Geography 1--Physical Geography
Syllabus

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Day/Time/Place: 

            Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays / 9:00-9:50am / Amador 240 (section 2)

            Mondays and Wednesdays / 1:30-2:45pm / Amador 308 (section 4)

Instructor:

Jim Wanket; email jwanket@csus.edu

Office Hours are Mondays and Wednesdays, 10:00am-noon (or by arrangement) in 553B Amador.

Course Objectives:

This course is designed as an introduction to the diverse field of physical geography with emphasis on the spatial patterns of natural phenomena.  During the semester we will look systematically at the global pattern of climate, biota, and landforms and examine interrelationships between them.  By understanding the nature of these global systems we can understand more fully the impacts of past, present, and future changes to them.

Course Requirements:

Grading— Student evaluation will be based on three exams (75%), seven homework assignments (20%), and attendance (5%).  Feel free to check your class standing with me at any point during the semester.

Class meetings— Regular attendance is vital to success in this course.  To encourage your presence in lecture, I will take roll and assess a 1% penalty (up to 5% total) for every two lectures you miss, arrive late, or leave early.  You are responsible for any material you miss in your absence.

Reading assignments— The text for this course is Physical Geography by Tom McKnight.  Note that the reading assignments are for the 7^th edition, and if you are reading an earlier edition you may have a different chapter sequence. A copy of the 7^th edition is on short-term reserve in the library.

Exams— Two midterms and a final will be equally weighted (25%) and cumulative.  Each exam will consist of both objective (i.e. multiple choice, fill-in) and short answer-type questions.  No makeup exams will be given without prior notification.

Homework— Several homework assignments will be given during the course of the semester.  These will include map exercises, thought experiments, and mathematical problem solving.  Substantial penalty (1 full grade per day) will be assessed on work turned in after the due date.

Academic Malfeasance—Academic misbehavior such as cheating or plagiarism will result in an “F” grade for the course.  You are responsible for understanding what constitutes plagiarism and avoiding it at all costs.  I will be especially vigilant about the improper use of internet resources