Geog. 107: Physical Geography Syllabus Lectures Time: Tues. and Thurs. 1:00-2:15 Place: 202 Brooks Hall Class Website We will be using ecampus. Spring 2011 Dr. Hessl s Office Hours Office: G49 Brooks Hall Office Hours: Mon 1-2:30pm, Thurs. 11:30-1pm or by appointment Please contact Josh Wixom with any questions about class. If he cannot answer your question for any reason, he will forward you to me. Thank you. Josh Wixom (TA) Office Hours Office: 229 Brooks Office Hours: Tues. 10-11:30 am and Weds. 1-2:00 pm Email: joshua.wixom@gmail.com Textbook: Introducing Physical Geography, Alan Strahler and Arthur Strahler. Fourth or Fifth Edition. John Wiley and Sons, Inc. Other Required Materials: Additional reading materials (PDF s) and website links are available on ecampus. Expected Learning Outcomes Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to: 1) Describe the principles and methods of physical geography, including map reading, climatology, geomorphology, soils, and biogeography. 2) Create, interpret and analyze a variety of maps, map projections, and graphs including: isoline maps, climographs, and time series graphs. 3) Convert from map scale to map distance and vice-versa, including a variety of distance conversions. 4) Identify and quantitatively describe the world s biomes and climate regions. 5) Interpret quantitative relationships between trophic levels. 6) Formulate and test hypotheses using quantitative data. 7) Identify relationships between the three major spheres of physical geography (atmosphere, biosphere, lithosphere). 1
8) Apply their knowledge of physical geography to their travels and everyday experiences. 9) Relate current local environmental issues and conditions to regional and global environmental problems. 10) Critically evaluate the role that science plays in addressing local, regional and global environmental issues. GEC Course Information This course is part of WVU s General Education Curriculum and satisfies requirement 2. Basic Mathematical Skills and Scientific Inquiry and requirement 4: Issues in Contemporary Society. The objective of requirement 2 is to: Use quantitative and scientific knowledge effectively. By emphasizing earth systems and human interaction with the environment, this course addresses group B, courses in the natural or physical sciences. Though Geography 106 (lab) is not required for this course, you may take it in conjunction with the course to satisfy the science lab requirement. The objective of requirement 4 is to: Apply knowledge, methods, and principles of inquiry to contemporary problems, ideas, and/or values. This course directly addresses objective by exploring local- to regional-scale environmental issues facing society today. General Expectations: 1) Attendance is required. University-sanctioned absences will be excused. Regardless of your absence, YOU are responsible for getting the notes and making up assignments or quizzes. 2) Readings are required and content from the readings will be included on exams and quizzes. 3) You will be asked to work with others in class. Please respect them and their intellectual property. If you have questions about student conduct, please refer to the student handbook (http://www.arc.wvu.edu/rightsa.html ). 4) You must have internet access to complete some assignments. There are many locations on campus where you can access the internet, such as the downtown library or the White Hall computer lab. Grading Policies 1) Assignments are due at the beginning of class in 202 Brooks Hall. Do not turn in assignments while I am lecturing!!!! 2) Late assignments will receive 50% credit and may be turned in late until the last day of classes. Better late than never! 3) Final exam is optional. You may take it to improve your grade by using it to replace a previous exam score. Or you may choose to skip the final if you are satisfied with your grade after taking exam III. 4) Make up exams are all essay and require prior arrangement with the instructor (at least 2 hours prior to the scheduled exam time). You must schedule the make up exam with the course TA within one week of the exam date. If you do not attend the scheduled make up or do not take the makeup within one week of the exam date you will receive a 0 (F) for that exam. There is no make up time for the final exam. 2
5) Exams will be curved depending on the overall performance of the class. If the mean is below 75, the difference will be added to all scores. For example, if the mean is 65, 10 points will be added to every score. Course Requirements Task Points Exam I (multiple choice) 100 Exam II (multiple choice) 100 Exam III (multiple choice) 100 Final Exam (cumulative and optional) 100 Bonus for taking exams I, II and III 25 Assignments (3 @ 25 pts each) 75 Total required* 400 *The final exam score may be used to replace your lowest test score. Grades Grade Points A >360 B 320-359 C 280-319 D 240-279 F <240 Electronic Exams: All exams will be electronic and will be taken in rooms 415, 416 and 420 Brooks Hall depending on the exam. See schedule below. You will need to bring your student ID. Useful Study Techniques: Read and reread the text! Make notes in the margin or on notepaper as you read. Take detailed notes during class. Compare to a classmate or the textbook. Make flashcards. Rewrite your notes. Review past assignments, re-doing them if your grade was poor. Have a classmate test you verbally. Write lists of terms and their definitions and use them to test yourself. Study frequently for short intervals (15-30 minutes twice a week). Attend review sessions. Social Justice Statement West Virginia University is committed to social justice. I support that commitment and expect to maintain a positive learning environment based upon open communication, mutual respect, and non-discrimination. Our University does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, age, disability, veteran status, religion, sexual orientation, color or national 3
origin. Any suggestions as to how to further such a positive and open environment in this class will be appreciated and given serious consideration. If you are a person with a disability and anticipate needing any type of accommodation in order to participate in this class, please advise me and make appropriate arrangements. Academic Honesty Statement By enrolling in this course, you agree to follow University guidelines, as outlined in The Mountie. For further information, please refer to: http://www.arc.wvu.edu/rightsa.html 4
Geog 107 Schedule Date Section Topic Reading Assignments/Hand Outs (available on 1/11 Introduction What is Physical Geography? 1/13 The Global Environment Earth as a Round, Rotating, Orbiting Planet Prologue Ch. 1 The Earth as a Rotating Planet 1/18 Maps and GISci Ch. 1 The Earth as a Rotating Planet 1/20 Climatology Global Energy Ch. 2 The Earth s Global Energy Balance 1/25 Air Temperature Ch. 3 Air 1/27 Global Climate Change 2/1 Morgantown s Air Quality Role Play 2/3 Exam I 4 th Fl. Labs 9:00-5:00 2/8 Air Moisture Ch. 4 Atmospheric Moisture & Precip 2/10 Global Circulation Ch. 5 Winds and Global Circulation 2/15 Weather Systems Ch. 6 Weather Systems 2/17 Extreme Weather Ch. 6 Weather Events Systems 2/22 Climate Regions Ch. 7 Global 2/24 Biogeography Biogeochemical Cycles ecampus) Morgantown s Air Quality Temperature http://climate.nasa.gov/ Climates Ch. 8 Biogeographic Processes 5
3/1 Ecological Biogeography: 3/3 Organism/Environ. Interactions Ch. 8 Biogeographic Processes Wolves, Moose and Trees article, Review Handout 3/8 Global Biogeography Ch. 9 Global Biogeography 3/10 Exam II 4 th Fl. Labs 9-5pm 3/15 Soils Soils Ch. 10 Global Soils P. 362-375 3/17 Global Soils Ch. 10 Global Soils P. 376-395 3/22 Spring Break 3/24 Spring Break 3/29 Geomorph. Earth Materials Ch. 12 421-426 & Ch.11 Earth Materials 3/31 Plate Tectonics Ch. 12 The Lithosphere and Plate Tectonics 4/5 Tsunami: Seismic Sea Waves 4/7 Volcanism: The eruptions of Mt. St. Helens Ch. 13 Volcanic and Tectonic Landforms 4/12 Rock Weathering Ch. 14 Weathering and Mass Wasting 4/14 Mountains Glacial Landforms Ch. 19 Glacial 4/19 Mountain Geomorphology and Climatology Landforms Review Ch. 3, 4, 5, 12, Wolf, Moose, Fir Tree Exercise Tsunami Assignment 4/21 Exam III 4 th Fl. Labs 9-5pm 4/26 Final Exam Review Session 4/28 Final Exam Review Session 5/3 Final Exam 3:00-5:00pm 4 th Floor Computer Labs There may be changes to this schedule throughout the semester. Please check online every week. 6
INSTRUCTIONS FOR TAKING ELECTRONIC EXAMS 1. You MUST report to room 415, 416 or 420 BROOKS HALL on the exam day. Times and labs vary with the exam, so please refer to the syllabus for details. NOTE: Testing ends at 5pm sharp. You must arrive by 4pm to take the exam. Expect to spend 30-45 min. on each exam. 2. You MUST bring your WVU STUDENT ID CARD. We will NOT accept any other form of ID. Period. 3. You MUST know your student number (700xxxxxx) to access the exam. 4. You MUST NOT bring any material whatsoever (including pens, paper, memory sticks/cards) into the computer testing facility. 5. You MUST NOT open up any other computer program while testing. The computers are locked down to prevent this and there is monitoring software installed on the computers. 6. Should you arrive at a high volume time, you may need to WAIT for an available computer. Please plan accordingly. 7