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INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Joy Wolf
CLASS TIME: Wednesday: 2:00 – 5:50 pm
TELEPHONE: 595-3221
EMAIL: wolf@uwp.edu
OFFICE: Molinaro 247

Field Photos:   2007
 

This course will introduce the physical processes that shape Earth’s landscape at local and global scales.  These topics are important to students who wish to understand some of the processes that underlie many human, social and economic aspects of our environment and natural resources.  We will explore Earth processes such as mountain building, volcanoes, and plate tectonics and how they form interesting landforms.  We will discuss how these processes and landforms can cause significant hazards to people.

My goals for this course are to provide the concepts you’ll need to understand landform processes and make the concepts tangible and interesting.  This course incorporates labs and field outings that will assist you to understand these concepts.  What I expect from you is a commitment to the course, including coming to class on time and prepared.

EMAIL:  I use email via D2L to communicate with you outside of class.   Use your UWP email every day so that you don’t miss information or assignments.

TEXT (REQUIRED): Tarbuck and Lutgens.  Ninth Edition.  Earth.  Prentice Hall

GRADING:  Your final course grade will be based on the following:
20%   Labs and Field Trips
10%   Participation and attendance
20%   Research Presentation and Paper
30%   Midterm I and II, 15% each.   NO make-up exams
20%   Final Exam

Lab Component:  The labs and field trips offer a hands-on approach to grasp concepts to explore landforms in the real world.  All labs are due on the same day they are given, so that you will be assured of individual attention.  You will work in groups; however, you are responsible for your own work.  Please learn the concept of plagiarism.

Exams will cover material from lectures, and in the text, videos, field trips, in-class labs and outside readings.  Test questions will challenge your critical thinking skills, and will include short essay, problem-solving, and quantitative-based questions.  The tests are challenging.  Students with special needs should speak with me as soon as possible.

RESEARCH PAPER AND PRESENTATION:  You will prepare a 15 minute presentation (with 5 minutes for questions) and a 4-5 page double spaced research paper.  Your paper will focus on an approved topic in the field of landforms geography.  The research paper should be well-written and include an introduction to provide background information and current issues about your landform topic, what research is being done, why and how it is studied, and how it affects human patterns.  Conclude with your critical analysis of the research in your topic.  It is required that you use at least three references from peer-reviewed journals.  Visit the library for help to identify peer-reviewed articles
 

If you have a documented disability that will impact your learning, please contact me to discuss your needs. Additionally you will need to register with Disability Services in WYLL D175.