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Instructor:         Dr. Joy Wolf                        
Class time:      Tuesday/Thursday: 11:00-12:15pm
Email:                 wolf@uwp.edu

Course Goals.  This is a General Education Course in the natural sciences.  The goal of this class is to help you understand the concepts and processes that explain physical systems on Earth and recognize the relationship between people and their natural environment.   Four broad themes of Physical Geography are Earth/Sun relationships, atmosphere and weather dynamics, lithosphere i.e. plate tectonics, mountain building, glaciers, rock types and rivers, and biosphere i.e. soil development, ecology, biomes and conservation issues.  Participation in groups, critical thinking homework, videos, lectures and other assignments is required. 

Text (Required):  Geosystems:  An Introduction to Physical Geography with MasteringGeography, 8^th Edition
ISBN:  032176756X.  You are required to use the web page for homework, quizzes, links and study questions: http://www.masteringgeography.com)

Class Activities.  Homework and in-class exercises provide an opportunity to think about the consequences of your activities in the natural world and how the subject matter applies to your daily life, such as seasonal changes, weather patterns, landforms or ecological processes.  Hands-on activities will help you learn skills such as map interpretation, rock identification, and fire ecology.  This work cannot be made up or substituted.  When working in a group, it is your responsibility to interact with each other to complete the exercises.  You are not allowed to leave your group early – if you are done, your group should be done.  Make sure everyone in the group understands the questions and answers, but do your own work (copying answers results in a low grade!).        
 

Exam questions draw from everything in class including the textbook, lectures, class discussion, group work, videos.  Exam questions require problem solving and are challenging!  Read them carefully.  If you have special needs or a documented disability that will impact your learning, contact me in the first couple weeks to discuss your needs. You may want to register with Disability Services in WYLL D175.

Course Attendance Policy:  Your attendance in class is required.   Students who miss more than the equivalent of 3 weeks of classes (6 class periods) can earn no higher than a D.   If you do miss a class, it is your responsibility to obtain lecture notes or any announcements regarding syllabus changes or exams from a classmate.   You cannot make up any missed graded activities.

Cancellation Weather Policy:  The class will meet in all weather conditions unless University closes entirely.

Please consider the following ways that will help you succeed and enjoy this class:

1. Come to class every time!   You will benefit from it (do this in all your classes).
2. Read the assigned readings and have your homework done before class – come prepared. 
3. Check both D2L and textbook webpages OFTEN for handouts, syllabus changes or course activities.  
4. Seek out help.  Margaret Martin (marti186@rangers.uwp.edu) is here to assist you on labs.  She will also hold sessions in Room ____ time: ______ to help you understand concepts that previous students have found difficult – come with questions!  Students find that these sessions improve their overall grade. 
5. Maintain a sense of commitment and respect, participate, and take copious notes. 
6. Other than class discussions, do not talk in class.  If you insist, you will be asked to leave.  You don’t want to miss any class time – you will be missing a lot. 
7. Explore ways that the subject matter can apply to your life.  It’s fun!
8. Talk to me if you have trouble or something is not working for you, and we will try to work it out.      
   I want you to do well in this course! 

Course Grade is based on:
24%        All class activities not including tests
6%          Field trip
70%        4 Exams
No make-up tests will be given

Personal Conduct:  You are expected to show respect to everyone in the classroom.   This includes no talking during class, disruptive behavior, or repeated absences.    Refrain from cell phone use or risk having your phone brought to the front of the room until the end of class.   If I see social talking as a potential problem, you’ll be assigned a seat or be asked to leave the class for that day.  

 

Lectures, Exercises, and Reading Assignments are SUBJECT TO CHANGE – Stay Alert!
VERY IMPORTANT:  Check the web for Weekly Homework Assignments and Quizzes

GEOG 100 fulfills a General Education Requirement. Students in this class will achieve and demonstrate competency in the following areas. 

1. Communication, Information Technology - retrieving and transmitting information using technology

You will learn how to use information technology from etexts, Google Earth and other sources to analyze and solve problems.  You will also use topography maps to read contour lines, convert map scales, determine azimuth, locate landforms and river systems, and decipher several grid systems, as well as have an understanding of GIS and remote sensing as ways to analyze the physical environment. 
You'll gain these skills during the in-class labs and your online homework assignments.  

2. Reasoned Judgment, Analytical skills - understanding, producing and interpreting quantitative and qualitative information

You will learn how to do the following: 1. use graphs to analyze data such as atmospheric adiabatic heating and cooling, 2. determine atmospheric temperature at different lapse rates, 3. quantify differences in surface temperatures and humidity, and 4. apply the equations for latent heat and compression.

You will learn these skills over the course of several in-class labs and online homework assignments.   For example, in one lab you will demonstrate atmospheric moisture by using math / science skills to quantify humidity, illustrate temperature and humidity changes and lapse rate with elevation, understand orographic processes in saturated and unsaturated air, and draw conclusions using critical thinking skills.  

3. Social and Personal Responsibility - Individual accountability – to understand what a responsible choice is and that education and learning is a personal responsibility

Learning Outcome: Students understand that their own actions have effects on our dynamic Earth and realize the impact they have on the ozone hole, habitat destruction, soil erosion, and climate change.
Grading:  You will participate in a class discussions and debate about your own accountability to the natural environment.   One example will be water conservation and use.  You will think about ways that you and the community can use water more wisely and report to the class as a group and individually.   Another example will be dam construction on rivers.  You will be assigned to a ‘pro’ or ‘con’ side of dam building.  You might be on a side they don’t want to defend, so be prepared to listen openly and understand clearly both sides of the issue.   You may come out of class considering alternative actions to your own lifestyle!    Your grade will consider the level of preparedness, understanding physical and biological systems connectedness, ability to recognize cause/effect between environment & human activity, ability to see both sides of the issue/problem, and your consideration of alternative activities.