This document provides an overview of a physical geography course. It outlines the course description, objectives, required materials, schedule, assignments, and policies. The course will introduce students to concepts in physical geography, with an emphasis on Earth's physical systems and human interactions with the environment. Topics will include the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere. Assessments will include exams, chapter quizzes, map quizzes, and a research project.

1. Geography 4 Physical Geography Section 63649 Tuesday 11:00-12:20 Professor Lisa Schmidt

2. What is Geography? The scientific study of the Earth's surface and its various climates, countries, peoples, and natural resources.

3. 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

4. Branches of Physical Geography Biogeography Climatology Coastal Geography Environmental Geography Geomorphology Glaciology Hydrology Oceanography Paleogeography

5. Branches of Human Geography Cultural Geography Developmental Geography Economic Geography Medical Geography Historical Geography Political Geography Population Geography Demography Transportation Geography Urban Geography

6. 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

7. 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

8. Course 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.

9. Course Description Emphasis is on the processes driving physical systems on the Earth, interactions between physical systems, and human interaction with the physical environment.

10. What we will be studying The atmosphere Atmospheric processes Weather and Climate The Biosphere Soil Vegetation Hydrosphere Tectonic Processes Volcanic Processes

11. 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.

12. 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

13. Alternate Text You may also use Physical Geography: A Landscape Appreciation by McKnight and Hess 9 th edition ISBN 978-0-13-223901-1

14. Required Materials Internet Access Pencils Pens Paper

15. Recommended Materials Colored Pens or Pencils For map studies

16. Course Schedule

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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!

21. 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/

22. 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.

23. Late Work and Exams Late work will not be accepted. Assignments are due on their stated due dates. No make-up exams. If you cannot make it to a scheduled exam, you must contact me before to make other arrangements.

24. 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.

25. 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.

26. 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.

27. 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.

28. 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.

29. 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.

30. 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.

31. 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.

32. 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.

33. Contact Information The best way to reach me is by e-mail. My e-mail address is: [email_address] 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.