Aug. 30 Introduction: What is Science?; What are Dinosaurs?
Reading: Chap. 1
Sept. 1 Fossils and Rocks; The Meaning of Fossils
Reading: Chap. 2
Sept. 4 LABOR DAY--No Class
Sept. 6 The History of Prehistory; Dinosaur research through time
Geology Assignment is handed out
Sept. 8 Deep Time I: Dating the fossil record
Reading: Chap. 2
Sept. 11 Deep Time II: Millions of years ago...
Reading: Chap. 2
Sept. 13 Plate Tectonics and the Earth Engine
Reading: Chap. 2
Smithsonian Assignment I is handed out
Sept. 15 Our Bodies, Our Selves: Introduction to Vertebrate Osteology
Reading: Chaps. 3-4
Sept. 18 Evolution I: Descent with Modification
Reading: Chaps. 3-4
Geology Assignment is DUE
Sept. 20 Evolution II: On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection
Reading: Chaps. 3-4
Sept. 22 Evolution III: Patterns and Processes; and
Systematics I: Taxonomy
Reading: Chaps. 3-4
Anatomy & Systematics Assignment is handed out
Sept. 25 Systematics II: The Tree of Life
Reading: Chaps. 3-4
Sept. 27 Systematics III: Cladistics
Reading: Chaps. 3-4
Sept. 29 Evolution of the Vertebrates I and II
Reading: Chaps. 4 and 5
Systematics Assignment is DUE
Oct. 2 Life on Land before the Dinosaurs
Reading: Chap. 5
Oct. 4 The Origin of Dinosauria
Reading: Chap. 5
Oct. 6 TEST I
Oct. 9 The Dinosaur Family Tree: What is a dinosaur?
Reading: pp. 102-106, 222-226
Smithsonian Assignment I is DUE!
Oct. 11 Thyreophora: Defense! Defense! Defense!
Reading: Chaps. 6-7
Oct. 13 Ornithopoda: Beaks, bills & crests
Reading: Chap. 10
Video Assignment is handed out
Oct. 16 Marginocephalia: That's using your head!
Readings: Chaps. 8-9
Smithsonian Assignment II is handed out
Oct. 18, 20 No lectures: work on the video assignment this week.
During the week of October 16-20, you will be required to view a set of videos
on Dial Access on the 4th Floor Nonprint Media room of Hornbake Library. You will be
required to turn in your answers to the take-home video quizzes on Friday November 4.
Oct. 23 Sauropodomorpha: Size matters
Reading: Chap. 11
Oct. 25 Theropoda I: Dinosaurs Red in Tooth and Claw
Dinosaur Relationships Assignment is handed out
Reading: Chap. 12
Oct. 27 Theropoda II, Coelurosauria: Tyrant Kings and Lesser Royals
Reading: Chap. 13
Oct. 29 Daylight Savings Time ends: Set your clocks so that you don't miss class!
Oct. 30 Theropoda III, Eumaniraptora: Dinosaurs of the Air
Reading: Chap. 14
Nov. 1 Theropoda IV: Dinosaurs Take Flight!
Reading: Chap. 14
Dinosaur Relationships Assignment is DUE!
Nov. 3 Dinosaur History I: Dinosaurs Inherit the Earth
Reading: Chap. 16
Video Assignment is DUE!
Nov. 6 Dinosaur History II: Time of the Titans and Flowering of
the Age of Dinosaurs
Reading: Chap. 16
Nov. 8 Dinosaur History III: The Many Worlds of the Late Cretaceous
Reading: Chap. 16
Nov. 10 TEST II
Nov. 13 Dinosaur Growth and Behavior
Reading: Chap. 15
Nov. 15 Hot- or Cold-Running Dinosaurs?
Reading: Chap. 15
Dinosaur Physiology Assignment is handed out
Nov. 17 Hearts, Lungs, and Faces: New Approaches to Dinosaur Physiology
Reading: Chap. 15
Nov. 20 Eat or be Eaten: Dinosaur Paleoecology
Reading: Chap. 15
Nov. 22 Dinosaur Physiology roundup
Reading: Chap. 15
Smithsonian Assignment II is DUE!
Nov. 23-26 Thanksgiving Recess: enjoy your roasted maniraptoran
Nov. 27 Dragons of the Sea and Air: Marine Reptiles and
Pterosaurs
Dinosaur Physiology Assignment is DUE!
Nov. 29 In the Shadow of the Dinosaurs: The first 7/10th of Mammalian History
Dec. 1 The Cretaceous-Tertiary Extinction I: All Good Things...
Reading: Chaps. 17-18
Dinosaur Extinction Assignment is handed out
Dec. 4 The Cretaceous-Tertiary Extinction II: One REALLY Bad Day!
Reading: Chaps. 17-18
Dec. 6 The Cretaceous-Tertiary Extinction III: Not With a Bang, But a Whimper
Reading: Chaps. 17-18
Dec. 8 The Cretaceous-Tertiary Extinction IV: The Big Picture
Reading: Chaps. 17-18
Dinosaur Extinction Assignment is DUE!
Dec. 11 Walking with Dinosaurs in Jurassic Park: Dinosaurs in Pop Culture
Dec. 20 (WEDNESDAY!!) FINAL EXAM, PLS 1130, 8:00-10:00 am
[PLEASE NOTE: Final Schedule according to Schedule of Classes, Fall 2006 First Edition. Consult Final Edition for actual time and date, if any changes. Changes have been known to happen!]
For a formatted printable copy of the complete syllabus, click here.