1. Geography 103 Section 5
Introduction to Earth Science
David R. Perkins
Tuesdays and Thursdays: 9:30-10:45
Office Hours
Tuesday: 10:45am-12:00pm
Wednesday: 5:00pm-6:00pm
Required Materials
I-Clicker (Obtained from UNCG Bookstore)
Textbook: Earth Science 13th
edition by Tarbuck, Lutgens, &Tasa. ISBN-10: 0-321-68850-3
Introduction and class overview
This course, introduction to Earth science, is a survey level lecture-based course which exposes students
to a large variety of earth science related topics. Within this course three units of materials will be
covered: earth’s internal processes, weather and climate, and the shaping of the earth’s surface.
The goal of any course in college is not only to build supportive and productive behaviors for future
success in life, but also to teach students how the information they are learning is important to “real
world” experiences and may impact them as they move to the job sector. Because of this charge, I will
make every effort to have materials and exam questions tailored to the concept of practical application.
Reading the book is not enough. While this course will follow the textbook very closely, it is important
that students regularly attend class. Class will cover text material and also apply this material in a
practical manner. Exam questions will come from both the text and lecture.
My role in this course is the instructor and coach. The student role is player and athlete. We are not
competing for the same resources; in fact, we all succeed together. My goal is to provide you the best
instruction and most challenging exercises to improve your performance as a student and to help you
obtain the appropriate knowledge to transition into upper level courses at UNCG. In essence, I will be
providing you with your “workouts”. You will perform to try to be a “starter” on the team. If you
underperform, this is simply an indication that higher effort and more training are needed. The best
athletes and Olympians often were not starters their whole lives—they worked with the help of a coach.
With me as the instructor and coach, and you as the team of players, we will all try to work together and
achieve our highest potentials.
Student Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of the course a student should be able to:
 Identify basic patterns and dynamics of the Earth’s weather and climate, geologic processes, and
physical geography
 Explain the basis of scientific methods and important theories used in the earth sciences
 Describe applications of earth science principles and theories to public and private sector needs
Class Format
In honor of the Olympic year, class this semester will consist of three stages: warm-up, practice workout,
and game day performance. Class will begin promptly at 9:30 and include a warm-up. The warm-up will
consist of announcements and student questions about material. This will also include sample exam
questions and other interactive questions. The I-Clicker will be used in this portion of the class.
Participation is required. Following the warm-up is the workout (lecture) which is engineered to

2. stimulate the mind. Film study (reading) is a required and necessary complement to the lectures as all
the material cannot be adequately covered in the short class period. Finally, to complete our analogy,
the game day performance is the exam.
Grading:
Questions at the C level will test basic knowledge of key terms and geographic locations where examples
of physical processes can be observed. An A or B grade requires demonstration of higher level critical
thinking and reasoning skills such as application of basic principles, analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of
materials covered in class. The A and B level questions will go beyond memorization of terms and
definitions and examine what earth science really tells us about how the world works and how that
knowledge can be applied.
Each exam will cover only the information reviewed in that unit of the course (see course calendar). All
exams will be equally weighted. There will be no make-up exams given and no opportunity for extra
credit during the course. If you miss an exam for any reason you will use the final exam as the
replacement grade. The optional final exam will be comprehensive of the materials covered within the
entire course and also be greater in length than the exams given during class periods. The final exam
grade will serve as a replacement grade for the lowest exam grade.
Participation is designed to help students through classroom engagement and exam preparation.
Participation will not be graded for accuracy, only for level of engagement. Through the use of the I-
clicker, engagement and sample exam questions will be posed. Students will use this exercise to review
the material and assess their understanding so they can adequately prepare for success on the exams.
Exam 1: 30%
Exam 2: 30%
Exam 3: 30%
Participation: 10%
Final Exam: Optional. Comprehensive and optional but will serve as a grade replacement for the
lowest exam score
Grade bands:
A+ =98-100; A= 93-97.9; A- =90-92.9; B+=87-89.9; B=83-86.9; B-=80-82.9; C+=77-79.9; C=73-76.9;
C-=70 72.9; D+=67-69.9; D=63-66.9; D-=60-62.9; F=Below 60
Academic Integrity
It is imperative that students adhere to the UNCG Academic Integrity Policy which can be found at:
http://academicintegrity.uncg.edu. I have zero tolerance for cheating and will not hesitate to
immediately refer cases to the university for investigation.
Registration with office of disability services
Some students may require additional time on exams or require other accommodations. I am happy to
help regarding this matter. If this is the case for you, please register with the UNCG office of disability
services. Without proper registration I will be unable to adequately accommodate your requests.

3. Geography 104
World Regional Geography
David R. Perkins IV
Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 10:00-10:50
Office Hours:
127 Graham; 30 Minutes after every class
Required Materials
 i-Clicker (Obtained from UNCG Bookstore)
 https://blackboard.uncg.edu
 Textbook: Globalization and Diversity: Geography of a Changing World, 3rd
edition by Rowntree,
Lewis, Price, &Wyckoff.
o Publisher: Pearson
o ISBN-10: 0-321-651152-9
o ISBN-13: 978-0-321-651152-9
UNCG Course Description:
 104 World Regional Geography (3:3)
o GE Core: GSB
o GE Marker: GL
 Geographical criteria that define the major cultural and functional world regions. Emphasis on
regional methods of geographical study, with applications to current world events and
situations.
Introduction and class overview
This course, World Regional Geography, is a survey level lecture-based course which exposes students to
their world. Within this course we will explore the different regions of the world using geographical
techniques to better understand exotic landscapes and the cultures within them. Each region discussed,
in order to gain a comprehensive view of our world, will cover topics of environment, populations and
settlements, cultural coherence and diversity, geopolitical frameworks, and economic and social
development. Lectures will be informative and insightful. Along with traditional lecture-based learning,
students will be exposed to guest speakers and regional multimedia.
The goal of any course in college is not only to build supportive and productive behaviors for future
success in life, but also to teach students how the information they are learning is important to “real

4. world” experiences and may impact them as they move to the job sector. Because of this charge, I will
make every effort to have materials and exam questions tailored to the concept of practical application.
Reading the book is not enough. While this course will follow the textbook very closely, it is important
that students regularly attend class. Class will cover text material and also apply this material in a
practical, exciting, and engaging manner. Exam questions will come from both the text reading and any
lecture materials covered including movies, guest lectures, and PowerPoint presentations.
My role in this course is the instructor and coach. The student role is player and athlete. We are not
competing for the same resources; in fact, we all succeed together. My goal is to provide you the best
instruction and most challenging exercises to improve your performance as a student and to help you
obtain the appropriate knowledge to transition into upper level courses at UNCG. In essence, I will be
providing you with your “workouts”. You will perform to try to be a “starter” on the team. If you
underperform, this is simply an indication that higher effort and more training are needed. The best
athletes and Olympians often were not starters their whole lives—they worked with the help of a coach.
With me as the instructor and coach, and you as the team of players, we will all try to work together and
achieve our highest potentials.
Student Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of the course a student should be able to:
 Identify, understand, and freely utilize key geographic tools to research peoples, cultures,
landscapes, and global changes within human society
 Assimilate knowledge of differences and similarities across regions and how these impact social
and economic globalization
 Describe different regions of the world based upon their social and physical geographies
 Understand the vast array of cultures, languages, religions, and economies around the globe
 Locate different regions of the Earth
Grading:
Questions at the C level will test basic knowledge of key terms and geographic locations where examples
of physical processes can be observed. An A or B grade requires demonstration of higher level critical
thinking and reasoning skills such as application of basic principles, analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of
materials covered in class. The A and B level questions will go beyond memorization of terms and
definitions, they will require application and synthesis of knowledge.
Your final grade will be made up of four components in the following proportion:
Participation: 10%
Quizzes: 30%
Tests: 60%
Final exam: Optional. Comprehensive in coverage but will serve as a grade replacement for the
lowest test score
Participation
Your participation grade will be made up by your class participation and engagement with any class
‘homework’ assignments. All homework assignments are to be submitted to uncggeo104@gmail.com.
Participation is designed to help students through classroom engagement and exam preparation. Most
participation will not be graded for accuracy, only for level of engagement. Through the use of the i-

5. clicker, engagement and sample exam questions will be posed. Students will use this exercise to review
the material and assess their understanding so they can adequately prepare for success on tests and
exams. Registering your attendance with the i-Clicker every class is an integral part to your participation
grade. If you do not have your i-Clicker you will not receive credit for that day of participation.
Quizzes
Quizzes will be unannounced and given during class, normally as multiple choice questions on the i-
Clicker. There will be at least 10 quizzes given during the course of the semester. If you do not have your
i-Clicker you will not receive credit for the quiz. Quizzes will serve as interim checks of your progression
and knowledge between the scheduled tests. They significantly contribute to your grade so continual
preparation is important.
Tests
Each test will cover only the information reviewed in that unit of the course (non-comprehensive) and
all tests will be equally weighted (20% each). Tests are predetermined and scheduled and will take the
entire class period. Tests will be longer and more difficult than quizzes.
Final Exam
If you miss an exam for any reason you will use the final exam as the replacement grade. The optional
final exam will be comprehensive of the materials covered within the entire course and also be greater
in length than the exams given during class periods. The final exam grade will serve as a replacement
grade for the lowest test grade.
There will be no make-up exams or make-up quizzes given. Because of this, extra credit/grade
forgiveness is available.
Extra credit/grade forgiveness:
There will be three opportunities within the course for extra credit/grade forgiveness. All three are
granted to all students. No other requests will be honored and the opportunity outlined will be the only
available option.
1. The (optional) final exam will serve as a replacement grade for the lowest test grade
2. Your lowest quiz score is dropped from your course average
3. Optional: Your second lowest quiz score can be dropped if you prepare a written report
concerning the topic from which this second lowest score resulted
a. This is to be submitted to uncggeo104@gmail.com and is due by the final class of the
semester, no exceptions
Grade bands:
A+ =98-100; A= 93-97.9; A- =90-92.9; B+=87-89.9; B=83-86.9; B-=80-82.9; C+=77-79.9; C=73-76.9;
C-=70 72.9; D+=67-69.9; D=63-66.9; D-=60-62.9; F=Below 60
*An A+ will only be given if you achieve 98-100 without the assistance of a curve or ‘grade forgiveness’
Academic Integrity
It is imperative that students adhere to the UNCG Academic Integrity Policy which can be found at:
http://academicintegrity.uncg.edu. I have zero tolerance for cheating and will not hesitate to
immediately refer cases to the university for investigation.

6. Registration with office of disability services
Some students may require additional time on exams or require other accommodations. I am happy to
help regarding this matter. If this is the case for you, please register with the UNCG office of disability
services. You must do this before significant events in the course and I must receive correspondence
from the proper university representatives for considerations to be made. Without proper registration I
will be unable to accommodate your requests.
Course Schedule
Tests will be given during class on the following days with no exceptions:
 January 30, 2013
 March 20, 2013
 April 26, 2013
The final exam will be given in the normal classroom on the following date and time:
 Monday, May 6, 12:00pm to 3:00pm
We will cover as many world regions as time permits. You are responsible for all reading from the
textbook on units covered. Some regions will require more class days, some less. It is very likely that all
regions in the text will not be covered in this course. With that in mind, we will progress through the
regions in the following order:
Text Chapter Title
1 Globalization & Diversity
2 The Changing Global environment
3 North America
4 Latin America
6 Sub-Saharan Africa
5 Caribbean
8 Europe
14 Australia and Oceania
11 East Asia
12 South Asia
13 Southeast Asia
9 The Russian Domain
10 Central Asia
7 Southwest Asia and North Africa