepted for inclusion in University of New Orleans Syllabi by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UNO. For more information, please contact scholarworks@uno.edu. EES 1006, sect. 001 ----------------------------------- Dinosaurs --------------------------------------- UNO, Fall ‘15 MWF 9-9:50pm; GP-1000 Instructor: Kraig Derstler, G/P 1020A, kderstle@uno.edu; 280-6799 Office Hours: TTh11am-12:30pm, WF 1-3pm Text: NONE required. The course is built around the lectures. However, several books may help, if you wish to have an optional text. A good (if outdated) book is Norman, D. (1985) "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs" (Crescent Books). More up-to-date (but less useful) books include actual dinotexts. One is Fastovsky & Weishampel Cambridge Univ. Press. Another is Lucas, S. "Dinosaurs: the textbook" (McGraw-Hill). Previously-owned copies of any post-2005 edition of either may prove helpful. Do not waste money on a new copy; both books are hugely, gigantically, grotesquely, revoltingly overpriced. Please remember at the end of the semester when you fill out an evaluation that you were provided this information, although you were not required to obtain a book because of the exorbitant prices. Grading: 4 exams, 100 pts each, no curve, no makeup exams and no early exams. If it helps, one of the first three exams will be replaced with a duplicate of their 4th (final) exam score. EVERYONE TAKES THE FINAL EXAM, no exceptions and no early exams. Please don’t ask. Extra Credit: 1.) quizzes; 2.) up to 10 pts for the writeup of your “Walk Thru Time” Attendance: As per university policy, attendance is required. Attendance will be recorded by passing a signup sheet around the classroom. Excessive unexcused absences may result in reduction in grade at the discretion of the instructor. Honesty: Any academic dishonesty will result in a failing grade. Your case may also be submitted for further action. Academic integrity is fundamental to the process of learning and evaluating academic performance. To this end, academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Such dishonesty includes but is not limited to the following: cheating, plagerism, tampering with academic records and examination, and being accessory to acts of academic dishonesty. Refer to the Student Code of Conduct for further information: http://www.studentaffairs.uno.edu Optional Fieldtrip: The instructor is occasionally available for guided tours of the dinosaur hall at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. This is not a UNO function and neither transportation nor entry fees are provided. The tours are open to anyone who wishes to attend. Ask if interested. Disabled Students: The instructor will make all reasonable accommodations for students registered with ODS. UNO provides reasonable accommodations to students who have disabilities that may affect their ability to participate in course activities or meet course requirements. Students should contact the Office of Disability Services and their instructors to discuss this issue: http://www.ods.uno.edu Learning Goals: Your Educational Goals Learning Goals for this class are 1.) to be conversant with contemporary dinosaur science, 2.) to be familiar with peripheral topics such as geological time, zoological classification, biological evolution, and basic vertebrate skeletal anatomy, and 3.) by the end of the semester, think like a dinosaur paleontologist. Naturally, you are expected demonstrate this knowledge on all four exams. Student Behavior: Some wise and important soul has decided that all UNO syllabi need a statement on student behavior. To that end, I expect you to be polite, raise you hand to ask questions, not walk out of class unless you have a bona fide emergency, and never, ever walk in front of the class once the lecture has started. Tentative Schedule August 19, 21 (WF) - Dinosaur definitions; overview of dinosaur evolution Aug. 24, 26, 28 (MWF) - GeoTime (Quiz #1 at beginning of next lecture, TBA in class); Skeletons (Quiz#2 at beginning of next class, TBA in class) Aug. 31, Sept.2,4 (MWF) - Fossilization, Dino Field and Labwork. *September 7 (Monday) - no class, Labor Day Sept. 9, 11 (WF) - Catch up; Science Funding; Begin Early Dinosaur Workers *** EXAM #1 on MONDAY, September 14 Sept. 16, 18 (WF) - Continue with Dinosaur Workers Sept. 21, 23, 25 (MWF) - Biological Evolution, Zoological Classification Sept. 28, 30, Oct. 2 (MWF) - catch up and Dinosaur Origins Oct. 5, 7 (MW) - Earliest Dinosaurs *** EXAM #2 on FRIDAY, October 9 Oct. 12, 14 (MW) - Theropods *October 16 (Friday) - no class, Fall Break Oct. 19, 21, 23 (MWF) - cont.Theropods, Bird Origins Oct. 26, 28, 30 (MWF) - Sauropodomorphs Nov. 2, 4 (MW) - Ornithischian Intro *** Exam #3 FRIDAY November 6 Nov. 9, 11, 13 (MWF) - Ornithopods, Thyreophorans Nov. 16, 19, 20 (MWF) - Boneheads and Ceratopsians Nov. 23, 25 (MW) - Catchup; Pterosaurs *November 27 (F) - no class, Thanksgiving Holiday Nov. 30, Dec. 2, 4 (MWF) Dinobiology, Dinosaurs in popular culture *Walk Thru Time writes due at 9am, Dec 4 *** Final Exam (Comprehensive, required of all students) WEDNESDAY December 9 at 7:30-9:30am in G/P 1000 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Important Dates Last day to adjust schedule w/out fee .......................... 08/18/2015 Semester Classes Begin ................................................ 08/19/2015 Last day to adjust schedule w/fee, or withdraw with 100% refund ..................................... 08/25/2015 Last day to apply for December commencement ........ 09/25/2015 Final day to drop a course or resign ............................. 10/14/2015 Mid-semester examinations ............................... 10/05-10/09/2015 Final examinations ............................................. 12/07-12/11/2015 Commencement ............................................................. 12/18/2015 Fall Semester Holidays Labor Day ..................................................................... 09/07/2015 Mid-semester break ............................................ 10/15-10/16/2015 Thanksgiving ...................................................... 11/26-11/27/2015 Withdrawal Policy – Undergraduate only Students are responsible for initiating action to resign from the University (withdraw from all courses) or from a course on or before dates indicated in the current Important dates calendar. Students who fail to resign by the published final date for such action will be retained on the class rolls even though they may be absent for the remainder of the semester and be graded as if they were in attendance. Failure to attend classes does not constitute a resignation. Check the dates on the Registrar’s website, http://www.registrar.uno.edu. Please consult The Bulletin for charges associated with dropping and adding courses. Incomplete Policy – Undergraduate only The grade of I means incomplete and is given for work of passing quality but which, because of circumstances beyond the student's control, is not complete. The issuance of the grade of I is at the discretion of the faculty member teaching the course. For all graduate and undergraduate students, a grade of I becomes a grade of F if it is not converted before the deadline for adding courses for credit (as printed in the Important Dates Calendar) of the next regular semester including summer semester. Repeat Policy -- When a student is permitted to repeat a course for credit, the last grade earned shall be the one which determines course acceptability for degree credit. A student who has earned a C or better in a course may not repeat that course unless, (1) the catalog description indicates that the course may be repeated for credit, or (2) the student's Dean gives prior approval for documented extenuating circumstances. Academic Dishonesty Policy -- http://www.uno.edu/student-affairs-enrollment-management/documents/academic-dishonesty-policy-rev2014.pdf Safety Awareness Facts and Education -- Title IX makes it clear that violence and harassment based on sex and gender is a Civil Rights offense subject to the same kinds of accountability and the same kinds of support applied to offenses against other protected categories such as race, national origin, etc. If you or someone you know has been harassed or assaulted, you can find the appropriate resources here: http://www.uno.edu/student-affairs-enrollment-management/ UNO Counseling Services and UNO Cares -- UNO offers care and support for students in any type of distress. Counseling Services assist students in addressing mental health concerns through assessment, short-term counseling, and career testing and counseling. Find out more at http://www.uno.edu/counseling-services/. First-year students often have unique concerns, and UNO Cares is designed to address those students succeed. Contact UNO Cares through http://www.uno.edu/fye/uno-cares.aspx. Emergency Procedures -- Sign up for emergency notifications via text and/or email at E2Campus Notification: http://www.uno.edu/ehso/emergency-communications/index.aspx. All emergency and safety procedures are explained at the Emergency Health and Safety Office: http://www.uno.edu/ehso/. Diversity at UNO ---- As the most diverse public university in the state, UNO maintains a Diversity Affairs division to support the university’s efforts towards creating an environment of healthy respect, tolerance, and appreciation for the people from all walks of life, and the expression of intellectual point of view and personal lifestyle. The Office of Diversity Affairs promotes these values through a wide range of programming and activities. http://diversity.uno.edu/index.cfm Learning and Support Services --- Help is within reach in the form of learning support services, including tutoring in writing and math and other supplemental instruction. Visit the Learning Resource Center in LA 334, or learn more at http://www.uno.edu/lrc/. Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity -- UNO is an equal opportunity employer. The Human Resource Management department has more information on UNO’s compliance with federal and state regulations regarding EEOC in its Policies and Resources website: http://www.uno.edu/human-resource-management/policies.aspx ======================================================================================= Extra Info - Here’s a particularly good, well-illustrated discussion on the current state of theropod classification. It will use lots of words and names you don’t know, so do not study from this. Rather, consider it as cool supplement to the course. http://www.palarch.nl/wp-content/Hendrickx_etal_2015_non_avian_theropods_pjvp12_11.pdf