geography 10 fall 2012 intro

Geography 10Section 70796

Fall 2012

2:00-3:20 PM Tues/Thurs

Professor Lisa Schmidt

What is Geography?

• The scientific study of the Earth's surface and its various climates, countries, peoples, and natural resources.

Fields of Geography

• Human or Cultural Geography– Deals with social, economic, and behavioral

processes

• Physical Geography– Examines the natural processes occurring at

Earth’s surface that provide the physical setting for human activities

Branches of Physical Geography

• Biogeography• Climatology• Coastal Geography• Environmental Geography• Geomorphology• Glaciology• Hydrology• Oceanography• Paleogeography

Branches of Human Geography

• Cultural Geography• Developmental Geography• Economic Geography• Medical Geography• Historical Geography• Political Geography• Population Geography• Demography• Transportation Geography• Urban Geography

Tools Geographers Use

• Maps– Paper representations of space showing point, line, or

area data• Or more simply put, locations, connections, and

regions• Remote Sensing

– Aircraft or spacecraft provide images of earth’s surface• GIS or Geographic Information Systems

– Powerful computer mapmaking software connected to data bases

• Mathematical Modeling and Statistics– Used to understand natural and human phenomenon

Information

• Professor Schmidt

• Email: Lisa_M_Schmidt@yahoo.com

• http://northamericawiki.wikispaces.com/ is the address for the web page created for this course.

• Message Phone (909) 652-7090

• Office hours are by appointment only.

Required Textbook

• Regional Landscapes of the US and Canada 7th Edition

• Birdsall, Palka, Malinowski, and Price

• ISBN 978-0470098264 

A digital version of this book is available throughCourse Smart:

http://www.coursesmart.com/

Required Materials

• You should come to class prepared to take notes. You will need paper, pens, and pencils.

• Your quizzes and exams will be given online, so you must access the internet for this course.

• We will do map studies in this class. It is recommended you have colored pens or pencils for maps.

Course Description

• In Geography 10, we will study cultural geography of North America through time and space. We will trace the dynamics and ethnicity of North American culture through exploration, settlement patterns, national interests, economic exploitation, agriculture, commerce, ethnicity, demography, and changing attitudes.

• Emphasis will be placed on the origin and diffusion of North American culture.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Understand the socetal impact of “The Trail of Tears” on the Native America populations and which tribes were involved.

2. Develop an understanding of the diversity of the North American society, cultural traditions, and cross cultural interactions.

3. Analyze the settlement and geographic expansion of Canada and the U.S.A.

Course Objectives1. Define the cultural influences which make up North America.2. Identify settlement patterns, economic systems, transportation

patterns, the structure of cities.3. Understand American cities and demographics for the continent.4. Distinguish the aboriginal cultures which make up the American

character in time and space.5. Recognize North American ethnicity in time and as a part of

national character.6. Define the American cultural landscape in relationship to the

biophysical world.7. Identify important cultural sites, political, economic, and

commercial sites on the continent.8. Analyze the structural elements of cities and other cultural

features in time and ethnic influences.9. Recognize ethnic and national purpose in relationship to land

values and historical happening.

Assignments

• These are the assignments for Geog 10:– You will have a quiz for each

chapter.– You will have map quizzes for

each chapter that has a map.– There will be 5 exams,

approximately every four chapters and a cumulative final.

– You have a project.– You have a presentation.– There will be surprise

assignments, random points.

Grading

• This is how final grades will be calculated.

Note About Grades

• You must earn at least 60% of the total possible points to pass this class.

• A score of 59% or below is a failing grade.

About Your Assignments: Quizzes

• You will have a quiz on each chapter in your textbook.

• Your quizzes will be given using Moodle.• When we finish a chapter, the quiz for that

chapter will open and you may take it.• You have two tries on each quiz and you have

one week to complete BOTH attempts.• Quizzes will close at 1:30 PM on their due dates.

About Your Assignments: Map Quizzes

• There will be a map quiz for each chapter that has a map.

• Map quizzes will be given using Moodle.• After each map study, a quiz will open on

Moodle.• You will have one week to complete your map

quizzes and you will have two chances.• Map quizzes will close at 1:30 PM on their due

dates.

About Your Assignments: Exams

• You will be given four exams in this class.• Exams will be based on quizzes, but will also

contain new content.• Exams will be given using Moodle.• You will have one chance to complete exams.• Exams will close at 1:30 PM on their due dates.• Study guides for exams will be posted on the

class web page.• Exams will occur about once every four

chapters.

About Your Assignments: Project

• You will complete a project for this class about your family’s history.

• This project will be broken into four parts.

• Check your schedule for due dates.

• Details will be posted on the class web page and will be discussed in class.

• Your project will include interviews, presentations, and group work.

About Your Assignments: Presentation

• You will give a presentation in this class.

• Your presentations will be done in groups and will be about your projects.

• Details will be posted on the class web page and discussed in class.

• A sign up sheet will be available so that you may choose your presentation date.

About Your Assignments: Random Points

• 100 points are built into your grade as “RANDOM POINTS.”

• These are for in class assignments that will NOT be announced.

• There may be pop quizzes, entry questions, exit questions, or even attendance points.

• Being late or absent CAN hurt your grade. If you miss these assignments, they cannot be made up.

• Random Points will be in the grade book as “RP” and a date, such as “RP 8/14.” – If you e-mail me often asking me what the RP’s are, it will be

obvious you are not participating and I may not answer.• If you are not in attendance, you will not earn these

points.

Class Schedule

• At this time, please take a moment to look at the schedule in your syllabus.– It is STRONGLY recommended that you

highlight exams and project due dates, or that you write your due dates in a planner/calendar, or put them in your phone or table/computer.

Class Rules

• Firstly, all of Chaffey College’s rules apply to you in this classroom.

• Disrupting class is like stealing education from your fellow classmates and will be taken very seriously.

Class Rules

• Late work will not be accepted.

• Your assignments are on Moodle and you have a week to do them.

• I will not reopen quizzes, so please do not ask.– Some extra credit will be offered so if

something happens and you miss one quiz, you will have an opportunity to make up those points.

Class Rules

• I reserve the right to drop students who miss class twice.

• I reserve the right to drop students for being excessively tardy-more than five minutes late three times.– Coming in late IS a form of

disrupting class.

• It is YOUR responsibility to obtain information if you miss class-including schedule changes.

• It is highly recommended that you make at least one friend in class.

Class Rules

• Cheating of any kind will not be tolerated.

• Any incidences of cheating or plagiarism will be reported to the dean’s office.

Class Rules

• Your cell phones are to be set to silent when in class.

• You may be asked to leave class if you are talking or texting during class.

Class Rules

• Some extra credit will be offered.

• If will not be announced, you will need to be here in order to earn those points.

• Extra credit will be displayed in the grade book with an “EC” in front of the name of the assignment.

Class Rules

• Assignments will not be accepted by e-mail.

• If you are having trouble meeting a deadline, talk to me, but do not e-mail me your assignment.– You may not receive credit if I cannot open it

or if I do not receive it.

Class Rules

• Last day to turn in work is December 6, 2012.

• No extra credit or late assignments will be accepted after that date.

Class Rules

• Graded work will only be held for 30 days.

• It is your responsibility to collect your graded work.

• You should hang on to your graded work until you receive your final grade-not just for my class!

Class Rules

• Dropping: if you want to drop, do it formally.

• If you have been in attendance just once and you stop coming, I don’t know if you want an F or to drop, so I will probably give you an F.

Class Rules

• Moodle will be used for this class. If you are not familiar with it, you must learn for this class.

• You may access Moodle at: http://moodle2.chaffey.edu/

• You must use Moodle to take your quizzes and exams.– Stay after today if you need help.

Class Rules

• If you have or think you have a disability that you need accommodations for, please contact the DSPS office 652-6358.

• Please notify me as soon as possible.

Class Rules

• Honors contracts are encouraged, BUT, will not be granted after 9/18/12.

• If you wish to have a contract for this class, please talk to me about it VERY soon.

Contacting Me

• The best way to reach me is by e-mail.

• I have a mail box in Zimmerman Hall where you can leave things for me.

• I have a voice mail number but do not check it every day.

• I check my e-mail often throughout the day.

Class Web Page

• A web page has been created for this class.

• http://northamericawiki.wikispaces.com/

• PowerPoints, maps, study guides, documents, videos, project information, and more are posted on the web page.

The Tentative Nature of Life…

• All of the information contained in your syllabus is tentative.

• In other words, it can change at any time.

• It is your responsibility to come to class and be informed of any schedule changes.– Point totals, topics, and due dates MAY

change.

Services Available

• Computers are available on campus.

• Childcare, healthcare, counseling, tutoring services, career services, financial aid, and more are all available for you.