Geography of Environmental Systems
GEOG: 201 (3 credits)
Summer Session II (7/17/06
8/17/06), 2006
Meeting Time: TuTh,
Instructor: Jennifer Pomeroy Voice:
Office: LeFrak 2108 E-mail: pomeroy9913@gmail.com
Office Hours: Th
Textbook: Robert W. Christopherson,
Elemental Geosystems, Pearson Prentice Hall,
Upper
Saddle River, NJ, fifth
Edition, 2006.
*Your textbook is supported with a variety of Internet materials
such as review exercises and practice test questions (www.prenhall.com/christopherson).
Course Description: A systematic introduction to the processes and associated
forms of the atmosphere and earth's surface emphasizing the interaction between
climatology, hydrology and geomorphology.
Rationale: Geographical literacy and understanding are crucial to
well-informed citizens in today's interrelated and interdependent world.
This course provides students with a spatial or geographical frame of reference
for understanding the earth's physical systems and their interrelationships
with humans. In particular, the geographical perspective emphasizes where
physical features are located, why they occupy these locations, and how
environmental elements interrelate with each other in systems and are expressed
in geographical distributions.
Course Objectives: Major objectives of the course are as follows:
·
To establish the nature of the geographic approach and its value
in understanding human-environment relationships.
·
To understand the nature of the physical processes that account
for and influence the earth's environment, and the value of a systems approach
in establishing interactions between them.
·
To identify and account for global patterns of landscape, weather
and climate, soils and vegetation and the interrelationships between these
elements.
·
To establish reciprocal links between the physical environment and
human activities.
CORE Laboratory Science Requirement: You may have chosen this course as part of
your CORE Liberal Arts and Sciences Studies Program, the
general education portion of your degree program. CORE Distributive
Studies courses are designed to ensure that you will take a look at several
different academic disciplines and the way they create and analyze knowledge
about the world. A faculty and student committee approved this CORE
Distributive Studies course because it promises to involve you actively in the
learning process. Please take advantage of the opportunities this course
offers you.
Lecture and lab courses GEOG 201 and GEOG 211 must be taken
in the same semester to count for CORE Laboratory Science.
If taken alone, GEOG 201 does not count as a non-lab science.
Academic Integrity and the
The
In addition, the University has implemented the following Honor
Pledge, which you will be asked to write and sign on the front page of all
exams and other written submissions in this course:
I pledge on my honor that I have not given or received any
unauthorized assistance on this assignment/examination.
Students with Special Needs: If you have a documented physical or
learning disability, please contact us at the beginning of the semester so that
we can make appropriate accommodations.
Methods and Resources of Instruction: This course is taught in a
lecture-discussion format that includes the opportunity for student-instructor
interaction (End-of-Day Quiz - open book and Debate). A variety of media
will be employed including power point lecturing, color slides and
transparencies. Also, abbreviated lecture notes will be posted in the supported
Internet.
Office Hours: The office hours serve a vital function for both student and instructor providing the
opportunity to receive prompt feedback and deal with any problems related to
the course, but they are only beneficial when utilized. Do not
wait until exam time to bring in your problems. If you need help, ask
for it as we go along and every effort will be made to assist you.
Attendance and Participation: You are strongly advised to attend
and proactively participate all lectures since
exam questions will reflect not only the textbook but also lecture material
unavailable elsewhere. It is important to do assigned readings before class
and come prepared to take notes.
*Please note that attendance in GEOG 211, the laboratory course,
is mandatory.
Open-book Quiz. 8 open-book quizzes will be given at the end of meeting,
starting from second meeting (July 20). Each counts for 12.5 at a total of 100.
This is to reinforce what daily main topics are focused on.
Missing an exam is a very serious matter. If an exam is missed, immediately
contact your instructor by e-mail explaining the circumstances,
and be ready to provide a documented excuse for your absence as per
university guidelines.
*Please note that the grades earned in GEOG 211 are
independent of the exam grades in 201 and have no influence on the final grade in this course.
Grading: Your course grade will be based on three elements: a) End-of-Day Quiz which is an open book;
b) two noncumulative exams; c) one group work.
Exams will consist of true/false, multiple-choice, and short answer
questions with content drawn from both lectures and textbook. Each will
count at 100 points. Examination dates are listed on the attached class
schedule. If an adjustment of these dates is necessary, it will be
announced in class. The final examination date and time is set by the
University and cannot be changed. One group work will be group debate on global
warming issue. Please refer the date on the schedule. Detailed requirement will
be available soon.
|
Evaluation Structure: Exam 1 100 pts Exam 2
100 pts Open Book Quiz (8) 100 pts Group Work 100 pts Course Total 400 pts |
Grading
will be based on the total points earned as a percentage of total points
possible. Grades will be assigned as
following: A 92 -100% A- 90-91% B+ 88-89% B 82-87% B- 80-81% C+ 78-79% C 70-77% D 60-69% F < 60% |
Extra Credit Journal Article Review: An extra credit journal
article review
project will be optional and soon be available. Successful completion of the
project will be worth up to 15 points of extra credit. For full
credit, the report must adhere to the project guidelines and be submitted by
the indicated due date.
Tentative Class Schedule: A provisional schedule of class topics and
exams. The schedule is subject to change due to class cancellations and other
unforeseen or special circumstances. When possible, schedule changes will
be announced in class and on the 201 course web site.
Provisional Schedule of Course
Calendar
*
Subject to change by the instructor
|
Date |
|
Topic |
Due Date |
|
7/18 |
|
Course Preliminary (9:3010:45) Course Intro:
Foundations of
Geography (11 1) |
Group Formation |
|
7/20 |
|
Solar Energy, Seasons, & Atmosphere Energy Balance & Global Temperatures |
Open-Book Quiz 1 |
|
7/25 |
|
Atmospheric Pressure& Winds Atmospheric Moisture & Weather
Systems |
Open-Book Quiz 2 |
|
7/27 |
|
Global Climate Systems |
Open-Book Quiz 3 |
|
8/1 |
Ch.9&10 |
Water Resources |
Open-Book Quiz 4 |
|
8/3 |
|
Introduction to Landforms ( Exam #1 (111) |
|
|
8/8 |
|
Tectonic Processes and Forms Weathering, Karst,
Mass Movements |
Open-Book Quiz 5 |
|
8/10 |
|
Fluvial Processes and Landscape Wind Processes and Desert Landscapes |
Open-Book Quiz 6 |
|
8/15 |
|
Oceans and Coastal Landforms Glacial Processes and Landforms |
Open-Book Quiz 7 |
|
8/17 |
|
Geography of Soils |
Open-Book Quiz 8 |
|
8/22 |
|
Wrap-up &
Debate on Global
Warming |
|
|
8/24 |
Last Day |
Conference ( Final Exam ( |
|
GEOG 201:
Geography of the Environments
Summer, 2006
Instructor: Jennifer Pomeroy
Group Project: Debates on
Global Warming Related Issues
Format of
Presentations:
Six groups are formed during the first meeting of the course. Each group is assigned to either support or against a motion in relation to the following statements. After each debate the remainder of the class will be asked to vote on the motion.
Please visit the following web sites for relevant information:
q
Convention
on Biodiversity (http://www.biodiv.org/
)
q
Kyoto
Protocol ( http://unfccc.int/ )
q
Convention
to Combat Desertification (http://www.unccd.int/)
Motions to
be debated:
First Motion:
The Convention on Biodiversity has been of little value in stemming the loss of biodiversity and should be abandoned.
- Group 1 will speak in support of the motion and Group 6 against.
Second Motion
The
- Group 2 will speak in favor and Group 4 against.
Third motion
The Convention to
Combat Desertification is based on faulty scientific reasoning and has failed
to achieve its objectives.
- Group 3 will speak in favor and Group 5 against
Conduct of
debate:
1. The motion will be proposed by one of the group, who will be given 10 minutes to state the main elements of the groups case.
2. A speaker from the other group will then be given 10 minutes to speak against the motion.
3. A second speaker from the first group will then be given 5 minutes to respond to the group opposing the motion, adding further arguments for the motion as appropriate.
4. A second speaker from the group opposing the motion will then, in turn, have a chance to offer rejoinders to the points made in support of the motion.
5 A vote will then be taken from those in the audience who do not belong to the two groups involved.
6. The debates
will be chaired by the instructor. THE
TIME LIMITS WILL BE APPLIED STRICTLY (30 mi.)
Use of Visuals:
· No use of any media aids will be allowed.
· Notes may be used in giving presentations but they should not be read verbatim.
Division of
Labor & Process Monitoring:
Prior to the debate, an evaluation form that each group member will be assessed by other group member in terms of appropriate participation and labor involvement will be distributed. This process is confidential between the instructor and the person who provides the evaluation.