UST 289 Physical Geography Summer 2007 Page 1 of 4 Cleveland State University Physical Geography (UST 289 Sections 501 and 502 1st 6 weeks) Levin College of Urban Affairs Summer Semester, 2007 Blackboard Department of Urban Studies [email protected] Instructor: Ruth Ruud Office: UR217 Hours by appointment Phone: 216-702-8300 (leave message) Course Description: This course is an introductory examination of the development of the physical environment in which we live. The course will cover this development drawing from a number of scientific fields, among them being meteorology, geomorphology and agronomy. Course Objective: The objective of the course is to assist the student in understanding how the physical environment has developed and its impact on our metropolitan areas both suburban and urban. This course will also assist the student to understand how geographical knowledge can aid in understanding and solving problems of the city. An emphasis is placed on helping the student to relate science to their everyday lives. .Course Method: This class is an internet class. Students are expected to complete all assignments as noted. Discussion will occur via discussion boards. Students often have difficulty staying on schedule with their assignments in internet classes. In order to help you maintain the schedule material turned in after the last date of acceptance noted will NOT be accepted or counted towards your grade. Students are responsible for contacting the instructor as soon as problems arise that might hinder your ability to submit your work on time. There is one scheduled meeting that will occur throughout the semester. Other meetings can be scheduled should you need to meet with the instructor. These meetings are NOT mandatory. Grading Policy: Grades are based on the results of exercises, quizzes, a short paper and participation on discussion. There will be six quizzes given (one per week). Five short answer exercises will be done on a weekly basis. The grade points will be distributed as follows; Quizzes (6) 30% Short Exercises (5) 35% Short paper 20% Earthweek board 15% Students are required to post weekly. Assignments are due as noted. Late assignments are subject to a 5% grade penalty per week they are late. Text: Strahler, Alan, Strahler, Arthur. 2003. Introducing Physical Geography Fourth Edition. New York, NY. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.UST 289 Physical Geography Summer 2007 Page 2 of 4 Special Summer Semester Note: Please be aware that taking semester classes in a six-week period is different than taking a class over 15 weeks. Students like 6 week classes since they are over quickly. Students also dislike 6 week classes since they can easily fall behind in the work and the time to catch up is short. Internet classes can be more of a challenge since we do not meet face to face where the instructor is reminding you of what is due. I would point out to the student though that a six week class can be a fantastic opportunity to hone your time-management skills. To help encourage you to work on those skills assignments are due on a weekly basis and you are required to post weekly. This should help you stay on task. Please take the time to refer to the calendar on Blackboard to verify final due dates for assignments. Blackboard: Assistance is available to the student one on one from the computer lab monitors in the Urban computer lab located on the lower level of the building in room 40. Please let the monitor know that you are registered for UST 289. There is also a Blackboard troubleshooting/instruction guide available at http://urban.csuohio.edu/courses/help.shtml Class Schedule and Readings Week 1: Chapter 1 to 3 Course Introduction. What is Physical Geography, The Earth as a Rotating Planet, The Earth’s Global Energy Balance, Air Temperature Earthweek ending May 19, 2007 Exercise 1 is due May 26 Quiz 1 is due May 26 Week 2: Chapter 4 to 6: Atmospheric Moisture and Precipitation, Winds and Global Circulation, Weather Systems Earthweek ending May 26, 2007 Exercise 2 is due June 1 Quiz 2 is due June 1 Week 3: Chapter 8 and 9: Biogeographic Processes, Global Biogeography Earthweek ending June 2, 2007 Exercise 3 is due June 7 Quiz 3 is due June 7 Week 4: Chapter 10 and 11: Global Soils, : Earth Materials Earthweek ending June 9, 2007 Short Paper is due June 14 Quiz 4 is due June 14UST 289 Physical Geography Summer 2007 Page 3 of 4 Week 5: Chapter 12 and 13: The Lithosphere and Plate Tectonics, Volcanic and Tectonic Landforms Earthweek ending June 16, 2007 Exercise 4 is due June 21 Quiz 5 is due June 21 Week 6: Chapter 14 and 15: Weathering and Mass Wasting, Fresh Water of the Continents Earthweek ending June 23, 2007 Exercise 5 is due June 28 Quiz 6 is due June 28 Additional Information Submissions: Submission should be done via the Blackboard dropbox for the application exercises and short paper. Please, save your files in .rtf format (rich text format) before attaching and submitting them. To save a file in .rtf format, use “save as”, when the drop box appears, name your file and then in the box below the file name use the drop down arrow to see the different file formats that you can use. Scroll and select the one that reads “rich text format” .rtf. This is especially important if you are using the most updated version of Word. Your word files that save as .docx files cannot be read by previous versions of Word. Saving them out as .rtf files will make your instructors lives easier! Quizzes: There is one timed quiz per week that covers the material that from the book that was assigned for that week. I will post a review sheet that will contain the terms you need to know for the questions. The questions will be true and false and multiple choice. Application Exercises: The application exercises consist of three to four questions. Each question can be answered in about 3 to 5 paragraphs. These questions are designed to help you apply the material from the book to real life. I will supply you with internet sites to get you started on finding the information. You are encouraged to access other sites as well. These are to be submitted to the instructor by the due date by email. Due dates are as noted in the syllabus. Please see