GEOG 219: Introduction to Geographic Methods Meeting time: TR 12:30-1:45 PM Classroom: Butte Hall 503 (501) OG 219: Introduction to Geographic Methods Meeting time: TR 12:30-1:45 PM Classroom: Butte Hall 503 (501) Instructor: Nori Sato e-mail: nsato2@csuchico.edu Office: Butte Hall 535 Phone: 898-6219 Office Hours: 11:00 AM-12:00 PM (MTWR); 2:00-3:00 PM (T); or by appointment Required text: Campbell, J. (2001), Map Use & Analysis, 4th ed., 372 pp., McGraw Hill, New York. (ISBN: 978-0-07-303748-6) Course objectives: This semester in this class, you will learn: 1) an introduction to the technical tools used by geographers, 2) techniques used in geographic data collection, 3) techniques used in geographic field work, 4) techniques used in geographic analysis, and 5) coordinate and projection systems. Course description: A basic introduction to essential geographic techniques, including data collection, analysis, and presentation. Techniques include aerial photo and map interpretation, GIS, spreadsheet operations, landscape description and analysis, descriptive statistics, and field observation. This is a basic tools course for students majoring in geography, the natural and earth sciences, and in such applied fields as planning and recreation. Laboratory (Butte 501): We use the computer lab (Butte 501) toward the end of the semester. Please inform the lab manager (Cathie Benjamin; Butte Hall 502; 898-4755) of any technical problems with the lab. This is the lab manager’s expertise and responsibility. I will, however, ensure that technical issues that impact students’ coursework in the lab are resolved as quickly as possible. Required material: Calculator. While you may use your cell/smart phone or PDA calculator during class periods, no cell/smart phone or PDA calculators will be allowed during your exam periods. Attendance: Regular attendance is highly recommended, although I may not take any regular attendance (beyond the census period at the beginning of the semester). Consistent nonattendance during the first four weeks of class will result in the student being withdrawn by the instructor. The responsibility of formally withdrawing from the class after the first four weeks is the student’s. Chronic non-attendance after the first four weeks may cause a reduction in the letter grade that was earned or a grade of “F” to be awarded. I will usually make announcements at the beginning of the class period and will not repeat those announcements. Also, any explanations for exercises/assignments will only be given during the class period when they are handed out. It is your responsibility to ask your classmates regarding what you may have missed if and when you were not able to attend a class. When you are sick, PLEASE e-mail me or leave me a voice-mail message before the class begins. My contact information is listed elsewhere in this syllabus. Exercises: Approximately 10 exercises will be given (10-20 points each). Materials covered in lectures will be supplemented with exercises. The class exercises emphasize techniques of observation, measurement and data interpretation that are fundamental to geographical studies. They are intended to complement and supplement lectures on specific topics. In some cases, we will start working on the exercises in class (and you will complete them at home). I will leave a large envelope in front of the classroom on the due date of any exercise. As soon as the lecture starts, I will close it and any late submission from that point on will have 10% deducted per day. No exercises will be accepted after graded exercises have been returned. Make sure that you have your exercise with you when you come to class; I will not accept any exercise that you don’t have in class on the due date (because you have it in another folder, notebook, etc. that you don’t have at the moment). Each exercise should be written and completed concisely and neatly. Any calculations should be clearly indicated. The considerable points will be given for the correct method (i.e., not for the final numerical answer alone). All questions should be attempted. You are not discouraged from working in a group; it is rather encouraged. Some exercises may be based on working in a small group; however, your write-up must be in your own words. It is your responsibility to give your exercises to your instructor in the correct method specified. Make-up exercises will only be given in the case of a verifiable excuse. That is, you will need to let me know in advance if you are not able to come to class due to illness. Exams: Materials covered in the lectures, readings assignments, and other resources that may include on-line resources (such as various websites) and exercises will be tested on exams. The lectures will be related to, but not directly from the reading assignments. The exercises and exams, therefore, will require you to synthesize lecture and reading materials. Questions may consist of multiple-choice, problems, short-answer, paragraph, and/or essay questions. A makeup exam will ONLY be given in the event of illness and other extraneous events that keep you from attending the exam. Proper documentation will be required. In that case, it is YOUR responsibility to let me know BEFORE the exam that you will be unable to attend. Note on exercises/assignments: Your computer hard drive, online storage space, USB storage device, etc. may potentially fail. Make multiple copies! I cannot help you even if your work suddenly disappears the night before the due date. Note: any late submission of an exercise/assignment due to computer disasters will receive a late penalty. Again, make multiple copies. Disability Support Services: If you have a documented disability that may require reasonable accommodations, please contact me privately to discuss your specific needs and also contact Disability Support Services (DSS) for coordination of your academic accommodations. DSS is located across from the Meriam Library in the Student Services Center building (Student Services Center 170; 898-5959; http://www.csuchico.edu/dss/). Statement of academic honesty: Academic misconduct (as defined in the current California State University, Chico catalogue) will not be tolerated. Students are encouraged to discuss course materials inside and outside the classroom. However, all written material/work submitted by students must be their own work exclusively. No answers to questions must be copied from other students, other classes or the Internet. You need to cite sources when you use someone else’s ideas, data, findings, etc.. The highest standards of honesty are expected when taking quizzes and exams. If you have any questions about what constitutes academic dishonesty, or the consequences of academic misconduct, consult the current university catalogue, the Office of Student Judicial Affairs (Kendall Hall 112; 898-6897; http://www.csuchico.edu/sjd/), or ask me. Outline: The class schedule and assignments are subject to change. Timeline* Week Month Day Topic Exercise Chapter 01 Aug 24, 26 Introduction Five themes of geography Vista; 1 02 Aug/Sept 31, 2 Maps and landscape Cartography/map making 1, 14 03 Sept 7, 9 Topographic maps Topographic map reading 10 04 Sept 14, 16 Scale conversion Measurements and scale conversions 5 05 Sept 21, 23 Latitude and longitude Latitude and longitude Calculation 2 06 Sept 28, 30 Coordinate systems UTM 4 07 Oct 5, 7 Coordinate systems PLSS and SPC 4 08 Oct 12, 14 Review Midterm exam 09 Oct 19, 21 Contours, profiles, and slope Topographic profile drawing/slope calculation 8, 9 10 Oct 26, 28 GPS Geocaching; DOP 7 11 Nov 2, 4 Introduction to Excel; statistics Elementary statistics using Excel 11, 12, 15 12 Nov 9 Projections Self-guided exercise 3 13 Nov 16, 18 GIS Introductory GIS using ArcMap 20, 21 14 Nov 23, 25 Thanksgiving 15 Nov/Dec 30, 2 Remote sensing Image interpretation 17, 18 16 Dec 7, 9 Catch up/Clean up 17 Dec (T) 2-3:50 PM Final Exam * Subject to change by instructor with no notice provided. Course Requirements: Category Percentage Exercises 40% Midterm exam 30% Final exam 30% Total 100% Studying tips: After each class, I strongly recommend you review your lecture notes, supplementing them with readings from the text and what you have learned from the online resources. Make a note of any questions and bring them to class, or stop by my office during office hours. If you are having difficulties with any aspect of the course, you should come and see me immediately. Don’t wait until the middle of the semester or even later. You can set up an appointment in class or e-mail me at nsato2@csuchico.edu.