GOLDEN WEST COLLEGE

Geography G180: Physical Geography

Term: Fall 2020 CRN #: 22799
8 weeks ONLINE (10/19 – 12/12) Instructor: Kathie Moriarty
E-mail (preferred contacts): 1) CANVAS (if registered) & 2) kmoriarty@gwc.cccd.edu (only before registered)
Welcome to the amazing Earth. This planet is a unique and comfortable home for abundant life, including man. Join with me to
explore its secrets. Learn how the atmosphere makes our home livable, discover the fascinating natural biodiversity that
occupies Earth’s variety of habitats, how magnificent landscapes were formed, how invigorating water moves and/or is stored in
diverse environments, and how people use and interact with our world’s life-giving systems.

Course Description and Goal: This is an introductory physical geography course which entails a systematic study of the
physical environment with an emphasis on human-environmental interaction and perceptions of environmental hazards and
resources. Different systems of our world’s physical environment will be explored, including: the atmosphere (air circulation,
weather and climate), the hydrosphere (water realm), the biosphere (living organisms), and the lithosphere (landforms and
Earth’s processes). The course goal is for you to gain a deeper understanding of how these systems work and how they are
interconnected. The human role in modifying Earth’s processes and how our impact may be altering the environment will also be
examined.

Student Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of this course students are expected to:
1. Recognize, define, and/or locate geographic phenomena.
2. Classify and map bio-climatic data.
3. Synthesize meteorological phenomena to form climatic types.
4. Synthesize global environmental regions from climatic, geomorphic, edaphic, and botanic data.
5. Analyze physical landforms and landscapes in terms of causal factors, structure, process and stage.
6. Predict the results of both real and hypothetical changes in landscape processes.

Required Course Materials

Physical Geography by Hess 12th Ed - Or the same book but listed as the 3rd ed, California Edition. You will use this textbook for
study and quizzes.

Recommended
CIA Factbook. Retrieved from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world -factbook/index.html No-cost digital data
http://www.earthonlinemedia.com/ebooks/tpe 3e/title page.html No-cost digital textbook

Course Requirements: Performance in this class is based on the following components: examinations, quizzes, written
assignments, Survey and Attendance. Points will be allocated as follows:
Examinations (100 points each) 400 points
Quizzes (25 points each) 125 points
Written Assignments 50 points
Guidelines for Success Quiz/Survey 5 points
Total 580 points
Exams: There will be 4 multiple choice exams throughout the course of the semester covering textbook readings,
homework, lecture, and other material. Each exam is open-book and notes, with 50 multiple choice questions worth 2 points
each = 100 points each. 100 points X 4 exams = 400 possible total points.

1
 Quizzes: There will be 5 total quizzes. Each quiz is open-book with 25 multiple-choice questions worth 1 point each. They
include questions that come from lecture and your textbook. 25 X 5 = 125 total possible points.

Written Assignments: The written assignments will come from class topics and current news events. The assignments are
worth a total of 50 points and must be submitted into Canvas. The Written Assignments are as follows:
1) You will Report 1 Physical Geography in the News event from a credible source and give 1 Reply to a classmate’s News
event report and link. This assignment is submitted into Canvas Discussions. You may earn up to a total of 25 possible
points (15 for your report and 10 for your reply).
2) You will Respond (give your full name) in Canvas Assignments to a topic question presented in the PowerPoint lectures to
earn a maximum of 25 points possible.

Guidelines for Success Survey: Take the survey in Canvas during the first 1st week of class. It will only be open for you to
complete the first week of class, then it will no longer be available to you. It is worth 5 easy points.

Grading: There is a total of 580 points possible for this course. Your grade will be determined by totaling the points you have
accumulated. There will be no breaks on points because exams and quizzes are all open-book, and you get 5 free points for
completing the Guidelines for Success Quiz/Survey (only accepted during the first week of class). Final grades will be given as
follows: A ≥ 522 points B = 464 - 521 points **Very Important to remember: All required work must be
submitted to earn an “A” or “B”. If you have enough points due to high scores on what you have completed, but have not
submitted all required work, you will not receive an “A” or “B”. A combination of all required work submitted may earn you an “A”
or “B” if you have enough points. C = 406-463 points D = 348-405 points F < 348 points

Attendance Policy: If you do not access the system, nor attend Zoom meetings, nor email instructors before census,
instructors are required to drop No-Show students. If you have accessed the system at all once class begins until the
day before census, then you will not be dropped. But if you decide you want to drop the class, but do not drop yourself
after census, you will likely earn an “F” if you have not completed most of the assignments due. Each week, there will be
Chapter assignments to read in your textbook that are announced weekly (in Canvas Modules and Announcements). If you do
miss getting the Announcements and PowerPoint lecture notes given in Zoom, you are responsible for obtaining the notes,
finding out what announcements were made, and what assignments are due from another student. Do not contact me for
missing notes, due dates, and announcements.

Late Work and Make-ups: All assigned work for this class is due on the due date. However, unforeseen circumstances
sometimes occur to make this impossible. For this reason, late work will be accepted with 1 late point deducted each day
(beginning the day after it is due), which accrues over time.

Exams (tests): are due on the assigned dates no later 11:59 pm. You need to provide documentation to get an excused
absence. If you do not have documentation and you need me to reopen an Exam for you, 1 late point will be deducted for every
day past the due date until the Exam is made up.

Written Assignments: are due on the assigned dates no later than 11:59 pm and they must be submitted into Canvas using
academic writing. 1 late point will be deducted for everyday past the due date until an Assignment is made up. The Written
Assignments will close for late submission 1 week before the last day of class.

Quizzes: are due on the assigned dates no later than 11:59 pm. If you need to submit a Quiz late, it will receive 1 deduction
point everyday past the due date until the Quiz is made up.

Participation: To benefit from this class, regular participation is important. Make sure to attend and complete all assignments,
quizzes and exams on the due dates. Excessive absences may result in earning a below average or failing grade in the class.
Read Canvas Announcements and Modules regularly.
2
Student disabilities: It is the student’s responsibility to contact GWC’s Disabled Student Services in the Accessibility Center for
Education (ACE) at the beginning of the semester if he/she has a disability that will require accommodation. Then the student
needs to show me the document to make arrangements.

Academic Honesty Policy: The college standards of academic honesty will be applied in this class. Cheating and plagiarism
are serious academic offenses. Using the ideas or words of another person, even a peer, or a web site, as if it were your own, is
plagiarism. Sources must be cited (given credit) for direct quotations, paraphrases, concepts, and facts that are not common
knowledge. Your Written Assignments are required to be original works using your individual ideas, analyses and words.
Academic dishonesty may result in an “F” on an exam, assignment, or in the course and a referral to the Dean of Students
for disciplinary action.

Withdrawal / Drop Policy: Your instructor will drop No Shows prior to the census date. After census, it is your responsibility to
drop this class. If you drop before the census date, it will not be counted in the 3 Strikes rule. If you drop after the census date, it
will be counted in the 3 Strikes rule. The 3 Strikes rule only allows you to attempt this class 3 times. A “W” and/or a failing grade
each count as an attempt. Contact the instructor if an emergency precludes you from logging on before census so that you are not
dropped as a no-show.

Instructor Availability and Email Guidelines: I highly regard student input and questions. The best and quickest way to reach
me is via email in Canvas first, then if I haven’t responded try a second time. I check my email Canvas 5-7 days a week, more
often M-F. If you email me after I have checked that day’s messages, it may take a day or so to get back to you.

This is an Online Course: This course uses and acquaints you with the exciting and valuable Canvas Course Management
System. Students should use Canvas regularly to check Announcements for information about the class schedule (or any
changes to it), to access the Syllabus and Assignments, to submit their Written Papers, to complete Quizzes and Exams, and to
keep up with their Grade progress throughout the semester. For assistance contact www.onlinegwc.org for Canvas tutorials.

Suggestions to Maximize your Chances for a Good Grade:

• Read the assigned textbook chapter before a scheduled lecture or quiz.

• Review your notes and readings, attend Exam Review, and be able to answer the Study Guide questions before an exam.
• Discussions: Become actively involved in the class. You are encouraged to give the rest of us the benefit of your thoughts
while being considerate of each other’s opinions. Only express respectful thoughts.

• Share World Events from credible sources and submit into Discussions. Provide the source type and name (i.e. BBC), give a
short summary in your own words (do not copy & paste), and provide the link to the article so classmates can read the article.

• If you are having difficulties with the course, seek help early. I will be glad to assist you. Students who persist, attend
regularly, do all the assignments for this course, and seek help if needed, pass this class. Students who do not complete
required assignments, don’t ask for assistance when needed, and/or do not attend regularly, may not pass.

• The GWC motto is: “We’re here to help”. There are wonderful campus services to assist you in the successful completion of
your educational goals, such as: Counseling Support, Career Planning and Transfer Centers. Free tutoring assistance is
available online as well.

3
 TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE

• Note - This syllabus is subject to change or revision due to the need to make course adjustments based on the
instructor’s judgment. This syllabus (and any changes to it) should be seen as a road map to help students attain
academic success and maximize their potential.

Topic / Assignments Text Chapter Readings Tentative scheduled dates

Intro to Geography and Earth Systems
Portraying Earth
Introduction to Atmosphere
Atmospheric Temperature
Guidelines for Success Survey
Quiz 1 due & Exam Prep
Exam 1 Review
EXAM 1 DUE
1 10/19 - 10/20 (Read & Study)
2 10/21 (Read & Study)
3 10/22 (Read & Study)
4 10/23 (Read & Study)
10/19 - 10/23 (due by 10/23)
Chapters 1-4 10/27 – 10/28 Quiz open (due by 10/28), Exam Prep
Chapters 1-4 10/29 Exam Prep: Answer PP Study Guide questions
Chapters 1-4 10/29 – 10/30 Exam open (due by 10/30)

Pressure and Wind 5 11/2 (Read & Study)

Atmospheric Moisture 6 11/3 (Read & Study)
Atmospheric Disturbances 7 11/4 (Read & Study)
Quiz 2 due Chapters 5-7 11/5 – 11/6 Quiz open (due by 11/6)
Global Climates & Climate Change 8 11/6 (Read & Study)
Hydrosphere 9 11/9 (Read & Study)
Quiz 3 due Chapters 8 & 9 11/9 – 11/10 open (due by 11/10) Holiday 11/11
Exam 2 Review Chapters 5 – 9 11/10-11/12 Exam Prep: Answer PP St Gd questions
EXAM 2 DUE Chapters 5 - 9 11/12– 11/13 Exam open (due by 11/13)

Cycles & Patterns in Biosphere 10 11/13 (Read & Study)

News Writing Assignment DUE (Report with link & Reply) Submit into Canvas Discussions by 11/16
Terrestrial Flora & Fauna 11 11/17 (Read & Study)
Soils 12 11/18 (Read & Study)
Intro to Landform Study 13 11/19 (Read & Study)
Internal Processes 14 11/20 (Read & Study)
Quiz 4 due Chapters 10 - 14 11/20 – 11/23 open (due by 11/23)
Exam 3 Review Chapters 10 - 14 11/24 Exam Prep: Answer PP Study Guide questions
EXAM 3 DUE Chapters 10 - 14 11/24– 11/25 open (due by 11/25) Holiday 11/26-27

Weathering and Mass Wasting 15 11/30 (Read & Study)

Written Response Assignment DUE
Fluvial Processes
Karst & Hydrothermal Processes
Topography of Arid Lands
Glacial Terrain
Coastal Processes and Terrain
Quiz 5 due
Exam 4 Review & Semester Summary
EXAM 4 / FINAL DUE: Chapters 15 - 20 & some Comprehensive
Submit into Canvas Turnitin by 11/30
16 12/1 (Read & Study)
17 12/2 (Read & Study)
18 12/3 (Read & Study)
19 12/4 (Read & Study)
20 12/7 (Read & Study)
Chapters 15–20 12/7 – 12/8 open (due by 12/8)
Ch 15-20 & some comp 12/8 Exam Prep: Answer PP Study Guide questions
12/9 – 12/10 open (due by 12/10)
4