Physical Geography > Generic Syllabus

HOME GEO 1010 SYLLABUS ITEMS BLACKBOARD

The Syllabus below provides information about the Required Text, Grades, Sequence of Topics, and Projects/Activities. Students who enroll in the course will have access to more specific details, e.g., an expanded description of assignments, possible projects and exam dates."Dates" for exams at on the College's Blackboard web site.

Required Text:

Introducing Physical Geography, 4th Edition (2006). Alan Strahler / Arthur Strahler. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

As a foundation for exam preparation, the most important resource for testing purposes are the self-test questions available at the publisher's web site. Also, as you "check" your content knowledge, review questions at the end of each text chapter and be certain to visit the publisher's web site to use the very excellent interactive materials for mastering conceptual understanding.

Top

Grades:

Your final grade will be determined by adding scores for the following: one* Autobiographical Sketch . . . AS (25 points possible), to one "Course Materials Activity" . . . CMA (75 points possible), to three exam scores at 150 points each for a total of 450 points possible. then assigning a letter grade based upon where the total falls within the following ranges of scores:

495 - 550 = A
440 - 494 = B
385 - 439 = C
330 - 384 = D
Below 330 = F

Exam material will be derived from the text, associated content from the publisher's web site, especially the self-test, multiple-choice questions. Additionally, supplemental material . . . e.g., PowerPoint Presentations and a Guide to examination preparation are in the "Exams" section of Blackboard. Test format may include multiple-choice, true-false, matching, labeling diagrams, and identification. Look for a special document regarding what constitutes a high quality "Identification" answer. You will have at least one essay based upon "Course Outcomes".

Top
Sequence of Topics:

    • Prologue: Introducing Physical Geography
    • The Earth as a Rotating Planet
    • The Earth's Global Energy Balance
    • Air Temperature
    • Atmospheric Moisture and Precipitation
    • Winds and Global Circulation
    • Weather Systems
    • Global Climates
    • Biogeographic Processes
    • Global Biogeography
    • Global Soils
    • Earth Materials
    • The Lithosphere and Plate Tectonics
    • Volcanic and Tectonic Landforms
    • Weathering and Mass Wasting
    • Freshwater of the Continents
    • Landforms Made by Running Water
    • Landforms and Rock Structure
    • Landforms Made by Wind and Waves
    • Glacial Landforms and the Ice Age Epilogue
    • Epilogue: News from the Future
Top

* Required Assignments:

Here are the two assignments:

Autobiographical Sketch (AS)

Compose a "sketch," minimum of 325 words, for classmates to read. (25 points possible)

Course Materials Activity (CMA)

Complete a review of all materials available for learning course content, i.e., text, materials in Blackboard, content/activities at the publisher's web site. Submit either a DOC or RTF file via Blacboard's "Assignments" area. (75 points possible)

* Specific details are provided in BLACKBOARD.

Top