Discussion Procedures

Most discussion topics include a brief homework assignment. Homework may involve further practice with the skills learned in discussion, or examination of the geologic displays in the halls of the Natural History Building. Homework will be collected at the beginning of the next discussion session.

You may work in groups during discussion or doing homework, but each person must do the work and hand in a separate sheet. Cheating is not allowed. Cheating in discussion includes, but is not limited to, copying another student's answers or using an exercise sheet from a previous semester. If the TA and instructor determine that a student has cheated in discussion, a score of zero points will be recorded for that week. Subsequent instances of cheating will incur more serious penalties.

It is in your best interests to attend your assigned discussion section each week. Discussion and homework exercises form a significant part of your total grade for the course, and you will be held responsible for discussion material on exams.

Make-up Policy

1) PREFERRED PROCEDURE - If you know ahead of time that you must miss a discussion, notify your TA as soon as possible before your assigned section. He/She will arrange for you to attend another section that week. This is the best option for making up discussions.

When you attend a section other than the one you are registered for, be sure to write your proper section number on your paper and hand it in separately to the other TA. This person will initial your paper and give it to your TA. You may not simply hand in papers to your own TA that were completed in a different section. To receive credit when attending a different section, your work must be initialed by the other TA.

2) ALTERNATE PROCEDURE - If you miss a discussion without having made prior arrangements, you must have written verification (memo from the Emergency Dean or McKinley) to make up the work. Only officially excused absences (e.g., personal crisis or family emergency) will allow you to make up a discussion after the missed section. No exceptions.

Note that even if your absence is officially excused, you are still expected to do the work. Failure to do so will result in a zero for the week's discussion.

Missed discussions should be completed within two weeks of an absence. Do not wait until the end of the semester to try to make up discussions.

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Discussion Schedule

* Read assigned chapter in Planet Earth Discussion Guide before your Discussion meeting.

Click here for Homework due dates.

Discussion Sections