Astronomy 110: Survey of Astronomy

Course Syllabus

 

Summer Session I: M-F 10:30 – 11:45a.m. in WAT 112

 

Instructor:

Elizabeth J. McGrath

Office hours:

M-F after class (until 12:30pm) in WAT 404

Or by appointment at the Institute for Astronomy

(Office B-134, 2680 Woodlawn Dr., near the Manoa Marketplace)

Contact:

mcgrath@ifa.hawaii.edu

956-6909

Course website:

http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/~mcgrath/a110/

Required Text:

The Essential Cosmic Perspective (3rd Edition)

By Jeffrey Bennett et al. (Addison-Wesley)

 

General Information:

 

Astronomy 110 is a general introduction to modern astronomy.  No scientific or mathematical background is assumed, beyond the entrance requirements to the University.  Astronomy is a science, however, so you will be expected to develop your critical thinking skills in order to understand and apply the scientific method.  In terms of mathematics, we will use only arithmetic and a bit of simple algebra.

 

Reading quizzes:

 

Reading selections from The Essential Cosmic Perspective will be assigned each day in order to prepare you for the next day’s lecture.  In an intensive summer course, it is imperative that you keep up with the reading so that you do not fall behind.  I have chosen The Essential Cosmic Perspective as the required text for this class partly because it does not read like a traditional textbook—I think you will find it easy and enjoyable to read.  To further encourage you, however, I will start each class with a short, conceptual reading quiz.  If you arrive late to class, you will not receive credit for the quiz.

 

Homework:

 

There will be 5 homework assignments total for this course.  You may work together on the homework assignments, however, your answers must be written up individually—no copying.  Answers to mathematical problems must detail every step of the calculation in order to receive full credit.  Answers to essays and short-answer questions must be written clearly and neatly using proper English.  Staple multiple pages together and put your name on the top of each page to ensure that pages are not lost and you get credit for all your hard work.  Please start the assignments early and ask me if you have questions.  I check e-mail regularly, however, for more detailed help and explanations, please visit me during my office hours, or schedule an appointment.  I will not answer questions about the homework the morning assignments are due.

 

Exams:

 

There will be two exams for this course—a midterm and a final.  These will be in-class, closed-book exams, and will test your cumulative knowledge of the course material up to the exam date.  Cheating will not be tolerated—anyone caught cheating will not receive credit for the exam.  If you are ill on the date of an exam, you must present a doctor’s note to the instructor in order to request a make-up exam.  Make-up exams will not be given under any other circumstances.  Exam dates are as follows:

 

                  Midterm:                    Monday, June 13th

                  Final:                           Friday, July 1st

 

Grading:

 

The purpose of the final grade is to reflect standards of achievement and understanding, as well as personal effort.  I will calculate the final grade based on the following:

 

Reading Quizzes:

15% (lowest 4 scores dropped)

Homework:

30%

Midterm:

25%

Final:

30%

 

Additionally, there will be opportunities to earn extra credit during the semester.

 

Common Courtesy Guidelines:

 

Please practice common courtesy in class, for the benefit of your fellow students, or else you can expect your final grade to be lowered. Please:

 

How to Get the Grade You Want:

 

It does not matter whether you have learned anything about astronomy before or whether you are "good" at science.  What does matter is your willingness to work hard. Astronomy 110 covers many topics and concepts, each of which builds on the previous material. If you fall behind, it may be difficult to catch up. Here are some tips for success: