Instructor information
Dr. Michael Ritter
Office: Science D331
Phone: 715-346-4449
Email: mritter@uwsp.edu
Hours: 10:00 - 10:50 M, W, F; and by
appointment. See
schedule for free times.
Required Materials
Text (Text rental): McKnight, T. and Hess, D. (2005) Physical
Geography, A Landscape Appreciation (8th edition)
Online textbook: Ritter, Michael (2006) The
Physical Environment
Required Lab Manual (purchase): Lemke, K., Ritter,
M., & Heywood, N.
(2007)
Geography 101 Lab Manual
At the conclusion of the course you will have a basic understanding
of:
- the underlying processes that create patterns of weather and
climate.
- the physical processes that create and modify various landforms.
- the hydrological cycle and its impact on weather and climate,
plant and animal distributions, rivers, and landforms.
- the location and characteristics of biomes, and be able to interpret the
distribution, origin, form, population, habitat, and human
significance of natural organisms.
- the tools used by geographers to study the physical
environment.
There will be four unit exams that cover both
lecture and lab material. Each exam is comprised of 75 questions. The
lecture portion of the exam (50 questions) covers the conceptual material presented during
each unit. The lab portion (25 questions) evaluates your ability to solve specific problems related to the
material presented during lecture and laboratory sessions. These questions often require calculations, the
use of maps, diagrams, and interpretation of graphs. Your ability to satisfactorily answer the
questions
depends on your capability to use these tools.
Laboratory exercises are graded as being
"complete" or "incomplete". Submitting all assigned questions with a
reasonable answer constitutes successful completion of lab exercises.
The lab exercise will be given a check
if all assigned
questions are complete, or a minus if you fail to answer any of the questions. You will receive a
minus grade, and will not get credit for the lab even if one question is left unanswered.
I award 5 points for a completed assignment, 0 points for an incomplete
one Make sure to check your lab materials for completeness before handing them in.
There is no partial credit given. Checked
exercises are usually handed back at the next lab session. Answer sheets are
linked to the course outline at the
Geography 101 Web site. It is your responsibility to review the answer sheets and correct
any answers. Contact me as soon as possible if you need help.
The use of email, self-paced instructional activities, and online assignments are required
in this class.
If you do not like this mode of learning then I suggest you find a different section. Many of the online activities are accompanied by questions that
you must answer and submit via email or post online on or before the assigned due date. After the due
date the correct answers will be provided. You
will be tested on this material. You will receive a 5 for completing the assignment or
a 0 if not.
I give four extra
credit unit pretests during the review session for each unit.
Each is 10 questions in length, each question is worth 1 point. Randomly
throughout the semester I may give an attendance quiz. Attendance
quizzes are generally 2 questions long. These points can make a
substantial difference in your grade. There is no way to make up a
pretest or attendance quiz unless you have a verifiable medical, legal, or
school-related excuse. No individual extra credit is available.
Course grades are based on the percentage of
total points accumulated. The grade scale is:
94 -100 = A
90 - 93 = A-
87 - 89 = B+
84 - 86 = B
80 - 83 = B-
77 - 79 = C+
74 - 76 = C
70 - 73 = C-
67 - 69 = D+
60 - 66 = D
< 60 = F
I do not curve grades.
Study Tips
- Review the "Can you ...?" questions at the end of each lecture
outline after I finish a lecture. Follow up with questions at the
next class meeting of via email.
- Check out the links to additional resources for each unit on the
Study Aids page
- Use the review questions and chapter quizzes in the web text to
assess your learning
- Create flash cards of important terms and concepts.
Check
out the flash card maker for a cheap and easy way of creating them.
- Review the lab answer keys linked to the course
outline as soon as they are posted.
- Check out the
Geography 101
blog for entries related to the topics covered in each unit.
Attendance
Attendance is expected at all lecture and laboratory meetings. I
will use extra credit pop quizzes as a measure of attendance.
Make-up Work
Make-up exams or quizzes will be given once a verifiable medical
or school related excuse has been given to the instructor. There are no exceptions.
If you cannot attend an exam or hand in an assignment due to work or
school activity, notify me by phone (715-346-4449) or email (mritter@uwsp.edu), or phone the Geography/Geology Department
(715-346-2629) prior to the exam form permission to make up the work. If you fail to do this you may forfeit
the make-up.
Cell Phones
Cell phones must be turned off or
set to vibrate during class. Cell phones may not be on your desk during
an exam.
Student Rights and Responsibilities
Please make note
of the following pdf document that explains
your responsibility and rights within the UWSP campus community,
including required behavior by students and faculty within the classroom
environment.
View Students Rights and Responsibilities document
Additional Required Materials
Geography 101 Lab Manual
Several #2 lead pencils
Package of colored pencils
Ruler
Calculator
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