Geog 107 |
Geog 107
Introduction to Physical Geography
Physical
Geography, Geog 107, Section 1
Fall 2007
Class
meets: Tuesdays and
Thursdays: 10:00 - 11:15, Brooks 202
Text: Introducing Physical Geography, Third Edition. Alan Strahler and Arthur Strahler, John Wiley
and Sons
Publisher’s
web
site for the text (includes summaries, review exercises, web resources,
etc)
Instructor: Dr. Tim Warner
Office: 341 Brooks Hall
Office
Hours: Tuesdays: 11:30 to 12:30, Thursdays 8:45 to 9:45, or by
appointment
Email: Tim.Warner@mail.wvu.edu
Telephone: 293-4725
Teaching Assistant: Amanda Krugh
Office: 227 Brooks Hall
Office
Hours: Tuesdays 2:00 to 4:00
Email:
AKrugh@mix.wvu.edu
Grades:
Points earned
|
Exam I |
Maps, Atmosphere and Weather |
100 |
|
Exam II |
Weather Systems, Climate |
100 |
|
Exam III |
Biosphere, Hydrosphere and Lithosphere |
100 |
|
Final |
Comprehensive |
100 |
|
Exercises |
(3 exercises) |
100 |
|
Quizzes |
Approx. 10 Pop Quizzes (scaled to 40pts) |
40 |
|
Attendance bonus |
Only if attend first three exams |
10 |
Grades and points
|
Points |
Grade |
|
396
– 440 |
A |
|
352
– 395 |
B |
|
308
– 351 |
C |
|
264
– 307 |
D |
|
0
– 263 |
F |
Final
Grade calculation: Exams 300 points (Drop lowest exam score) +
Exercises 100 points + Quizzes + (Attendance bonus) = 400 total.
1.
Your
exam score is the sum of the best three
of the four exams.
2.
The
final is cumulative. Very few students do better on the final than
the first three exams. Avoid relying on
the final.
3.
If
you attend the first three exams,
you will get an attendance bonus of 10
points.
4.
If you attend the
first three exams,
and are satisfied with your grade, you
do not have to take the final, and you will still get the attendance
bonus.
5.
If you miss two
exams, it is unlikely you will be able to earn sufficient points to pass the
course. Therefore, you should only miss
an exam if you are genuinely ill. Don’t
assume you can simply make up the exam by taking the final. You may need that flexibility later in the
semester.
6.
The
three biggest things you can do to ensure that you get a good grade for this
class is (1) to turn all your work in
on time, (2) attend the first
three exams, and (3) make a point of
never missing class.. Attending
every class is probably the key point here, that way you are less likely to
forget an exam or homework. Missing one
homework exercise can result in a drop of a
letter grade.
7.
There
will be no extra credit assignments.
If you are struggling, it is better to spend the time reviewing your
work.
General Policies
1.
Class attendance is compulsory. Please drop this class if you know you will
not be able to attend all classes.
At
2.
Exercises may be handed in up to one week after the due date, but will half the total points
of the exercise deducted, unless you make an arrangement with me at
least one day prior to the due date.
To make up part of the last points, you can complete an additional essay
assignment for credit for up to 80% of
the deducted points, but this additional assignment must be turned in within a
week of the due date for the original assignment. (e.g. if the exercise is out of 100, and you
get 75, you will get credit for 25/100.
If you do the makeup exercise within the week and get full credit for
it, you would get 40/40, giving you a final grade of 25+40= 75/100.
3.
Quizzes are unannounced,
and are open book. In addition, you may
discuss your answers with your neighbors.
Quizzes are not returned.
For the most part the quizzes focus on the current or previous lecture’s
work. Quizzes are designed to reward you
for attending class, paying attention, and taking good notes, as well as to
make you think about the material.
Exams
1.
Exams
are multiple choice. You must bring to
the exam your own #2 pencil, picture identification, and a blue No.
30423 Scantron form.
Cheating
1.
Do
not copy answers from another student under any circumstances – whether in an exam, or in completing the exercises.
2.
Cheating
will not be tolerated. The penalties are
very severe. Consult the university code
on cheating in the student handbook for more information.
3.
All
work, including homework, should be
done independently. Evidence of cheating
includes having the same pattern of errors or spelling mistakes.
4.
You
should always protect yourself from accusations of cheating by making sure
others do not copy your work. This
applies not just to exams, but also
to the homework exercises.
Physical
Geography, Geog 107, Section 1
Course Objectives
·
Understand our planet and its environment as a system.
·
Develop basic geographic skills, for example, in understanding and
using maps in a quantitative manner.
·
Be able to explain how the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere and
terrestrial sphere interact upon one another.
·
Be able to use critical thought to evaluate from a geographic
perspective the major contemporary environmental problems currently affecting
the globe, including global warming, ozone and biodiversity.
·
Have sufficient understanding about the complexities of scientific
issues relating to our planet system to think critically about the mutual
impacts of science, society, natural resources, and the environment.
Course Philosophy and Overview
Physical geography is an exciting subject! We deal with no less a topic
than the world we live in, and how it works. We study the world from a broad
perspective, examining each of the four global environmental spheres
(atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and lithosphere), with a special emphasis
on how these environmental spheres are inter-related. For example, we study how
the atmospheric circulation and ocean patterns determine climate patterns, and
in turn, how climate patterns determine vegetation, and then how climate and
vegetation influence soils. It is an inter-connected web!
It is important to be knowledgeable about how our planet works. Firstly,
it is intellectually satisfying to know that our physical world is not just a
random association of attributes. Secondly, understanding the diversity in the
world environment helps us understand the human condition. Thirdly, it is of
practical value to be able to read a map, predict the weather, or understand
when the ocean might be seasonally cold (not necessarily in winter!) and thus
not so good as a vacation spot. Fourthly, and possibly most important of all,
humans are changing this planet at an unprecedented rate. Policy decisions made
today will have a significant effect on your life long after those who are
currently making those decisions have passed on.
In order to understand how the world works, you need to know the language
of physical geography. Consequently, for exams and quizzes you must be familiar
with definitions and facts outlined in the syllabus. But it is the
understanding of the principals of the geography that is at the core of
this course. Consequently the main emphasis of exams and quizzes is on critical
understanding, not rote learning. You should therefore expect questions that
are a bit longer and more complicated than most multiple-choice questions.
These are not "trick" questions - they are trying to test your
ability to make connections between ideas.
Attending class is compulsory. In order to make this a profitable
experience, though, you should be an active participant in the lecture. By that
I don't mean you have to ask a lot of questions (though I encourage you to ask
as many as you feel comfortable raising), rather I mean you need to synthesize
the information you gather. Don't just write what I write on the board; add
notes based on how you understand what I am explaining. Think critically, and
don't just accept things that seem contradictory or wrong.
It is impossible to be an active participant in a lecture if those around
you are not respectful of your need to concentrate. You are paying a great deal
to take this class. If the people around you are making a noise, you are quite
at liberty to ask them to respect the 200 others in the room by keeping quiet.
I will not tolerate behavior that disrupts the learning experience of others.
If you are having trouble reading a note on the board, or understanding a
concept, raise your hand and ask the instructor to clarify the issue, so that
the whole class may benefit. It is likely that you will be doing others a
favor, since you are probably not the only one confused.
Days of Special
Concern
WVU recognizes the diversity of its students and the needs of those who
wish to be absent from class to participate in Days of Special Concern, which
are listed in the Schedule of Courses.
Students should notify me by the end of the second week of classes or
prior to the first Day of Special Concern, whichever is earlier, regarding Day
of Special Concern observances that will affect their attendance. Further, students must abide by the
attendance policy of this class, as stated on the syllabus. I will make reasonable accommodation for
tests or field trips that a student misses as a result of observing a Day of
Special Concern, so long as I am notified in advance as specified above. In general, students who are unable to take
scheduled tests should plan on making them up in advance of the assigned
date. My policy of allowing students to
drop the lowest test score also should be used to provide flexibility for
students who will miss exams for religious observances.
Social Justice Statement
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 with Disability Services (293-6700).