|
Geography 104 - The
Physical Environment | ||||||||||||||||||
|
Lecture: Phillips 007, Tues
and Thurs, 11-12:15 PM |
Geography 104 provides GE II Lab Science credit and meets many of the UWEC Learning Goals and Outcomes | |||||||||||||||||
| Instructors | Professors Dr. Douglas Faulkner Dr. Garry Running Ms. Katie Weichelt |
Offices Phillips 250 Phillips 253 Phillips 211 |
E-mails (preferred way to contact us) faulkndj@uwec.edu runningl@uwec.edu weichekl@uwec.edu |
Office Phones 836-5166 836-2731 |
||||||||||||||
| Office Hours | Prof. Faulkner: 1:30-3:30 pm Monday, 9-10:00 am Tuesday, 12:30-2:30 pm Wednesday, or by appointment Prof. Running: 3-5:00 pm Tuesday, 11-12:15 pm Wednesday, 3:30-5:15 pm Thursday, or by appointment Prof. Weichelt: 9-11:00 am Tuesday, 1-3:00 pm Thursday, or by appointment |
|||||||||||||||||
| Rental Texts | 1) Geosystems: an Introduction to Physical Geography, 7th edition, R.W. Christopherson, 2009. Pearson Prentice Hall: Upper Saddle River, NJ | |||||||||||||||||
| Laboratory Manuals | There is no lab manual for this course at the bookstore. Rather, your manual will consist of pre-lab assignments (which will be handed out in lecture prior to each lab session) and lab assignments (which will be handed out in lab at the beginning of each laboratory session). | |||||||||||||||||
| Course Objectives | Nothing on Earth is evenly distributed – not ideas, wealth, resources, not anything. Phenomena that make up the physical environment are also unevenly distributed across Earth – warmth, fresh water, fertile soils, vegetation, and everything else. The uneven distribution of these phenomena has profound implications for humans and how humans interact with their environment. However, the distribution of these phenomena is not random – it can be explained. Describing and explaining spatial patterns of these physical phenomena—in a scientific manner—is what physical geographers do. Upon completion of this course, you will see the Earth, the home of humankind, in a new way—through the lens of physical geography. You will also be able to describe and explain spatial patterns of observable phenomena resulting from the interconnections among Earth systems (atmosphere, lithosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere), such as weather and climate, plant communities, soils, natural hazards, and landforms. You will also be able to share your insights with others. |
|||||||||||||||||
| Course Organization and Grading | Your grade in this
course will be determined by your performance on two mid-term exams, a
final exam, two lab exams, and your 9 (out of 10) best lab assignments.
Your final grade will be based on the total number of points earned
during the entire semester. The following table indicates how much the
exams and lab assignments are worth:
*Weekly laboratory assignments are equally weighted even though the total number of possible marks varies from assignment to assignment. | |||||||||||||||||
| Laboratory | Attendance at the
weekly laboratory section for which you registered is mandatory. You
may not attend another lab section without written permission from your
lab instructor. You are expected to remain in laboratory for the full two hours or until your weekly exercise is completed and turned in. P283 is an open laboratory, and it will be open from 8 AM to 6 PM (possibly later), Monday through Friday. Maps, equipment, and other materials necessary to complete weekly laboratory exercises will be available for your use when P283 is open and no other laboratory or class is in session. Completed weekly laboratory exercises should be placed in the appropriate mailbox outside P283. The deadline for each lab assignment is 3:00 PM the day following your laboratory meeting. Corrected weekly laboratory exercises will be returned the following week during your laboratory meeting. No
unexcused late laboratory assignments will be accepted for credit (late labs will
be marked but will receive no credit).
Supplies needed for lab: textbook, Goode's World Atlas, your lecture notes, pens, pencils (#2 and colored), eraser, calculator, and scratch paper. You won't use all these materials every week, but be prepared to bring them. | |||||||||||||||||
| Course Prerequisites | An open and inquisitive mind. | |||||||||||||||||
| Expectations | We expect
students to exhibit initiative
and ask questions. We can’t clarify ambiguities or address
scheduling problems unless you take the initiative and ask for
clarification, inform us of scheduling conflicts in advance, and
let us know ASAP about illness or personal tragedies that affect
your ability to perform. Take advantage of our office hours. Send us
questions or inform us of problems via email. Ask us questions in the
hallways. Ask us questions in laboratory or in lecture. Be a proactive
learner.
We expect students to conduct themselves in a professional, considerate manner. Anyone who's being inconsiderate of others during lecture or lab will be shown the door. We expect students to be responsible and dependable. We will not accept unexcused late laboratory exercises, and we will not give unexcused make-up exams. We expect students to attend all lectures and lab meetings, to be attentive, and to take notes and do assigned work diligently. Keep in mind that poor performance is strongly correlated with poor attendance. | |||||||||||||||||
| Academic misconduct | Our view of academic misconduct couldn't be dimmer, and we will deal with cases of academic misconduct according to university regulations. Please review the literature on this subject supplied by the Office of the Dean of Students, on the web at http://www.uwec.edu/dos/Codes/ch14.htm. | |||||||||||||||||
| Students with special needs | If you have a
disability and are in need of classroom accommodations, please contact us
and Kathleen Hurley at the Services for Students with Disabilities Office at 836-4542. We,
along with the university, are committed to equality of educational
opportunity for all students, but it is your responsibility to initiate
the provision of any accommodations (see http://www.uwec.edu/ssd/index.htm).
Also, if you have any scheduling conflicts that would negatively affect your performance, you must let us know about them as soon as possible. We will make arrangements to accommodate reasonable conflicts if, and only if, you provide us with adequate warning. | |||||||||||||||||
| Additional Help | The Academic Skills Center (ASC) in Old Library 2112 offers general tutorial assistance for students who wish to improve their math, writing, and study skills. To learn more, either call the ASC at 836-4421, drop by the ASC in Old Library 2112, or check out the ASC website at http://www.uwec.edu/asc/index.htm. UPDATE: Due to budget cuts, the Academic Skill Center is not offering tutorial assistance for GEOG 104 students. However, the ASC continues to offer assistance to students wishing to improve their math, writing, and study skills. For specific help, please see one of the course instructors (Drs. Faulkner or Running). |
|||||||||||||||||
