Spring 2011
GEOG 1150-4A
(Old number GEO 111)
(INSTRUCTOR)
Metropolitan Community College
1

This page intentionally left blank
Metropolitan Community College
2

TITLE:
Class Syllabus – ACADEMIC YEAR/QUARTER: Summer 2010
CLASS IDENTIFICATION
Introduction to Physical Geography: Weather and Climate
PREFIX/SECTION: GEOG 1150-4A
CREDIT HOURS: Six (6)
CLASS BEGINS/ENDS: 10 March 2011/24 May 2011
MEETING DAY(S)/TIMES: Tu & Th 1200-1520 12-3:20pm
NO CLASS DAYS: None
SECTION CENSUS DATE 23 March 2011
WITHDRAWAL DATE: 9 May 2011
CLASS LOCATION:
LAB LOCATION:
FOC 010 110
Same as Class
CONTACT INFORMATION
INSTRUCTOR NAME: Michael D. Lewis
OFFICE LOCATION:
OFFICE TELEPHONE:
FACSIMILE:
Classroom or TBD
Voice Mail 402-457-7200ext8419/ Home 402-339-6281 (
None best )
OFFICE HOURS:
EMAIL ADDRESS:
TBD Usually before class and during lab period at the end of most classes mlewis543@gmail.com
mlewis@mccneb.edu
(home) ( best
FACULTY WEB SITE:
ACADEMIC AREA: Social Sciences
DEAN’S TELEPHONE:
Jane Franklin/ 402-738-4545
None
)
COURSE INFORMATION
Course Description:
This course introduces students to the ways in which solar radiation, temperature, atmospheric pressure, moisture, and wind interact in particular places to produce the short-term atmospheric conditions that we call weather, and the long-term, average atmospheric conditions we call climate.
Particular attention is given to the ways in which human life is influenced by weather and climate, and to increasing evidence of human-induced changes in weather and climate.
Course Prerequisites:
There are no formal prerequisites for this course . However, the ability to read and write at the college level and the ability to solve basic mathematical problems in science is essential.
See reading assessment, courses RDLS0100 College Reading Strategies to improve reading skills, RDLS
College Vocabulary, RDLS1200 Student Success Strategies to improve learning skills, and RDLS 1160
Rapid Reading to improve reading speed and comprehension. Also, MATH0910 Developmental
Mathematics, and SCIE 0900 Introduction to Study of Science or equivalent are recommended but not required. Contact an Academic Resource Center for assistance.
Course Objectives :
Upon completion of this course, students will be better able to:
Metropolitan Community College
3

1) Appreciate the complexity of the physical systems that support life on earth
2) Understand why and how climate and weather conditions vary from place to place, and describe
3) the global distribution of climates
Comprehend the nature and interaction of solar energy, air temperature, atmospheric pressure,
4)
5)
6) winds, and atmospheric moisture, including the greenhouse effect.
Describe the earth’s hydrologic cycle and the global distribution of water resources
Appreciate the impact of weather and climate on human life, and the Human impact on the earth’s atmosphere and climate.
Use and evaluate maps as analytical tools.
Required & Supplemental Materials:
Required Text:
Required Lab Manual:
Lab Materials Needed:
Hess, Darrell et al. 2011. Physical Geography: A Landscape
Appreciation. 10 th ed.
Hess, Darrell 2011, Physical Geography Laboratory Manual 10 th ed.
A basic pocket calculator, a ruler with English (1/6 th of an inch) and Metric
(millimeters) measurement, a protractor, a set of colored pencils, and
Text Web Site down extra sheets of paper http://www.mygeoscienceplacel.com
Click on LOGIN then scroll and click on 10 th Edition Lab Manual Cover
For Text & animation access, use access code in front of text to set up your account
NOTE: Same text and lab manual are used for GEOG 1160 Landforms
SOFTWARE/FILE SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
Metropolitan Community College uses Microsoft products as part of its standard software and encourages students to do the same. You may save word-processed documents for file attachments in
Microsoft Word .doc (Word 97/2003) or .docx (Word 2007) format. If your software does not allow either of these then save files in Rich Text Format (.rtf). If you are not sure what format to use, contact your instructor.
CLASS STURCTURE:
Group activities, lectures, discussions, written exercises, problems, demonstrations, and laboratory exercises will be used. The student is expected to read assigned material before attending class. Except for the first week, there will be about 20-30 minutes at the end of each class to work on lab assignments with the instructor there to provide assistance
COURSE ASSESSMENT:
Types of Assessment/Assignments
In class exams, take home exams, in class exercises, quizzes, reading assignments, written assignments, and lab assignments will be used. Possible extra credit can be obtained by completing additional projects assigned by the instructor. Written assignments and lab assignments will be graded and returned to the student. Tests will be graded and shown to the students but will then be returned to and retained by the instructor. Written assignments and lab assignments are listed later in the syllabus. In class exercises will be handed out with chapter note sheets.
GRADING POLICY
CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING FINAL COURSE GRADE :
Metropolitan Community College
4

SELECTED TESTING/ASSESSMENT METHODS:
Three (3) mid-term exams100 points each.
Total Points
300 points
Written assignments ten (10) 20 points each 200 points
In Class participation and quizzes 20 points per week (10 points per class-22 classes) 220 points
Laboratory assignments eleven (11) 20 points each
Grand Total points
220 points
940 points
FINAL COURSE GRADE :
Your final grade will be determined by percentage of the total possible points (940) earned on exams, quizzes, in class participation, extra credit projects, laboratory assignments, written assignments, and weekly in class assignments . Your numeric score will be converted to a letter using the following scale:
A =90% - 100% (846 or more points)
B = 80% - 89% (752-845 points)
C = 70% - 79% (658-751 points)
D = 60% - 69% (564-657 points)
F = below 60% (563 or fewer points)
ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT LEARNING PROGRAM:
Metropolitan Community College is committed to continuous improvement of teaching and learning.
You may be asked to help us to accomplish this objective. For example, you may be asked to respond to surveys or questionnaires. In other cases, tests or assignments you are required to do for this course may be shared with faculty and used for assessment purposes.
USE OF STUDENT WORK:
By enrolling in classes offered by Metropolitan Community College, the student gives the College license to mark on, modify, and retain the work as may be required by the process of instruction, as described in the course syllabus. The institution shall not have the right to use the work in any other manner without the written consent of the student(s).
MAINTENANCE OF STUDENT RECORDS
Homework and lab assignments will be graded, and returned to the student. Graded exams will be returned to the student and reviewed during a class period following the test. After the tests are reviewed they will be returned to me and I will retain them for a period of one year following this course.
Please retain copies of your returned assignments in case I make an error when recording points.
INSTRUCTOR’S EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS
ATTENDANCE/PARTICIPATION POLICY :
Attendance Policy
Students who attend no class meetings up to and including the Section Census Date, published in the
Class Schedule at www.mccneb.edu/schedule/ and on page 3 of this syllabus, may be disenrolled from the class (WX). There is no appeal for this disenrollment.
A student who fails to meet class attendance expectations may receive a final grade mark of FX, indicating an absence-related failure, or a failing (F) grade.
Since exam material will come from in-class discussion, class activities and lectures, it will be difficult to do well in this course if you do not attend regularly. More than four (4) unexcused absences may result in the student with a final grade of FX or F.
Note that many financial aid programs require students to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards, this includes attendance of classes. If you do not attend classes, financial aid could be affected. It is the student’s responsibility to
Metropolitan Community College
5

contact the instructor preferably prior to the day of the absence; however, the instructor can be contacted on the day of an absence, or in the case of an emergency as soon as possible.
Contact by email is preferred, but phone contact can also be done. Failure to do so is noted in the instructor’s grade book and participation points for that date are recorded as zero points, in addition this information is utilized when the instructor considers whether or not to give the student the benefit of the doubt on subjective matters. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain all missed notes from a willing classmate. See me to obtain missed handouts. If you contact me about a missed class, I may allow make up assignments to be completed to recover the participation points for the day. For excused absences, attendance points can be made up by completing make up assignments assigned by the instructor.
TIME DEMANDS :
This is a science course with a lab. You will be granted six (6) quarter credit hours upon successful completion of the course, and these credits are transferable to many colleges and universities in the United States. You should plan to devote a minimum of 6-12 hours per week to the course outside of the time spent in the classroom.
Persons unwilling to devote this much time to the class will have a difficult time completing the course. Also, do not get behind on assignments.
Making them up can be quite challenging and time consuming. Also, assignments tend to bunch near the end of class.
MAKE-UP TEST AND CLASS PARTICIPATION QUIZ PROCEDURES:
Make-up tests and make-up in-class projects or quizzes for missed classes will be given only in the case of an excused absence. It shall be the student's responsibility to contact me before the test or quiz is given, or in case of emergency, as soon as possible to arrange to take a make-up test or complete an in-class project or quiz. Missing a test or in-class project or quiz without an excused absence may result in a grade of zero (0) points for the missed test or in-class project or quiz.
LATE ASSIGNMENTS:
Weekly assignments are due at the beginning of class on the due date. Late homework assignments will be accepted but may be reduced by 10% for every day that it is late beyond the due date unless arrangements have been made with the instructor . Chapter Review Questions and written Make
Up assignments can be emailed. All assignments may be turned in through Student Services at Fort
Campus or Sarpy Center so they can be placed in my mailbox. Be sure to ask the student services worker to date and time stamp what you are turning in so there will be no disagreement concerning when you turned in your assignment. My mailbox is at Fort Campus and Sarpy Center this term.
Please leave me an email or voice mail when you drop off an assignment and let me know where you dropped it off so I can pick it up. Lab assignments should be turned into Fort
Campus or Sarpy Student Services to be placed in my mailbox.
COMMUNICATION EXPECTATIONS:
When you communicate with others in this course, you must follow the Student Code of
Conduct (http://www.mccneb.edu/catalog/studentinformation.asp), which calls for responsible and cooperative behavior. Please think critically, ask questions, and challenge ideas, but also show respect for the opinions of others, respond to them politely, and maintain the confidentiality of thoughts expressed in the class. You may also wish to review information at http://www.albion.com/netiquette/.
Metropolitan Community College
6

CLASS DECORUM
This class will include discussion and team participation. It is imperative that the students show respect for others. This includes listening during lectures and when someone else has been recognized to address the class. You should ask permission to talk, and show consideration for differing views.
Laptop computers are not allowed to be used in class unless you are given specific permission by the instructor. Please turn off cell phone ringers and put pagers on vibrate . Cell phones or other electronic devices are not allowed to be used in class this includes texting. If you have an emergency, take the phone or pager out of the classroom to respond. Using a laptop computer or a cell phone in class including texting disrupts the class and shows disrespect for the instructor and your fellow classmates. Use of portable electronic devices including laptop computers or accessing the Internet during class other than lab periods is prohibited. No electronic devices are allowed to be used when taking the third test in class.
ACADEMIC HONESTY STATEMENT:
Students are reminded that materials they use as sources for class work may be subject to copyright protection. Additional information about copyright is provided on the library website at http://www.mccneb.edu/library or by your instructor. In response to incidents of student dishonesty
(cheating, plagiarism, etc.), the College imposes specific actions that may include receiving a failing grade on a test, failure in the course, suspension from the College, or dismissal from the College.
Disciplinary procedures are available in the Advising/Counseling Centers or at http://www.mccneb.edu/procedures/V-4_Student_Conduct_and_Discipline.pdf.
STUDENT WITHDRAWAL:
If you cannot participate in and complete this course, you should officially withdraw by calling Central
Registration at 402-457-5231 or 1-800-228-9553. Failure to officially withdraw will result in either the grade earned to date, attendance-related failure (FX) or failing (F) grade. The last date to withdraw is noted in the CLASS IDENTIFICATION section of this syllabus.
A course grade of “I” (Incomplete) will be considered if the following criteria are met: (1) if the student has completed 60% or more of the course satisfactorily, (2) the student makes a request in writing (letter or email) a week in advance of the final exam date, and (3) the written request should document a substantial, transcendent and verifiable reason for the delayed completion of the course
work.
LEARNING SUPPORT
MCC's Academic Resource Centers, Math Centers, and Writing Centers offer friendly, supportive learning environments that can help students achieve educational success. Staff members in these centers provide free drop-in assistance with basic computing, reading, math, and writing skills. Selfpaced, computer-assisted instructional support in reading, vocabulary, typing, English as a Second
Language, and online course orientation is also available.
Detailed information about the Academic Resource, Math, and Writing Centers is in the Student
Handbook, College Catalog, and online at http://www.mccneb.edu/arc/.
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES :
If you have a disability that may substantially limit your ability to participate in this class, please contact a Disability Support Services Counselor located in the Student Services Office on each campus.
Metropolitan Community College will provide reasonable accommodations for persons with documented qualifying disabilities. However, it is the student’s responsibility to request
Metropolitan Community College
7

accommodations. For further information, please visit http://www.mccneb.edu/dss/ and/or contact
Student Services.
TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT
For assistance with student email, passwords, and most other MCC technology, contact the Help Desk at
457-2900 or mcchelpdesk@mccneb.edu.
TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES:
By using the information technology systems at MCC (including the computer systems and phones), you acknowledge and consent to the conditions of use as set forth in the Metropolitan Community College
Procedures Memorandum on Acceptable Use of Information Technology and Resources. It is your responsibility as a student to be familiar with these procedures. The full text of the Procedures
Memorandum may be found at the following website: http://www.mccneb.edu/procedures/X-
15_Technology_Resources_Use.pdf.
STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT : The College has a standard code of conduct that involves consequences for specific academic and non-academic behavior that may result in a failing grade, probation, or suspension from the college. More complete information about the code of conduct is located in the Student Services portion of the online catalog
( http://www.mccneb.edu/catalog/studentinformation.asp
).
[Other pertinent college policies are posted on the CDS website www.mccneb.edu/cds .
REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS
SCHEDULE OF ASSIGNMENTS
NOTICE: This syllabus sets forth a tentative schedule of class topics, learning activities, and expected learning outcomes. However, the instructor reserves the right to modify this schedule to enhance learning for students. Any modifications will not substantially change the intent or objectives of this course and will conform to the policies and guidelines of Metropolitan Community College.
NOTE: Lab Assignments are made up of one or more lab exercises
Week First day of
week
1 10 Mar
2011
2
3
17 Mar
2011
24 Mar
2011
4 31 Mar
2011
Chapter(s)
To Read
1
Appendix I
2
Appendix II
3 & 10 & 11
4
Appendix III
& IV
Lecture Topic
Introduction to
Earth
Portraying the
Earth
Introduction to the
Atmosphere
Cycles and
Patterns in the
Biosphere
Terrestrial Flora and Fauna
Insolation and
Temperature
Review
Chapter
Questions
1 & 2
3 & 10 &11 3
4
In-Class
Projects
Quizzes
1
2
4
Lab
Assignment
1
2
3
Test 1
Metropolitan Community College
8

5
6
7
8
9
7 Apr
2011
14Apr
2011
21 Apr
2011
28 Apr
2011
5 May
2011
5
Appendix III
& IV
6 & 9
Appendix III
& IV
6 & 9
Appendix III
7
Appendices
III & IV
7
Appendices
III & IV
Atmosphere
Pressure and
Wind
Atmospheric
Moisture
The Hydrosphere 9
Transient
Atmospheric
Flows and
Disturbances
Transient
Atmospheric
Flows and
Disturbances
Climate Zones and
Types
5
6
7
5
6
7
8
9
4
5
6
7
8 & 9
10 12 May
2011
8
Appendices
III & IV & V
8 10 10
11 19 May
2011
Climate Zones and
Types
11 11
Note first day of week for this class is Thursday; second day of week is Tuesday
Test 2
Test 3
Are to be turned in at the beginning of class on first day of class week
Below is a listing of your written assignments for the quarter. You shall complete short-answer responses to the review questions assigned. Your responses shall be typed (word processed) , and submitted at the start of the class period on first class day of the week they are due. Your goal is to demonstrate by your answers that you understand the questions being asked and that you have provided a complete answer. Your goal is not to write a book in response each question. A brief paragraph will suffice for most questions, but do not be so brief that you do not prepare a complete answer to the question —generally yes or no is not a sufficient answer. All page references for review questions are to pages in your textbook . Properly answered Chapter Review questions can be excellent sources for reviewing material for an exam. Computers with word processing software and printers are available in the Metro Community College Academic Resource Centers. Page references for Labs refer to your laboratory manual. Note not all chapters are in order.
Chapter Review Questions
Chapter Description
1 Pg. 25 Questions 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26. 27
2
3
10
11
4
Pg. 47 Questions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 22
Pg. 65 Questions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12 ,13, 14, 15, 16, 17,
Pg 282 Questions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14,
Pg. 320-1 Questions 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40
Pg. 94-5 Questions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 17, 18, 19, 21, 24, 26, 27,
Metropolitan Community College
9

5
6
31
Pg. 124-5 Questions 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29,30,
Pg. 158-9 Questions 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 26,
27, 29, 31, 33, 37, 39, 40, 41
9
7
Pg. 258-9 Questions 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 10, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26. 28,
29
Pg. 186-7 Questions 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17, 18, 21, 22, 24, 25,
29, 30, 31, 34, 37, 41
8 Pg. 232-3 Questions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18
TESTS
Tests 1 & 2 are take-home exams these tests are open book, open note, but no open neighbor — please do your own work. Test 3 will be given in class on the last day of class. It will be open book, open note, no open neighbor.
GEO 1150 Lab Assignments
Labs are due at the beginning of class on second day of class week
Note: Lab assignment numbers normally include more than one lab exercise.
Below is the schedule of the lab assignments required for GEOG 1150.
Before class completed lab exercises should be: 1) Photocopied or neatly removed from your lab manual, 2) have your name on each sheet , 3) assembled in the proper (ascending) order, 4) include additional sheets of paper as necessary to show your calculations (showing how you solved a problem can help you receive partial credit even if you have an incorrect answer), and 5) secure all sheets with a staple.
You need only remove those pages from each lab exercise that include required problems. Please note again that
“ lab assignments ” usually include all or part of multiple “lab exercises ” in your lab manual. In most cases, all of the information needed to successfully complete your lab assignments can be found in the introduction to the relevant lab exercises in your lab manual . However, do not hesitate to make use of your text as an added resource to completing lab assignments, or to ask me for help if you need it . Some time on most class days will be devoted to Lab time when I will be available to help you.
Please take advantage of this time (Sometimes test question examples are covered during this period). Note that extra credit points can be earned by completing optional portions of lab exercises as noted below.
Also, the book web site http://www.mygeoscienceplace.com
has information needed to complete some lab assignments and information for some of the extra credit lab exercises (Exercises 16, 17, 18, 19,20,
21, 25 and 27
Schedule of lab assignments,
All page references below pertain to your lab manual.
th
Lab number Description
1
2
3
Ex. 1 pp 1-4, Ex 2 pp5-8, Ex 3 pp 9-14, Ex 24 pp 163-168
Ex. 4 pp 15-18, Ex. 5 pp19-24, Ex 25 all pp169-174, Ex. 26 pp 175-178,
(Extra Credit Ex 27 pp 179-184 ) (five points)
Ex. 6 pp25-28, Ex. 7 pp. 29-32 Ex. 8 pp. 33-38 (Pt1-all;Pt2:1,2a&b)
Metropolitan Community College
10

4 Ex. 9 pp. 39-46, Ex. 10 pp. 47-52 (Pt1-all; Pt 3-all)
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Ex. 11 pp. 53-58, Ex.12
pp. 59-64
Ex. 13 pp. 65-74, Ex. 14 pp. 75-80
Ex. 15 pp. 81-86,
Ex.16
parts 1 & 2 pp. 87-93,
( Extra credit , Ex 16 part 3 p 94 (5 points))
Ex. 17 parts 1, 2, &3 pp. 95-101
( Extra credit , Ex 17 part 4 p102 (5 points))
Ex. 18 parts 1, 2, & 5 pp. 103-112 & p 116,
( Extra Credit, Ex 18 parts 3, &4 pp113-115 (2 parts 5 points each))
Ex. 19 parts 1 & 2 pp. 117-122
EX20 parts 1 & 2 pp123-128,
Extra credit, Ex 20 Part3 pp129-130 (5 points)
Ex. 21 part 1 pp. 131-142
Ex. 21 parts 2 through 4 pp. 143-148,
( Extra credit EX21 part 5 pp 149-150 (5 points))
Ex. 23 pp. 157-162
Please Note:
Exercises 16 through 23 take more time than others to complete; start early . Some parts of exercises 21 & 23 can be done before we cover Chapter 8, i.e. plotting graphs. Ex 16 requires some information from Chapter 7 reading and some information that we will cover in class.
Exercise 23 depends on information contained in Chapters 8 and 10 & 11of the text. Some require access to the Internet. If you do not have a computer at home, you will need to plan to use the academic resource center at one of the campuses.
Please "show your work" on all lab assignments that involve mathematical calculations. If there is not sufficient space to show your work in the relevant lab exercise pages, please complete your work on separate sheet(s) of paper. Label your work sheet(s) with the lab exercise number to which they relate, put your name on the supplementary sheet of paper, and securely attach the page to the lab exercise to which it pertains. Showing how you solved a problem can help you receive partial credit even if you might have an incorrect numerical answer. Please complete your lab assignments legibly . If I can’t decipher what you have written, I cannot give you a proper grade. If you doubt the legibility of your answers, type or carefully print the answers. Some students, in past classes, have photocopied their lab assignments onto other sheets, and then worked the problems including several erasures. When satisfied with a solution, they then copy the results onto the lab manual pages before they turn them in.
Please make an attempt to complete all assigned portions of the labs. If you don’t try, you will not receive points!!
Metropolitan Community College
11

Classes begin ................................................................................................................. March 9 W
Spring recess (College closed) ........................................................................... April 23-24 SA-SU
Classes resume from Spring recess ..................................................................................April 25 M
Fall Priority for Current Students 50+ credits w/Webadvisor only ................................ April 27 W
Fall Current Student Webadvisor only registration begins ................................................ May 4 W
General Registration begins ............................................................................................. May 11 W
Student Withdrawal Deadline to drop a class ......................................................... Varies by class*
Winter Term Incomplete “I” Grades Due ........................................................................ May 18 W
Classes end ..................................................................................................................... May 24 Tu
Instructional work days ............................................................................................May 25-27 W-F
Memorial Day recess (college closed) .................................................................. May 28-30 SA-M
*To view the Last Day for a student to withdraw “drop” a class; go to the class schedule found on line at http://www.mccneb.edu/schedule/classschedule.asp
. Then, find the course section and click on the
Important Dates link on the same line as the course title. The refund/withdraw dates for each course section are automatically calculated based on the start and end dates and the number of sessions for a course. A student must withdraw by this date to avoid being assigned a grade of “F”.
A student is responsible for withdrawing “dropping” from a course(s) if unable to attend. Nonattendance or non-payment does not relieve a student from the obligation to pay. To withdraw “drop” from a course, log on to WebAdvisor https://webadvisor.mccneb.edu
and click “Register and Drop
Sections”.
An official schedule change that reduces or terminates a student’s academic credit load may entitle the student to a refund. The eligibility and amount of a refund is automatically calculated by the date of the withdrawal. A student may see the refund percentage received through midnight of the same day by logging into WebAdvisor and clicking on the Tuition Refund Calculator . Note: Schedule changes may have implications for students on Financial Aid.
Check with the Financial Aid Office prior to any schedule changes at 402-457-2330.
Metropolitan Community College
12