GEOGRAPHY 2302 – THE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT, Spring 2006

Cross-listed as Geosciences 2302

Instructor: Dr. Nathan Miller

Office & Hours: FO 2.630; MW 2:00 - 4:00 pm or by arrangement.
Phone: 972-883-6852; E-Mail: miller@utdallas,.edu

Lecture: MW 9:00am – 10:15pm; SOM 2.714

Text: Introducing Physical Geography, 4th Edition, by Strahler & Strahler

Course Objectives: The objective of this course is to provide students with an understanding of the basic
components of the natural environment in which we live. Particular emphasis is placed on climate and the global
climate system. Ecosystems, soils, and earth surface processes are then discussed as part of the global environment.
The relationship between humans and the environment is a central theme for the course.

Grading: Three tests and a final exam are scheduled. The two highest scores on the tests plus the score on the final
exam will be used in determining the course grade. No make-up tests will be given without an excused absence
arranged in advance. Test questions will be from the textbook and lectures. RetroPop Quiz (RPQ) Option: You
may also use your top score on ten WebCT chapter quizzes to switch out a lower test score. RPQs have two required
components: (1) a 10-question on-line quiz and (2) a posted paragraph responding to one of the RPQ discussion
statements. Potential RPQ questions (20) and discussion statements are posted on WebCT for each chapter. RPQs
must be submitted by the electronic deadlines; these can be seen in the WebCT RPQ module.

Course Outline:
Jan. 9 M Introduction to the course Prologue
Jan. 11 W Our Place in the Sun Chapter 1, Appendix
Jan. 16 M MLK Jr. (UTD Holiday)
Jan. 18 W Earth’s Global Energy Balance Chapter 2
Jan. 23 M Earth's Global Energy Balance Chapter 2
Jan. 25 W Air Temperature and Cycles Chapter 3
Jan.30 M Air Temperature and Cycles Chapter 3
Feb. 1 W Atmospheric Moisture and Precipitation Chapter 4
Feb. 6 M Atmospheric Moisture and Precipitation Chapter 4
Feb. 8 W Winds and Global Circulation Chapter 5
Feb. 13 M First Exam (Chapter 1-4)
Feb. 15 W Winds and Global Circulation Chapter 5; RPQ Option Begins
Feb. 20 M Weather Systems Chapter 6
Feb. 22 W Weather Systems Chapter 6
Feb. 27 M Global Climates Chapter 7
Mar. 1 W Global Climates Chapter 7
Mar. 6 M SPRING BREAK
Mar. 8 W SPRING BREAK
Mar. 13 M Biogeographical Processes Chapter 8
Mar. 15 W Global Biogeography Chapter 9
Mar. 20 M Earth Materials Chapter 11
Mar. 22 W EXAM #2 (Chapters 5-8)
Mar. 27 M Global Soils Chapter 10
Mar. 29 W Lithosphere and Plate Tectonics Chapter 12
April 3 M Volcanic and Tectonic Landforms Chapter 13
April 5 W Fresh Water of the Continents Chapter 15
April 10 M EXAM #3 (Chapters 9-12)
April 12 W Landforms Made by Running Water Chapter 16
April 17 M Landforms and Rock Structures Chapter 17
April 19 W Landforms Made by Waves and Wind Chapter 18
April 24 M Glacial Landforms and the Ice Age Chapter 19
April 26 W (8:00 am - Final and LAST EXAM)
Class Courtesy: Lectures and class interaction are vital components of the course. It’s your tuition, but history
shows that students who attend class regularly perform better on examinations. It is your responsibility to contact the
instructor if you cannot attend class regularly. If you arrive to class late, or must leave early, be as quiet as possible
as you move through the classroom. Avoid disruptions (i.e., talking to neighbors, text messaging) while in class; you
waste my time and that of your classmates. Silence all cell phones. Do not consume food in class.

Scholastic Honesty: You are expected to do your own work.

 Constructing Paragraphs
Studies show that readers have certain expectation about paragraphs:

• That the beginnings and ends of paragraphs contain important guiding information
• That the opening sentence provides direction and lets readers know what the paragraph is
about
• That the middle of the paragraph develops what the paragraph is about
• That the end of the paragraph may sum up the paragraph’s contents bringing the
discussion of an idea to a close in anticipation of the paragraph that follows
• That the paragraph “makes sense” as a whole, its words and sentences are clearly related
• That the paragraph relates in some clear way to the paragraphs around it

Elements of a well-written paragraph:

1. Unity – Every idea in the paragraph relates to the single focus or claim expressed in the topic
sentence.

2. Coherence – The ideas within the paragraph are arranged logically. Techniques to insure
coherence:
Spatial order
Chronological order
Logical order (general-to-specific, cause-effect, comparision/contrast)
Use of transitional phrases, parallelism, pronouns

3. Development – well-developed paragraphs include examples and reasons that demonstrate

concrete pieces of knowledge and sensory details. The writer and the reader end up with the
same picture/understanding at the end of the paragraph.

It may be useful to think of a typical paragraph in an academic paper as an “essy-in-miniature”:

Essay Paragraph
Intro/thesis Intro/topic sentence
Body – proof Body – details, examples, reasons
Conclusion Conclusion

Try to now use these guidelines in your written assignments in this class. Can you identify the
topic sentence, support, transitional devices, and conclusion in your paragraphs? Do your
paragraphs anticipate what is to come?