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 may 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	Presentation	Who?
Jan 17	Introductions - us,  the course, the nature of catastrophe	-	-	LR
Jan 24	Historical Apocalyptic Views - THE Flood	Count: 1-3	-	LR
Jan 31	Earth Volcanos /Earthquakes	Astro: Earth	-	LR
Feb 7	Global changes - natural	Count 4-5	-
Feb 14	All risks of death	20 ways to end world		LR
Feb 21	Impacts!	Count: 7 Astro: Comets/Asteroids	Impact Video	LR
Feb 28	Global change- human	Count 6, and Read http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/science/index.html AND click/read on EACH of the 4 sections at the bottom of the page		LR
Mar. 6	Avoiding impacts	TBD http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/nov/HQ_11-375_Asteroid_Images.html Go to  http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=2011%20YJ28;orb=1 and play with 3 or 4 different orbits.  I recommend that you a) turn off planet labels and b) zoom in to see better.   A small prize will be given to the person who finds the asteroid that approaches Earth the closest.  In your posting, include Asteroid name, date of closest approach and Earth distance.	Collision detection Collision prevention	Scott, Chris, Lauren concepts due 2/14 detailed outline 2/28
Mar. 20	Life Goes on?	1.  http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/ click on each of the six major types of biomes and read pages 2. Bring in picture of most interesting animal you can find & describe how its characteristics fit its environment	Historical Changes in Biosphere	Bennett, Colin concepts due 2/21 detailed outline 3/6
Mar 27	Life in space	Read Wikipedia article on Extrasolar planet, then poke around, to get latest status, on the website http://planetquest.jpl.nasa.gov	Where else can life exist? space colonization, search for extraterrestrial intelligence	Matt, Tommy,Catherine concepts due 2/28 detailed outline 3/20
April 3	The End of the Sun Fatal Stars / Radiation	Count: 8 Astro: Stellar Evolution, Supernovae	Supernovae, Gamma ray bursts	Kelsey, Scott concepts due 3/6 detailed outline 3/27
April 10	Threats from afar	Please read the material on the following page: http://www.donaldsauter.com/fermi-paradox.htm the compiler is unknown to me, but appears to be a gifted, if eccentric, thinkier	Alien Invasions	Ethan, Alan concepts due 3/20 detailed outline 4/3
April 17	Could have been threats	If We Had No Moon: http://www.astrobio.net/index.php?option=com_retrospection&task=detail&id=2507 Musser, George. "What Would Happen If Earth and Mars Switched Places? | Observations, Scientific American Blog Network." Scientific American Network. Scientific American, 09 June 2011. Web. 09 Apr. 2012. <http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2011/06/09/what-would-happen-if-earth-and-mars-switched-places/>. Planet Starships http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=36500	What if?	Ben, Ichigo, Grace concepts due 3/27 detailed outline 4/10
April 24	Risks - real and imagined	PART A. Go to http://alabe.com/freechart/ and find out what it tells you about you according to your birthday. Make notes and be prepared to discuss in class. PART B.  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 (Wharton calculation); 3) life expectancy (Canadian) http://www.gotoquiz.com/how_will_i_die http://gosset.wharton.upenn.edu/mortality/perl/CalcForm.html http://www.canadianbusiness.com/tools/21287 You do not have to post questions this week, but you can comment on the above results, etc.	Astrology+	Chase, Brittany concepts due 4/3 detailed outline 4/17
May 1	Could the U be unfit for life?	Count: 9 Astro: Cosmology	-	LR

Details of requirements:
 

Readings and questions: (Moodle)

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 pm.
 

Reflections  (Moodle)

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 Thurs. 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 7th 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 or pdf .

Presentation guidelines: (in groups of 2 or 3)

Two weeks 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.
 
Special Needs:

Any special needs should be discussed with Doc R. before the 2nd week of class.   

Academic Standards:

You are responsible for being familiar with the academic standards policies of your college of enrollment.

Student Mental Health Services

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student’s ability to participate in daily activities. University of Minnesota services are available to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. You can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus via the Student Mental Health Website at http://www.mentalhealth.umn.edu