REQUIREMENTS : (details below)

DAILY SCHEDULE:

    "Countdown to Apolcalypse," Paul Halpern (Count) - purchase at bookstore
    Introductory Astronomy text - (you'll receive on loan) - (Astro)
    Other material will be assigned on the web or on library reserve. Projects will involve library and web research.

NOTE: ALL OF THE FOLLOWING IS SUBJECT TO REVISION!

Date	Topic	Assigned Reading	Student Presentation	Who?
Jan 22	Introductions - us,  the course, the nature of catastrophe	-	-	LR
Jan 29	Historical Apocalyptic Views - THE Flood	Count: 1-3	-	LR
Feb 5	Earth Volcanos /Earthquakes	Astro: Earth	-	LR
Feb 12	NO CLASS - Watch "An Inconvenient Truth" - Walter Library Reserve		-
Feb 19	Fragile surface	Count 4-6		LR
Feb 26	Impacts!	Count: 7 Astro: Comets/Asteroids	Impact Video	LR
Mar 4	All risks of death	20 ways to end world		LR
Mar. 11	Avoiding impacts	Read "fact sheet" under "Information" and look over images at SEDS site and animation (actual images) at this site and the artist's view here (just do reflections - keep questions for presenters)	COLE, GABE Collision detection Collision prevention
Mar. 25	Life Goes on?	Bring in picture of most interesting animal you can find & describe how its characteristics fit its environment	BEN, BEN Historical Changes in Biosphere Where else can life exist?
April 1	The End of the Sun Fatal Stars / Radiation	Count: 8 Astro: Stellar Evolution, Supernovae	JORDAN, KELSEY Supernovae, Gamma ray bursts
April 8	Threats from afar	http://webusers.astro.umn.edu/~larry/CLASS/CATASTROPHE/Aliens.pdf http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUki-07sp2E	CODY, STACIA Alien Invasions
April 15	WHAT IF?	1. Read about how/why black holes form in your astronomy text. 2. What if an impact caused earth to stop rotating? http://curious.astro.cornell.edu/question.php?number=16 3. Are Microscopic Black Holes Buzzing Inside The Earth?  http://www.universetoday.com/2007/06/20/are-microscopic-black-holes-buzzing-inside-the-earth/	ESTHER, PETER, JASON What if the Moon didn't exist? etc.
April 22	The End of the Universe	See readings posted on webvista
April 29	Risks - real and imagined	PART A.  Go to the following 3 web sites, fill out the forms and post the results on your Thoughts/Qs posting:   1. how will you die, (not the details); 2) life expectancy Canadian business; 3) life expectancy MSN. http://www.gotoquiz.com/how_will_i_die http://www.canadianbusiness.com/my_money/planning/retirement_rrsp/life_expectancy/tool.jsp http://moneycentral.msn.com/investor/calcs/n_expect/main.asp PART B. read 3 different horoscopes for yourself (from any source).  then bring in a  brief statement on a separate 3x5 card about what you would personally accept as evidence that the positions of planets had an effect on your life. Do not describe what the horoscopes said -- just your statement about evidence. Do this thoughtfully, do not just brush it off. We will be discussing your statement
May 6	Could the U be unfit for life?	Count: 9 Astro: Cosmology	-	LR

Details of requirements:
 

Readings and questions: (WebVista)

Tentative readings on the syllabus. Changes announced in class.  For each reading, provide an approximately 100-150 word commentary (not just summarizing what you read) followed by two numbered questions that will be discussed in class.  Due Sunday night, 11:59:59 pm.
 

Reflections  (WebVista)

Each week, you will post a reflection,  approximately 100-150 words in length,  an  original and thoughtful commentary, reflection, etc. on the material we covered that week in class.  Entries must be posted no later than Sunday night at 11:59pm.

Final reflective essays

Your final reflective essays will either be posted in the Final Essay forum on the web site, or be submitted by e-mail to larry@umn.edu by May 15th at 11:59pm. They should be 450-550 words long, and be original and thoughtful reflections on the content and experience of the course. They should be without spelling or grammatical errors, and should be developed around a coherent theme. Essays that appear to be first drafts will be returned for revision with a loss of one grade. Standards will be discussed further in class. You can submit in plain text or Word 2003 (.doc). Do NOT use Word 2007 (.docx); it will be returned.

Presentation guidelines: (in groups of 2 or 3)

Preferably two weeks, and absolutely no later than one week before your presentation, you will submit in writing by email to larry@astro.umn.edu, in plain text - NOT word documents, etc. AND cc'd to your partner(s) in the same email
1) a detailed outline of the topics you will cover,
2) a short description of the class activity
3) an initial list of both web and magazine/journal/book references
4) suggested pre-class readings for the class.
5) AV or other equipment needs

You will prepare a 40 minute lesson (combined) for the class, including a 10 minute class activity. For the class participation portion, you should prepare either questions for us to discuss and/or a class activity. The presentations should be interesting and informative, and their format (lecture, audio-visual, interactive, etc) is open to negotiation.

Fascinating facts - discussed in class

Grading:

All weekly assignments will be graded on a two-level basis:  good/satisfactory (2) , and marginal (1).  Readings /questions  15%;  Reflections 15%;  Class presentation 25%;  class participation 25%; final essay 20%.  An average grade of "satisfactory" will be equivalent to a B.
 
Any special needs should be discussed with Doc R. before the 2nd week of class.   You are responsible for being familiar with the academic standards policies of your college of enrollment.