USC-AIKEN Academic Calendar, Fall Semester 2009
August 20 (Thu) - UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE CLASSES BEGIN.
August 20 - 26 (Thu - Wed) - Late registration and schedule adjustments, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. 
	The Registration Center will close at 5 p.m. on Friday, August 21st.
August 26 (Wed) - For Fall 2009 classes in Sessions A002 and N002:  
	Last day to register and/or change your schedule,  
	Last day to drop a course or withdraw without record, and  
	 Last day to elect/revoke the audit option.
September 7 (Mon) - Labor Day--no classes. The University will be closed.
October 8 (Thu) - Mid-point in the semester. 
October 8 - 9 (Thu - Fri) - Fall Break--no classes.
October 14 (Wed) - Grad Finale.
October 15 (Thu) - Last day to withdraw or drop without receiving a "WF" for Fall 2009 classes  	in Sessions A002 and N002.  
November 25 - 29 (Wed - Sun) - Thanksgiving Holiday--no classes.
December 4 (Fri) - UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE CLASSES END.
December 10 (Thu) - Final exam.
December 10 (Thu) - Convocation at 7:00 pm in the Convocation Center.

Paleontology, AGLY 311, USC-Aiken
Tentative Syllabus, Fall Semester, 2009
Instructor:  Ralph Willoughby
Office:   Science Building, Room 206
Office Hours:  Mondays and Wednesdays 1:30 - 2:30 pm or by appointment. 
	In class, remind me and I will provide a telephone number.
PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT ME if you have a difficulty or problem with the
course material or with your perfomance.  My hours a flexible.
Classes Meet:  Mondays and Wednesdays at 2:30 -- 5:10 pm.
	       Class sessions at 2:30 - 3:30 pm.
	       Laboratory sessions at 3:40 -- 5:10 pm.
Primary Textbook:  Michael J. Benton and David A. T. Harper, 2009, Introduction to Paleobiology and the 	Fossil Record.  Wiley-Blackwell, Chichester, England, U.K., and Hoboken, New Jersey, U.S.A.  	Softcover edition, 592 pages.  (“B&H” in the Class and Laboratory Schedule, below.)
Supplementary Textbook:  John R. Nudds and Paul A. Selden, 2008, Fossil Ecosystems of North America.  	University of Chicago Press,  Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.  Softcover.  190 pages. (“N&S” in the Class 	and Laboratory Schedule, below.)
Course Description:  Paleontology, AGLY 311, surveys all aspects of life on Earth.  We will discuss 	fossils 	of single-celled organisms, invertebrate and vertebrate animals, microscopic organisms, simple 	plants, and advanced plants, as well as nonfossiliferous organisms, trace fossils, the origin of life, 	evolution, taxonomy, paleoecology, biostratigraphy, ecostratigraphy, rudimentary statistics, and 	more.  	
		Please make every effort to attend every class.  
		Attendance on the field trips is mandatory.
Course Requirements:  Courses in physical geology and in historical geology are preferred and will be 	helpful.  We will review elementary geology and stratigraphy early in the class.   
Laboratory Reports:  Bring unlined white paper, paper and eraser to each lab session.  
University Policy Regarding Disabilities: This class will meet all requirements as given by USCA policies and all legal requirements for students with disabilities.  
Class assignments: 		value, each:			running total:	
	Report #1:		  20 points (on completion)	 20 points
	Report #2:		  20 points (on completion)	 40 points
	Paper #1:		  75 points 			115 points
	Paper #2:		  75 points			190 points
	Paper #3:		110 points			300 points	
	Exam 1:			145 points			445 points
	Exam 2:			145 points			590 points	
	Final Exam:		160 points			750 points
		Subtotal, class assignments:  	  750 points
Laboratory assignments:
	Laboratory 1:		  10 points 			 10 points
	Laboratory 2:		  10 points 			 20 points	
	Laboratory 3:		  10 points 			 30 points
	Laboratory 4:		  10 points 		 	 40 points
	Laboratory 5:		  10 points 			 50 points
	Laboratory 6:		  10 points 			 60 points
	Laboratory 7:		  10 points 			 70 points
	Laboratory 8:		  10 points			 80 points	
	Laboratory 9:		  10 points 			 90 points
	Laboratory 10:		  10 points 			100 points	
	Laboratory 11:		  20 points 			120 points	
	Field trip #1:		  10 points 			130 points
	Field trip #2*:		  40 points 			170 points*
	Lab Exam #1:		  40 points			210 points
	Lab Exam #2:		  40 points			250 points
		Subtotal, lab assignments:  	  250 points
		Total:				1000 points
Extra Credit:  Own your own 10X hand lens BEFORE Field Trip #2.  Put the lens on a necklace, lanyard, 	or bootlace.  Bring it to lab sessions.  BRING IT WITH YOU to Field Trip #2.  See the USC-A 	Bookstore or other vendor.  10 points.
*Points are assigned after attendance PLUS your written remarks of 1 or 2 pages:
	What kinds of trace fossils or body fossils did you see?
	What did you learn?
	What did you like seeing?
	What differs from what you expected? 
	What would you like to know more about regarding fossils at the quarry?
	What were your impressions of the quarry, of the fossils there, and of the field trip?

DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENTS.
Assigned readings: BEFORE COMING TO CLASS, READ the chapters or papers assigned for that day.
		Read this material BEFORE you come to class.
Field trip #1 will visit a local sediment exposure near Aiken during a regular meeting in the second week of class.  	You will get dirt on your hands, clothes, and shoes.  Wear casual or other appropriate clothes.  Do not 	wear white clothes or shoes on the field trip.  If you 	need must wear white or dress clothes earlier in the 	day, bring a change of clothing to class and we’ll wait for you to change.  The locality is a drive of 	approximately 20 minutes from campus.  We will spend 30-45 minutes at the locality.
		Read “Burrows of Callianassa major Say, geologic indicators of littoral and shallow neritic 	environments (Robert J. Weimer and John H. Hoyt, 1964, Journal of Paleontology, v. 38, no. 4, pages 	761-767, plates 123-124, 2 text-figures)”.   READ this assigned paper BEFORE you come to class.
		The reference article summarizes work in shallow, nearshore, marine sediments on the Georgia 	Bight, Atlantic Ocean, and in the neighboring state.  Weimer and Hoyt (1964) described and figured b	burrows that are 	physical and environmental analogs for the trace fossils (burrows) at Field Trip #1.   
		Meet in classroom.  Then attend Field Trip #1 with the class.
		Prepare a one-page report on the trip.  Details will follow.
Field trip #2 will visit a limestone quarry in Berkeley County or Dorchester County on a Saturday or Sunday, 	probably in October.  The trip lasts all day.  You will scramble over rocks and get dirt on your hands and 	clothes.  You will see abundant fossils in limestone, and you may keep all fossils that you collect.  	Weather may be cool, but the bottom of the quarry gets warm.  Wear layers of clothing that may get dirty.  	Wear boots or sturdy shoes.  Bring water, drinks and a snack for refreshment at the quarry.  We will eat in 	Santee on the way back from the quarry.  Prepare a 1-page report.  Details will follow.
Report #1.  Find and read a recent newspaper article, internet blurb, movie announcement, or other popular news 	item about fossils or some aspect of paleontology.  The purpose of this exercise is for you to appreciate 	that fossils and paleontology appear in the popular news.  At this stage, you need not fully understand the 	item.
		Bring a copy to class.
		Briefly, orally present your news item to the class.	
		Summarize the item.
		State what caught your interest about the item.
		State what you do not understand about the article.
		You may ask questions about the article.
Report #2.  From a recent issue of a reputable scientific journal, read an article that concerns fossils or some aspect  	of paleontology.  The purpose of the exercise is for you to interface with the scientific literature in 	paleontology.  At this stage, you need not fully understand the article. 
		Bring a copy of the title page and abstract to class.  
		Briefly, orally present your article to the class.  
		State what caught your interest about the article.  
		State what you do not understand about the article.  
		Ask questions about the article.
Papers #1, #2, and #3:   Research and prepare a typed paper that discusses some group of fossil organisms or 	some aspect of paleontology.
		Papers #1 and #2 will be 4-6 typed pages.  
		Paper #3 will be 6-8 typed pages.
 		The title page and illustrations do not count as typed pages.  
		Prepare the references in the style that the Department of Biology and Geology approves. 
DO discuss the topic with the instructor well before the paper is due.   
Each paper must be on a separate topic.
Laboratory Reports:  On unlined white paper draw sketches of fossil specimens, showing names of fossils and 	features to be assigned.  Turn in each Lab by the second lab period after the end of that lab.  Turn in Lab 	#12 by the end of the meeting on November 30.

GRADING SCHEDULE: A: 	900-1000 points
			B+: 	860-899  points
			B: 	800-859  points
			C+: 	760-799  points
			C: 	700-759  points			
			D+: 	660-699  points
			D: 	600-659  points				
			F: 	<600     points

CLASS AND LABORATORY SCHEDULE:
[Readings from Nudds and Selden (2008) will be added]
MEETING:		CLASS:  				LABORATORY:  
1	Aug 24 (	Mon)	B&H Chapter 1.  			Lab #1 (day 1)			
Paleontology as a science.  		Preservation and Taphonomy (begin).
2	Aug 26 (Wed)	RHW notes.				Lab #1 (day 2)	
Earth as a system. Plate tectonics. 		Preservation and Taphonomy (finish).
Sedimentary geology. Stratigraphy.   						
3	Aug 31 (Mon)	B&H Chapter 2.  			Lab #2 (1 day only)  
Fossils in time and space.  		Stromatolites and Trace Fossils.
4	Sep 2 (Wed)	B&H Chapter 3.				Field Trip #1.
			Taphonomy and the quality 		Weimer and (1964).
			of the fossil record.  			Orphiomorpha nodosa in the wild.
--	Sep 07 (Mon)	LABOR DAY.  No classes.
5	Sep 09 (Wed)	B&H Chapter 4.				Lab #3 (day 1).	
Paleoecology and paleooclimates.		Microfossils.
6	Sep 14 (Mon)	B&H Chapter 5.  			Lab #3 (day 2).	
Macroevolution and the tree of life.  	Microfossils.
7	Sep 16 (Wed)	B&H Chapter 6.				Lab #4 (day 1).
			Fossil form and function.  		Porifera and Cnidaria (begin).
8	Sep 21 (Mon)	B&H Chapter 7.				Lab #4 (day 2).	
Mass extinctions and biodiversity loss. 	Porifera and Cnidaria (finish)..
9	Sep 23 (Wed)	B&H Chapter 8.				Lab #5 (day 1).	  
The origin of life.  			Lophophorata:  Bryozoa, Brachiopoda.	
10	Sep 28 (Mon)	Exam 1.					Lab #5 (day 2).  	
Lophophorata:  Bryozoa, Brachiopoda
11	Sep 30 (Wed)	B&H Chapter 9.  			Lab #6 (day 1).   
			Protists.					Mollusca, and a few worms.	
12	Oct 05 (Mon)	B&H Chapter 10. Origin of the metazoans.  LAB EXAM 1.  			
13	Oct 07 (Wed)	B&H Chapter 11.  			Lab #6 (day 2).	
The basal metazoans:  sponges and corals.	Mollusca, and a few worms.
14	Oct 12 (Mon)	B&H Chapter 12.				Lab #7 (day 1). 	
Spiralians 1:  lophophorates. 		Arthropoda. 	
15	Oct 14 (Wed)	B&H Chapter 12.  			Lab #8 (day 1).	
Spiralians 1:  lophophorates.		Arthropoda.
16	Oct 19 (Mon)	B&H Chapter 13.  			Lab #8 (day 1)  
Spiralians 2:  mollusks.  [Also annelids].	Echinodermata.
17	Oct 21 (Wed)	B&H Chapter 14.  			Lab #8 (day 2).	
Edcysozoa:  Arthropods.  		Echinodermata.
18	Oct 26 (Mon)	B&H Chapter 14.  			Lab #9 (day 1).	
Edcysozoa:  Arthropods.  		Chordata.
19	Oct 28 (Wed)	Exam 2.					Lab #9 (day 2).  Chordata.
20	Nov 02 (Mon)	B&H Chapter 15.  Deuterostomes:  	Lab #10 (day 1)   
echinoderms and hemichordates.		Plantae.		 
21	Nov 04 (Wed)	B&H Chapter 15.  Deuterostomes:  	Lab #10 (day 2).	  
echinoderms and hemichordates.  		Plantae.
22	Nov 09 (Mon)	B&H Chapter 16.  			Lab #11 (day 1).	
Fishes and basal tetrapods.  		Cornpatch Formation.	
23	Nov 11 (Wed)	B&H Chapter 17.  			Lab #11 (day 2)
Dinosaurs and mammals.  		Cornpatch Formation.  
24	Nov 16 (Mon)	B&H Chapter 17, pages 471-477; and	Lab #11 (day 3)  
			class notes.  Human evolution.       	Cornpatch Formation.
25	Nov 18 (Wed)	B&H Chapter 18.  Fossil plants.		Review.					
26	Nov 23 (Mon)	B&H Chapter 19.  			LAB EXAM 2.
Trace fossils. 				
--	Nov 25 (Wed)	THANKSGIVING HOLIDAYS.  No classes.
27	Nov 30 (Mon)	B&H Chapter 20. 			Lab #11 (day 4)	
Diversification of life.  			Cornpatch Formation, finish and DUE.
28	Dec 02 (Wed)	Review.					-- 
	LAST DAY OF PALEONTOLOGY CLASS.
--	Dec 10 (Thu) 	FINAL EXAM.  	(RHW:  Let’s negotiate the date.)
--	Dec 10 (Thu) 	GRADUATION.

[CAVEAT:  This Tentative Syllabus is prepared, in part, for the Teaching Paleontology in the Twenty-first Century workshop at Cornell University in July, 2009.  The Tentative Syllabus to be submitted to the University of South Carolina for Paleontology, AGLY 311, in Fall Semester, 2009 will undoubtedly differ in detail from the above syllabus.  RHW, 5/30/2009.]