GEOG 1301 PCM
Section 08235
11 Week Semester
Introduction to Physical Geography
Summer 2000

Instructor: Michael Pool Contact Information
  • Office Hours:
    • Rio Grande Campus, Annex 250.1 
      • MTWThF 10:00-10:30, 12:10-12:40
      • 223-3403 
    • Virtual Office
      • MWF 3:30-4:30
      • 280-7654 
    		 Mailing Address:
    Austin Community College
    Rio Grande Campus
    1212 Rio Grande
    Austin, TX 78701
    Fax: 223-8900 (7:00 pm to 8:00 am only)
    Home: 280-7654 (no calls after 10:00 p.m.)
    E-mail: mpool@austin.cc.tx.us
    Class Web Page: http://www.austin.cc.tx.us/pool/geog1301

    Classes start June 7

    June 7-July 3 July 3 Lab Manual Exercises 1-18 Due
    July 3 Test 1 (Chapters 1-7)

    July 5-July 17

    July 17 Lab Manual Exercises 19-24 Due
    July 17 Test 2 (Chapters 8-12)

    July 18-Aug. 16

    Aug. 8 Last Day to Withdraw Aug. 16 Lab Manual Exercises 25-38 Due
    Aug. 16 Test 3 (Chapters 13-20)

    Texts

    McKnight, Tom L. (2000) Physical Geography: A Landscape Appreciation, Sixth Edition. Prentice Hall: Upper Saddle River, NJ. ISBN 0-13-020263-0

    Hess, Darrel. (1999) Laboratory Manual for Physical Geography: A Landscape Appreciation, Sixth Edition. Prentice Hall: Upper Saddle River, NJ.

    The following information is needed when visiting an ACC Bookstore or placing an order by phone:

    1) Course number
    2) Section number
    3) Campus location: Open Campus
    Open Campus textbooks can be purchased either at the Rio Grande Bookstore or another ACC Bookstore, by phone (512-474-7528), by fax (512-474-1837), or by mail.  Textbooks can be transferred and held 24 hours at any of the ACC Bookstores. Requests to transfer books can be made by phone or when visiting one of the bookstores.  ACC students can order books by phone and pay by credit card. Call (512) 474-7528.

    Course Description

    This course studies the factors that affect the earth's surface and create the environment and Landscape that forms the human habitat. It shows the broad diversity of disciplines and information used in the study of physical geography: Maps and map reading, weather and climate, water, soils, vegetation, and landforming processes and the dynamic relations among these processes.

    Grading

    Exams (60%): There will be three objective online tests. Links to these tests will be on the class web page (http://www.austin.cc.tx.us/pool/geog1301). You will need to request a password by email from the instructor (mpool@austin.cc.tx.us)

    Lab Manual Exercises (20%): Exercises covering the material for each test are due on the day of the test.

    The lab manual exercises require rudimentary arithmetic and algebra skills.  If you have any problem with any of the exercises, please contact me.  In some cases, we may have to meet face to face.

    Internet Exercises (10%): You will receive ½ point for completing the multiple choice and labeling exercises for each chapter at the publishers web page (http://www.prenhall.com/mcknight). The grade is based on completing the exercises and not on the number of correct answers. You need to email me the results. . The exercises are due by the date of the relevant test.

    Chapter Summaries (10%): You will receive ½ point for writing a one page summary for each chapter. These summaries are due by the date of the relevant test.  One page is the equivalent of a typed, double-spaced summary with one inch margins, which is 275 words.

    Policies

    1. One points will be deducted from your grade for each calendar day an assignment is late after its due date. Points will be deducted until a maximum grade of 70 can be earned; points will not be deducted below a grade of 70. After Aug. 16, a score of zero will be recorded

    2. It is not my policy to drop students; it is the student's responsibility to drop the class.

    3. Email me the chapter summaries and internet exercises. You can xerox or tear out the lab manual exercises and hand them in by their due date. You have the option of delivering them to me directly during my office hours, getting a date stamp from the receptionist at the Pinnacle Building and having it put in my mail box, going to any campus or center and getting a date stamp and routing the material to me through intercampus mail with "Michael Pool-Pinnacle" on the routing envelope, or fax it to me at 223-8900. Make sure that the routing envelope is put into the correct basket.

    A date stamp is critical. I will accept that as the day received.

    4. Incompletes are discouraged and will only be given for extenuating circumstances. Time conflicts and poor time management are not acceptable reasons; ACC has a very liberal drop policy you can use in these circumstances.

    However, students who entered a Texas public college for the first time in the fall of 1999 are subject to a Texas statute that limits the number of courses a student may take for which the State will pay the College.  The rule applies to university students and to community college students who transfer from ACC to Texas public colleges and universities.

    5. In cases of scholastic dishonesty (cheating) and after meeting with the student or notifying the student of the reasons for believing scholastic dishonesty occurred, a grade of 0 will be recorded for any work determined by the instructor to result from an act of scholastic dishonesty. The Dean of Student Services will be notified of the incident and the academic penalty and will determine if any further disciplinary penalty will be assessed. The student can accept the penalty or dispute in writing to the Dean, within five (5) College class days (excluding weekends) of the student's receipt of written notice of the academic penalty assessed, either the facts of the offense or the academic penalty assessed. The student is referred to the ACC Student Handbook for further details.

    Copyright 2000 Michael Pool

    Last Updated 7/18/00

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