AGOG 101 - Fall 2007
Introduction to the Physical Environment
Syllabus
Instructor: Dr. M. Calef
Phone:
591-8563
Email:
mcalef@albany.edu
Office: AS
208
Office
Hours: Mo, We, Fr 1 to 2 pm
and by appointment
Class meeting
time: Mo, We, Fr 10:25 am to 11:20, 3 credit hours
NOTE: Due to problems with the assigned
classroom, we are currently using three different rooms! Until further notice,
we will be in the following rooms:
Monday: Physics 123
Wednesday: Arts & Sciences 14 (basement)
Friday: Earth Sciences 245
Class
website: http://www.albany.edu/~mc969295/Gog101.html
Guide for
Website Access for class book click here
Slide
Presentation on how to register with website click
here
Course Description: The goal of studying physical geography is to develop a thorough knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of our Earth. Through a spatial science perspective, physical geography focuses on the location, distribution, and spatial interactions of natural phenomena on Earth. Through a physical science perspective, physical geography examines Earth processes and patterns using techniques of models and systems analysis. Through an environmental science perspective, physical geography considers the influence and interaction of both components in human-environment relationships.
Text book: Custom bundle consisting of the book ‘Essentials of Physical
Geography’ by Gabler, Peterson, and Trapasso, 8th edition, a custom guide on using
Thomson Now online, and the ‘Rand McNally Atlas of World Geography’ by
Thomson which is available at the College Book Store and Mary Jane
Books. ISBN for the bundle is 0495481114 - If you buy these items
separately, they will cost a lot more.
Grading: The course grade will consist of three parts: two exams (not cumulative,
35% each) and 20 quizzes (30 %). The quizzes will
consist of 19 online tests that you will take outside of class; each quiz will
cover one book chapter starting with chapter 3 through chapter 21 and will be
due within a week of the last lecture on this chapter. Online quizzes are
available at thomsonnow and must be taken between 5
am and 11:55 pm on the date listed below. If you cheat on any of the quizzes
(i.e. consult notes or another person while taking one) you will receive an F
in this course. Additionally, there is one geography quiz taken in class on
September 21 for which you will need your atlas.
Miscellaneous: It is the responsibility of the students to
attend each lecture, take notes, and keep up with the reading and quizzes. If
you miss class, it is your responsibility to make up the missed material and
find out if there were any important announcements. I will not hand out my
lecture notes or go over things with you individually. There are no make-up
exams or extended quiz deadlines unless you have an official excuse from the
Dean of Undergraduate Studies.
Detailed Course Outline (exact dates change
as semester progresses)
|
Week |
Month |
Date |
Topic |
|
Quiz |
|
1 |
August |
27 |
Introduction |
|
|
|
|
|
29 |
Introduction |
|
|
|
|
|
31 |
Earth environments and
systems |
1 |
|
|
2 |
September |
3 |
*** Memorial Day *** |
|
|
|
|
|
5 |
Earth
environments and systems |
1 |
(Sep
17-23) |
|
|
|
7 |
Representations
of Earth |
2 |
|
|
3 |
September |
10 |
Representations
of Earth |
2 |
(Sep
17-23) |
|
|
|
12 |
Earth
in space and solar energy |
3 |
Quiz
2: Sep 24 |
|
|
|
14 |
*** Rosh Hashanah *** |
|
|
|
4 |
September |
17 |
The
atmosphere, temperature, and the heat budget |
4 |
|
|
|
|
19 |
The
atmosphere, temperature, and the heat budget |
4 |
|
|
|
|
21 |
Geography Map Quiz 1 |
|
|
|
5 |
September |
24 |
The
atmosphere, temperature, and the heat budget |
4 |
Quiz
3: Oct 1 |
|
|
|
26 |
Atmospheric
pressure, winds, and circulation patterns |
5 |
Quiz
4: Oct 3 |
|
|
|
28 |
Moisture,
condensation, and precipitation |
6 |
|
|
6 |
October |
1 |
Moisture,
condensation, and precipitation |
6 |
Quiz
5: Oct 8 |
|
|
|
3 |
Air
masses and weather systems |
7 |
Quiz
6: Oct 10 |
|
|
|
5 |
Global
climates and climate change |
8 |
|
|
7 |
October |
8 |
Global
climates and climate change |
8 |
No
quiz on Ch 8 |
|
|
|
10 |
Global
climates and climate change |
8 |
|
|
|
|
12 |
EXAM 1 |
|
|
|
8 |
October |
15 |
Low-latitude
and arid climate regions |
9 |
Quiz
7: Oct 24 |
|
|
|
17 |
Middle-latitude,
polar, and highland climate regions |
10 |
|
|
|
|
19 |
Middle-latitude,
polar, and highland climate regions |
10 |
|
|
9 |
October |
22 |
Biogeography |
11 |
Quiz
8: Nov 2 |
|
|
|
24 |
Biogeography
|
11 |
|
|
|
|
26 |
Biogeography
|
11 |
|
|
10 |
October |
29 |
Biogeography
|
11 |
|
|
|
|
31 |
Biogeography
|
11 |
Quiz
9: Nov 7 |
|
|
November |
2 |
The
global ocean |
20 |
Quiz
10: Nov 9 |
|
11 |
November |
5 |
Coastal
Landforms |
21 |
Quiz
11: Nov 12 |
|
|
|
7 |
Soils
and soil development |
12 |
|
|
|
|
9 |
Soils
and soil development |
12 |
Quiz
12: Nov 16 |
|
12 |
November |
12 |
Earth
materials, the lithosphere, and plate tectonics |
13 |
No
quiz on Ch 13 |
|
|
|
14 |
Volcanoes,
earthquakes, and tectonic landforms |
14 |
No
quiz on Ch 14 |
|
|
|
16 |
Gradation,
weathering, and mass wasting |
15 |
|
|
13 |
November |
19 |
EXAM 2 |
|
Ch. 9-15,20,21 |
|
|
|
21 |
** Thanksgiving Break *** |
|
|
|
|
|
23 |
** Thanksgiving Break *** |
|
|
|
14 |
November |
26 |
Gradation,
weathering, and mass wasting |
15 |
Quiz
13 Nov 30 |
|
|
|
28 |
Fluvial
processes and landforms |
17 |
|
|
|
|
30 |
Fluvial
processes and landforms |
17 |
Quiz
14: Dec 7 |
|
15 |
December |
3 |
Underground
water and karst landforms |
16 |
Quiz
15: Dec 7 |
|
|
|
5 |
Extra
Credit |
|
|
|
|
|
7 |
Final
Quiz |
|
|