Homework Due 5/2

Just a reminder that you have a homework assignment due next Monday, May 2nd.

Please write up 10 questions and answers for the final exam.
These will be used in class for a review game.

Any questions, please let me know.

Thanks!

TS

Final Exam Study Guide: Ch 9-18

Here's the final exam study guide for chapters 11-18. I will post 8-10 tonight.

Thanks,

TS

Chapter 9:

Natural Vegetation
Biome
Savanna Biome
Desert Biome

Chapter 10:

Soil
Parent Material
Soil Texture
Water Use

Chapter 11:

Mineral
Rock
Igneous Rocks
Sedimentary Rocks
Metamorphic Rocks
Quartz
Magma
Basalt
Limestone
Cycle of Rock Change

Chapter 12:

Core
Mantle
Crust
Continental Crust
Oceanic Crust
Lithosphere
Asthenosphere
Plate Tectonics

Chapter 13:

Geomorphology
Stratovolcano
Shield Volcano
Folding
Fault
Normal Fault
Transcurrent Fault
Earthquake
Tsunami

Chapter 14:

Weathering
Mass Wasting
Physical Weathering
Chemical Weathering
bedrock
Earthflow
Mudflow
landslide

Ch 15:
runoff
ground water
water table
stream
channel
discharge
drainage basin
watershed
flood
lake

Ch 16:
fluvial landforms
fluvial processes
stream erosion
stream transportation
graded stream
natural levee

Chapter 17

Plateau
Mesa
Sedimentary Dome
Monadnock

Chapter 18

Shoreline
Bay
Estuary
Progradation
Retrogradation
Delta
Coral Reef
Sand Dune

Africa Quiz & Map

Just a reminder in case you missed class on Monday 4/25. We are having a map quiz on Monday 5/2.

Here are the countries that you need to know:
Morocco
Algeria
Libya
Egypt
Mali
Niger
Nigeria
Sudan
Ethiopia
Somalia
Kenya
Tanzania
Rwanda
Burundi
Madagascar
South Africa
Botswana
Democratic Republic of Congo (DROC)

Waterways
Nile River
Lake Victoria

There are 18 + 2 waterways countries all together, they will be worth 2-points each.
With one bonus question. Please see the attached blank map for studying purposes.
There is a map with the countries listed here.
Thanks,

TS

Map Quiz 4/25

Southeast Asia

You will need to know:

China
India
Thailand
Cambodia
Vietnam
Phillipines
Malaysia
Phillipine Sea
South China Sea
Gulf of Thailand

Please see map attached. There will be a word bank on the exam.

Thanks,

TS

Terms to know for Chapters 14 & 15

Chapter 14:
weathering
regolith
mass wasting
chemical weathering
physical weathering
bedrock
sediment
earthflow
landslide
scarification
ice wedge

Chapter 15:
infiltration
runoff
groundwater
water table
stream
channel
discharge
drainage basin
watershed
flood
lake

Extension to 4/5!! Special Assignment April 4th!

Greetings Class,

Due to technical difficulties I have extended the course assignment. It is now due by 10pm tomorrow 4/5.

Thanks,

TSGeo 101
April 4th: Special Assignment
The Importance of Geography:
Last week, a member of Congress was publically embarrassed when he failed to demonstrate basic geographic knowledge of the country of Libya. You can check out the full article here: http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110331/NEWS/110339918/-1/NEWSMAP

As we have discussed in class, it is essential to your professional career that you have a basic idea where many places are located. Below, you will need to locate the country/city that is currently in the news. Each question, will specify how you should locate the place, ie coordinates or regional location.

If I ask for the coordinate, that means 30 North Latitude, 45 West Longitude. If the question asks for a Regional Location, then I am looking for you to give me a location in the context of continent, country, and location. For example, the regional location of London would be: London is a city is the United Kingdom, which is located on the eastern portion of Europe.

1) What is the regional location of Libya? Give the continent and direction of the place, ie Maryland is located on the Eastern Coast of North America.

2) Locate Afghanistan on the map. What are the coordinates of this country? As long as the coordinated you give are in Afghanistan you will be correct.

3) Japan has been in the news a lot lately due to the March earthquake, tsunami, and subsequent nuclear meltdown. What bodies of water surround Japan?
4) Over the weekend, two earthquakes also occurred in Pakistan. What mountain ranges would you find in this country?

5) This weekend also brought the announcement that BP is going to resume oiling drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. Where would you find the Gulf of Mexico (Regional Location)? What countries and US states border the Gulf?

This assignment needs to be turned in via email to tsilwick@cecil.edu by 10pm on Monday April 4th. Worth 10pts.

Any questions, let me know.

Terms to know for Chapters 11 & 14

Chapter 11:
mineral
rock
3 types of rock
>igneous
>metamorphic
>sedimentary
basalt
quartz
granite
magma
strata
sediment
fossil fuels
cycle of rock change

Chapter 14:
weathering
regolith
mass wasting
chemical weathering
physical weathering
bedrock
sediment
earthflow
landslide
scarification
ice wedge

GEO 101 Updates

Good Morning Class,

I wanted to write all of you with a few updates to class.

First, do not forget that the extra credit assignment for the first test is up on the blog. I did not publish it until Tuesday morning so I am giving you until Tuesday 3/29 at 10pm to return the assignment to me. You can also turn it in on Monday 3/28 in class.

Second, your paper outlines are due Monday April 4th. I will be out of at a conference so we will not meet at out normal time. However there will be a map exercise that will be emailed out to the class and posted up on the blog. The assignment will be sent over the weekend and will be due by 10pm on Monday 4/4.

Third, we will have an in-class map assignment this week 3/28. Please remember to bring your atlas into class on Monday. This exercise will involve looking up specific locations in your atlas.

Fourth, if you have not completed test #1. Please proceed to the Testing Center on the top floor of the Arts and Sciences Building. The test will be available until 6pm Monday. If you do not take the exam before that time, you will receive a 0. If you haven't taken the test and you would like to complete the extra credit, go ahead and turn in the extra credit and I will add it to your score.

And finally, my cecil email seems to back up and running. We can continue to use tsilwick@yahoo.com as a backup just in case.

Thanks,

TS

Extra Credit Assignment for Test #1

Greetings Class!

Here's the extra credit assignment for Test #1. By completing this assignment, you may add up to 10 points onto your test grade. For example, you earned a 67 on test #1, and then you earn 10 points on this extra credit, that would boost your test grade to a 77.

To complete the assignment, you will need to read the three articles linked below. Two of the articles describe the risk of a major earthquake striking the Pacific Northwest. The third story deals with disaster preparedness in California. Your assignment is to answer the questions below. You will answer from the perspective of the average college student.

The completed assignment, should be 3 to 4 paragraghs. If you have any questions, please email me at tsilwick@cecil.edu.

Article 1: http://www.newsweek.com/2011/03/13/the-scariest-earthquake-is-yet-to-come.html

Article 2:http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2011/03/17/1921848/sooner-or-later-massive-quake.html

Article 3: http://www.triplicate.com/20110322111691/News/Local-News/Agency-pushing-for-preparedness

Here are the three questions:

1) The geography of Japan is the root cause of the earthquake. How did the role of topography worsen the effect of the earthquake and tsunami

2) The articles both suggest that the Pacific Northwest is an earthquake prone area. What is it about the geography of this area that makes it prone to earthquakes?

3) How does the third article reccommend that individuals prepare for an earthquake?
Do you think these reccommendations are practical for most people?

Answers to each question should be 2 to 4 sentences.

Assignment is due by Tuesday, March 29th at 10pm. You may also turn in your assignment in class on Monday, March 28th.

Paper Guidelines

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.

Review Terms from Chapters 9 & 10

Chapter 9:
Natural Vegetation
Life Form
Forest
Terrestrial Ecosystem
5 Biomes: Forest, Savanna, Grassland, Desert, & Tundra
Steppe

Chapter 10:
Soil Parent Material
Soil Texture
Water Use
Water Need
Soil Profile
Soil Order
Tundra Soil

Update!!! Paper Outline Due: 4/4

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.

Reminder: Class Presentations

Good Morning Class!

Don't forget that tomorrow is the first day of class presentations.
We have the first three presentations going tomorrow.

I emailed around the assignment and an example presentation.

If you have questions, please email me.

Thanks!

TS

Presentation Assignment

Greeting Class,

Here are the details for the presentation assignment. Every week, a few students will be giving 2 to 3 minute presentations on their chosen topics. The presentation should be well organized and include at least one visual aid, ie photo, video, diagram.

You will need to consult your text book for basic information on your topic. Summarize the content of the book and then consult at least one other source to add more depth to your topic.

For example, if your topic was clouds, you would read over the cloud portion in the text. Then consult one other source such as http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2003/19feb_nlc/. Your presentation must include the basic info on your topic, reference at least one scholarly source, and include a visual aid.

Please remember that wikipedia and about.com are not appropriate scholarly sources.
Powerpoint is not required, but can be an effective tool for organizing your thoughts.

If you have any questions, please let me know.

I will email an example powerpoint to you before class on 3/21.

Thanks!

TS

GEO 101 Review Questions

Greetings Class,

Hope you are doing well with your studies for the first test on March 7th.

Here are some practice questions for you to review. There is a good chance that you will see these questions on the exam.


Thanks,

TS

1-The __________ process helps to form clouds. (Answer: Adiabatic)

2-The _________ precipitation process forms thunderstorms.
A) Convectional
B) Hydraulic
C) Convergent
D) Orthographic

3- What is the difference between climate and weather?

4- Please describe 3 characteristics of the Dry Tropical Climate?

5- T/F The Heat Island Effect describes why islands are hotter than mainland areas.

6- T/F Lines of longitude, also called parallels, run from pole to pole.

7- T/F Fronts are the boundaries between air masses.

8- T/F The Winter Solstice is the longest day of the year.

Study Guide for the 1st Test

Greeting Class,

Please see the terms below for the terms you will need to know for the first test, which is next week, March 7th.

Ch 1:
rotation
parallel
equator
meridian
tropic of cancer
tripic of capricorn
great vs small circle
longitude/ latitude
map projection
time zones
winter/summer solstice
equinox

Chapter 2:

Electromagnetic Radiation
Visible Light
Absorption
Scattering
Shortwave Radiation
Longwave Radiation
Global Radiation Balance
Insolation
Ozone
Greenhouse Effect
Net Radiation

Chapter 3:

Air Temperature
Conduction
Convection
Heat Island
Troposphere
Stratosphere
Temperature Inversion
Isotherms
Greenhouse Gases

Chapter 4:

Precipitation
Hydrologic Cycle
Hydrosphere
Humidity
Specific vs Relative Humidity
Adiabatic Principle
Clouds
4 Types of Precipitation
Unstable Air
Thunderstorms
Smog

Ch 5:

barometer
pressure gradient
wind
coriolis effect
cyclone
anticyclone
ITCZ
monsoon
jet stream

Ch 6:

weather system
air mass
front
cold front
warm front
cyclonic precipitation
tornado
tropical cyclone
storm surge

Chapter 7:
Climate
Climograph
Monsoon & Trade-Wind Coastal Climate
Dry Tropical Climate
Mediterranean Climate
Tundra Climate
Ice Sheet Climate

Chapter 8:
biogeography
eosystem
food chain
primay producers
consumers
photosynthesis
biomass
habitat
symbiosis
natural selection
species
biogeographic region
biodiversity

HW 2/21.. due 2/28

For this assignment, you will develop 10 questions suitable for the test. The topics can be taken from chapters 1-6 of your text. Please provide both the question and the answer.

Example:

Q: What is a front?
A: A front is the boundary between air masses.

Assignment is due on Feb. 28th at 6:30pm.

Thanks!
TS

Terms for Chapters 5 & 6

Ch 5:

barometer
pressure gradient
wind
coriolis effect
cyclone
anticyclone
ITCZ
monsoon
jet stream

Ch 6:

weather system
air mass
front
cold front
warm front
cyclonic precipitation
tornado
tropical cyclone
storm surge

Blank Map of the US

Greetings Class!

You had requested a blank map of the US to study. Please see the posted map for this purpose.

Thanks,

TS

Map of the United States Quiz

Here are the terms and places to know for the first map quiz on Feb 21st.

Bodies of Water:
Atlantic Ocean
Pacific Ocean
Gulf of Mexico

Mississippi River

States:
New York
Pennslyvania
Virginia
Alabama
Mississippi
Arkansas
Missouri
Oklahoma
New Mexico
Arizona
Nevada
Utah
Colorado
Oregon
Idaho
Montana
South Dakota
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Illinois
Kentucky
North Carolina
South Carolina

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Terms from Chapter 1:

rotation
parallel
equator
meridian
tropic of cancer
tripic of capricorn
great vs small circle
longitude/ latitude
map projection
time zones
winter/summer solstice
equinox

Welcome GEO 101 Spring 2011 Class!

Greetings class!

I am very excited to begin this course with all of you! My goals for the semester are to help all of you learn more about the subject of Geography. Over the course of the semester, we will be studying the natural features of the Earth, in addition to its processes. I hope to assist you in being able to identify more place on a map, use geography to form mental maps of places, and foster a better understanding of Earth processes, including, weather, climate, and natural landforms

If you ever have a question on our course, please feel free to email me at tsilwick@cecil.edu.

Here's your first homework assignment:

Question: What are your goals for Geo 101? Please list at least three things that you are hoping to learn in this course.

Assignment: Please submit your answer to the question above in a paper, not to exceed 1/2 page. Your answer should be 6 to 10 sentences, typed.

Thanks!

TS 1/24/2011