Physical Geography

Geography 101Professor Lisa Schmidt

Section 31242Mondays 7:00-10:10 PM

What is Geography?

• The study of the earth and its features and of the distribution of life on the earth, including human life and the effects of human activity.

Fields of Geography

• Human or Cultural Geography– Deals with social, economic,

and behavioral processes

• Physical Geography– Examines the natural

processes occurring at Earth’s surface that provide the physical setting for human activities

Branches of Physical Geography

• Biogeography• Climatology• Coastal Geography• Environmental Geography• Geomorphology• Glaciology• Hydrology• Oceanography• Paleogeography

Branches of Human Geography• Developmental

Geography• Economic Geography• Medical Geography• Transportation

Geography• Urban Geography

• Cultural Geography• Historical Geography• Political Geography• Population

Geography• Demography

Tools Geographers Use• Maps

– Paper representations of space showing point, line, or area data

• Or more simply put, locations, connections, and regions

• Remote Sensing– Aircraft or spacecraft provide images of

earth’s surface• GIS or Geographic Information Systems

– Powerful computer mapmaking software connected to data bases

• Mathematical Modeling and Statistics– Used to understand natural and human

phenomenon

What we will be studying…

• Four great physical realms or spheres of Earth– Atmosphere

• The gaseous layer that surrounds the earth– Lithosphere

• The outermost solid layer of the Earth– Hydrosphere

• The liquid realm of the Earth– Biosphere

• Encompasses all living organisms of the Earth

Course DescriptionCourse Description

• The goal of this course is to introduce students to basic concepts in physical geography…– Since it is an introductory course, it is

assumed students have little or no background in physical geography.

Course ObjectivesCourse Objectives

• By the end of this course you should be able to do the following:– Explain why we have seasons – Describe the function and composition of the atmosphere – Discuss the earth's hydrologic cycle – Describe the structure of the solid earth and relate it to

phenomena such as earthquakes, mountain ranges and volcanoes

– Evaluate the effects of the atmosphere and the hydrosphere on the lithosphere

– Compare and contrast the earth's ecosystems– Identify various landforms– Be more geographically literate!

Textbooks

• Required– Physical Geography

California Edition• McKnight and Hess

• ISBN 0-558-11417-2• Required

– Goode’s World Atlas• ISBN 0-528-65000-3

– Or any recent World Atlas that contains physical maps

• Recommended– The Geography Coloring

Book• Wynn Kapit• 978-0131014725

Alternate Text

• You may also use Physical Geography: A Landscape Appreciation by McKnight and Hess– 9th edition– ISBN 978-0-13-

223901-1

Required Materials

• Pencils• Pens• Paper

Recommended Materials

• Colored Pens or Pencils• For map studies

Class Schedule…

• Please take a moment to look at the schedule in your syllabus.

• Notice when quizzes are due, when map studies are, when exams are, and when your paper is due.

Grading Scale

• 3 Exams 100 points each = 300 points

• 14 Chapter Quizzes 10 points each = 140 points

• 5 Map Quizzes 25 points each = 125 points

• 1 Research Paper = 100 points

• Total Points Possible = 665

• 100-90% 665-598 A• 89-80% 597-532 B• 79-70% 531-465 C• 69-60% 464-399 D• 59-0% 398-0 F

Note: You must earn at least 60% to pass this class. You may be dropped for falling below 60%. Please refer to your syllabus.

Exams

There will be three exams. You will need to log in to Blackboard

for each exam. The format will be multiple choice,

true and false, and/or matching. Each exam will be worth 100 points. A study guide will be available for

each exam.

Chapter Quizzes

• There will be a quiz for each chapter we cover in the textbook.• Quizzes will be posted on Blackboard after each lecture.

• You must be connected to the internet to complete the quizzes. See syllabus for campus locations.

• Quizzes will be due one week after they are posted by 6:30 PM.

• There will be 14 quizzes.• The format will be multiple choice, true/false, and or

matching.

• Quiz questions may be used on exams.• You will want to take notes from your quizzes and study

them.

Map Quizzes

• We will study the physical features of Earth.• You MUST bring your atlas to class on map study

nights.• Colored pens or pencils will be helpful.• You will have five map quizzes.• Map Quizzes will be given using Blackboard.

• North America 25 points• South America 25 points• Europe 25 points• Asia 25 points• Africa 25 points

• Total 125 points

Research PaperResearch Paper

• You are required to write one research paper for Physical Geography.

• Your paper must be 5-pages long and typed.• You will be able to choose from a list of topics.• You may receive extra credit for seeking

assistance from the writing center for your paper.

• See Blackboard for paper details.

Extra Credit• Some extra credit may be assigned

throughout the semester.• It will be announced in class and you

must be present in order to take advantage of it.

Late Work and ExamsLate Work and Exams

• Late work will not be accepted.– Assignments are due on their stated due

dates.

• No make-up exams.– You will have one week to complete exams,

no excuses!

Absences and TardinessAbsences and Tardiness

• I reserve the right to drop students who miss class twice.

• If you have to miss class, you should stay in contact with me if you do not want to be dropped.

• You may be dropped for excessive tardiness.– This means being more than five minutes late, more

than three times.

• If you are going to be late, come in quietly and take a seat WITHOUT interrupting lecture.

E-mailing Assignments/My Mailbox

• Assignments will NOT be accepted by e-mail.

• If you cannot make it to class, take your assignment to my mailbox which is located in the Liberal Arts Building, where the faculty offices and secretaries are located.

Last Day to Turn in Work

The last day that extra credit work or late work (if it has been approved), will be accepted is May 23rd.

No exceptions will be made.

DroppingDropping

If you decide to drop, you must do it If you decide to drop, you must do it formally.formally.

If you stop coming to class, I have no If you stop coming to class, I have no way of knowing if you want to drop or way of knowing if you want to drop or receive and F.receive and F.– I will give F’s, it is your responsibility to I will give F’s, it is your responsibility to

drop.drop.

Graded Work

It is your responsibility to pick up graded work.

You should keep all of your graded work until you receive your final grade. Not only for this class but all of your

classes! All graded work will be held for 30

days after the end of the semester then discarded.

Blackboard

• Blackboard will be used for this class.• You must use Blackboard for your

quizzes, map quizzes, and exams. • You will also find PowerPoint lectures,

study guides, blank maps, grades and course documents.

• http://vvc.blackboard.com • If you have questions about blackboard, stay

after class, I am here to help.

Academic Honesty

• Cheating of any kind will not be tolerated. – Any incidences of cheating or

plagiarism will be reported to the deans office.

– Please refer to Victor Valley College’s policy on academic honesty.

Cell Phones and TextingCell Phones and Texting

• Use of cell phones for talking or texting during Use of cell phones for talking or texting during class is class is inappropriateinappropriate. .

• You may be asked to leave the classroom if you You may be asked to leave the classroom if you are talking or texting on your phone during are talking or texting on your phone during lecture. lecture.

• Phones should be set to silent mode when in Phones should be set to silent mode when in class. class.

• Use of a cell phone for texting or talking during Use of a cell phone for texting or talking during a quiz or exam is absolutely a quiz or exam is absolutely forbiddenforbidden. . • If you are caught using your phone during a quiz or If you are caught using your phone during a quiz or

exam, you will receive a grade of 0 points for that exam, you will receive a grade of 0 points for that quiz or exam. quiz or exam.

Disabilities

• If you need accommodations for this course, please see me after class.

• If you have or think you may have a disability that might affect your performance in this course, please contact the office of Disabled Students Programs and Services at (760) 245-4271 ext, 2212, or stop by their office located in building 50.

• There is help available.

Writing Center

• For help (and extra credit) with your Research Paper, visit the Writing Center located in the Advanced Technology Center (ATC Building #21) Room #177, or call for more information (760) 245-4271 ext. 2607 or 2783.

For Your Success

• There are computers available for your use on campus in the library and in the ATC.• See the map on the syllabus…

• Do not forget about the writing center.

Contact InformationContact Information

• The best way to reach me is by e-mail.• My e-mail address is:

Lisa_M_Schmidt@yahoo.com• My mailbox is located the Liberal Arts

Building (Building 30, our building)• My voice mail is (760) 245-4271 ext. 8585.

– I do not check my voice mail as often as my e-mail.