To The Student
How to Use This Book
One of the most difficult problems you face in beginning a course in a new subject is to identify fundamental facts and concepts and separate them from supportive material. This problem is often expressed by the question, What do I need to learn? We have attempted to overcome this problem by presenting the material in each chapter in a manner that will help you recognize immediately the essential concepts.
Outline of Major Concepts. To help you focus on the key points, we have identified them at the beginning of each chapter under the title of “Major Concepts.”
Thesis Statements. A brief statement of the main idea of each section is in a colored box.
Guiding Questions. Experience has shown that the most successful students are those who read with a specific purpose—those who read to answer a question. Consequently, we have developed guiding questions that are presented in the margins next to the appropriate text material. The questions are intended to guide you in your study, stimulate your curiosity, and help focus attention on important concepts.
Illustrations. You will find that careful study of the figures and captions is one of the most useful methods of reviewing the content of the chapter.
Key Terms. Important terms are printed in bold type. In the Key Terms section at the end of each chapter, the terms are listed alphabetically, with the number of the page on which each appears. These terms are also defined in the glossary at the end of the book.
Review Questions. These discussion questions are intended to reinforce the main concepts and stimulate further investigation by pointing out some of the intriguing questions on which scientists are working.
Illustrated Glossary. At the end of the book there is an illustrated glossary defining approximately 800 important geologic terms. Many of the terms are accompanied by an illustration that will help in visualizing the definition and meaning of the term. This glossary, if properly used, can be a convenient and significant aid in learning the basic vocabulary of geology.
These resources are designed to help you organize, prioritize, and apply what you learn from the text and in class.