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NATURAL SCIENCES 101—INTRODUCTION TO WEATHER AND CLIMATE |
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SECTION 56: TR 8:00 A.M.—9:15 A.M. CHVEZ 111 |
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Class Hours and Location: Section 56: 8:00 AM - 9:15 AM (TR) in CHVEZ 111. Instructor: Prof. Steven L. Mullen (email: mullen@atmo.arizona.edu), PAS 552, 621-6831, 621-6842. Teaching Assistants: Stephen Bieda III (email: bieda@atmo.arizona.edu), PAS 476, 626-5123. Office Hours: Prof. Mullen: WR 2:00 p.m.-2:50 p.m., but subject to change with advance notice, or by appointment. Mr. Bieda: MWF 11:00 am-12:00 pm. Required Text: Essentials of Meteorology-An Invitation to the Atmosphere, 4th Ed. (ISBN 0-534-42264-0) by C. Donald Ahrens Recommended: Study Guide for Essentials of Meteorology, 4th Ed. (ISBN 0-534-42266-7) by C. Donald Ahrens
Other Required Material: Thirty (30) 4''x 6'' index cards, used for daily student-to-instructor feedback, attendance (see below), etc.
Course Description: An introduction to the science of weather and climate, including such topics (time permitting) as the atmospheric composition, energy balance, wind systems, genesis of fronts and cyclones, precipitation processes, clouds, severe weather, weather prediction and optical phenomena. Emphasis will be given to phenomena that have strong impacts on human activities and economic livelihood such as tornadoes, hurricanes, El Nino, global warming, ozone depletion, and air pollution. The fundamental importance of physics, chemistry and mathematics to the atmospheric sciences will be explored.
Grading Policy: Final grade will be based on scores from your six best regularly-scheduled quizzes, impromptu “pop quizzes”, and a comprehensive final examination. Scheduled quizzes will consist of 30-35 total questions that are multiple choice and/or short answer. Extra credit questions may appear on some quizzes. Each quiz will cover new material presented up through the end of the previous lecture period. There will be four quizzes during the term. The quizzes will be given on Tuesday, Feb 6, Thursday, March 1, Tuesday Apr 3, and Thursday Apr 26. No Exceptions. The time for quizzes is 8:00 am sharp. No Exceptions. Students who arrive late on quiz/exam dates, where late is defined as arriving after the first student turns in her/his quiz/exam, will not be not allowed to take the quiz. Because the lowest score among the four quizzes will be weighted down by 1/2 in the course grade, there will be NO MAKE-UP QUIZZES. Bring your CAT CARD on quiz days!
Pop-quizzes will consist of 1 or 2 questions. The format of the questions will be same as the regularly-scheduled quizzes: multiple choice and/or short answer questions. The pop-quiz questions count the same as regular quiz questions, and they will be added to your total quiz score. Answers will only be accepted on 4''x 6'' index cards!
The final is Tuesday, May 8, 8:00 am-10:00 am in CHVEZ 111. No Exceptions. Bring your CAT CARD to the final! The final will consist of 60 multiple-choice questions and/or short answer questions. A minimum of 30, but no more than 40 questions, will be taken verbatim from the old quizzes. If your score on the final exceeds the average of your four unadjusted quizzes, the quizzes will comprise 60% and the final the remaining 40% of your course grade. Otherwise the quizzes will comprise 75% and the final the remaining 25%. Any student with an average of 90% or better on all four quizzes will be exempt from the final and will receive an "A'' for the course. There will be NO EXTRA CREDIT PROJECTS. No Exceptions…don’t even ask …so plan accordingly! COURSE GRADING SCALE A = ≥ 90.00% B = 89.99-80.0% C = 79.99-65.0% D = 64.99-55.0% E = Below 55.0% Expectations: The reading assignments for each day's lecture are listed on a separate handout and in the tables that follow. You are expected to complete the assigned reading before the lecture. Unless you hear otherwise from Professor Mullen, you are always responsible for the reading material. Of course, you are invited to ask questions about the material during lecture, office hours or review sessions. Per University policy, I expect every student to devote a minimum of two hours outside of class to studying, reading, etc. for every contact hour in classroom. See http://catalog.arizona.edu/2006-07/policies/enrpol.htm#unit. If you are unwilling or unable to commit to a minimum of 2 hours outside of class, then I recommend that you take another course. Honors Credit: This course is available for honors credit to qualified Honors Students. The requirements for honors credit are a review paper on the debate surrounding global warming of approximately 10 pages length and a possible 10 minute presentation in class that summarizes your findings and opinions on the subject. You must declare your intentions to take the course for honors credit prior to Tuesday, February 6, 2007. Attendance Policy: Attendance is mandatory. I reserve the right to take attendance throughout the semester. After three unexcused absences, you will be issued an administrative drop (prior to the end of week 8) in accord with University of Arizona (UA) policy. http://catalog.arizona.edu/2006-07/policies/classatten.htm. My suggestion is pretty simple...just come to class…every meeting. All holidays or special events observed by organized religions will be honored for those students who show affiliation with that particular religion if the instructor is given reasonable notice. Absences for travel to road games by NCAA athletes will be honored if the instructor is given reasonable advance notice. Students are responsible for all material missed in class, including quizzes, which are expected to be taken early. Academic Integrity: The UA Code of Academic Integrity, Code of Conduct and Student Code of Conduct are strictly followed. All students are responsible for knowing the codes and abiding by them. See http://web.arizona.edu/~dos/uapolicies/. My tolerance for breaches of academic integrity is zero. I am particularly sensitive to wandering eyes during quizzes, which if I note, will immediately prompt picking up your quiz and dismissing you from that day’s class. I will then file an academic code violation that afternoon. You can submit complaints about fellow students online at http://dos.web.arizona.edu/uapolicies/index.html. Your submission is completely anonymous, and I will investigate the allegations further. Classroom Behavior: Every student is expected to behave as a courteous adult and in manner consistent with enhancing the educational experience of your peer students. You are expected to not talk with your neighbors during class, to turn off your electronic toys (e.g. cell phones, pagers, blackberries, iPods, mp3’s, etc.), and to remain seated until I dismiss the class. I have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to digressions, and I will request that you leave the classroom, and not return, if you insist on behaving in a contrary manner. Destructive behavior in the classroom or any perceived threatening behavior toward fellow students or the teaching staff will be dealt with swiftly and accordingly (See UA Policy http://policy.web.arizona.edu/~policy/threaten.shtml). Please note that I always carry my cell, and a 911 call is no more than five seconds away. Disability Resource Center: I remind students who are registered with the Disability Resource Center that I must receive appropriate documentation if they are requesting reasonable accommodations. Literacy Requirements: Although the writing requirement for this course is negligible, there is a science literacy requirement. This means that we use scientific notation for writing numbers (especially rather large or small ones). We specify units for all physical quantities (e.g. meters for length, seconds for time, kilograms for mass, etc.). We attempt to quantify physical relationships based on data, simple reasoning and the governing laws of physics. Course Withdrawal: Last day to drop the course without it appearing on your record is Tuesday February 6, 2007. Last day to drop the course with a "W'' grade is Tuesday March 6, 2007. To receive a W, your average grade at the time you drop must equal or exceed 55%. Reasonable Change Disclaimer: The information contained in this syllabus, other than the grade and absence policy, may be subject to change with reasonable notice as deemed appropriate by the instructor. |
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Syllabus |
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Class Listserv mullen@listserv.arizona.edu |