Discussion Section:
Astronomy 130 - The Evolving Universe

Section
407
408
409
410
411
412

Class Time
Monday 9:55am - 10:45am
Thursday 4:35pm - 5:25pm
Wednesday 2:25pm - 3:15pm
Thursday 2:25pm - 3:15pm
Tuesday 2:25pm - 3:15pm
Monday 2:25pm - 3:15pm



My Information:
Natalie Gosnell
6516 Sterling Hall
608-262-1298
Mailbox: 5th floor, Sterling Hall
Email: gosnell [at] astro.wisc.edu
Webpage: http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~gosnell

Office Hours:
Wednesday 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Friday 2:30pm - 3:30pm
(Or by appointment)
If too many students show up for office hours, we will move to the Astronomy Library in Sterling 6521

The best way to contact me is through email and office hours. I will do my best to accomodate appointments, but I cannot make guarantees.


The Class:
Discussion section is meant to go over course material in more detail and give you an opportunity to ask questions. Homework will be handed back during section, but I usually will not take time to go over the assignment unless I feel there was a particularly difficult problem or concept. The week before exams I will do a review during section. If you have specific questions pertaining to the test ask them during the review, come see me during office hours, or set up an appointment. I will NOT respond to emails about homework or tests after 5 pm the day before it is due or the day before the test.

I expect you to be an active participant during discussion section, coming to class prepared with your notes and textbook.


Class Structure: (Subject to change as the course progresses)

Week 1:
Week 2:
Week 3:
Week 4:
Week 5:
Week 6:
Week 7:
Week 8:

Week 9:
Week 10:
Week 11:
Week 12:
Week 13:
Week 14:
Week 15:

No discussion
Math review, Our Perspective
Gravity and the Planetarium
QUIZ 1
Review for 1st Exam
Our Sun
Stars and Spectra
Star Evolution

QUIZ 2
Compact Stars and Black Holes
Review for 2nd Exam
Galaxies and Our Milky Way
Dark Matter and Quasars
Cosmology
Review for Final Exam

As scheduling allows, I will try to cover additional material and interesting topics (such as space travel, amateur and space telescopes, etc).


Grading:
Quizzes - 8% each (16% total)
Homework, Discussion Section Activities, and Participation - 11%

Quizzes can cover any material presented through the previous week in discussion or lecture. Discussion section activities will be a combination of group assignments and worksheets. There will be no homework given in section, so you must be present to complete any in-class assignments. If you are going to miss class, it is in your best interest to arrange to attend a different section THAT SAME WEEK. If that is the case, email me with the section you are currently in and the list of alternate sections you could attend. You may only switch sections in the case of severe illness or one-time unavoidable conflicts. If I feel it is being abused I will stop allowing you to change classes. I will not administer make-up quizzes outside of section.


This syllabus may change throughout the semester. If there are significant changes, I will send an email to the class list. If you are not on the class list, it is your responsibility to notify me so you can receive future emails.

Updated: 1/22/09