Sept. 3 Introduction; What are Dinosaurs?
Reading: Chap. 1
Sept. 5 What is Science? The Meaning of Fossils
Reading: Chap. 2
Sept. 8 The History of Prehistory; the Great Exposition through Great Expeditions
Sept. 10 Basics of Geology: Every Rock is a Record of the Environment in Which It Formed
Reading: Chap. 2
Quiz 1 due
Sept. 12 Fossils and Fossilization
Reading: Chap. 2
Smithsonian Assignment I is handed out
Sept. 15 Deep Time I: Ruins of an Older World
Reading: Chap. 2
Sept. 17 Deep Time II: Plate Tectonics and the Earth Engine
Reading: Chaps. 2
Quiz 2 due
Sept. 19 Our Bodies, Our Selves: Introduction to Vertebrate Osteology
Reading: Chaps. 3-4
Sept. 22 Taxonomy and Species
Reading: Chaps. 3-4
Sept. 24 Evolution I: Descent with Modification
Reading: Chaps. 3-4
Quiz 3 due
Sept. 26 Evolution II: On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection
Reading: Chaps. 3-4
Sept. 29 Evolution III: Patterns and Processes
Reading: Chaps. 3-4
Oct. 1 Systematics I: The Tree of Life
Reading: Chaps. 4-5
Oct. 3 Systematics II: Cladistics
Reading: Chaps. 5
Quiz 4 due
Oct. 6 TEST I
Oct. 8 The Colonization of Land
Reading: Chap. 5
Oct. 10 Life on Land before the Dinosaurs
Reading: Chap. 5
Video Assignment is handed out
Oct. 13 The Rise of the Dinosaurs
Reading: pp. 102-106, 222-226
Oct. 15 Quiz 5 due
Oct. 15, 17 No lectures: work on the video assignment this week.
Oct. 20 Thyreophora: Defense! Defense! Defense!
Reading: Chaps. 6-7
Oct. 22 Ornithopoda: Beaks, bills & crests
Reading: Chap. 10
Oct. 24 Marginocephalia: That's using your head!
Readings: Chaps. 8-9
Video Assignment is DUE!
Oct. 27 Sauropodomorpha I: Dawn of the Thunder
Reading: Chap. 11
Quiz 6 due
Smithsonian Assignment I is DUE!
Oct. 29 Sauropodomorpha II: Neosauropoda: Size Matters and Theropoda I: Basal Theropods
Oct. 31 Theropoda II: Dinosaurs Red in Tooth and Claw
Reading: Chap. 12
Nov. 3 Theropoda III, Coelurosauria: Tyrant Kings and Lesser Royals
Reading: Chap. 13
Quiz 7 due
Nov. 5 Theropoda IV, Maniraptora: The Feathered Dinosaurs
Reading: Chap. 14
Smithsonian Assignment II is handed out
Nov. 7 Theropoda V: Rise of Birds & Dinosaurs Take Flight!
Reading: Chap. 14
Nov. 10 Dinosaur History: An Overview
Reading: Chap. 16
Quiz 8 due
Nov. 12 TEST II
Nov. 14 Dinosaur Olympics: Locomotion and Dinosaurs in the World of Physics
Nov. 17 Tyrannosaurus Sex: Dinosaur Social Behavior
Reading: Chap. 15
Nov. 19 Bringing Up Baby: Dinosaur Families and Growth
Reading: Chap. 15
Quiz 9 due
Nov. 21 The Hot-Blooded Dinosaurs
Reading: Chap. 15
Nov. 24 Heart Beats & Deep Breaths
Reading: Chap. 15
Nov. 26 Eat or be Eaten: Dinosaur Paleoecology
Reading: Chap. 15
Quiz 10 due
Nov. 27-30 Thanksgiving Recess: enjoy your roasted maniraptoran
Dec. 1 Dinosaur Physiology roundup
Reading: Chap. 15
Dec. 3 The Cretaceous-Paleogene Extinction I: All Good Things...
Reading: Chaps. 17-18
Smithsonian Assignment II is DUE!
Dec. 5 The Cretaceous-Paleogene Extinction II: One REALLY Bad Day!
Reading: Chaps. 17-18
Quiz 11 due
Dec. 8 The Cretaceous-Paleogene Extinction III: Not With a Bang, But a Whimper
Reading: Chaps. 17-18
Dec. 10 The Cretaceous-Paleogene Extinction IV: The Big Picture
Reading: Chaps. 17-18
Dec. 12 Walking with Dinosaurs in Jurassic Park: Dinosaurs in Pop Culture
Quiz 12 due
Dec. 20 (SATURDAY!!) FINAL EXAM, PLS 1130, 8:00-10:00 am
For a formatted printable copy of the complete syllabus, click here.