Home

Syllabus

Schedule

Homework

Project

Extra Credit

Links
ATM S 211: Winter 2008
Climate and Climate Change
http://www.atmos.washington.edu/2008Q1/211

Class Meeting Times and Location:
M, Tu, W, Th: 10:30 to 11:20 in JHN 075 (Lecture)
F: AA 10:30 - 11:20 in MGH 389 / AB 11:30 - 12:20 in MGH 214 (Discussion)

Instructor: Professor Joel Thornton
Office: room 506 in the Atmospheric Sciences & Geophysics Building
Office hours: Tu, 4:00 - 5:00pm, ATG 506
e-mail: thornton@atmos.washington.edu (emails will be answered within 48 hrs)

Teaching Assistant: Brian Smoliak
Office: room 511 in the Atmospheric Sciences & Geophysics Building
Office hours: Tu, 5:00 - 6:00pm, ATG 406 / W, 9:00 - 10:00am, ATG 627
e-mail: bsmoliak@atmos.washington.edu
For an outline of topics to be covered: click here

Required Course Materials

Textbook

"The Earth System" by Lee R. Kump, James F. Kasting, and Robert C. Crane, Prentice Hall, 2004.
Reading assignments from the text will be announced in class and listed on the web-based schedule. Auxiliary reading materials will be assigned occasionally, see the schedule.

RF Clicker from Turning Technologies

*Both items available at UW Bookstore
Grading policy

Your grade will be based on the following: 

    Research Project and Poster Symposium 20%
    Midterms (2) total 35%
    Comprehensive Final Exam 20%
    Homework Assignments 25%
   
    EXTRA CREDIT: By answering any question posed in lecture using your RF             clicker, I will assign 1 point. If you answer correctly, I will assign 2 points. Typically     I will ask ~ 1 or 2 questions per lecture for about 40 - 80 total questions for the             quarter. Thus, if you get every question right you will earn 80 - 160 points, which is     worth about 1 perfect exam score!

Research Project and Poster Symposium

You will form groups of 3–4 and research some aspect of Earth's climate.  The instructor and TA will suggest some topics before the second week of class.  Each person in the group must pursue a separate facet of the topic. Your grade on the project will be based on (1) a separate report written by each individual (which will need to be revised if you are taking this as a writing W class) and (2) a group poster presentation at our class poster symposia, held the final week of classes. Grades will be given to individuals for the report and to the group for the poster. Follow the link on the homepage to read more about the project assignment.

Homework assignments and quizzes

The assignments will require you to answer questions (mostly short answer) drawn from lectures, the textbook, and assigned auxiliary reading. Concepts will be emphasized with very little need for math. Assignments are due in class at 10:30 on the day indicated.  Late assignments will not be accepted without advanced arrangement because homework answers are posted on the day assignments are due.  Follow the link on the homepage to download copies of the problems and answers.

  • Approximately five, closed-book/note quizzes will be given without prior notice during discussion section. Your lowest quiz score will not be counted in your grade.
  • There will be no make-up exams or quizzes except in extreme circumstances, in which case you must contact the instructor in advance of the exam or as soon as possible after a missed quiz. Usually a note from a legitimate doctor or professional is required.
    •



    How to do well
    • Keeping up with reading assignments and reviewing lecture notes is important for your success in this class.
    • WHENEVER YOU HAVE A QUESTION: PLEASE ASK! Stop me in lecture, stop me after lecture, come by office hours, post it to the discussion page, or all of the above!
    • There will be in-class exercises and discussion almost daily. In-class exercises will be graded mainly on effort. These exercises will bring extra credit points and are very similar to homework and exam questions. The more you come to lecture, the better off you'll be.

    Return to the homepage