GEOGRAPHY 204

Global Environmental Systems

FALL 2009

Section 1 Mondays and Wednesdays, 10-11:50, Stevenson 3072

Course Description: This course explores the different aspects of the natural environment, including the atmosphere and hydrosphere (weather and climate, oceans), lithosphere (landforms, earth processes), and biosphere (plants and animals, primarily), and emphasizes the fundamental relationships between these spheres. The primary goal of the course is for the student to gain a deeper understanding of how these systems work and how they are so intimately connected in the earth's natural environment as a whole. Woven into the class are daily discussions of current events in the world associated with natural phenomena and human interactions with and impacts on the natural world. Global Climate Change will be an almost daily topic. Satisfies GE category B3, CAN Geog 2.

This year all faculty and staff are required to take two days per month FURLOUGHS. This means that each class will be cut by approximately 10% of instruction, grading, and advising time. Please try to be patient with this situation. We're all going to do our best to make this a rewarding learning experience, but it does mean you will have to work harder on your own time to master the material.

Instructor: Dr. Dorothy E. Freidel, Professor. Office: 3056 Stevenson; 664-2314, email: dorothy.freidel@sonoma.edu

Office Hours:
Mondays through Wednesdays, 1 to 2 p.m.

Textbook: Christopherson (2010) Elemental Geosystems, 6th Edition. Available at the SSU Bookstore.

Class Listserv: Will be set up the first week of class. This list will use your SSU email address, so be sure to check it regularly (once a day).

Course Website: http://www.sonoma.edu/users/f/freidel/physical/ All course materials (syllabus, schedule, assignments, study guides) are available on the course web page. If you need a copy of any of these documents, you can print it for yourself at any of the campus computer labs. The classroom is a wireless zone, if you'd like to bring your laptop for note taking and following web explorations in class.

Grading: The lecture portion is worth 75% of your total grade, consisting of weekly quizzes, two midterms, plus a final exam. The final exam is half comprehensive, half on material since the second midterm. Weekly quizzes and participation will constitute 20% of your grade. There will be two required lab exercises and one field trip, which combined are worth 25% of your final grade. There are also may be two optional extra credit reports that can increase your midterm grades. You may notice, then, that Presence and Participation are an extremely important part of your grade.

Summary of points for final grade:

	Lab exercises	15%
	Field Trip	10%
	Weekly Quizzes (~10)	20%
	First Midterm	15%
	Second Midterm	15%
	Final Exam	25%
	Total:	100%

IF YOU CHOOSE TO SUCCEED IN THIS CLASS

You can learn a lot about the natural environment, and get a good grade in this class, if you follow these simple suggestions:

Never miss class, and don't arrive late. If you need to be absent, please email or call Professor Freidel, and arrange to get notes from another student. Read your text assignments (from Christopherson) before the lecture for which they are assigned, and ask questions in class. The schedule of topics and readings will be followed as closely as possible. Homework assignments may include use of computers and the Internet; there is a 24 hour lab in the lower level of Schultz Library for your convenience. Be sure to check your SSU email account regularly. Don't miss quizzes and turn in homework on time. Late homework will lose 10% per day late.There are no make up quizzes. If you must turn in homework late, or miss an exam, there must be serious extenuating circumstances such as a death in the family or doctor-required absence. (Doctor's notes and other documentation will be required for a make-up exam.) If you're having difficulties with the course, seek help early -- don't wait until right before the midterm! Please note carefully the dates of scheduled exams. There are no scheduled make-up exams. Cheating and Plaigarizing will not be tolerated. Students cheating on an exam will receive an F for the class. If you plaigarize you will receive 0 points for your assignment. All cell phones will be turned off during class. Use laptops only for lecture notes and class activities -- no surfing, games, or email.

IF AT ANY TIME YOU NEED HELP, PLEASE ASK FOR IT. (See office hours, above.)

If you are a student with a disability and think you may need accommodations in this course, you must contact the Disabled Students Services located in Stevenson 1038 (664-2677). Please contact Prof. Freidel before the first midterm.

This is a GE class: The General Education (GE) Mission at Sonoma State University investigates the complexity of human experience in a diverse natural and social world, and promotes informed and ethical participation as citizens of the world. To help achieve this mission, Geog 204, Physical Geography will help students to reach the following fundamental Goals for all GE approved classes:

I. Help you to learn to think independently, ethically, critically and creatively
II. Help you to learn to communicate clearly to many audiences (e.g. participating in class discussions and group presentations)
III. Help you to gain an understanding of connections between the past and the present, and to
look to the future (particularly in the natural and human environment)
IV. Help you to learn to appreciate intellectual, scientific, and artistic accomplishment
V. Help you to build upon your reading, writing, research, and critical thinking skills (e.g. Do you believe everything you read in a newspaper or blog or hear on TV? Why or Why Not?)

Last updated 8/26/09