Geographic Field Methods
Geography 321W
M 10-1:50
Room: HSS 106
Instructor: Mark M. Van Steeter, Ph.D.
e-mail: vanstem@wou.edu
web page: www.wou.edu/~vanstem
phone: 838-8855 office: HSS 216
office hours: M 2-4, T 12-1, R 12-2
Course Description
Geography involves understanding the spatial interactions between components of the
natural environment and society. This class will introduce you to several different
methods used by physical geographers. These methods will provide you with some of
the skills needed to perform a basic environmental assessment. I will attempt to explain
the complex interconnections between components of ecosystems so you can ask “why”
and understand “how” it came to be. The primary goal of this course is to introduce you
to simple field methods, but I expect you to learn to think about processes, not just gather
data.
*Bring warm clothing and rain gear to each class*
No Text Book: Required readings will be handed out each week.
Requirements
Your grade will be determined from a midterm, final, assignments, and a field notebook.
Exam questions will be based primarily on the material covered in lecture/lab and the
field. Questions will be short essay, multiple choice, fill in the blank, and hands-on. In
these questions my goal is to get you to think beyond the simple facts. I want to see a
synthesis of ideas and concepts. Since this is a writing intensive course, correct
grammar, organization, and clarity will be an important part of your grade on
written assignments.
I will not give any make-up exams or labs, and all work will count towards your final
grade. If you have a legitimate reason for not being able to make an exam or lab, you
must contact me before the class period and document the reason, or you will receive a
zero. Since this class meets only once a week, you cannot afford to miss any classes.
Field notebooks
Field notebooks will be a compilation of all the work done in class and the field.
Essential Components:
i) Lab assignments with corrections of any questions missed.
ii) Interpretive Summary
-Purpose
-explanation of processes discussed in lab and readings
-why are we doing this?
-what are we trying to learn?
-Site characteristics
-include map/sketch when appropriate
-Explanation of Exercise
-equipment, methods, etc.
-include table of data when appropriate
-Discussion of:
-how can these methods be applied?
-give at least one example
-strengths/weaknesses of method
-Conclusions
The length of the interpretive summary varies by lab, but is typically 2-3 pages.
You will share your interpretive summary with your peers on a weekly basis and provide
feedback. You have to c.c. me on both emails in order to get credit (your summary
and the feedback you give to your peer).
For example:
Mondays we have class and you hand in the lab and pre-lab from the previous week.
Wednesdays (by 5pm) you email your interpretive summary of the Monday lab to a peer.
Thursdays (by 5pm) you email comments on their summary and receive feedback on
yours.
You don’t hand in the interpretive summary portion of the labs to me for grading until
week 5 when the first half of the field notebook is due.
The field notebook must be typed.
Creative and concise graphics and analysis of data are expected.
Hand drawn graphs/maps are acceptable if done well.
Understanding the World through the Scientific Method
The goal of this assignment is to help you learn to interpret the landscape around you.
This can be the “natural” landscape, or the urban/suburban landscape depending upon
your preference.
I want you step into your curiosity, and ask yourself “why” is it this way?
You will use the basic format of the scientific method to design an approach for
answering a question that interests you. Details regarding this assignment are at the end
of the syllabus.
Grading
Every student has the opportunity to get an "A". If you work hard, you will succeed. My
grading scale is as follows: 100-90 = A, 89-80 = B, 79-70 = C, 69-60 = D, <60 = F.
note: I may change the grading scale, but only to improve your grade.
Midterm
Final (comprehensive)
Labs and assignments
Peer submission & comments (interpretative summaries)
Peer submission & comments (“Understanding”)
Field Notebook (1st half)
Field Notebook (all)
Understanding the World
75 pts
75 pts
75 pts
30 pts
20 pts
40 pts
60 pts
50 pts
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------Total Possible
425 pts
*LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL LOSE 10% PER DAY*
Tentative Schedule
Week 1
The Scientific Method, Field Notes, Pacing
Email interpretive summary to peer by 5pm Wednesday
Email comments to peer by 5pm Thursday
*c.c. both to me*
Week 2
Maps/Map reading, Compass reading, Measuring a transect
Pacing Assignment and Mapping pre-lab due
Email interpretive summary to peer by 5pm Wednesday
Email comments to peer by 5pm Thursday
*c.c. both to me*
Week 3
GPS/Mapping field trip
Map Reading/Transect Assignment and GPS pre-lab due
Email interpretive summary to peer by 5pm Wednesday
Email comments to peer by 5pm Thursday
*c.c. both to me*
Week 4
Stream Discharge field trip and lab
GPS/Mapping Assignment and Stream Discharge pre-lab due
Email “Understanding the World” to peer by 5pm Monday
Email Comments to peer by 5pm Friday
Email interpretive summary to peer by 5pm Wednesday
Email comments to peer by 5pm Thursday
*c.c. all to me*
Week 5
First Half of Field Notebook Due
Midterm Exam
Stream Discharge Assignment due
Week 6
Water Quality sampling/analysis field trip and lab
Water Quality pre-lab due
Email “Understanding the World” to peer by 5pm Monday
Email Comments to peer by 5pm Friday
Email interpretive summary to peer by 5pm Wednesday
Email comments to peer by 5pm Thursday
*c.c. all to me*
Week 7
Surveying
Water Quality Assignment and Surveying pre-lab due
Email interpretive summary to peer by 5pm Wednesday
Email comments to peer by 5pm Thursday
*c.c. both to me*
Week 8
Soil Analysis and field trip
Surveying Assignment and Soils pre-lab due
“Understanding the World” Assignment due Monday
Email interpretive summary to peer by 5pm Wednesday
Email comments to peer by 5pm Thursday
*c.c. both to me*
Week 9
Dendrochronology and Plant Identification etc. field trip
Soils Assignment and Dendro pre-lab due
Email interpretive summary to peer by 5pm Wednesday
Email comments to peer by 5pm Thursday
*c.c. both to me*
Week 10
Memorial Day (no class)
Field Notebooks and Dendrochronology assignment due Tuesday
May 31st by 5pm
Final Exam (comprehensive): Monday June 6th, 10-11:50
Field Notebook Guidelines
Title Page
Table of Contents
Lab “X”
i) Graded Lab “X” and graded Pre-lab
-correct any mistakes you made
-either in red pen on the lab (don't be messy) OR on a separate
sheet of paper.
ii) Interpretive Summary
-Purpose
-explanation of processes discussed in lab and readings
-why are we doing this?
-what are we trying to learn?
-Site characteristics
-include map/sketch when appropriate
-Explanation of Exercise
-equipment, methods, etc.
-include table of data when appropriate
-Discussion of:
-how can these methods be applied?
-give at least one example
-strengths/weaknesses of method
-Conclusions
Understanding the World through the Scientific Method Guidelines
The goal of this exercise is to help you learn to interpret the landscape around you. This
can be the “natural” landscape, or the urban/suburban landscape depending upon your
preference.
I want you step into your curiosity, and ask yourself “why” is it this way?
You can choose any question that peaks your curiosity, but here are a few example that
come to mind for me:
Why is the vegetation near the river so different than the vegetation on the hillside?
Why does this road make so many curves when the land is flat and I see no reason for it?
Why does one stream meander while another one is straight?
Why does one farm field always flood after a rain while the adjacent one does not?
Why do the buildings on the east side of campus looks so different from the ones on the
west side?
Why is it so windy in the Columbia gorge even when it is calm here?
Why are some Oregon beaches rocky and others sandy?
Why do we grow so much grass seed in the Willamette valley and mostly wheat in
northeastern Oregon?
Why is Portland so hilly, but Salem is not?
Why is Portland so populated and sprawling into other suburbs while Salem is not.
Salem is the capitol of Oregon, so why is it so much less populated than Portland?
Why is the Luckiamute River so muddy compared to the North Santiam?
Why is there more “old growth” forest in the Cascades than the coast range?
Why is there a much larger Hispanic community in Independence compared to
Monmouth?
Why does freeway traffic “surge” slow/fast/slow when there are no accidents?
Why are there so many more sheep in the Willamette valley compared to cattle?
Why do Canadian geese fly in organized formations while Cackling geese do not?
Why are there ponds being built along highway 99 between Monmouth and Corvallis?
Why is ASWOU disrespected by most students?
A Simplistic summary of the Scientific Method is:
i) ask a question
ii) do background research
iii) construct a hypothesis (an educated idea of what you think is happening)
iv) test your hypothesis with experiments
v) communicate results
This assignment is an exercise of thinking through a design of how to answer questions
you are curious about. It is not a research project.
What I expect:
i) Clearly state your question
ii) List what sources you would use for background research. For example:
-publications
-note the Source or Type of such publications, no exact citations
necessary
ex: USGS, Farm Bureau, data on crop prices, data on employment,
data on housing prices, Data on stream flow records, land
ownership records, ODOT publications, peer reviewed sources
(name the journal), income data, etc.
-maps: geology, political party, land use, land ownership, groundwater
resources, soil types, topography, crime incidence etc.
iii) State your hypothesis (what you think is the likely answer to your question)
- write at least two paragraphs explaining why this is your hypothesis
iv) Explain how you would test your hypothesis (research design)
ex: soil samples, personal interviews, surveys, field measurements of
slope/aspect/vegetation, statistical analysis of acquired state/fed data, GIS
analysis, etc.
This is more simple than it sounds. It will probably be only 3-4 pages in length.
You will get feedback from both your peers and me.
On Monday of Week 4 (April 18th) you will trade your work with another student for
feedback. They will get it back to you no later than Friday of Week 4 April 22nd).
*your work and your peer comments must also be sent to me (c.c.)*
On Monday of Week 6 (May 2nd) you will trade your work with another student for
feedback. They will get it back to you no later than Friday of Week 6 (May 6th).
*your work and your peer comments must also be sent to me (c.c.)*
You will hand in the final product to me on Monday of Week 8 (May 16th)