COURSE POLICIES

GRADING: Your final grade for this class will be based upon the following:

a) Three best of your mid-term exams               (15% each, 45% total)

b) Final exam                                                            (25%) 

c) Writing assignments                                          (2.5% each, 10% total)

d) Critical thinking assignments                         (2.5% each, 10% total)

e) Quizzes                                                                 (2.5% each, 10% total)

You will also get credit for any extra credit points that you have accumulated.  All exams are graded upon a curve.  If you miss one of the first four exams that grade will be dropped, otherwise I will drop your lowest grade.  If you miss more than one of the first four exams you will get a zero for each additional exam missed. The final exam is semi-comprehensive. There are no make up exams!!.  There are no make up opportunities for other assignments.

COURSE MATERIALS: You are responsible for all information presented in the text even if this material is not discussed in class, unless otherwise informed.  We will occasionally discuss or view (i.e. video) supplementary materials from sources outside of the text.  You will also be responsible for these materials during exams.  The rough breakdown of information content that you will be responsible for on each exam, is as follows:

Text material = 60-70%   Lecture material not in Text = 20-30%   Synthesis, Essay, Analytical = 5-15%

EXTRA CREDIT:  Extra credit can be earned on each exam (5 pts. possible, to be added after curve), and may be pursued in participating in web page discussion sessions.

ATTENDANCE: Although I may occasionally call roll and record attendance, there is no attendance requirement for this course.  I will call attendance often during the beginning of the semester, in order to learn your names.  Though there is no attendance requirement, I strongly encourage good attendance because I assure you that it will be difficult to get a good grade in this class otherwise.

CLASS PARTICIPATION: Although you will not be graded based upon your classroom participation I encourage you to ask questions and to provoke discussion.  In the situation in which your final grade is borderline after consideration of extra credit points I will give you the benefit of the doubt if you were active in classroom discussions.

CLASS ETIQUETTE: Please be courteous and attentive during class.  Do not use tobacco or consume soft drinks or food during class.  Try to arrive in class prior to the lecture, and refrain from talking to others during class.  I encourage discussion in the classroom with myself and others, but only regarding the lecture topic.

COURSE OBJECTIVE: To provide you with a complete and broad based knowledge of the Marine Science subdisciplines concerning chemical, physical and biological oceanography.  But more importantly, to get you in the right mental framework for further studies in Marine Science.  This will prepare you for upper level courses, and for many, graduate programs in marine science.

GUIDELINES FOR STUDY:  If you hope to perform well in this class you should be willing to devote approximately 3 hours of study for each hour in lecture.  It is ideal to study some each day, and not wait until just before the exam to start studying.  Vary your study methods by reading and underlining, using self made flash cards, and answering problems at the end of each chapter.  Feel free to come and see me for other suggestions.  Remember you are now a member of a highly respected Marine Science program.  We have a national reputation that demands that we continue to groom the very best students for entry into graduate programs.  If you do well you can go on to accomplish great things, but it is going to be a challenge.

NOTE I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO POST

EXAM KEYS FOR THE MIDTERM EXAMS

THE PREVIOUS KEYS WERE FOR THE YEAR 2002

Copyright © 2004 - Eric Koepfler - Last updated 10/31/04