UST 289 Physical Geography Spring 2010 Page 1 of 8 Cleveland State University Physical Geography (15 weeks) Levin College of Urban Affairs Spring 2010 Department of Urban Studies Email: [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 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 and what can be done to protect our fragile environment. Knowledge - Understand the steps used in the scientific method. - Recognize how scientific inquiry can be used to understand the development of the natural world that the student lives in. - Understand how advancement in measurement and observation tools have led to advances in data collection that have enhanced knowledge of how our physical environment has developed over time. - Understand the design of experimentation, data gathering, and observation. - Develop an appreciation of the difference of results using analysis, logic and deduction from the scientific method versus other more subjective means. Skills – quantitative literacy - Use technology to solve mathematical problems as well as to prepare graphs and charts. - Understand how to interpret graphs, tables and schematics and to draw inferences from them. - Represent differences of annual data over time in a symbolic, visual, or verbal manner that has clarity of result. - Understand of natural science phenomena by data collection and analysis using prescribed formulae. - Recognize, understand and present the limitations of mathematical modeling used in the natural sciences. - Note: 15% of student grade is based on an evaluation of quantitative literacyUST 289 Physical Geography Spring 2010 Page 2 of 8 Skills – writing - Develop an ability to find the “real issue” in development of an argument. - Understand how to apply material learned in the course to the natural world that the student lives in. - Understand the process of developing an appropriate thesis statement for a paper and being able to apply it. - Understand how to paraphrase material and to apply it in the context of a paper. - Develop the ability to appropriately use a citation format. General Education Statement: This course is approved as a general education course meeting the requirements for the natural science breath of knowledge. Skill areas for this class include writing and quantitative literacy. 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 will ONLY be accepted at the discretion of the instructor and with a point penalty. 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 as noted on the course on-line schedule should you need to meet with the instructor. This meeting is NOT mandatory. Rather it is scheduled to give students a set time that they know the instructor will be available to meet with them to introduce the class. Grading Policy: Grades are based on the results of application exercises, quizzes, a short paper and posting on Earthweek discussion boards. There will be six quizzes given (dates as noted in the syllabus). Six short answer exercises are also required. Six Earthweek discussion board postings are required. One short paper will also be assigned. The grade points will be distributed as follows; Quizzes (6) 20% Short Exercises (6) 30% Short Paper 20% Earthweek posting 15% Quantitative Literacy (3) 15% Students are required to post as noted. Assignments are due as noted. Late assignments are subject to a 5% grade penalty per week they are late. Final acceptance dates are noted in the syllabus and on the Blackboard calendar. The grade scale is as follows: 95- 100 A 94-90 A- 89-87 B+ 86-83 B 82-80 B- 79-75 C+ 74-70 C 60- 69 DUST 289 Physical Geography Spring 2010 Page 3 of 8 Text: Strahler, Alan, Merali Zeeya, 2008. Visualizing Physical Geography, New York, NY. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. You may purchase the textbook at the bookstore or online or the “card” which is an electronic version of the textbook. This is also available at the bookstore. You may not sell back the “card” but can sell the book back. Class Schedule and Readings Week 1: January 19th to January 23rd Chapter 1 The Earth As a Rotating Planet Week 2: January 24th to January 30th Chapter 2: The Earth’s Global Energy Balance January 30th - Earthweek 1 is due (check the sample in the Earthweek Map Folder on the Course Content page) Week 3: January 31st to February 6th Chapter 3: Air Temperature February 6th: Quantitative 1 is due Quiz 1 is due Week 4: February 7th to February 13th Chapter 4: Atmospheric Moisture and Precipitation February 13th : Exercise 1 is due Earthweek 2 is due Week 5: February 14th to February 20th Chapter 5: Winds and the Global Circulation - February 20th: Quantitative 2 is due Week 6: February 21st to February 27th Chapter 6: Weather Systems - February 27th: Quiz 2 is due - February 27th: Earthweek 3 is due - February 27th : Exercise 2 is due Week 7: February 28th to March 6th Chapter 7: Global Climates - March 6th : Earthweek 4 is due Week 8: March 7th to March 13th Chapters 8 and 9 Earth Materials and Plate Tectonics - March 13th: Short Paper is due - March 13th : Quiz 3 is due Mid Semester Break: March 14th to March 21stUST 289 Physical Geography Spring 2010 Page 4 of 8 Week 9: March 21st to