DESCRIPTIVE ASTRONOMY 101
Online course
Mesa College
An
introductory survey course, intended to develop an appreciation of contemporary
astronomy. Topics include the solar
system, stars and stellar evolution, the Milky Way galaxy, and cosmology.
Supplemented
by films and/or field trips. (FT)
Transfer Credit: CSU and/or private coll/univ.; UC.
3
house, 3 units
Instructor:
Prof. Steven Siegel
Text: Required - Discovering the Universe. Kaufmann and Commins, 8th edition.
Office:
K-112B/C
Telephone: 388-2629
e-mail: ssiegel@sdccd.edu
"We go about our daily lives
understanding almost nothing of the world.
We give
little
thought to the machinery that generates the sunlight that makes life possible,
to the
gravity
that glues us to an Earth that would otherwise send us spinning off into space,
or to the
atoms
of which we are made and on whose stability we fundamentally depend. Except for
children,
few of us spend much time wondering why nature is the way it is; where the
cosmos
came
from, or whether it is always here; if time will one day flow backward and
effects precede
causes;
or whether there are ultimate limits to what humans can know."
Carl Sagan
One
of the purposes of this class is to make us children again so that we may ask
questions we once asked and learn about ourselves by becoming more aware of the
environment that surrounds us.
This class will be conducted in
accordance with the college student code of conduct and basic standards of
academic honesty. Cheating, plagiarism
or other forms of academic dishonesty are not acceptable and will not be
tolerated. Violations of standards of
academic honesty will be reported to the school dean for appropriate action.
Chapter quizzes are the homework for this class. All quizzes must be submitted online, and will be a multiple choice format. Each quiz assignment is worth 25 points. You will be given two (2) tries at each quiz, with the highest grade being the final grade.
Late quizzes will not be accepted!
Examinations:
2 points of extra credit may be earned by posting the URL's of articles describing various astronomical discoveries, theories, projects etc. These articles may be from newspapers, science journals, popular magazines, as well as news sites (CNN, NBC, ABC, etc.) A maximum of 10 extra credit points can be earned per student, and extra credit cannot be shared, if two extra credit submissions are identical, then the submission received the earliest will receive the credit.
There will be approximately 300 exam points plus 450 quiz points for a total of 750 points. Grades will be distributed using the following guidelines:
653-750 A
570-652 B
375-569 C
263-374 D
Below 263 F
Academic Participation:
Responsibility
to Add, Drop or Withdraw
It
is the student's responsibility to add, drop, or withdraw from class before the
deadlines stated in the class schedule.
Petitions to add, drop, or withdraw after the deadline will not be
approved without proof of circumstance beyond the student's control, which made
him/her unable to meet the deadline.
Lack of money to pay fees is not considered extenuating circumstance. Students
anticipating difficulty in paying fees before the add deadline should check
with the Financial Aid Office about sources of funds or other alternatives for
which they may be eligible. If you
decide to withdraw from this course, you are reminded to do so before the
posted withdrawal date. If you fail to
withdraw by that date and you stop participating in class, a final grade must
be assigned to you.
x Active participation will help you retain what you are learning. Re-reading lectures and participating in discussions is much more effective than reading someone else's notes.
x
Budget your time effectively. An
hour or two each day is more effective, and far less painful, than studying all
night before exams.
x
If a concept gives you trouble, do additional reading beyond what has
been assigned. And if you still have
trouble, ask for help: you surely can find friends, colleagues, or teachers who
will be glad to help you learn.
x
Working together with friends can be valuable in helping you to solve
difficult problems. However, be sure
that you learn with your friends and do not become dependent on them.
x
When studying your text: Don't highlight -- underline! Using a pen or pencil to underline material
requires greater care than highlighting, and therefore helps to keep you alert
as you study.
r
Study your notes from lectures and discussions. Pay attention to what your instructor expects
you top know for an examination.
r
Reread the relevant sections in the textbook, paying special attention
to notes you have made in the margins.
r
Study individually before joining a study group with friends. Study groups are effective only if every
individual comes prepared to contribute.
r
Don't stay up too late the night before the examination. Don't eat a big meal within an hour of the
examination (thinking is more difficult when blood is being diverted to the
digestive system).
r
Try to relax before and during the examination. If you have studied effectively, you are
capable of doing well. Staying relaxed
will help you think clearly.