Physical geography attempts to describe the characteristics and world distributions of physical factors which in combination form the natural environment: elements of weather and climate, climatic types, earth materials, landforms and earth resources. In addition to the above, physical geography is also concerned with the processes that create the natural environment, as well as regional patterns that have been established. It is hoped that through this course you will gain a greater understanding and appreciation of the physical world around us through the acquisition of basic analytical tools.

Successful completion of this course will enable student to analyze, synthesize, evaluate, and interpret information and ideas; distinguish knowledge from values, beliefs, and opinions; and read and listen with comprehension and critical perception.

To receive a grade for this course you are required to complete 24 lab exercises, 12 lab quizzes, one lab final, one mid-term lecture exam, and one lecture final exam.  Generally the lab quizzes and lab final will deal with material that is covered in the labs, and the two lecture exams will deal with material that is covered in lecture. However, the lab and lecture material complement each other so you may be expected to recall material from both the lab and the lecture sections as you are taking an exam. All quizzes, exams, and lab assignments should be saved for studying purposes.

Introducing Physical Geography, Third Edition. Alan Strahler and Arthur Strahler, John Wiley and Sons, Inc.2003

t       In addition to your textbook you will also need to bring a calculator to class every day. The calculator should be able to perform at least basic functions +, -, /, *, but preferably one that can also perform square root, and cosine.

t       Other reference materials would be assigned as appropriate

Your course grade will be based on the following:

Final grades are based upon converting the total percentage received by students as to a letter grade as follows:

• There will be no make-ups on any lab quizzes
• Late labs, exams, and quizzes will receive reduced credit (a 10% reduction for every day late);
• All lab assignments must be turned in to me the Monday following the week they are covered in lab;
•  Arrangements must be made to make up missed work by the next available office hours;
• You will be responsible for any missed lecture material;
• If you must miss an exam or be late for an exam, you MUST notify me (389-6527) if you wish to take a make up exam;
• All make-up exams will be essay in format (no exceptions).

§         Students are expected to regularly attend classes;

§         Evaluation is based on the readings and lecture materials;

§         It will be extremely difficult to pass this course if you do not attend lectures and study the materials that are presented;

§         We are all adults, as such I will not take roll, but you are expected to attend lecture (attending class means showing up on time, staying the duration of the class period, and participating);

§         If you miss a class, you need to get the notes for the missed lecture from one of your classmates;

§         I do not give out my notes, nor will I give you a “repeat performance” of my lecture during my office hours; and,

§         If you bring in your notes I will, however, clarify any points that are unclear to you as well as discuss any other course material.

College instructors assume that students will spend approximately two to three hours outside of class for every hour in class. Thus, since this is a three credit-hour course, the average student will need to spend six to nine hours per week outside of the classroom reading the text, completing writing assignments, and studying for quizzes and exams. Be aware some weeks will likely require fewer hours, but others (such as exam weeks) will require significantly more.

As a student at the University of Wisconsin-Marshfield/Wood County, you are part of an academic community and therefore expected to behave in a manner that is respectful of the community, by not engaging in academic misconduct.  

(a) seeks to claim credit for the work or efforts of another without authorization or citation;

(b) uses unauthorized materials or fabricated data in any academic exercise;

(c) forges or falsifies academic documents or records;

(d) intentionally impedes or damages the academic work of others;

(e) engages in conduct aimed as making false representation of a student’s academic performance; or,

(f) assists other students in these acts.

-         cheating on an examination; collaborating with others in work to be presented, contrary to the stated rules of the course;

-         submitting a paper or assignment as one’s own work when a part of all of the paper of assignment is the work of another;

-         submitting a paper or assignment that contains ideas or research of others without appropriately identifying the sources of those ideas;

-         stealing examinations of course materials;

-         submitting, if contrary to the rules of the course, work previously presented in another course;

-          tampering with the laboratory experiment or computer program of another student;

-         knowingly and intentionally assisting another student in any of the above, including assistance in an arrangement whereby any work, classroom performance, examination of other activity is submitted or performed by a person other than the student whose name the work is submitted or performed.

If you have a disability for which you need an accommodation, please see student services as soon as possible. Also, please notify me so that I can make provisions in a timely manner.

s         Introduction to the Course

s         The Foundations of Geography

s         The earth as a rotating planet

-  Geographic Grid, map projection and time,

s         Global Radiation and Energy Balance

- Solar energy, composition of the atmosphere, and the energy balance

s         Air Temperature

- Surface and atmospheric temperature, world patterns of air temperature, global warming and the Greenhouse effect

s         Atmospheric Moisture and Precipitation

- The three states of water, the hydrosphere and the hydrological cycle, humidity, clouds and precipitation

s         Winds and Global Circulation

- Atmospheric pressure, wind and patterns, ocean currents

s         Weather Systems

- Air masses, tropical and equatorial weather systems,

s         Global Climates

s         Biological Processes

-     energy and matter flow in the ecosystem, biodiversity

s         Soils

-     Soil water balance, soil development

s         Earth Materials and Plate Tectonics

s         Volcanic and Tectonic Landforms

s         Weathering and Mass Wasting

- Types of weathering and processes of mass wasting

s         Fresh water and Landforms made by running water

s         Glacial Landforms

s         Review