Geography 10Section 81897

Fall 2014

2:00-3:20 PM Tues/Thurs

Professor Lisa Schmidt

What is Geography?

• Geography is a field of science dedicated to the study of the lands, the features, the inhabitants, and the phenomena of the Earth. 

• A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". 

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• Paleogeography

Branches of Human 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.Schmidt@Chaffey.edu

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

• Message Phone (909) 652-7090

• Text (760) 440-8977 Google Voice #

• 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, and for the Immigration and Historical Settlement lectures (which are not in the text.)

– You will have five map quizzes.– There will be 5 exams,

approximately every four chapters and a cumulative final.

– You will create 10 posts.– You have a project.– You have a presentation.– There will be in-class

assignments for participation 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 and for the Immigration and Historical Settlement lectures (which are not in the book.)

• 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 five map quizzes based on in class map studies.

• 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 five 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: Posting

• You will form groups and your groups will post on the class web page.

• You have 10 postings to do for the semester.

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

About Your Assignments: Project

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

• This project will be broken into five 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 writing papers,

interviews, presentations, and group work.• If you are worried because you might not have a

family member to interview, talk to me there are other options.

About Your Assignments: Presentation

• You will give a presentation in this class.• Your presentations will be about connections

you and your family have to this class.• Presentations can be done alone or in groups

with instructor approval.• 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.• You must present on your chosen date or you

will lose points.

About Your Assignments: Participation Points

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

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

• There may be pop quizzes, worksheets, 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.

• 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 tablet/computer.

Class Policies

• 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 Policies

• 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 Policies

• 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 Policies

• Cheating of any kind will not be tolerated.

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

Class Policies

• 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 Policies

• Some extra credit will be offered.

• It 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 Policies

• 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 Policies

• Last day to turn in work is December 9, 2014.

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

Class Policies

• 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 Policies

• 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 Policies

• 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 Policies

• 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 Policies

• Honors contracts are encouraged, BUT, will not be granted after 9/18/14.

• 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 and I have a mailbox here on the Chino campus too.

• You can text me at (760) 440-8977, this is a Google Voice number and it goes to my tablet, not my cell phone. I see these messages every 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.

Landmarks in your Syllabus

• There are 20 landmarks from North America in your syllabus.

• If you can identify all 20 AND tell me where they are, I will give you 20 points of extra credit.

• There is no due date for this extra credit, so you have all semester to find them all and figure out what they are.