D859 General Geology is a content course in Western Governors University's secondary science education programs.
WGU describes a comprehensive exploration of Earth's dynamic systems, with attention to Earth's materials, surface processes and the forces driving tectonic movement, at both local and global scales.
It uses simulations and mapping tools, and connects geological evidence to Earth's history and the evolution of life. WGU states that no prior geological knowledge is required. The skill that matters is reading evidence: using a rock, a map or a layer sequence to argue what happened and in what order.
Course at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| University | Western Governors University (WGU) |
| Course code | D859 |
| Level | Undergraduate, science content |
| Subject area | Geology and Earth history |
| Prior knowledge | WGU states none is required |
| Assessment | Set by WGU on your course page; check it before you plan |
What D859 Covers
| Theme | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Earth's materials | Minerals and rocks, and how they are identified and classified |
| Surface processes | Weathering, erosion and deposition shaping landscapes |
| Tectonic forces | Plate movement, mountains, earthquakes and volcanoes |
| Local and global phenomena | Connecting nearby landforms with worldwide patterns |
| Earth history | Evidence for the evolution of Earth and its life forms |
Key Concepts Explained
The Rock Cycle
Rocks are not permanent. Igneous rock forms from cooled magma or lava, weathering turns it into sediment, burial and cementation form sedimentary rock, and heat and pressure form metamorphic rock, which can melt again. Explain any rock by its position in this cycle.
Example: Granite has large visible crystals, which means it cooled slowly deep underground. Basalt has tiny crystals, which means it cooled quickly at or near the surface. Same family (igneous), different cooling history.
Relative Dating
In an undisturbed sequence, lower layers are older. A fault or intrusion that cuts through layers must be younger than the layers it cuts. Applying these rules lets you order events without any numbers.
Example: A cross-section shows layers A (bottom), B and C (top), cut by a dyke, then a fault offsetting all of them. Order: A, B, C deposited; the dyke intruded; the fault moved last. Write the evidence for each step.
Plate Boundaries and Landforms
Convergent boundaries build mountains and trenches, divergent boundaries form rifts and ridges, transform boundaries offset features. The boundary type predicts the landform.
Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them
WGU's guidebook does not list task prompts. The table describes kinds of geology work the description points to, such as simulations and mapping. Follow your own instructions.
| Work type | What it tests | How to approach it |
|---|---|---|
| Rock or mineral identification | Using properties as evidence | List observations first, then the conclusion |
| Map or cross-section interpretation | Reading geological evidence | Work from oldest to youngest and justify each step |
| Explaining a landform | Process thinking | Name the process, the agent and the time scale |
| Teaching-focused task | Explaining to students | Choose a grade level and a hands-on activity |
A Study Approach That Works
- Start with materials. Learn minerals, then rock types, with properties as the identifying evidence.
- Add the cycle. Draw the rock cycle and mark the process behind each arrow.
- Layer in tectonics. Link each boundary type to its landforms and hazards.
- Finish with time. Practice relative dating on cross-sections.
Where Students Get Stuck
- Memorizing names without evidence. Identification answers should show the properties observed.
- Mixing up time scales. Say whether a process takes days, years or millions of years.
- Dating order errors. Cross-cutting features are younger than what they cut.
- Treating processes as separate. Weathering, erosion and deposition work as a chain.
Planning Table
| Stage | Goal | Evidence to keep |
|---|---|---|
| Read the task | List requirements | Rubric checklist |
| Observe | Record evidence | Observation table |
| Interpret | Link to processes | Short reasoning |
| Sequence | Order events | Numbered timeline |
| Review | Check against rubric | Tick list |
Self-Check Questions
Practice with these questions, using a sketch where it helps.
- How could you tell from crystal size whether an igneous rock cooled fast or slow?
- Order the events in a cross-section where a fault cuts three layers and an intrusion.
- Which type of plate boundary is most likely to produce a volcanic mountain chain, and why?
- Describe the chain from weathering to deposition for a river sediment.
- Where does a metamorphic rock fit into the rock cycle?
Study Tips for D859
- Handle or view real samples if you can; photos work too.
- Annotate every cross-section you practice.
- Describe before you interpret.
- Pair each process with a landform you know.
- Explain the rock cycle aloud without notes.
How We Help with D859
Send the task instructions, the rubric, any maps or images and your draft. A tutor can walk through rock identification and relative dating with new examples, review your reasoning, edit your answers for clarity, or prepare a model example for you to study.
GradeEssays is independent of Western Governors University. Our work is a study and reference aid: use it to understand the method, then complete and submit your own work under WGU's academic integrity policy.
Orders are written from scratch, include free revisions within the scope of your original request, and are refunded in full if late. We cannot promise that any assessment will be passed.
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Frequently Asked Questions
WGU describes Earth's materials, surface processes, tectonic forces, and evidence for the evolution of Earth and its life forms.
WGU states no prior geological knowledge is required.
D859 covers geology broadly. D855 focuses on natural hazards and how Earth systems produce them.
Work from oldest to youngest, state the rule you use at each step and keep the evidence beside the conclusion.
No. We provide tutoring, model examples and editing. You complete and submit your own work.
On your D859 course page and with your instructor. WGU sets the assessment.