GEOG 1301-005 PCM
Synonym 11890
16 Week Semester
Introduction to Physical Geography
Spring 2008

Instructor: Michael Pool Contact Information
Office Hours:

Jan. 14-Feb. 11
  • Pinnacle 413 512-223-8105
    • M-TH 12:00-1:15
Feb. 12-May 5
  • Pinnacle 413 512-223-8105
    • M-TH 11:00-1:15
(These office hours are subject to change of time and location)
Mailing Address:
Austin Community College
Pinnacle Campus
7748 Hwy 290 W
Austin, TX 78701
Fax: 512-223-8900 (for more than 10 pages: 7:00 pm to 8:00 am only)
Home: 512-280-7654 (no calls after 10:00 p.m.)
E-mail: mpool@austincc.edu
Class Web Page: http://www.austin.cc.edu/pool/geog1301

Classes start Jan. 14

Jan. 14-Feb. 7
Feb. 18 Lab Manual Exercises 1-20 Due
Feb. 18 Test 1 (Chapters 1-7)

Feb. 18-March 23 March 24 Lab Manual Exercises 20-27 Due
March 24 Test 2 (Chapters 8-12)

March 24-May 4

April 21 Last Day to Withdraw (ACC) May 5 Lab Manual Exercises 28-44 Due
May 5 Test 3 (Chapters 13-20)

TEXTBOOKS

McKnight, Tom L. and Darrell Hess (2008) Physical Geography: A Landscape Appreciation, Ninth Edition. Prentice Hall: Upper Saddle River, NJ. ISBN-10: 0132239019 or ISBN-13:9780132239011

McKnight, Tom L (Deceased). and Darrell Hess. (2008) Laboratory Manual for Physical Geography: A Landscape Appreciation, Ninth Edition. Prentice Hall: Upper Saddle River, NJ. ISBN-10: 0132381133 or ISBN-13: 9780132381130

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

1) Course number
2) Section and Synonym numbers
3) Campus location: Open Campus (OPC) or Distance Learning
Be sure you get the 9th edition of the textbook and the lab manual. Also, make sure you get the lab manual and NOT the study guide.

Open Campus textbooks can be purchased either at the Rio Grande Bookstore (817 West 12th Street), by phone (512-474-2607), 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) 474-2607.  The text book and lab manual are: New Price: $153.05 or Used Price:  $114.80 (may not be available).

You can also purchase books from MBSDirect  by internet , by phone (800-325-3252), or by fax (800-499-0143) for delivery directly to you. The text book is New: $110.75.

You can also order the textbook and lab manual directly form Pearson/Prentice Hall: Textbook $102.60 (member)  Lab Manual   $47.20. Make sure you get the correct editions.

You can also order from the Barnes and Noble college textbooks web site (member price): Textbook $88.60  Lab Manual $42.48.

 You can also order from Ecampus.com Textbook New: $102.89 Used $75.81.  Lab Manual New $44.40. 

Other internet sources can be found at Web Best Buys:  Lab Manuals and Textbooks.

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 (300 points): There will be three objective online tests. Each test is worth 100 points.  The tests will be on the ACC Blackboard site (https://acconline.austincc.edu/webapps/login/).  You will need to request a password by email from the instructor for each test (mpool@austincc.edu).
    There are no re-tests.

Lab Manual Exercises (114 points): Exercises covering the material for each test are due on the day of the test.  There are 38 exercises assigned, and each exercise is worth 3 points.

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.

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 512-223-8900. 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.   See Policy 3 below.

Internet Exercises (50 points): You will receive 2½ point for completing all of the Multiple-Choice Quiz, the True/False Quiz, Thinking Spatially exercise, and the Chapter Test for each chapter at the publisher's web page (http://www.prenhall.com/mcknight/ and pick the 8th edition on the right) with a minimum grade of 70% for each exercise.  These exercises are due by the date of the relevant test.

Chapter Summaries (50 points): You will receive 2½ point for writing a one page summary (minimum 275 words) for each chapter. These summaries are due by the date of the relevant test. E-mail them to me.

Grade Scale


I usually only check and respond to my e-mail on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons.  I may check it at other times, but I may not.  I usually do not check it over the weekend.  Keep this in mind when asking for test information and other time critical situations.  Also keep in mind the ACC server has been known to go down, especially on weekends.

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 that will 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 them for transfer and success in a baccalaureate degree granting institution.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, the student will:

Instructional Methodology

This class uses textbook reading, writing, internet exercises, and laboratory manual exercises to introduce students to the discipline of physical geography.

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 May 5, 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 512-223-8900. 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.

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.

Publisher Web Site Requirements for Internet Exercises

To work in your Pearson Education website, your computer must meet at least the connection speed and browser requirements listed below. Individual sites may specify more stringent requirements because they include content that requires, for example, the latest browser versions.

Depending on the content at your site, you may also need to download one or more plug-ins (such as Adobe Acrobat). You can use the Browser Tuneup to check whether a plug-in is installed and, if it isn't, to download it.

Connection

To view and work with your website, you must have an Internet connection with a minimum connection speed of 28.8 Kbps (kilobits per second).

Operating systems and browsers

Except when a site states specific requirements, websites are supported in the following operating systems and browsers:

Operating Systems Browsers
PC Windows 98, 2000, and XP Internet Explorer 5.0, 5.5, and 6.0; Netscape 6.2.3 and 7.0
Mac Mac OS 9.2.2 and Mac OS X v. 10.2.4 Internet Explorer 5.1 and 5.2; Netscape 6.2.3

AOL or CompuServe

If you are using a proprietary browser such AOL or CompuServe, you may use that browser to connect to the Internet. To view website content, however, you must then use Internet Explorer or Netscape.

Cookies and JavaScript options

Pearson Education websites use both "cookies" and JavaScript technology. Both of these features must be turned on in your browser, and are usually turned on by default. See your browser Help for instructions on how to view or change these browser options.

Popup windows

Some features of this website display in a popup browser window. If you are using a browser that offers popup control, or are running an add-on program to control popups, you may need to take steps to use such features. The steps to take will depend on the browser or add-on program you are using.

Animation CD

================================================================
1) System requirements
================================================================
----------------------------------------------------------------
   a) Minimum configuration
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- Windows:
500 MHz Intel Pentium III processor or equivalent
Windows 2000/XP
16-bit Sound Card
128 MB or more of available RAM
1024x768 monitor (minimum) resolution set to 16-bit color
Mouse or other pointing device
4x CD-ROM Drive

*Optional components:
- Active internet connection with 56K modem
- Internet Browser:
  - Netscape 7+, Firefox 1+, Internet Explorer 6+

- Macintosh:
400Mhz G4 processor
Operating System OSX 10.2+
128 MB or more of available RAM
1024x768 monitor (minimum) resolution set to 16-bit color
Mouse or other pointing device
*Optional components:
- Active internet connection with 56K modem
- Internet Browser:
  - Netscape 7+, Firefox1+, Safari 1.2+

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2) Getting started
================================================================

- Windows:
Inserting this CD-ROM will automatically start the application.
If you need to manually start the application follow the
following steps:
    - Insert the CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive.
    - Browse to the "PhysGeo_9e" CD-ROM Windows Explorer window.
    - Double-click the "PhysGeo.exe" program file.

- Macintosh:
If you have AutoRun turned on on your machine -
Inserting this CD-ROM will automatically start the application.
If you need to manually start the application follow the following steps:
    - Insert the CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive.
    - Double-click the "PhysGeo_9e" CD icon on your desktop.
    - Double-click the "PhysGeo" application file.

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3) CD-ROM content
================================================================

This CD-ROM contains animation and illustration files that can be directly accessed using your system file browser, but it is recommended to view all the CD-ROM content using the "PhysGeo" application program. (See "Getting started" section)

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4) Known issues
================================================================

- If you decide to link to MyGeographyPlace from within the application, you will need to have an active Internet connection and a compatible internet browser (see "System requirements").

- Linking to MyGeographyPlace will launch your default Internet browser, and attempt to browse to the supplied URL. On some occasions the Internet browser will not automatically take focus and stay in the background, behind this CDs application. When this happens, you will have to manually focus the Internet browser.

- If you find your Internet browser is launched but does not follow the supplied MyGeographyPlace link, select the link text manually with your cursor and copy (Macintosh: ctrl+click and select “copy”, Windows: right-click and select “copy”) it to the location bar of your Internet browser window.

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5) Support information
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If you are having problems with this software, call (800) 677-6337 between 8:00 A.M. and 8:00 P.M. EST, Monday through Friday; between 5:00 P.M. and 12:00 A.M. EST, Sunday.   

You can also get support by filling out the web form located at: http://247.prenhall.com/mediaform.html

Our technical staff will need to know certain things about your system in order to help us solve your problems more quickly and efficiently.  If possible, please be at your computer when you call for support.  You should have the following information ready:

- product and title and product ISBN
- computer make and model
- RAM available
- hard disk space available
- graphics card type
- sound card type
- printer make and model
- network connection
- detailed description of the problem, including the 
  exact wording of any error messages.

Copyright 2008 Michael Pool

Last Updated 4/9/08

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