PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY LECTURE SYLLABUS
FALL 2012
Course No.: GEOG 101 Course Title: Physical Geography Lecture Units: 3.0
Section Nos. 42147, 42152, 42158, 42162
Instructor: Professor Carol Ann DeLong
Office No: SCI 43
E-MAIL: carol.delong@vvc.edu
When you contact me by e-mail, please identify your name and that you are onsite in the subject line.
Telephone: 760-245-4271 x 2435.
MATERIALS REQUIRED-
REQUIRED TEXT: GEOSYSTEMS by Christopherson. Please check with
the VVC Rams bookstore website. OrWebsite: http://www.pearsonhighered.com
Tech Support: http://247pearsoned.custhelp.com
World Atlas. Any variety that shows world locations and countries is recommended or
online access to www.worldatlas.com or another online atlas.
20 Index Cards-Put your name and class day and time on these. They will be used for
your participation confirmation.
Scantrons-6- long, narrow-50 each side blue/green not orange. Get these early.
Other Materials suggested: 3-ring binder, highlighter pens, pen and pencil, notepaper,
3-ring hole punch, stapler, scissors, printer paper, and word program. Internet access is
optional and not mandatory for this class. There are several areas on campus where you
can access the Internet. Check the VVC website, library, TECH Center and SAC.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Physical Geography is the exploration of the earth's physical systems and how they
inter-relate. This exploration includes earth-sun relationships and seasons, atmospheric
elements and weather conditions, world climates, soils and vegetation, rocks, tectonic
forces and mountain building, gradational forces and landform geomorphology.
Physical Geography Student Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this class, the student will be able to:
#1 Identify basic geographic concepts and tools for study.
#2 Understand earth-sun relationships relating to weather and climate.
#3 Identify and understand earth's internal forces and resulting geomorphology
#4 Describe the earth's internal geologic processes and analyze how
they affect the geomorphology of a region.
#5 Identify earth's external erosional processes and the resulting geomorphology.
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
Late arrival to class or early departure from class is very disruptive and does not
show respect to your fellow students. Attendance during each class session is taken.
It is your responsibility to sign the attendance sheet every class session or if
attendance is taken orally you must let me know AFTER CLASS if you arrived late.
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Notify me if you are absent and it is up to you to find out what you may have missed. I
expect you to attend every class session for the entire time. If you miss 2 class sessions in
a row and do not contact me by e-mail, I have the right to drop you and may do so. See
below*
TALKING DURING CLASS LECTURE
Once I begin the lecture, it is disrespectful to talk during lecture and it disrupts everyone.
You will miss important information related to this class. If you feel compelled to talk,
and continue to do so, I have the right to ask you to change seats or leave the room.
Also, do not bring radios and earphones, laptop computers, phones or other
electronic devices to class. If you must, please turn all electronics off and remove all
earplugs. If you wish to tape record the class you must specifically request to do so in
writing.
QUESTIONS:
If you have a question or comment about what is being lectured on or discussed, please
raise your hand and I will call on you. I respect all questions that are valid and relate to
what is being covered. If you have general questions about the class, I request that you
ask them either at the beginning or at the end of the class.
Working on other material during class is impolite and disrupts the rest of the class. Do
not work on other assignments while you are in my class.
NOTETAKING IN CLASS:
Since many of the questions on the exams will be taken from information presented
during class, it is very important that you come to class prepared to take notes. This
means that you should bring notepaper and pen or pencil as well as your textbook. If you
sit in back, it might also be helpful to bring your atlas, as I will refer to many place names
on the maps in the front of the classroom. If you have difficulty taking notes, there are
workshops presented through many departments such as the VVC writing center that are
available. Please refer to your VVC class schedule for further information.
TEXTBOOK READING:
It is important that you read all the textbook chapters assigned since you will be
responsible for learning this information. I will not be able to lecture on everything in
the text, so your reading should be done with the intent to learn the material. Pay
particular attention to the charts, diagrams, maps and pictures in the text. They are there
to support the written material and may be more helpful than the actual written pages.
The textbook is considered university level and if you have NOT taken college English
Comprehension, you may have trouble understanding the author. If this is the case, it is
even more valuable for you to attend EVERY class session and prepare for exams by
learning the terms on each exam review sheet. You will be responsible for learning any
'place names' and 'terms' mentioned in the textbook. Exam review sheets will be given at
least 1 week before each exam. These review sheets reflect about 90% of what will be on
each exam.
MAP EXAMS
You are responsible for taking 8 Map Exams, each worth 20 points. Most of these will
concentrate on the countries of specific world areas. Map exams will be given in class
and you cannot use notes and there will not be a list of names. See class schedule below
for map exam dates. You must memorize the place names (and correct spelling)
indicated for the world region specified on each exam. The outline maps will be given to
you at least 1 week before each map exam. In order to study each map, you should print
many copies. Then fill in one with the answers and use the others to quiz yourself. You
are responsible for making sure you study the right 'country' names, so start early in case
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you have any questions. You can double-check the maps using your atlas or the maps in
the classroom before and after class. In addition, you can go to <www.cia.gov/factbook>,
<www.worldatlas.com>, or any current atlas to check the country names. If you miss a
map exam, you can take 1 map exam makeup only provided you have a valid medical,
work or family excuse. All makeup map exams will be given at the end of the
semester after all other exams are taken. **
CONTENT EXAMS
You are responsible for taking 6 Content Exams. Each content exam is worth 50 points
and will cover a different series of chapters (see attached schedule). Content exams will
be given in class. See class schedule for exam dates. Questions will be based on
information and activities that are covered in class (lectures, discussions, film and
Internet media) and information in the chapters in the textbook and exam review sheets.
Exam Review sheets will be given to you at least 1 week before each exam. If you miss a
content exam you can take 1 Content exam makeup only provided you have a valid
medical, work or family excuse. All makeup content exams will be given at the end of
the semester after all other exams are taken. **
CLASS PARTICIPATION
On any class day, we may have group work or discussion. This work is assessed and you
must be present for your participation to count towards your total points.*** You will
not know about this, nor will it be announced ahead of time. This is another reason to
come to every class and bring your textbook and writing materials and index cards.
SLO QUIZZES
There will be five very short quizzes on each of the five SLO’s. You will not know
before these occur and they will count toward your grade. They are, however, very
important, as they will help me assess the effectiveness of this class as required by the
state.
FINAL GRADING SCALE:
Your semester grade will be determined by your accumulation of points earned
throughout the semester. Points are earned as follows:
MAP EXAMS- 8 @ 20
= 160
CONTENT EXAMS-6 @ 50
= 300
CLASS PARTICIPATION*** 20 Groups @ 5 = 100
SLO quizzes 5 @ 5 points
= 25
TOTAL POSSIBLE
A=
B=
C=
D=
F=
= 585
526+
468-525
409-467
351-408
below 351
MAXIMUM EXTRA CREDIT THIS SEMEMTER IS 10 POINTS
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FALL 2012-GEOGRAPHY 101 LECTURE
TENTATIVE WEEKLY SCHEDULE
Use your calendar to determine the dates for each week, and then put all weekly
reading assignments and exam dates on your calendar. I will keep to this schedule
unless specified in class announcements.
Text Reading
Week Chapter No. –
Lecture Topic
1
Chapters 1-5, What is Geography
Global Characteristics-Size and Shape of the Earth
Latitude, Longitude & Time
Maps and map projections
2
Chapters 1-5, Solar Energy and Seasons
The Atmosphere and Temperature controls
3
Chapters 1-5, Content Exam 1-Chapters 1-5,
Map Exam #1-North America
4
Chapters 6-9
Atmospheric Circulation- wind and pressure
5
Chapters 6-9
Humidity, Condensation and Precipitation
Air Masses & Weather systems
Map Exam #2- Latin America
6
Chapter 6-9
Water Resources
Content Exam 2-Chapters 6-9
7
Chapters 10,18,19,20, appendix B Climates
Map Exam #3-Europe
8
Chapters 10,18,19,20,apB Soils, Ecosystems
9
Chapters 10,18,19,20,apB Terrestrial biomes
Content Exam 3-, Map Exam #4-Middle East
10
Chapters 11 & 12- Plate Tectonics and Plate Boundary Types
Map Exam #5-Asia
11
Chapters 11 & 12-Earthquakes and Faults, Folding and Volcanism
12
Content Exam 4-Chapters 11-12, Map Exam #6-Africa
Chapters 13, 14, 15-Weathering and Mass Movement
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13
Chapter 13,14,15- River Systems and Landforms, Eolian Processes and Arid
Landscapes
14
Chapters13,14,15
Map Exam #7 World water bodies
Content Exam 5-Chapters 13-15
15
Chapters 16, 17- Oceans, Coastal Processes and Landforms
Chapters 16, 17- Glacial Processes and Landforms
Map Exam #8-US Rivers
16
Makeup Exams see above**
Content Exam 6-Chapters 16 & 17
Grading scale for all Content Exams (50 possible)
A=45+
B=40-44
C=35-39
D=30-34
F=below 30
Grading Scale for all Map Exams (20 possible)
A= 18+
B=16-17
C=14-15
D=12-13
F=below 12
This is a University level graded class. Most students will receive a "C", but above
average performance will enable a student to earn a "B" or even an "A" according to the
scale above.
*WITHDRAWAL POLICY: IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO CONTINUE ATTENDING THIS CLASS, IT
IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO DROP THE CLASS. You must fill out a withdrawal form at
Admissions and Records. Please check the VVC Schedule for the last day to withdraw from this 16week class. DO NOT DEPEND ON ME TO DROP YOU IF YOU DISCONTINUE ATTENDING. YOU
MUST FILL OUT THE PAPERWORK AND DROP YOURSELF OR YOU WILL BE IN JEOPARDY
OF RECEIVING AN "F" GRADE.
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NAME_______________CLASSDAYS__________
MY POINTS RECORD-Please keep all your scores on this page.
MAP EXAMS (each worth 20 pts.)
MAP 1____________
MAP 2____________
MAP 3____________
MAP 4____________
MAP 5____________
MAP 6____________
MAP 7____________
MAP 8 ____________
CONTENT EXAMS (each worth 50 pts.)
EXAM 1__________
EXAM 2__________
EXAM 3__________
EXAM 4__________
EXAM 5__________
EXAM 6__________
Class Participation-Date (20 @ 5 pts. possible)
111212313414515616717818919
1020Extra credit-Keep track of any extra credit you may receive. (max 10 points)
12345678910SLO Quizzes (25 Points poss.)
1234G101FALL 2012 SYLB
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5MY TOTAL_____________
END FALL 2012
THANKS FOR A GREAT CLASS!
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