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This course will introduce the principles of vegetation science, the dynamics of the earth's atmosphere, the characteristics and controls of climates, and the function of these physical features in determining the types and geographic distributions of life on earth. The course conclusion will focus on environmental impacts involving climate and vegetation that result from human-environment interactions at local and global scales. Emphasis will be placed on applying concepts of climate and vegetation towards an understanding of the earth as a dynamic environmental system.
Grading : The final course grade will be based on the following: 20% First Midterm (June 10th) 20% Second Midterm (June 18th) 20% Third Midterm (June 27th) (drop lowest midterm score; midterms total equals 40% ) 5% In class participation 20% Presentations (July 2nd & 3rd) 35% Laboratory (10 labs; each 3.5%)
All students must enroll in one lab section (consult Schedule of Courses for meeting days and times). You are not enrolled in the lecture course unless you are enrolled in a lab section. Laboratory work is essential to the course, and must be completed as scheduled to receive credit for each lab. Each student must sign up for a lab section and attend that section. If you are unable to attend your regularly scheduled lab you need to work out an alternative solution with your TA beforehand, not afterwards . Labs start the first week of class. NO makeup tests are given. Students who miss a test without a documented and acceptable excuse (e.g. medical), will receive a score of zero for the missed test. Students with a valid documented reason for missing a test will be given a score for the missed test equal to their average score on other tests. If you know of a valid conflict with any of the exams, please contact me in advance and arrange to take the exam early. I will not curve the grades—you earn the letter grade corresponding to the points you earn throughout the course. Exams will be held on Mondays and will test information covered during the previous week. The final is not cumulative, but it will include information covered during the last two weeks of class.
Field Trips . I have scheduled weekly fields trips. My philosophy of learning and teaching includes a “hands on” perspective, with the goal that the field trips will help you to better understand and grasp thes class material. However, field trips require extra effort/time availability on your part as well. While every effort will be made to limit the total field trip time to the class period, it may occasionally be necessary to return to campus after the end of the usual lecture time. While attendance on field trips is required, I am understanding of time conflicts with this extra commitment. Please contact me as soon as possible to inform me of any conflicts you may have. 1) Friday 6th. National Center fo Atmospheric Research (NCAR) visit. Top notch climate research in the world. (Return to campus by~11:15am) 2) Friday 13rd. Campus field trip. Colorado trees identification, ecology, and evolution to Colorado 's climate. 3) Friday 20th. Chautauqua field trip. Colorado montane forests; their diversity, ecology, climate adaptations, and dynamics. (Return to campus by~11:30am) 4) Monday 30th. National Ice Core Lab field trip (Denver). Ice core storage and climate change science. (Return to campus by~ 12:15pm )
Project presentations : Group Project: Tour Guides of the Climate and Vegetation of a Foreign Country -Form groups of max 3. -Imagine that you, as a group, are a small ecotourist agency and that we, the class, are your clients. We, your clients, are a particular type of tourist: we like to travel to see, experience, and feel the ‘great outdoors'. We like to see beautiful and unique landscapes, hike mountains, walk in forests, feel deserts, etc... We could be defined as something like a mix between “eco”-, “scientific”-, and “conservation”-oriented tourists. But we also do not want to risk our lives! We want to be informed about any and all dangers our idyllic ‘nature' trip might put us in, and, of course, bring the right clothes and equipment for either warm summers, cold winters, or both. -You do not need to define the place today, but the sooner the better…. -Once you have decided upon a destination as a group, you will have to explore and research its climate and vegetation so that you can convince us to take this trip of a lifetime. The framework of your presentation will be based upon the material that will be covered throughout this course. That is, the climate and vegetation features of the chosen country, and the policies that this country may be implementing to deal with global change. The contents will be based upon your findings, effort, and creativity. This is meant to be a fun project aimed at discovering a place abroad that you may want to visit in the future—feel free to bring in anything that you think will make your presentation both informative and convincing. This can include posters, slideshows, audiovisual, etc. -I recommend groups to split the project into various “topics” for each group member. For example, if a given place has different ecosystems-- marine, deserts, and forests-- each group member could talk about the different seasonal attractions and climates of each ecotype, and so on. Alternatively, one member could discuss the overall climate, one the overall vegetation, and one could highlight specific environmental attractions or concerns. There are a variety of ways to split up the work—the important part is that each member contributes in terms of the substance of the material presented. Your presentation should strive to demonstrate the knowledge you have gained through this course—this is not just about travel ‘gimmicks'. -During the last week of class, each group will have 25 minutes to present your project to the class. Your grade will be divided as follows: 40% group, 60% individual. Obviously, every student has to present in order to obtain a grade. Your grade (both individual and group) will be determined based upon the following: -Content—informative, accurate. The content should demonstrate key concepts we have discussed in lecture and labs. I suggest that each member use at least 3 concepts in their presentation. (65%) -Flow—practiced, smooth, clear. The flow of your presentation should be logical and smooth. Make sure to practice. You will be cut off if you go over the allotted time. (25%) -Creativity—have fun! The best presentations build upon the strengths of each group member. Bring in your talents! (10%) -Groups are encouraged to meet with me to discuss their preliminary project ideas ahead of time during my office hours. - Attendance on both presentation days is mandatory (see schedule below). Your feedback on your classmates' presentations is an essential part of this exercise. Barring official reasons for absence, if you are not present on both of these days you will receive a zero for the assignment.
Statement on Disabilities : If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability, please submit to me a letter from Disability Services at least 1 week before the test. Disability Services determines accommodations based on documents disabilities. Contact: 303-492-8671, Willard 322, and http://www.colorado.edu/disabilityservices/ Classroom Behavior Policy : Students and faculty each have responsibility for maintaining an appropriate learning environment. Students who fail to adhere to such behavioral standards may be subject to discipline. Professional courtesy and sensitivity are very important in the classroom and at the University. Please refer to CU policies and associated procedures at www.colorado.edu/policies/index.html and at http://www.colorado.edu/studentaffairs/judicialaffairs/code.html#student_code Religious Obligations : We will make every effort to reasonably and fairly deal with all students who, because of religious obligations, have conflicts with scheduled exams, assignments or required attendance. If you will have any such conflict, please contact me as soon as you are able and no later than two weeks prior to the conflict date. If you have any such conflicts with lab, please contact your TA as soon as you are able an no later than two weeks prior to the conflict date. Please see full details at www.colorado.edu/policies/fac_relig.html Academic honesty : All students of the University of Colorado at Boulder are responsible for knowing and adhering to the academic integrity policy of this institution. Violations of this policy may include: cheating, plagiarism, aid of academic dishonesty, fabrication, lying, bribery, and threatening behavior. All incidents of academic misconduct shall be reported to the Honor Code Council (honor@colorado.edu; 303-725-2273). Students who are found to be in violation of the academic integrity policy will be subject to both academic sanctions from the faculty member and non-academic sanctions (including but not limited to university probation, suspension, or expulsion). Other information on the Honor Code can be found at www.colorado.edu/policies/honor.html and at www.colorado.edu/academics/honorcode/ Discrimination ad Sexual Harassment : Any student, staff or faculty member who believes s/he has been the subject of discrimination or harassment based upon race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status should contact the Office of Discrimination and Harassment (ODH) at 303-492-2127 or the Office of Judicial Affairs at 303-492-5550. Information about the ODH and the campus resources available to assist individuals regarding discrimination or harassment can be obtained at http://www.colorado.edu/odh and at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/discrimination.html
Required text : Christopherson, R.W. 2006. Geosystems: An Introduction to Physical Geography. Sixth Edition. Prentice Hall, NJ. 689 p. Required lab manual : Laboratory Manual for Geography 1001-010 . Holz, Summer 2007. Available online ( http://www.colorado.edu/geography/courses/geog_1001_lab )
Required reserve reading : Electronic reserves will be available online through Norlin Library.
Lecture Schedule and Assigned Readings - GEOG_1001 - Summer 2008
* Note: assigned readings may be changed throughout the course. Detailed listing of the Reserve Readings will be given out during the semester. These materials are on electronic reserve through Norlin Library.
| Handout 1 | Handout 2 | Handout 3 | Handout 4 | Handout 5 | Handout 6 | Handout 7 | Handout 8 | Handout 9 | Handout 10 | | Handout 11 | Handout 12 | Handout 13 | Handout 14 | Handout 15 | | Midterm I | Midterm II |
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