UNIVERSITY OF WEST GEORGIA
DEPARTMENT OF GEOSCIENCES
FALL 2015
DEWEESE
Geography 1113L: LANDFORMS LAB
COURSE DESCRIPTION: An introduction to the Earth’s landforms. This course begins by
teaching students how to read and use maps, including conversion of map scales and units.
Topics also include the elements and controls on different types of landforms, including
volcanoes, glaciers, soils, and shorelines.
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Georgina DeWeese, Callaway Annex 250. gdeweese@westga.edu or
georgina.deweese@gmail.com. Office hours: 1100am-1200pm MW.
LABS: Tuesday 11am-1250 pm. Callaway 207. Attendance is required. You are allowed 2
absences. After that each additional absence will result in your final grade being lowered by 1
letter grade.
TEXTBOOKS: Geography 1113L: Landforms Laboratory Lab Manual, by: Department of
Geosciences, UWG - available at UWG Bookstore.
Note on Reading Assignments: Readings should be done before attending lecture. Listen for
additional reading assignments that will be given during lecture. Finally, pay close attention to
the maps, figures, and photographs in the book, and to their captions. Use them to test yourself
on your understanding of the course material.
The exams will be given in class. No makeup exams will be given for any reason.
A = 100–89.50%
Exam 1: 100 pts
B = 89.49–79.50%
Exam 2: 100 pts
C = 79.49–69.50%
Exam 3: 100 pts
D = 69.49–59.51%
Writing Assignments: 50 pts
F = anything below 59.51%
Total 350 pts
Lab Exercises: It is recommended that you complete the lab exercises during regular class time.
You do not have to turn in the lab for grading. Instead you should complete the lab, and then
check your answers against the key posted in the classroom. If you should miss a lab, you will
not be allowed to make it up!!!
Exams: Three non-cumulative exams will be given in class. The exams will cover lab material.
No make-up exams will be given.
Writing Assignments: There are 2 writing assignments worth 25 pts each. For the first writing
assignment, you will be given a scientific article to read. During the first exam, you will write a
1-page summary of that article. You will receive 25 pts for completing this assignment,
regardless of how well you wrote. For the second writing assignment, which accompanies the
third exam, you will correct the first writing assignment as per my instructions. How well you
correct the first writing assignment will determine your grade out of 25 pts.
OTHER STUFF: (1) No extra-credit: Students will not be permitted to do extra work or
resubmit work to improve their course grade either during or after completion of the course.
(2) Disability Statement: If you require course adaptations or accommodations because of a
documented disability, or if you have emergency information to share, please contact the Office
of Disability Services. It is the student’s responsibility to alert the instructor and teaching
assistants of documented special needs.
(3) Cheating: If you are caught cheating on an exam, you will receive a 0 for that exam.
(4) Do not ask me to calculate your grade.
*** RECORDING OF THIS CLASS USING ANY DEVICE IS NOT ALLOWED***
Schedule
Tues, Aug 25
Introduction and Course Mechanics
Pre-test
Tues, Sept 1
Exercise 1: Tools of Geography
Tues, Sept 8
Exercise 2: Topographic Maps
Tues, Sept 15
Exercise 3: Soils
Tues, Sept 22
Exam 1
Tues, Sept 29
Exercise 10: Volcanism and Plate Tectonics
Tues, Oct 6
Exercise 4: Mass Wasting
Tues, Oct 13
Exercise 5: Water
Tues, Oct 20
Exercise 6: Fluvial Landscapes
Tues, Oct 27
Exam 2
Tues, Nov 3
Exercise 7: Fluvial Geomorphology
Tues, Nov 10
Exercise 8: Coastal and Arid Geomorphology
Tues, Nov 17
Exercise 9: Glacial Geomorphology
Tues, Nov 24
Thanksgiving
Tues, Dec 1
Exam 3
Post-test