UST 289 Physical Geography Fall 2009 Page 1 of 7 Cleveland State University Physical Geography (15 weeks) Levin College of Urban Affairs Fall Semester, 2009 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.UST 289 Physical Geography Fall 2009 Page 2 of 7- Note: 15% of student grade is based on an evaluation of quantitative literacy 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 he 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 participation on 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.UST 289 Physical Geography Fall 2009 Page 3 of 7The 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 D Text: Strahler, Alan, Merali Zeeya, 2008. Visualizing Physical Geography, New York, NY. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Class Schedule and Readings Week 1: Aug 23 to Aug 29th Chapter 1 The Earth As a Rotating Planet Week 2: August 30th to September 5th Chapter 2: The Earth’s Global Energy Balance - September 5: : Earthweek 1 is due Week 3: September 6th to September 12th Chapter 3: Air Temperature - September 12: Quantitative 1 is due Quiz 1 is due Week 4: Sept 13th to September 19th Chapter 4: Atmospheric Moisture and Precipitation - September 19: Exercise 1 is due - September 19: Earthweek 2 is due Week 5: Sept 20th to Sept 26th Chapter 5: Winds and the Global Circulation - September 26: Quantitative 2 is due Week 6: Sept 27th to Oct. 3rd Chapter 6: Weather Systems - October 3rd: Quiz 2 is due - October 3rd: Earthweek 3 is due - October 3rd : Exercise 2 is due Week 7: Oct 5 to Oct 11th Chapter 7: Global Climates - October 11: Earthweek 4 is due Week 8: Oct 11th to 17th Chapters 16 and 17: Biogeography Processes and Global Biogeography - October 17: Exercise 3 is due - October 17: Quiz 3 is due Week 9: Oct 18th to Oct. 24th Chapters 10 and 11: Weathering and Mass Wasting and Fresh Water of the ContinentsUST 289 Physical Geography Fall 2009 Page 4 of 7- October 24: Short Paper is due Week 10: Oct 25th to Oct. 31st Chapter 12: Landforms Made by Running Water -October 31st : Quiz 4 is due -October 31st : Quantitative 3 is due Week 11: Nov 1 to Nov 7th Chapter 13: Landforms Made by Waves and Wind - November 7th: Exercise 4 is