Bemidji, Minnesota
INTRO TO PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
GEOG 2100:70 (External Studies)
2010-2011
Instructor: Dr. Satish Davgun
241 HS, # 23, Department of Geography
Tel. 755-3350 (message 755-2880)
email: sdavgun@bemidjistate.edu
Required Text: Strahler, Alan and Arthur Srahler, Introducing Physical Geography, 4th edition, Wiley, 2003.
You should work the study guide on the On-line Study Companion of the text book companion website at //www.wiley.com/college/strahler.
Course Description:
A systematic survey of landforms, weather and climate, soils and vegetation.
Course Objectives:
The chief objective of this course to acquaint you with the major themes of Physical Geography. The emphasis will be on increasing your knowledge and understanding of various natural elements of the landscape. The chief objective is to introduce an appreciation of different processes shape the landscape. A second objective is to help develop reflective perspective toward understanding the variety of natural landscape.
The major emphasis is on the application of major theme of physical geography - the "landscape appreciation". This theme, "to make the environmental landscape of the world more understandable...", is repeated in each chapter of the text-book. Utilize the features offered by the GeoDiscoveries CD-ROM (available with the text-book). Also, go to the following Website for some suggestions to achieve your target in this course:
www.wiley.com/college/strahler
Some suggestions to prepare for the tests
Course Organization:
A topical approach structured around the framework of major themes has been followed in the book. As you read the chapters, you will find explanation to the spatial variation of various natural phenomena, such as the atmosphere, oceans, and surface-relief environment. At the conclusion of the course you should be able to appreciate the importance of geography in understanding the natural landscape.
Course Requirements:
1. Exercise Assignments: You will be required to complete the exercises as indicated in the course outline. These exercises may not always relate directly to the readings. Grade value of each exercise will vary from 20 to 30 points depending upon length and complexity. Send the completed exercises along with the tests.
2. Exams: There will be three examinations, including the final. Each exam will be based on the required text-book readings. Each exam will consist of approximately 50 multiple-choice questions and four short essay questions. WRITE COMPLETE ANSWER TO EACH ESSAY QUESTION. Some of the questions relate to the maps given in the chapters, so do try to read the maps.
Evaluation Components for this Course:
1st Exam 60 points
2nd Exam 60 points
3rd Exam 60 points
Exercises 60 points
Your letter grade for this course will be based upon your total scores on above mentioned requirements.
A = 88% and above
B =76% - 87%
C =65% - 75%
D =50% - 64%
I will send you my comments and scores of each exam. and exercise. If you want to contact me about the scores in tests and exercises, send me an email.
Course Outline:
1. What is Physical Geography Read Prologue
2. An Introduction to Our Earth Read Chapter 1
3. Introduction to the Atmosphere Read Chapter 2
4. Heat and Temperature Read Chapter 3
5. Atmospheric Moisture Read Chapter 4
6. Winds Read Chapter 5
7. Weather Systems Read Chapter 6
Complete the 1st Exercise.
Take the 1st Exam. (Prologue and Chapters 1 - 6)
8. Climatic Zones Read Chapter 7
9. Biogeographic Processes Read Chapter 8
10. Global Biogeography Read Chapter 9
11. Soils Read Chapter 10
12. Landform Investigation Read Chapter 11
13. Plate Tectonics and Lithosphere Read Chapter 12
14. Internal Processes Volcanic and Tectonic Landforms Read Chapter 13
Complete the 2nd Exercise.
Take the 2nd Exam. (Chapters 7 - 13)
15. Weathering and Mass Wasting Read Chapter 14
16. Fresh water of Continents Read Chapter 15
17. Fluvial Processes Read Chapter 16
18. Landforms and Rock Structure Read Chapter 17
19. Arid Topography and Coastal Processes and Terrain Read Chapter 18
20. Glacial Landscape Read Chapter 19
Complete the 3rd Exercise.
Take the 3rd Exam. (Chapter 14 - 19)
Good luck in this course. I am sure you will enjoy it. If you have any question, contact me by phone, email, or by snail mail.
Aug. 03, 2010