GEOG 1111 - Course Overview

Spatial patterns and underlying processes of the physical environment and biosphere, including climate, vegetation, soils, landforms, and water resources.

Special Projects or Components: A computer with CD-ROM cabability is recommended.

Instructor: Thomas W. Hodler, Ph.D., Associate Professor, The University of Georgia.

Course Overview

Introduction

Introduction to Physical Geography is taught as a three-credit course at the University of Georgia. In the IDL program, it is divided into ten lessons. Each lesson has a Lesson Objectives section that summarizes the key points in the lesson. The objectives can be used as an informal test after completion of the lesson. If you have not met the objectives, you may need to study more. Each lesson also has a section of key terms; you do not need to write out definitions of them, but knowing the terms is crucial to your understanding of the lesson.

Preparing Lessons

The Written Assignment section of each lesson is the heart of the lesson and will require an essay response. You may wish to use an annotated outline format. Underline or boldface key terms of your response. Please leave a blank line between your answers. Where appropriate, use diagrams and examples to help convey to me that you have a true understanding of the Earth process(es) in question. You may provide these digrams in legible hand-written form. Do not re-write the textbook. Simplify, condense, and provide your response in your own terms. ALL RESPONSES MUST BE TYPED. Do not turn in your initial response; rather, rewrite your answers in order to improve clarity. Remember, the answers you provide in response to the essay questions should be of the same quality that you would provide if the question were on the final examination. These answers will be your primary means of studying for the final. It is wise to keep a copy of all work that you submit.

The Lesson Test section of multiple-choice questions follows the Written Assignment and has been included to show you some examples of questions that could be included on the final examination and to test your comprehension of each lesson’s concepts. Do not rewrite the questions. Simply provide a heading for the Lesson Test and number your answers. Each lesson will be graded on the basis of your work on both the Written Assignment and Lesson Test sections.

I suggest that you wait until you have your graded first lesson returned before you submit any subsequent lessons. This will enable me to communicate with you about the quality of your responses should you need to adjust your approach to other lessons. If you do not wait to see just how well you have done, you may receive lower than expected grades on all lessons until you receive the constructive comments and recommendations.

When a diagram is requested, please consider it a part of the answer. Diagrams are graphic in form. A list of items in text form is considered a table. Do not provide a table if a diagram is requested.

Accompanying your textbook is a CD-ROM containing a set of animations that help to illustrate key topics in the course. Each animation also has a short quiz that you can take to confirm that you understand the material. Use these animations and quizzes to further your knowledge of the subject matter. Although the animations are not required to complete the lessons, they provide a method to help you visualize and comprehend the topic. When an animation is appropriate to a particular lesson question, you will be directed to it.

I recommend that once you begin the course, you complete it in the shortest time possible. Students who have taken the full time allowed to finish the course often have significant difficulty with the final exam because it has been so long since they have reviewed material from the first half of the course. It is better to keep the material fresh in order to do well in the course.

Grading and Examinations

Upon completion of Lesson 5, it you will need to schedule the midterm exam. More information on this exam can be found in the section of this course guide called “About the Midterm.”

The last section of the course guide provides information about the format of the final examination. Please note that IDL policy requires that you pass the final to pass the course, regardless of grades earned on lessons or the midterm. You are responsible for knowing and abiding by IDL policies and procedures. See your Student Handbook for detailed information.

Your course grade will be calculated as follows:

Lesson Average	45%
Midterm exam	25%
Final Examination	30%
Total	100%