Instructor: Dr.
Susan Woodward
Office: CHIE 134, Radford University, Radford, Virginia, 24142-6938
Office Phone: 540-831-5234
Office Hours
email: swoodwar@radford.edu
World Outline Map: This map is used for several exercises in the course. You may print additional copies directly from here. Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader and printer set to landscape orientation.
Links to related web sites
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course serves as an introduction to the three main subdivisions of physical geography: climate, landforms, and vegetation. Global patterns and the processes by which these patterns develop will be stressed. By the end of the course students should understand the spatial interrelationships of these three components of the natural environment.
Students successfully completing the course should be able to make a reasoned prediction of the type of environment to be found anywhere on earth and to provide supporting explanations for their predictions. They should be able to formulate hypotheses to explain anomalies.
Note: "Introduction" does not mean "easy". In fact, introductions to new concepts and a new vocabulary can be very difficult at first. Physical geography is a broad-based science and has a perspective that may be new to many of you.
TEXT: Physical Geography, A Landscape Appreciation (7th edition), by Tom L. McKnight. Prentice Hall, 2002.
COMPONENTS OF GRADE:
| Quizzes, in-class and out-of-class assignments | 20 percent |
| 3 Midterm examinations | 60 percent |
| Final examination | 20 percent |
| Total: | 100 percent |
Final letter grade in course will be determined according to the percentage of total points awarded: 90-100 percent = A; 80-89 percent = B; and so forth. A final average below 60 percent indicates failure of the course.
Examinations: Examination format will be a combination of multiple choice (50 percent) and short answer, the latter including the diagramming of concepts discussed in class.
Factual knowledge, understanding of terms and concepts, and your ability to apply the information learned about physical geography will be tested. The final exam will be cumulative and will stress the basic knowledge and the interrelationships of various components of physical geography.
EXAM DATES:
| Midterm #1: | Friday, February 6, 2004 |
| Midterm #2: | Friday, March 12, 2004 |
| Midterm #3: | Friday, April 9, 2004 |
| FINAL EXAM: | 9 o'clock section: 8:00 AM, Tuesday, May 4 |
| 10 o'clock section: 2:00 PM, Thursday, May 6 |
Note: all exams must be taken at the time scheduled for the section in which you are enrolled.
LATE ASSIGNMENT POLICY: No assignment will be accepted or graded after the due date without prior consent of instructor or note from doctor, Dean, or other appropriate authority. All assignments are due at the beginning of the class period.
EXTRA CREDIT POLICY: If extra credit is to be given it will be done as assignments or quizzes available to the whole class. No individual extra credit work will be given.
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY: It is your responsibility to stay current in readings and other assignments and to come to class prepared. At the very least this means reading over your notes from the previous session. It is especially important that if you have questions on course content or procedures, you seek the instructor's assistance ASAP. Do not let yourself fall behind. The information in this course builds upon previous material. Try not to simply memorize for an exam (and then forget the stuff immediately thereafter!), but try to understand the material so you can apply it in other situations. This takes time, preferably some time every day. If you wait and try to cram for an exam, you lessen your chances for success in this course. Poor attendance also lessens the chances of success.
HONOR CODE: By accepting admission to Radford University, each student makes a commitment to understand, support, and abide by the University Honor Code without compromise or exception. Violations of academic integrity will not be tolerated in this class. Refer to your Student Handbook for details.
Students with disabilities: If you are seeking classroom accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, you are required to register with the Disability Resource Office (DRO). The DRO is located in Rm 32, Tyler Hall. Phone: 831-6350. To receive academic accommodations for this class, please obtain the proper DRO forms and meet with me at the beginning of the semester.
Geography Department | Radford University
Created August 19, 1999 by Susan Woodward. Last updated January 7,
2004 by slw.