OLD NEWS: CHECK HERE FOR FORMER HOMEWORK/NEWS POSTINGS

Jan 15: 
no homework due today.   LAB THIS WEEK!

Tuesday, Jan 17

for class on tuesday, Jan 22nd, read chapters one and two in your text and bring to class your answer to the practice rate calculations found here

Tuesday, Jan 22

for class on tuesday, Jan 24nd, chapter 4 contains material covering some of what we discussed in class today.  For class on thursday, print out the map of the Cambrian,  found here

and plot on this map the surface winds for the northern hemisphere summer; bring to class on thursday.

also, tuesday lab assignments are due in class on thursday.

Thursday, Jan 24

for class on tuesday, chapter 4 contains material covering some of what we discussed in class today.  For class on tuesday, print out, and bring to class, the map of the Carboniferous,  found here.....
 plot on this map the surface ocean currents.

Thursday, Jan 31

For class on tuesday, Feb 5, please read the Lemley (pdf here) and Stanley (pdf here) articles and also listen to a podcast at:  http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5705296

Please type and bring the answers to the questions to class on Tuesday and be prepared for discussion

PLEASE RESERVE JAN 31 AT 7:15 LASAGNA DINNER AT U HEIGHTS!  all invited!

thursday, Feb 4

the lab specimens for the lab on the major fossil taxa are available in room 206 for review.
please be careful with all specimens.
review the lab handout before taking the "check out" quiz

Thursday, Feb 14
please read chapter 6: correlation and dating- before class on thursday.
the lab specimens for this week's lab (plants and modes of fossilization) are available in room 206.  the room should be unlocked from 9 to 4 daily.  please be careful with the specimens!

for Thursday, Feb 21

please read chapter 6: correlation and dating

complete the relative dating exercises found here

Here is a study sheet for the exam, as well as a pdf of a previous year's exam.

for Tuesday, april 1

Email to me, before class, your answers to the following questions:

(1) what is meant by "adaptation"?  Compare what modern concepts (Darwinian evolution) of adaptation are to those of Jean Babtiste Lamarck.
(2)  according to the "puncutated equilibrium" mode of evolution, the sudden morphologic change that appears in the fossil record is the result of adaptations in populations that live on the periphery of a species' geographic range; when environmental conditions change these "peripheral isolates" expand their range.  Contrast this to how evolution by "phyletic gradualism" ocurs.

Begin reading chapter 11 in the text

April 8th

Debate Prep:  In class on Thursday, April 10 we will meet with  partners to outline your presentation (main points of your argument; main points of what you expect  the opposition to argue that you'll have to rebut).  I will circulate around and "butt in" with comments.

You should have read through chapters 11 and 12 (the Archean and  Proterozoic) in the text.

NOTE: AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY FOR YOUR TERM PAPER IS DUE TO CHAR, VIA EMAIL, BY APRIL 4TH  (see syllabus for details about what an 'annotated bibliography" is

Due on April 17th is the first draft of your term paper; it will be returned on april 22nd in class