GEOG 1301-004
Section 06571
MWF 10:00-10:50
Introduction to Physical Geography
Fall 2003
Instructor: Michael Pool
Office Hours:
· Pinnacle 413
o 223-8105
o TTh 12:00-1:12
· Northridge 2111
o 223-4827
o MWF 11:00-12:12
Home: 280-7654 (no calls after 10:00 p.m.)
E-mail: mpool@austincc.edu
Copy of syllabus: http://www.austincc.edu/pool/pool.htm
Aug. 27
McKnight Chapter 1
o Hess: Lab Exercise 1, Part I & Part II
o Hess: Lab Exercise 2, Part I & Part II 1-2
o Hess: Lab Exercise 3, Part I & Part II 2-3
Sept. 3
McKnight Chapter 2 & 3
o Hess: Lab Exercise 4, Part I
o Hess: Lab Exercise 5, Part I
o Hess: Lab Exercise 6, Parts I & II
Sept. 10
McKnight Chapter 4
o Hess: Lab Exercise 7, Parts I & II
o Hess: Lab Exercise 8, Part I
o Hess: Lab Exercise 9, Parts I & II
o Hess: Lab Exercise 10, Parts I & III
Sept. 15
McKnight Chapter 5
o Hess: Lab Exercise 11, Parts I & II
o Hess: Lab Exercise 12, Parts I & II
Sept. 19
McKnight Chapter 6
o Hess: Lab Exercise 13, Parts I & II 1-2 or Parts III & IV 1-2
o Hess: Lab Exercise 14, Part I or Part III
o Hess: Lab Exercise 15, Parts I or Part II
Sept. 24
McKnight Chapter 7
o Hess: Lab Exercise 16, Parts I & II
o Hess: Lab Exercise 17: only read
o Hess: Lab Exercise 18: only read
o Hess: Lab Exercise 19, Parts I & II
Oct. 1 Test 1 (Chapters 1-7)
Lab Manual Exercises 1-19 Due
Oct. 3
McKnight Chapter 8
o Hess: Lab Exercise 20, Parts I & II
Oct. 10
McKnight Chapter 9 & 10
o Hess: Lab Exercise 21, Parts I
o Hess: Lab Exercise 22: only read
o Hess: Lab Exercise 23, Part I 1-2
Oct. 17
McKnight Chapter 11
o Hess: Lab Exercise 24: only read
Oct. 24
McKnight Chapter 12
o Hess: Lab Exercise 25: only read
Oct. 31 Test 2 (Chapters 8-12)
Nov. 3
McKnight Chapter 13 & 14
o Hess: Lab Exercise 26, Parts I & II
o Hess: Lab Exercise 27, Parts I, II, III, & IV 1 & 3
o Hess: Lab Exercise 28, Parts I 1-5 & Part II
o Hess: Lab Exercise 29, Parts I & II
o Hess: Lab Exercise 30 Parts I 1-3, 5 & II
Nov. 10
McKnight Chapter 15
o Hess: Lab Exercise 31
Nov. 14
McKnight Chapter 16
o Hess: Lab Exercise 32, Parts I, II 5-7, III, & IV
o Hess: Lab Exercise 33, Parts I 1(a) & 2-4, II, III, & IV
o Hess: Lab Exercise 34, Parts I & II 1-3
Nov. 19
McKnight Chapter 17
o Hess: Lab Exercise 35, Part I
McKnight Chapter 18
o Hess: Lab Exercise 36, Parts II, III 1-3, & IV
o Hess: Lab Exercise 37, Parts I & II
Dec. 1
McKnight Chapter 19
o Hess: Lab Exercise 38, Parts I 1-2, II 1-3, & III 1-2
o Hess: Lab Exercise 39, Parts I, II, III, & IV
Dec. 5
McKnight Chapter 20
o Hess: Lab Exercise 40, Parts I, II, & III
Dec. 10 Test 3 (Chapters 13-20)
Texts
McKnight, Tom L. (2004) Physical Geography: A Landscape Appreciation, Seventh (Animation) Edition. Prentice Hall: Upper Saddle River, NJ. ISBN 0-13-100118-3
Hess, Darrel. (2002) Laboratory Manual for Physical Geography: A Landscape Appreciation, Seventh Edition. Prentice Hall: Upper Saddle River, NJ. ISBN 0-13-041337-2
The following information is needed when visiting an ACC Bookstore or placing an order by phone:
1) Course number
2) Section number &/or Synonym
3) Campus location
Textbooks can be purchased either at the ACC Bookstore, by phone (512-474-2607), by fax (512-474-1837), or by mail, or on the web (http://www.bkstore.com/austincc/), or at any other bookstore. 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.
You can also purchase books from MBSDirect by internet at (http://direct.mbsbooks.com/austincc.htm), by phone (800-325-3252), or by fax (800-499-0143) for delivery directly to you.
Grading
Exams (200 points total): There will be three objective tests. I will drop the lower of the first two tests; if you miss a test, that will be the dropped test. Test 3 is required. You are also required to provide scantrons and a No. 2 pencil for the tests.
Lab Manual Exercises (105 points): There are 35 graded exercises. Each exercise is worth (3 points). Exercises are due the date of the test for that material.
Required supplies for doing the lab manual include:
blue, red, and green pencils
a 6" ruler with both inches and centimeters with inches graduated to at least 1/16"
a 3 foot section of string
access to a 10" globe and an indexed atlas (library)
Participation (100 points): This part of your grade is based on your attendance (60 points), chapter summaries (20 points), and class discussion (20 points).
Attendance (60 points): Will be taken from Sept. 3 through Dec.5. You will receive the following points based on absences:
|
Absences |
Points |
Absences |
Points |
Absences |
Points |
Absences |
Points |
|
1 |
58.5 |
6 |
51.0 |
11 |
36.4 |
16 |
43.5 |
|
2 |
57.0 |
7 |
49.5 |
12 |
34.3 |
17 |
42.0 |
|
3 |
55.5 |
8 |
48.0 |
13 |
32.1 |
18 |
40.5 |
|
4 |
54.0 |
9 |
46.5 |
14 |
30 |
19 |
39.0 |
|
5 |
52.5 |
10 |
45.0 |
15 |
27.9 |
20 |
37.5 |
Chapter Summaries (20 points): You will write a typed, one page (minimum 275 word) summary of each chapter (Chapters 1-20). The summary is due on the date listed in the syllabus for that chapter; you will receive 0.25 points for each summary when handed in on time. The summaries will be accepted late until the day of the test that covers that chapter but will only count 0.125 points.
Discussion (20 points): You can earn up to 20 points for participating in class discussions. This means consistently asking questions, answering questions, and discussing the material. At the end of the semester (Dec. 8), the class will evaluate each individual to determine how many points each receives.
Grades
B= 356-395.5 points
C= 395.4-345.5 points
D= 345.4-295.5 points
F<= 295.4 points
Course Description
This course introduces the student to an area of study that brings together and interrelates the important elements of the physical environment of humans. The nature and characteristics of the physical environment, their development and distribution are emphasized.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, the student will:
· Be able to describe what Geography and Physical Geography are.
· Understand the physical principles and processes governing the circulation and characteristics of the atmosphere and climates on Earth.
· Understand the principles of geomorphology and the processes that shape the landscape.
· Understand the distribution and dynamics of organisms and their environments.
· Understand the directional and locational systems employed on the surface of the Earth and to use and analyze maps.
Course Rationale
Introduction to Physical Geography GEOG 1301 is designed to:
· provide students with a basic knowledge of the earth’s environment and its components and the interrelations among the various environmental elements,
· provide a general education that assists students to think critically, and to apply the basic knowledge, skill, and principles of physical geography to everyday life and their chosen careers,
· and to prepare students for transfer and success in a baccalaureate degree granting institution.
Instructional Methodology
This class uses textbook reading, lecture, class discussion, and laboratory manual exercises to introduce students to the discipline of physical geography.
Policies
1. One point 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 Dec. 12, 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. Students are responsible for informing me when they show up for class after roll is called.
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.
5. Acts prohibited by the college for which discipline may be administered include scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited to cheating on an exam or quiz, plagiarizing, and unauthorized collaboration with another in preparing outside work. Academic work submitted by students shall be the result of their thought, research, or self-expression. Academic work is defined as, but not limited to tests, quizzes, whether taken electronically or on paper; projects, either individual or group; classroom presentations, and homework.
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.
6. Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented physical or psychological disabilities. Students with disabilities must request reasonable accommodations through the office for Students with Disabilities on the campus where they expect to take the majority of their classes. Students are encouraged to do this three weeks before the start of the semester.
7. Each student is strongly encouraged to participate in class discussions. In any classroom situation that includes discussion and critical thinking, there are bound to be many differing viewpoints. Students may not only disagree with each other at times, but the students and instructor may also find that they have disparate views on sensitive and volatile topics. It is my hope that these differences will enhance class discussion and create an atmosphere where students and instructor alike will be encouraged to think and learn. Therefore, be assured that your grades will not be adversely affected by any beliefs or ideas expressed in class or in assignments. Rather, we will all respect the views of others when expressed in classroom discussions.
Extracredit
Internet Exercises: You will receive 0.5 points added to your final grade for completing all the concept review, quick review, and thinking spatially exercises for each chapter with a minimum grade of 70% at the following web site: (http://cw.prenhall.com/bookbind/pubbooks/mcknight7/). Print out the score page and hand it in by the date of the test for that chapter. You do not need to hand in all of the answers.