Winter Quarter 2004
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 8:30-9:20 A.M. in Room 225
Tuesday 8:30-10:20 A.M. in Room 225
Geography 105: Physical Geography
INTRODUCTION
Course Title:
Instructor:
Office:
Geography 105
Charles McCown
Office #110 & Math Lab (Academic Support
Center) Rm. 288
charles.mccown@wwcc.edu
(PREFERRED METHOD)
“TBA” Monday-Friday. There is voice mail, please
leave a message.
NONE.
E-mail:
Phone:
Prerequisite:
Textbook:
Essentials of Physical Geography, Robert E. Gabler, James F. Petersen, & L. Michael
Trapasso. Brooks/Cole, Thompson Learning, 7th Ed. 2004. (REQUIRED)
Lab Manual: Lab Manual for Essentials of Physical Geography, Robert E. Gabler, James F. Petersen,
& L. Michael Trapasso. Brooks/Cole, Thompson Learning, 7th Ed. 2004. (REQUIRED)
COURSE DESCRIPTION
- Introduces all aspects of earth systems, identifying physical phenomena and stressing their
distribution and relationships.
CLASSROOM & LAB RULES
- Please come to class every day, ON TIME (DO NOT BE LATE), and be prepared by
bringing your pencil, paper, eraser, ruler, and calculator (NOT A CELLULAR PHONE). The
same idea goes for the labs.
- It is in your best interest to attend class every day, because ATTENDANCE IS
MANDATORY. I will take down attendance everyday.
- Please be courteous to the other students’ needs, and please do not cause any unnecessary
distractions during class (i.e. talking or sleeping).
- PLEASE HAVE YOUR BEEPERS AND CELLULAR PHONES TURNED OFF DURING
CLASS TIME!
- If you miss class, it is your responsibility to get the missed information from another student
in class. This includes lecture notes, homework assignments, and review sheets. I will NOT
re-lecture the information covered in class, but if you have any questions about the other
student’s notes, assignments, etc. I will be happy to answer them.
- If you miss a lab, it is your responsibility to make the necessary arrangements to finish the
lab, and turn it in to me before the next lab.
- If you need to miss class for any reason, please make the necessary arrangements in
advance.
- Emergency absences will be dealt with on an individual basis. This has to be a real
emergency.
- We will have weekly laboratory exercises, and usually, you will have the whole lab time to
work on it. The lab due dates will be announced in class every week.
- We will also have homework assignments, and the due dates will be given in class. Usually,
you will have about a full week to complete these assignments. LATE HOMEWORK
ASSIGNMENTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. The ONLY exception is if you have a TRUE
EMERGENCY OR YOU ARE ILL.
- We will have (5) take-home quizzes & a final exam (TO BE TAKEN ON THE SCHEDULED
DAY & TIME).
- I base the take-home quizzes & final exam directly off the lecture notes, enclosed CD,
various handouts, lab assignments, homework assignments, and the terminology from the
textbook.
- CHEATING IS NOT TOLERATED ON THE TAKE-HOME QUIZZES, FINAL EXAM, &
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS, & IF CAUGHT, YOU WILL RECEIVE A ZERO FOR THAT
EXAM OR ASSIGNMENT.
- If you have any difficulties with the material, please ask in class.
- Extra Credit assignments may be assigned periodically throughout the quarter.
GRADES
- The very tentative point system and assignments for the course goes as follows and is
subject to change:
9 lab assignments @ 50 points each =
3 take-home quizzes @ 120 points each=
1 final exam @ 150 points each=
10 homework assignments @ 50 points each =
Total
450 points
360 points
150 points
500 points
1460 points
93-100% -------------------- A
90-92% --------------------- A87-89% --------------------- B+
84-86% --------------------- B
80-83% --------------------- B77-79% --------------------- C+
74-76% --------------------- C
70-73% --------------------- C67-69% --------------------- D+
64-66% --------------------- D
60-63% --------------------- D< 60% ----------------------- F
I = Incomplete Grade. This will be given only if a minimum of 2/3 of the course is
completed and with permission of the instructor.
Z = No Credit. The student has not met minimal course objectives due to an
extenuating circumstance (accident, illness, death in family, etc.). Instructor
initiates this grade.
TENTATIVE READING SCHEDULE
&
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS
(SUBJECT TO CHANGE & COVERING THE BASICS OF EACH CHAPTER)
Chapter 1: Pages 2-28 (Physical Geography Among the Sciences)
Chapter 2: Pages 30-68 (Representations of Earth)
Homework Assignment #1:
CHAPTER 1: Page 29: Consider & Respond 1-5
CHAPTER 2: Page 54-55: Map Interpretation Topographic Maps 1-8
Page 69: Consider & Respond 1-8
(Due Date: To Be Announced)
Chapter 3: Pages 78-90 (Earth In Space & Solar Energy)
Chapter 4: Pages 92-114 (The Atmosphere, Temperature, and the Heat Budget)
Chapter 5: Pages 116-145 (Atmospheric Pressure, Winds, and Circulation Patterns)
Homework Assignment #2:
CHAPTER 3: Page 91: Consider & Respond 2-6
CHAPTER 4: Page 115: Consider & Respond 1-7
CHAPTER 5: Page 146-147: Consider & Respond 1-5
(Due Date: To Be Announced)
Chapter 6: Pages 148-176 (Moisture, Condensation, and Precipitation)
Chapter 7: Pages 178-205 (Air Masses and Weather Systems)
Homework Assignment #3:
CHAPTER 6: Page 177: Consider & Respond 1-2
CHAPTER 7: Page 192-193: Map Interpretation 1-9
Page 207: Consider & Respond 1-4
(Due Date: To Be Announced)
Chapter 8: Pages 208-229 (Global Climates & Climate Change)
Chapter 9: Pages 232-259 (Low-Latitude & Arid Regions)
Chapter 10: Pages 262-296 (Middle Latitude, Polar, and Highland Climatic Regions)
Homework Assignment #4:
CHAPTER 8: Page 231: Consider & Respond 1-4
CHAPTER 9: Page 261: Consider & Respond 1-5
CHAPTER 10: Page 297: Consider & Respond 1-6
(Due Date: To Be Announced)
Chapter 11: Pages 298-332 (Biogeography)
Chapter 12: Pages 334-361 (Soils & Processes of Soil Development)
Homework Assignment #5:
CHAPTER 11: Page 333: Consider & Respond 1-5
CHAPTER 12: Page 362-363 Consider & Respond 1-5
(Due Date: To Be Announced)
Chapter 13: Pages 373-386 (Earth Materials, The Lithosphere, and Plate Tectonics)
Chapter 14: Pages 388-414 (Volcanoes, Earthquakes, and Tectonic Landforms)
Homework Assignment #6:
CHAPTER 13: Page 387: Consider & Respond 1-3
CHAPTER 14: Page 396-397: Map Interpretation Volcanic Landforms 1-8
Page 415: Consider & Respond 1-5
(Due Date: To Be Announced)
Chapter 15: Pages 416-436 (Gradation, Weathering, and Mass Wasting)
Chapter 16: Pages 438-456 (Underground Water & Karst Landforms)
Homework Assignment #7:
CHAPTER 15: Page 437: Consider & Respond 1-4
CHAPTER 16: Page 450-451: Map Interpretation Karst Topography 1-10
Page 457: Consider & Respond 1-3
(Due Date: To Be Announced)
Chapter 17: Pages 458-486 (Fluvial Processes & Landforms)
Chapter 18: Pages 488-518 (Arid Landforms & Eolian Processes)
Homework Assignment #8:
CHAPTER 17: Page 476-477: Map Interpretation Fluvial Landforms 1-9
Page 487: Consider & Respond 1-3
CHAPTER 18: Page 450-451: Map Interpretation Desert Landforms 1-10
Page 512-513: Map Interpretation Eolian Landforms 1-8
Page 519: Consider & Respond 1-6
(Due Date: To Be Announced)
Chapter 19: Pages 520-550 (Glacial Systems & Landforms)
Chapter 20: Pages 552-575 (The Global Ocean)
Homework Assignment #9:
CHAPTER 19: Page 536-537: Map Interpretation Alpine Glaciation 1-8
Page 542-543: Map Interpretation Continental Glaciation 1-10
Page 487: Consider & Respond 1-5
CHAPTER 20: Page 519: Consider & Respond 1-4
(Due Date: To Be Announced)
Chapter 21: Pages 576-596 (Coastal Landforms)
Homework Assignment #10:
CHAPTER 21: Page 580-581: Map Interpretation Active-Margin Coastlines 1-7
Page 592-593: Map Interpretation Passive-Margin Coastlines 1-10
Page 597: Consider & Respond 1-4
(Due Date: To Be Announced)
Final Exam
Thursday, March 18, 2003 8:30-10:30 P.M.