Physical Geography 205

Course Syllabus - Spring 2008

Monday, March 31, 2008

Required Texts: Elemental Geosystems, Christopherson, 2000, 7th Ed., Prentice-Hall.
 
Name:_______________________________          

 

_____________________________ (please print and sign)

 By signing, you agree that you have read this syllabus and understand and agree to follow all classroom and evaluation policies. You will not be handed back any graded work until I have received a signed copy of this syllabus.

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Instructor's Comments

ON THE COURSE OBJECTIVE - The primary goal of this course is to provide an interesting, and broad, initial exposure to the science of geography. Physical Geography is the study of the physical earth – simply put, about energy. It is a science of both concepts and terminology. To understand the definitions one must understand the concepts that the jargon carries with it. But what concepts! They will help you to understand the ground beneath your feet. . . to the horizon and beyond. And they will aid you in comprehending the dynamic processes that constantly reshape the earth, suddenly shift the earth around us or blow away mountains. Hopefully, this new knowledge may help you very practically in selecting where you choose to live. . . to understand the benefits and risks of the physical environment around you.

ON GEOGRAPHY - The study of the earth, for me, has been a journey whose point is the journey. . . not the arriving. With every question to which I have discovered the answer, at least two better questions seem to have come. Geography has been a visceral experience for me! It has been a series of "Oh wows!" whether I was standing on the south rim of the Grand Canyon wondering how any canyon could be so visually expansive or poised at the overlook in Yosemite Valley awestruck by 4000 foot vertical rock faces, valleys sharply terminated - hanging in mid-air and graceful waterfalls - all in one quick glance. This science is seductive to the curious. At times, it will draw individuals in like the proverbial moth to the flame without thought of well-being. This may explain why Alfred Wegener, the originator of the theory of Continental Drift, lays in a glacier. Or David Johnston, an earth scientist with the USGS whose trailer was unearthed 13 years after Mount St. Helens suddenly buried it. He chose to stay and die. Who would have better understood the potential of that grumbling giant.

ON REALITY - I have been around college long enough to know that people take classes for various reasons. Students from time to time will enroll in Geography 205 because it is perceived to be less mentally burdensome than some other general education science classes. This may well be so. However, I also know that one of the key things that makes one science "easier" than another is the student's level of interest. . . whether or not the subject piques one's curiosity. If you cannot imagine yourself, for example, looking at Mount Rainier and wondering what possessed nature to place that massive chunk of rock there or to sometimes suddenly blow them up like Mount St. Helens, then you may wish to consider biology, astronomy or, perhaps, particle physics - especially if they draw your interest. But if you are curious about how things in our physical environment became the way they are. . . how they have changed in the past. . . and what they may do in the future (by the way California will not fall in the ocean but will probably end up in Alaska), then you are in the right place. And if you are willing to nurture that curiosity by reading some, listening some, observing some and wondering a lot, then you will uncover knowledge to carry with you virtually anywhere you go on earth!

 It is an expectation that you act and be treated as adults in this class. Many of these expectations are laid out in the student handbook, available in several locations on campus. Your ethical behavior in regards to the completion of coursework should be of the highest caliber, and your treatment of other students and staff should be of utmost respect. It is also expected that you will posses the skills necessary to function efficiently in the classroom. If you require help in regards to language difficulties, comprehension, writing, taking notes, and conducting research online and in the EVCC library, the college has many award winning programs and tools at your disposal. Please do not hesitate to ask if you feel you have any skills that you need to address, and I may point out help for deficiencies as they come up.

ON TESTING, STUDYING & QUESTIONS - I reserve the right to employ essay questions together with other common question formats on examinations. Following these comments are the usual but necessary facts and figures pertaining to calendar items, policies, expectations, grading, etc. It is my strong recommendation that you keep pace with the schedule. It will serve you by providing time to mull over the ideas contained in the material.

On the third day of class you will be expected to hand in the first page of this syllabus. I will award you 2 extra credit points for this first assignment. If you add late, you will still need to hand in these materials, but will only receive the extra credit points if they are handed in the day after your first in this class. I will keep the first page of the syllabus on file. By signing the syllabus, you are signing a contract, that you have read this syllabus, and agree to fulfill its terms. If you do not hand in the syllabus on the third day of class, you will still be expected to do so, to receive credit for assignments that you turn in (you will not receive extra credit for syllabuses turned in late).

It is an expectation that you will attend every class and be on time. If you must unavoidably miss a class you will be expected to know the material covered. Special arrangements for a test will need to be made in person, in advance, and confirmed by e-mail. Absence due to illness will need to be confirmed by a doctor to make up a test. You are responsible for knowing what is happening in the course, and for your grades. Carefully follow the course schedule (the link is at the bottom of this page).

Please, no conversations while I am lecturing. It disrupts our classroom environment. If you are unable to comply with this courtesy you will be warned the first time it occurs, and be asked to leave if it happens again. If this behavior continues, you will be withdrawn from the class. If you have questions about expectations of your conduct, I would again advise you to consult the EVCC Student Handbook.

You will find it essential to take good notes  - not only because I will allow you to use them on the tests, but because you will be lost without them. We will cover a lot of ground in this class, with a different area of Physical Geography each week. Also, you will find it important to treat videos like a guest lecturer, and take diligent notes on these materials - you will be tested on them. We will usually see about one video per chapter of the book covered.

There will be a Midterm and a Final exam each worth 65 points each, for a total of 130 points possible. There will be 25 multiple-choice questions (worth 2 points each) and 1 essay question worth 15 points.  Bring  a scantron card, pencil, and paper. You will be able to use your notes on the tests but not your book. You will be tested on the text, lectures, films, and all material covered in class. If you miss taking any of these exams, a make-up exam will not be given, unless you have made prior arrangements (resulting in a failing grade for that exam).

Each week on Thursday, you will complete a 2-hour lab. These exercises will be hands on activities utilizing GIS, Remote Sensing, and GPS fieldwork. The software in the lab for these practicums will be ArcGIS, ENVI, and ArcPad. I expect these activities will be a lot of fun – among some of the activities we will be working with Landsat, Aster, and Modia satellite imagery. For the labs, you will work in 2-person teams, and hand in 1 assignment. You will have the same lab partner throughout the quarter, and partners will be assigned the first week of class. The lab assignments will be worth 15 points each, and you will complete 9 labs, for 135 points possible.

We will complete one of the labs on a field trip, on May 10. An incorrect date for this field trip was published in the course catalog. If you have a conflict with this time, please let me know, and I will make every effort to accommodate you (this will undoubtedly be discussed on the first week of class). Many of the aspects of these field trips will follow other natural science classes, but we will be using GPS field units, and mapping (GIS) software for the exercises. I am very much looking forward to this experience – outside in the field is where Geography is most powerful and captivating.

On most Fridays, you will turn in 8 group assignments that will be worth up to 15 points each. Small groups of about 4 people will be formed during the first week of class - each person will be expected to contribute and participate. These assignments will involve research on specific topics that we will be focusing on that week - you will find links for the online materials in the course schedule, faculty in the EVCC Library can be of help, and we will have an introductory session on conducting research at the library at the beginning of the quarter. Links to mapping resources can also be found on my homepage. Members not submitting a map with their name on it will have 3 points deducted. Members not contributing to their group may be left of that week’s assignment. There will be a peer revue at quarter's end, where you will be evaluated by your team members (this will be worth 15 points). This will account for 135 points possible. I think you will find the group projects to be a very positive experience, and a powerful learning tool.

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Grading: Based on the following elements:

· 1 mid-term examinations @ 65 points each on any and all course material.

· A final examination @ 65 points also on any and all course material.

·Lab Exercises and Field Exercises 9 assignments @15 points each (for a total of 135 points).

· Weekly Group Assignments 8 assignments @15 points each, (and a peer revue worth 15 points for a total of 135 points), will be assigned (and posted down below in the online syllabus) on Friday and turned in on the following Friday with a short class presentation - you will be given class time to organize your groups, ask questions, and work on the assignments.

· If for any reason you are unable to take an exam at the scheduled time, alternate arrangements must be made prior, and to my agreement. Confirmation of these arrangements must be made by e-mail (the student will e-mail me with the agreed upon time, and I will respond). Any exams you miss, must have a valid reason in the instructor's judgment or you will be given no credit.

· In general, you can expect materials handed back within 1 week of when I receive them (not accounting for times of unusually heavy volume such as Midterms, etc.). Your grades will be posted on Blackboard. You can access Blackboard from the Student Favorites dropdown menu on the Everett Community College homepage. Instructions how to sign will appear when you load the link

Class Policy:

·  Please turn your cell phones off in the classroom. If you must leave your cell phone on for emergency purposes, set it on mute, and answer any calls outside in the hall.

·   It is an expectation that you act and be treated as adults in this class. Many of these expectations are laid out in the student handbook, available in several locations on campus. Your ethical behavior in regards to the completion of coursework should be of the highest caliber, and your treatment of other students and staff should be of utmost respect. It is also expected that you will posses the skills necessary to function efficiently in the classroom. If you require help in regards to language difficulties, comprehension, writing, taking notes, and conducting research online and in the EVCC library, the college has many award winning programs and tools at your disposal. Please do not hesitate to ask if you feel you have any skills that you need to address, and I may point out help for deficiencies as they come up.

·Cheating on exams or reports (including plagiarism on group reports) will result in automatic scores of 0.0 for this work. Avoid even the appearance of such behavior.

If you fail to complete any assignment/s worth up 10% of your grade, it will be up to my discretion to offer you an incomplete grade at the end of the quarter. Therefore, your grade will be a maximum of 400 points, which will then be calculated on a 4.0 scale, with letter grades assigned accordingly. The breakdown is as follows:  

 Link to Spring Quarter Schedule for Geography 205