GEOG 1301
INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
Francis E. Hattoh
COURSE SYLLABUS
Spring, 2012
INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
GEOG 1301
Instructor: / Francis E. Hattoh – Associate ProfessorCourse Name: / Introduction to Physical Geography
Course Number: / Geog 1301
Synonym# Section# & Class Room/Time: / 45409: 003: RGC 016/ TTH 12:00pm-1:20pm
Instructor’s Office: / Rio Grande Campus, Room 404
Office Hours: / TTH 11:25am - 11:55am
CONTACT INFORMATION
Instructor’s Email & Telephone Numbers: / 512-322-6725Mailing Address: / 1212 Rio Grande, Austin Texas 78701
COURSE OUTLINE/CALENDER
Handouts will be distributed at the end of each chapter. These are summaries of each chapter including additional information that can serve as study guides. A course calendar is attached
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course introduces the student to an area of study that brings together and interrelates the important elements of the physical environment of humans, the nature and characteristics of the physical environment, their development and distribution are emphasized.
REQUIRED TEXT/MATERIALS:
Textbook: McKnight’s Physical Geography: A Landscape Appreciation
10th Edition, 2011
Author: Darrel Hess
INSTRUCTIONAL METHODOLOGY:
This course will be taught through lecture, slide presentations, reading assignments, class discussions, chapter quizzes, student presentations and an essay project.
COURSE RATIONALE
Introduction to Physical Geography GEOG 1301 is designed to:
- Provide students with a basic knowledge of the earth’s environment and its components and the interrelations among the various environmental elements,
- Provide a general education that assists students to think critically, and to apply the basic knowledge, skill and principles of physical geography to everyday life and their careers. and to
- Prepare students for transfer and success in a baccalaureate degree granting institution
COMMON OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this course, the student will be able to:
- Describe what Geography and Physical Geography are.
- Understand the physical principles and processes governing the
circulation and characteristics of the atmosphere and climates on Earth..
- Understand the principles of geomorphology and the processes that shape the landscape.
- Understand the distribution and dynamics of organisms and their environments.
Understand the directional and locational systems employed on the surface of the Earth and to use and analyze maps.
COURSE EVALUATION/GRADING SYSTEM:
The student is required to take four (4) objective-type (multiple-choice) tests. In addition, there will bea take-home quiz at the end of each chapter, an essay project and an optional student presentation. The final grade will be based on the student’s average of the four tests, the essay project and attendance scores. The test scores will form 80% while the essay project and attendance scores form 20% of the student’s final grade. The four tests will have bonus questions that are worth 10 points and the average of chapter quiz scores before each test, also worth 10 points, will be added to the student’s score on each test.The optional student presentation is worth 7 points and is added to the student’s final grade. The bonus questions and optional student presentation are extra credit opportunities that can be usedto bring up the student’s scores.
The traditional score equivalency will be used. It will be based on the following scale of the average of student’s tests, attendance and essay project scores:
Grade / PercentageA / 90 - 100
B / 80 - 89
C / 70 - 79
D / 60 - 69
F / Below 60
ESSAY PROJECT
Each student is required to do an essay project. Handouts will be given for the project. The essayproject will be due on March 27th, 2012. It is worth 10% of the student’s final grade. The essay should have a minimum of 3 pages and can be single or double spaced.
The paper should have references, bibliography or internet links as sources.
READING ASSIGNMENT
The student is required to read and be familiar with the assigned chapter before each class. This will be in addition to reading a detailed handout which will be given at end of each chapter.
TESTS
There will be four tests which will be multiple-choice. Each test will be 50 questions with each question worth two points totaling 100 points. There will be 10 bonus questions for each test and each bonus question will be worth one point. Chapter review handouts will be given and a review session conducted before every test
Test Number / Chapters covered1 / 1, 2, 3, 4
2 / 5, 6, 7
3 / 8, 9, 10, 11
4 / 13, 14, 15
DEADLINES: Tests must be taken on the following deadlines.
Required
/Deadline
Test 1 / February 14th, 2012Test 2 / March 8th, 2012
Test 3 / April 10th, 2012
Test 4 / May 8th, 2012
MAKE-UP TESTS
If a student misses a test or fails to meet a deadline he or she can take a make-up test at the ACCRio GrandeTestingCenter, Room. 127.The student must take this test within ONE WEEK after the missed deadline; unless the instructor had given permission for a later date due to extenuating circumstances. It is the student’s responsibility to meet this deadline. The 4th test has to be taken in class ONLY. All tests must be taken. There are no retests offered in this course.
The student must provide green Scantron Forms for the tests. The Scantron Forms can be purchased from any of the ACC bookstores
CHAPTER QUIZZES
Each student is required to do a take-home quiz at the end of each chapter. The quizzes are ten multiple-choice questionsthat are similar to questions covered on the tests. They are intended to be pre-test practice quizzes that should enable the student to prepare effectively for each test.
OPTIONAL STUDENT PRESENTATION
This is an extra-credit opportunity for students who want to bring up their final grade. The presentation will be based on the Essay Project. However, if the student chooses to do the presentation on any topic apart from the essay topic, the student should see the instructor for approval. The student should email the presentation file to the instructor no later than April 19th, 2012. The presentation is on May 1rd and May3th, 2012.
COURSE POLICIES
ATTENDANCE
Attendance is very important since test content may include material from lectures as well as from the text. Attendance will make up 10% of a student’s final grade unless the student has a legitimate excuse. (illness, job conflict, etc.).
Note: A note from a doctor, employer, etc. has to be presented to justify absences.
Here is how attendance percentage is earned:
Number of classes attended / Attendance percentage earned30-31 / 10%
29 / 9%
28 / 8%
27 / 7%
26 / 6%
25 / 5%
24 / 4%
23 / 3%
22 / 2%
21 / 1%
20 or less / 0%
Note: Attendance is meant to help raise the student’s grade. The student who has difficulty bringing up test scores can bring them up by attending class regularly.
WITHDRAWAL POLICY
A student may withdraw at any time during the semester until the withdrawal deadline without academic penalty. Failure to take scheduled tests or poor performance on the course requirements may lead to withdrawal. While the instructor reserves the right to withdraw a student for lack of progress in the course, the responsibility of officially withdrawing rests entirely with the student. If a student stops meeting the requirements of the course and is not officially withdrawn, he or she will then receive a grade of “F”.The Final day to withdraw isApril 23rd, 2012.
Important: State Law states that students enrolling for the first time in Fall, 2007 or later at any TexasCollege or University may not withdraw (receive a W) from more than six courses during their undergraduate college career.
INCOMPLETE
Only a student who hascompleted and passed 80% of the course requirements will be
eligible for an incomplete. Illness, death in the family, or other extenuating circumstances
need to be present and consultation with the instructor is mandatory.
SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY
Acts prohibited by the college for which discipline may be administered
include scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited to cheating on an
exam or quiz, plagiarizing, and unauthorized collaboration with another in
preparing outside work. Academic work submitted by students shall be the
result of their thought, research, or self-expression. Academic work is
defined as, but not limited to tests, quizzes, whether taken electronically or
on paper; projects, either individual or group; classroom presentations, and
homework.
STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS/OFFICE OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented
physical or psychological disabilities. Students with disabilities must request
reasonable accommodations through the office for Students with Disabilities
on the campus where they expect to take the majority of their classes.
Students are encouraged to do this three weeks before the start of the
semester.”More information on this issue can be found at
ACADEMIC FREEDOM/LEARNING ATMOSPHERE
“Each student is strongly encouraged to participate in class discussions. In any
classroom situation that includes discussion and critical thinking, there are bound
to be many differing viewpoints. Students may not only disagree with each other
at times, but the students and instructor may also find that they have disparate
views on sensitive and volatile topics. It is my hope that these differences will
enhance class discussion and create an atmosphere where students and instructor
alike will be encouraged to think and learn. Therefore, be assured that your grades
will not be adversely affected by any beliefs or ideas expressed in class or in
assignments. Rather, we will all respect the views of others when expressed in
classroom discussions.”
STUDENT BEHAVIOR/DISCILINE POLICY
The instructor expects students to treat each other with respect and manifest
appropriate classroom behavior
STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Students at the college have the rights accorded by the U. S. Constitution to freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, petition, and association. These rights carry with them the responsibility to accord the same rights to others in the college community and not to interfere with or disrupt the educational process. Opportunity for students to examine and question pertinent data and assumptions of a given discipline, guided by the evidence of scholarly research, is appropriate in a learning environment. This concept is accompanied by an equally demanding concept of responsibility on the part of the student. As willing partners in learning, students must comply with college rules and procedures.
SAFETY STATEMENT
AustinCommunity College is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for study and work. Students are expected to learn and comply with ACC environmental, health and safety procedures and agree to follow ACC safety policies. Additional information on these can be found at Because some health and safety circumstances are beyond our control, we ask that you become familiar with the Emergency Procedures poster and Campus Safety Plan map in each classroom. Additional information about emergency procedures and how to sign up for ACC Emergency Alerts to be notified in the event of a serious emergency can be found at
Please note that students are expected to conduct themselves professionally, with respect and courtesy to all. Anyone who thoughtlessly or intentionally jeopardizes the health or safety of another individual will be dismissed from the day’s class activity, may be withdrawn from the class, and/or barred from attending future activities.
USE OF ACC EMAIL
All College e-mail communication to students will be sent to the student’s ACCmail account, with the expectation that such communications will be read in a timely fashion. ACC will send important information and will notify you of any college related emergencies using this account. Students should only expect to receive email communication from their instructor using this account. Likewise, students should use their ACCmail account when communicating with instructors and staff. Instructions for activating an ACCmail account can be found at
TESTING CENTER POLICY
Under certain circumstances, an instructor may have students take an examination in a testing center. Students using the AcademicTestingCenter must govern themselves according to the Student Guide for Use of ACC Testing Centers and should read the entire guide before going to take the exam. To request an exam, One must have:
- ACC Photo ID
- Course Abbreviation (e.g., PSYC)
- Course Number (e.g., 2301)
- Course Synonym (e.g., 10123)
- Course Section (e.g., 005)
- Instructor’s Name
Do NOT bring cell phones to the TestingCenter. Having your cell phone in the testing room, regardless of whether it is on or off, will revoke your testing privileges for the remainder of the semester. ACCTestingCenter policies can be found at
STUDENT AND INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES
ACC strives to provide exemplary support to its students and offers a broad variety of opportunities and services. Information on these services and support systems is available at Links to many student services and other information can be found at: http//
ACC Learning Labs provide free tutoring services to all ACC students currently enrolled in the course to be tutored. The tutor schedule for each Learning Lab may be found at:
For help setting up your ACCeID, ACC Gmail, or ACC Blackboard, see a Learning Lab Technician at any ACC Learning Lab.
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