Geography 4

Physical Geography

Section 63649
Tuesday 11:00-12:20
Professor Lisa Schmidt
What is Geography?
 The scientific study of the Earth's surface
and its various climates, countries,
peoples, and natural resources.
Fields of Geography
 Human or Cultural Geography
 Dealswith 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
 Cultural Geography
 Developmental Geography
 Economic Geography
 Medical Geography
 Historical Geography
 Political Geography
 Population Geography
 Demography
 Transportation Geography
 Urban Geography
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 Description
 The goal of this course is to introduce
students to basic concepts in physical
geography…
 Sinceit is an introductory course, it is
assumed students have little or no
background in physical geography.
Course Description
 Emphasis is on the processes driving
physical systems on the Earth,
interactions between physical systems,
and human interaction with the physical
environment.
What we will be studying
 The atmosphere
 Atmospheric processes
 Weather and Climate
 The Biosphere
 Soil
 Vegetation
 Hydrosphere
 Tectonic Processes
 Volcanic Processes
Course Objectives
 You will gain an understanding of the geographic
perspective within natural and environmental sciences,
including place, space, map scale, map projection,
spatial connection, and spatial diffusion.
 You will better understand how to use maps, in
particular, the geographic distribution of natural
phenomena.
 You will learn about the four environmental spheres,
atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and lithosphere,
and how they interact across the surface of the Earth. In
particular, you will learn the role of humankind within the
environment.
 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
 9thedition
 ISBN
978-0-13-223901-1
Required Materials
 Internet Access
 Pencils
 Pens
 Paper
Recommended Materials
 Colored Pens or Pencils
 For map studies
Course Schedule
Grading Scale
 4 Exams 100 points each =
400 points
 14 Chapter Quizzes 10
points each = 140 points
 5 Map Quizzes 25 points
each = 125 points
 1 Research Project = 100
points
 Total Points Possible = 765
 100-90% 765-688 A
 89-80% 687-612 B
 79-70% 611-535 C
 69-60% 534-459 D
 59-0% 458-0 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 four exams.
 Exams will be given using Moodle.
 The format will be multiple choice, true and
false, and/or matching.
 Each exam will be worth 100 points.
 The final exam will be cumulative.
 A study guide will be available for each exam.
Chapter Quizzes
 There will be a quiz for each chapter
in the textbook.
 Quizzes will be posted on Moodle at the
end of each chapter, check the class
schedule.
 Quizzes will be due one week after they
are posted by 10:30 AM.
 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.
 North America 25 points
 South America 25 points
 Europe 25 points
 Asia 25 points
 Africa 25 points
 Total 125 points
 Maps quizzes will be on Moodle too!
Research Project
 You are required to complete one research
project for Physical Geography.
 You may write a 5-page paper, produce a video
or slideshow, or give a presentation.
 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
or project.
 See the class web site for paper details:
 http://schmidtphysicalgeography.wikispaces.com/
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 Exams
 Late work will not be accepted.
 Assignments are due on their stated due
dates.
 No make-up exams.
 Ifyou cannot make it to a scheduled exam,
you must contact me before to make other
arrangements.
Absences 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, ask at
information and someone will put it in.
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 18th.
 No exceptions will be made.
Dropping
 If you decide to drop, you must do it
formally.
 If you stop coming to class, I have no way
of knowing if you want to drop or receive
and F.
I will give F’s, it is your responsibility to 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.
Moodle
 Moodle will be used for this class.
 You will take your tests and quizzes on
Moodle.
 http://moodle.chaffey.edu/
 If you have questions about Moodle, 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 Chaffey College’s policy on
academic honesty.
Cell Phones and Texting
 Use of cell phones for talking or texting
during class is inappropriate.
 You may be asked to leave the
classroom if you are talking or texting on
your phone during lecture.
 Phones should be set to silent mode
when in class.
 Use of a cell phone for texting or talking
during a quiz or exam is absolutely
forbidden.
 If you are caught using your phone during a
quiz or exam, you will receive a grade of 0
points for that 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 (909)
652-6398.
Contact Information

 The best way to reach me is by e-mail.

 My e-mail address is:
Lisa_M_Schmidt@yahoo.com
 I have a mailbox on the Chino campus
and in Zimmerman Hall on the main
campus.
 My voice mail is (909) 652-7090
 I do not check my voice mail as often as
my e-mail.