VISIONS OF THE UNIVERSE
PLACE: 118 Physics-Astronomy Building (PA)
TEXT: Discovering Astronomy (Third Edition) by Robbins, Jefferys and Shawl. Used books are available.
HELP: Help will be provided after class, in our offices, and via email. In general, both of us will be at lecture. Email will be answered every day, Monday through Friday. Answers to questions of general interest will be posted on the Web in a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) file (preserving the anonimity of the person asking the question).
WEB PAGE: http://www.pa.msu.edu/courses/ISP205/sec-3/
Course information, syllabus, outline, homework assignments and answers to homework, quizzes and exams are provided via this world wide web page. Detailed written instructions on using computers to view the web page will be provided and we will be available for individual and group instruction in computer use. Written instructions on using email are available in the microlabs.
OFFICE HOURS
Dr. Hufnagel Professor Stein Tuesday 5:30-6:30pm Thursday 5:30-6:30pm Other times by appointment.BASIS OF GRADE: You are responsible for knowing all the material presented in class and the relevant material in the text. Grades will be determined by performance on a final exam, three midterm exams, in-class activities, and homework. Exams will test both memorization and the ability to deduce results from an understanding of the physical principles that determine the behavior of astronomical objects. The exams will consist of a mixture of multiple choice, short answer and essay length questions. No makeup exams will be given. The lowest exam score (of the four exams) will be dropped. If you are satisfied with your grade at the end of classes you do not need to take the final exam, which will be comprehensive. The three highest exams each count for 25% of the grade, and the in-class activities and homework together count for 25% of the grade. No opportunities for individual extra credit will be offered.
Beyond earning a grade you can be proud of, improving your personal skills and changing your worldview will require effort on your part. We recommend, at a minimum, that you read the assigned chapter(s) before each lecture, attend class, and do the homework assignments.
The book provides general background material that we will expand upon
with current discoveries, as well as detail that we will not delve
into. How do you tell the difference? Before a topic is discussed in
class, you should quickly read the relevant chapters in the text,
perhaps writing your own outline of
The syllabi list reading assignments for each class by chapter and section. They also give objectives for each unit that specify what you are expected to know for the exams. Together with the outline we provide on the web, they are a guide to what you should study. Homework assignments and the occasional in-class activity will provide opportunities for you to develop your skills. We encourage you to discuss these with your classmates. It is helpful for you (and us too!) to ask questions about anything that is confusing or unclear, either in class, after class, via email or in our offices.
First Midterm Exam Thursday, 13 February, in class Second Midterm Exam Tuesday, 1 April, in class Third Midterm Exam Tuesday, 22 April FINAL EXAM Tuesday, 29 April., 8-10 pm, Room 128 NS
PLANETARIUM: Half the class will meet in the Abrams Planetarium (located at Shaw and Farm Lanes on campus) Thursday 23 January and Thursday 29 January (A-L) or Tuesday 27 January and Tuesday 4 February (M-Z). The other half of the class, not meeting in the planetarium, will meet in PA 118 as usual on those days. There will be an additional planetarium visit later in the term as well.
CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE You are responsible for maintaining a quality learning environment for yourself and your classmates. The general rule is to respect your classmates' goal to learn as much as possible. For example:
LABORATORY: Registration in ISP205L, the Astronomy Laboratory, is optional and is an entirely separate course. However, we have found that students generally do better in ISP205 if they take the laboratory at the same time. Laboratories start the week of 20 January.
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