GEO 480, FIELD WORK IN GEOGRAPHY (3 CREDITS)
SPRING SEMESTER 2014, LSCB 45, FRIDAYS, 11:00 AM-4:00 PM
Web enhanced class: access materials from Dr. Fearn’s website
DR. MIMI FEARN,
LSCB 135, phone: work 460-7573, home 479-1230, cell 654-2971
Email: mfearn@usouthal.edu
Homepage: http://www.usouthal.edu/geography/fearn
Office Hours: Monday and Tuesday 2:00-4:00 PM; Wednesday 9:00-11:00 AM; or by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course trains students in the collection and interpretation of field data. Information collected by
measurements, observations, and interviews is integrated into a final written project report dealing
with a specific local environmental problem. Prerequisite: Senior standing. Fee. This course serves as
a capstone class for geography majors. Core course.
GEO 480 is a service learning class that pairs a local environmental organization, Dog River
Clearwater Revival, with seniors in geography. Each student chooses a research topic based on
his/her own interests and skills that relates to the environmental group's needs of understanding water
quality degradation in the Dog River Watershed. Classmates help with the gathering of data to
answer the posed research questions. Individual project reports are available to the public on the Dog
River Watershed Web Page.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
The objectives for GEO 480 are to improve the student's research and writing skills, to provide
information of value to the community, and to practice the application of classroom knowledge to
real world problems.
TEXTBOOK
There isn’t one. You do need to buy a field notebook of some sort. Something about 6” x 9” that you
can carry easily but that is still big enough to write in. I have many left overs that you are welcome to
have.
WEB PAGE
Research project reports with "A" or "B" grades become part of the Dog River Web Page so that the
information you generate is available to the public. Assignments must be done on a word processor in
the proper format and the final report turned in on CD as well as paper copy to facilitate uploading to
the web page. Take time to browse the web page for ideas. http://dogriver.southalabama.edu
(Click on the globe)
ATTENDANCE
Students are expected to attend and to be on time for ALL classes. Attendance is mandatory in this
class. If you have an insurmountable problem, discuss it with the instructor PRIOR to missing class.
You will lose the class participation points for the day you miss regardless of your excuse.
EXAMS
There aren’t any. Your grade comes entirely from participation, written assignments, poster
presentation, and field notes.
GRADING CRITERIA
Points for all assignments/activities are noted on the class schedule below.
All assignments must be word processed and turned in on time to receive full credit.
Late assignments lose value at a rate of minus 10% per day unless you have made specific
arrangements with the professor in advance. If you will miss class, you need to email
your assignment in before class to avoid a late penalty.
Total points possible: 191
A = 191 - 170 points
B = 169 - 150 points
C = 149 - 130 points
D = 129 - 110 points
F = below 110
Participation = 21%; Draft work = 22%; Other written work = 25%;
Final written report = 17%; Poster presentation = 8%; Field notes = 6%
GEO 480: Field Work in Geography, Spring Semester 2014, Fridays 11-3
Schedule
Day
Date
Fri. (L) 1/17/14 Watershed basics, watershed delineation, team assignments,
Writing in geography, fieldnotes, resumes, hypotheses
Choice 1/24/14 Team reconnaissance, independent work, no class
Fieldnotes, pictures, and hypotheses
Fri. (L) 1/31/14 Walk in the watershed, Feb 7 = last day to apply for summer graduation
Vans Digital pictures on CD & MARKED route map or printed GPS track
Fri. (M) 2/7/14 Photo identification and webpage critique instructions
Draft resumes (2 pts.) and 2 hypotheses/person (4 pts.) due
Fri. (M) 2/14/14 Webpage critiques due, proposal writing instructions
Alabama Water Watch Certification, part I
Fri. (L) 2/21/14 Alabama Water Watch Certification, part II
Proposal outlines due for review/approval
Fri. (M) 2/28/14 Full draft proposals due, annotated bibliography instructions
Peer review proposals in class, handle fieldwork needs
Fri. (M) 3/7/14 Spring Break…no class
Fri. (M) 3/14/14 Abstract instructions, data presentation in figures and tables
Final resumes due (4), Annotated Bibliography due (8)
Fri. (M) 3/21/14 Trip to C.C.Williams sewage treatment plant (Meet there at 11:00)
Final proposals due
Fri. (M) 3/28/14 How to do a poster presentation, Guidelines for final report and fieldnotes
Abstract due
Fri (L) 4/4/14 Boat trip on Dog River, meet at Luscher (Navco) Park
or Sat 4/5/14 Last day to drop - April 4
Fri. (M) 4/11/14 No class, Dr. Fearn will be at AAG. Schedule an individual appt. during the
preceding or following week if you need guidance on final poster or report.
Fri. (M) 4/18/14 Draft poster (8) and draft final report (16) due
Peer review posters and reports in class
Fri. (M) 4/25/14 Lunch, Poster session
Mon
5/5/14
Points
Part. Work
3
4
4
3
3
6
8
3
3
12
3
12
3
16
3
8
3
3
4
24
3
16
41
Total
32
12
150
191
Final written report (USB and hard copy) due on Monday before 5 PM
Fieldnotes due
CLASSROOM POLICIES
Attendance - Students are expected to attend and to be on time for ALL classes. Attendance is checked at each
class. It is your responsibility to sign the class role at the time it is passed around. Your attendance grade
is the number of classes you attend divided by the total number of classes. Problems that cause extended
absence should be discussed with the instructor.
Behavior - No smoking or eating is allowed during class. You are encouraged to share your ideas and opinions,
and you are expected to treat your classmates and professor with courtesy and respect. The student conduct
code is specified in The Lowdown http://www.southalabama.edu/lowdown/academicdisruption.shtml.
Disruptive academic behavior is defined as individual or group conduct that interrupts or interferes with any
educational activity or environment, infringes upon the rights and privileges of others, results in or threatens
the destruction of property and/or is otherwise prejudicial to the maintenance of order in an academic
environment. Note that sleeping in class or talking in class when you should be listening are considered
academic disruption.
Cheating
USA’s Student Academic Conduct Policy is found in The Lowdown
http://www.southalabama.edu/lowdown/academicconductpolicy.shtml: The University of South Alabama is a
community of scholars in which the ideals of freedom of inquiry, freedom of thought, freedom of expression,
and freedom of the individual are sustained. The University is committed to supporting the exercise of any
right guaranteed to individuals by the Constitution and the Code of Alabama and to educating students
relative to their responsibilities. The penalty for cheating or plagiarism in this class is a zero on the
assignment in question. To learn more about plagiarism, go to
http://www.southalabama.edu/univlib/instruction/plagiarismforstudents.html.
Disabilities
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, students with bona fide disabilities will be afforded
reasonable accommodations. The Office of Special Student Services (OSSS) will certify a disability and
advise faculty members of reasonable accommodations. If you have a specific disability that qualifies you
for academic accommodations, please notify the instructor/professor and provide certification from the
Office of Special Student Services. OSSS is located at 5828 Old Shell Road at Jaguar Drive, (251-4607212).
Changes
Not all classes progress at the same rate thus course requirements might have to be modified as
circumstances dictate. You will be given written notice if the course requirements need to be changed.
Online Writing Support
The University of South Alabama provides online writing tutoring services through SMARTHINKING, an
online tutoring service. SMARTHINKING is available at http://services.smarthinking.com. Students may
enter the site by logging on with their Jag number and using the last four digits of the social security number
as the password. For log-on problems, technical questions and/or on-campus writing assistance, contact the
USA Writing Center at 251-460-6480 or e-mail csaint-paul@usouthal.edu. Information about the University
Writing Center and Online Writing Lab can be found online at
http://www.southalabama.edu/univlib/instruction/antiplagiarism/writinghelp.html