Homework: Paper Outline due 3/8/10

Due Monday, March 8th.

Please provide an outline of your paper topic. You should write about 2 paragraphs on the topics to be covered in your paper. Be specific: example... "My topic for my paper is the Czech Republic. In my paper I will discuss the physical terrain of the country. In addition, I will focus on the major rivers and land features...."

In addition, you need to provide three sources where you will get the information for your paper. Give both the title of the source and how you will access it. For example:

"Inside the Czech Republic", www.czechtour.com
"International Fact Book: Czech Republic", www.geofacts.com/czech
"Czech Tourism", www.czechtourism,com

Please note that wikipedia is not a scholarly source and should not be referenced at all.

Extra Credit Assignment: 10 pts

As discussed in class, here are the details on the PolicyMap extra credit assignment. PolicyMap is a new website that has launched to aid policymakers and planners. This assignment is worth 10pts added on to your midterm grade.

Your assignment is to analyze the website, http://www.policymap.com/ using the following criteria:

>What is the general purpose of the site?
>What information is gathered via PolicyMap?
> How could this tool be used to influence decisions?
> Do you find the site to be worthwhile? Is the information useful?
> Take a look at the sample community profile on the sample tab- then, after reviewing the information how would you describe the area?

Here's an article on a recent application of Policy Map.

-Be sure to address all five questions in your paper. Please provide your response to the above questions, typed in a word document. Your responses should not exceed one page, single-spaced.
All assignments must be received by April 6th at 9pm.
Please email to tsilwick@yahoo.com.

Monday March 23rd...

Hi Class,

I trust that you all had a great Spring Break! Just to get you back into the swing of things, here's the agenda for class on Monday:

Class Presentations
Geography of South America
Explanation of Map Quiz (there will be a quiz March 30th)
Coverage of Chapters 9 & 10
Extra Credit Opportunity
Class Status

I am awaiting a few students to finish up the midterm, so I won't be able to hand back the tests in class. However your grades will be ready to discuss.

Also for those who may have forgotten their paper topics, I am emailing around a listing of the presentation schedule.

See you in class.

T. Silwick

More Study Guide5-7

Hello Everyone. Here is the study guide for the exam next Monday 3/10.

Remember that anything that's not listed is not on the exam. The test is comprised of multiple choice, short answer (2-3 sentences), mapping skills, matching, and fill in the blank. There is not a word bank so make sure that you are extra familiar with the terms and concepts.

Be sure to study the locations of the equator, tropic of cancer, tropic of capricorn, prime meridian, etc. Also when studying the concepts be sure to have an example handy.

Any questions, please feel free to email me. tsilwick@yahoo.com.

Review for Chapters 5- 7:
Chapter 5:

isobars
pressure gradient
wind power
coriolis effect
prevailing wind
monsoon
jet stream
el nino

hydrologic cycle
water budget
saturation
humidity
evapotranspiration
condensation
fog
clouds: nimbus, stratus
major forms of precipiation
uplift mechanism
dispersion & variability is precipitation

Chapter 6:

air mass
continental vs maritime
fronts (warm & cold)
cyclones & anti-cyclones
storm surge
weather systems
tropical storm
tornado


Chapter 7:

Climate
Temperature Regimes
ITCZ
Dry Tropical Climate
Moist Continental Climate
Boreal Forest Climate

Guidelines for Paper

As we discussed in class on Monday, here are the guidelines for the first paper assignment.

The paper should be 2-4 pages in length. You paper should focus on the physical geography of a state or region that interests you. Some examples of paper topics: California Vineyards, Cape Cod, Florida Keys, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountains, Indonesia, South Africa, Mongolia, Greece, Sicily, Mexico, Japan, and more.

Please remember that you need to have your paper topic approved. You paper needs to focus on the geography of the place that you select... If your topic is the Chesapeake Bay, you should focus on the topography and makeup of the area. Your paper should not focus on the human and cultural aspects. Each paper should include a map that shows your region. The map should be sourced and include a caption.

Please remember that you need to site at least 3 sources in the body of your paper. These sources also need to be listed in your bibliography. Sources should be scholarly, ie National Geographic, Geography, Earth and Science, Nature, books, magazines, and other peer-reviewed journals.

For format: use 12 pt font(Arial, Verdana, Times New Roman), and double single space the text.

I ask that you include your name, the course, the assignment, and the date on the first page of the paper. And to include page numbers and the word count at the end of the paper.

If you have any questions, regarding these guidelines: please email me: tsilwick@yahoo.com

Snow Day

Good Afternoon Class,

As I am sure you know, this evenings class has been canceled due to the snow storm. Please send me your assignment due today, if you have not sent it already.

I will be sending along a powerpoint with the material from chapters 5-7. We will still be having our midterm next week that covers chapters 1 through 7. Most of the material will come from 1-5, since that is what we have spent the most time on in class.

I will be online via Yahoo Messenger this evening from 6:30 to 7:30. Please feel free to send me any questions that you may have on the material. I will try and arrange a chat on Thursday night. If anyone can suggest a good platform for that, please email me.

Thanks,

T. Silwick