UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA, Department of Geography

Field Methods - Physical (GEOG 314)

FALL 2004 Syllabus

Dr. Franco Biondi

Course Description:

The goal of this class is to learn how a physical geographer collects and analyzes data to answer a specific research question. During the first few weeks, we will go out into the field, each time to explore a well-defined research topic. Several methods of data collection will be presented and experienced first-hand, such as site mapping, vegetation sampling, forest plot mensuration, and dendrochronology. Numerical analyses of the collected data will also be conducted in the Department computer laboratory.

Two extended field trips, each lasting two days, will focus on the physical geography of the eastern Sierra Nevada and Great Basin. We will visit Mono Lake, Yosemite National Park, Great Basin National Park, and other environments to witness and discuss their environmental history, from the Ice Ages to modern times. Emphasis will be placed on climate change, vegetation dynamics, glaciation, and volcanism.

Class Hours and Location: W 12:00-12:50 pm, F 12:00-6:00 pm, in 227 Mackay Science Hall. (please check the calendar for details). Field trips will always start at noon on the steps in front of Mackay Science Hall.

Office Hours: F, 11:00-noon or by appointment. Please come and see me to talk about any questions you might have on the class. I am here for you.

Office: 225 Mackay Science Phone: 784-6921 Email: fbiondi@unr.nevada.edu

Web site: http://unr.edu/homepage/fbiondi/teach.html (selected class material, class grades, etc., will be available through UNR’s WebCT system - see detailed instructions below).

Course Materials:

Recommended Textbook: Egan, D., and E. A. Howell, editors. 2001. The Historical Ecology Handbook: A Restorationist's Guide to Reference Ecosystems. Island Press, Washington, D.C. Available at the Campus Bookstore.
Background reading materials will be provided in class or made available at the Reserve Room of the DeLaMare Library in Mackay Mines Building, north end of Quad.
Useful class information is provided in the following texts (available from the UNR libraries):

- Introduction to Geographic Field Methods and Techniques, J. F. Lounsbury and F.T. Aldrich, 2^nd ed., 1986, Macmillan

- Doing Fieldwork, D. DeLyser and P.F. Starrs (eds.), Special Issue of The Geographical Review, Vol. 91, 2001, American Geographical Society.

- Trees of the Great Basin, R.M. Lanner, 1984, University of Nevada Press

- Native Trees of the Sierra Nevada, P.V. Peterson and P.V. Peterson, Jr., 197, University of California Press

- Fire in Sierra Nevada Forests, G.E. Gruell, 2001, Mountain Press Publishing Company

- Yosemite: A Complete Guide, J.P. Schaffer, 1985, Wilderness Press

- Nevada Mountain Ranges, G. Wuerthner, 1992, American & World Geographic Publishing Company

- The Backpacker’s Field Manual, R. Curtis, 1998, Three Rivers Press

Prerequisite: Geography major or minor. Also, please let me know if you have already taken this class at UNR from another professor.

Special Needs. If you require special classroom or exam accommodations because of a documented disability, please inform me at the beginning of the semester.

Field Notebook: Each student is required to keep a field notebook with notes from each class. This notebook is for recording data, methods used, plant samples, personal observations, etc. The field notebook should be a spiral or bound volume, not a yellow/white pad or individual sheets. Notes taken in the field will be essential to write the research report (see below).

Clothing, equipment, and safety: This is a field class – dress appropriately. Sturdy walking shoes (preferably boots), work-type clothing for both warm and cold weather, rain gear, and a hat are recommended. At least a liter or quart of water must be brought by each student on each trip. We will not be near drinkable water during most trips. Make sure you read, sign, and return to the instructor the additional sheets on Safety Practices and Accident Insurance. Optional but desirable equipment includes binoculars, pocket calculator, camera, field guides, and gloves. If you are not dressed appropriately or do not have water, you cannot be allowed to participate in the field trips.

Extended Field Trips: For the two extended field trips, the Department will supply transportation, camping fees, and cooking equipment. Students are required to provide their own tent, sleeping bag, and eating utensils (plate, bowl, mug, silverware). The class fee pays for UNR vehicles and mileage, but does not include food. Therefore, it will be necessary to cover dinner, breakfast, and lunch for two days. If we agree to share food costs, a couple of volunteers will be needed to organize meals, prepare a shopping list, and collect money. Cooking and cleaning chores will be assigned for each meal and shared among all students. Details will be arranged as the trips approach.

Groups: During field trips, it will often be convenient to work in groups of 3-4 students. Because of that, students will have the opportunity to do the research paper either individually or as a group. In order to assign individual grades, the group reports will need to specify how each member contributed to the research.

Grading: Students will be graded according to their score on two exams, a field trip review paper, a field presentation, a laboratory report/research paper, and participation. There is no final exam because the research paper is due the day of the final exam.

The exams will be a combination of multiple-choice, fill-in, true/false, and short essay/exercise questions. The duration should not exceed one hour, but extra time will be allowed for those who need it.
The field presentation is intended to be a preliminary version of the field trip review paper, and will be an opportunity to inform the rest of the class on your specific field topic. It will be given in the field, and usually it is about five minutes in length.
The field trip review paper will discuss in detail the topic selected in relation to the two extended field trips. The purpose of the paper is to write a suitable field guide for others who might wish to visit the location. This will require doing research in the library prior to the field trip, gathering information along the trip, and following up with additional research afterwards. The writing style should be informative and engaging, yet scientifically accurate. References to literature are recommended. The paper length ought to be between 500 and 1000 words, typewritten and double-spaced. Please come see me to discuss possible choices for your topic. Also, make sure you turn in the draft copy by the required date, so that I will be able to return it to you before the deadline for the final version.
The laboratory report/research paper will be written as a scientific analysis of field data that each student will collect during one of the field trips, and that will be analyzed in the laboratory during the second part of the semester. Therefore, the paper will include a statement of the research problem (with appropriate literature citations), a description of the methods used to collect and analyze the data, a presentation of the results, and a discussion that includes your thoughts on what the results suggest regarding the problem you set out to answer. The recommended length is between 1000 and 2000 words, typewritten and double-spaced. The paper will be graded on the clarity of writing, correct use of methods, and the quality of discussion and interpretation of the data. When doing research, there is generally no right or wrong. What is important is that you clearly state your problem, adequately present your assumptions, fully describe your results, and make a convincing argument about their interpretation. Besides a grade, the first draft of the paper will include feedback and comments, which you need to incorporate in the final version.
Participation is essential to a field class. Please check the calendar and inform the instructor of any schedule conflicts you have. In case additional conflicts arise during the semester, provide advance notice. While some arrangements can be available, students are expected to attend every field trip and class. Unjustified or unexpected no-shows will affect this portion of the grade.
There is no extra credit work. There is ample opportunity to demonstrate your desire for a good grade through the regular assignments.

Grading breakdown:

Exams (2 x 40)	80
Field trip/review paper (first draft: 20; final version: 10)	30
Field presentation	10
Research paper (first draft: 30; final version: 20)	50
Participation	30
TOTAL	200

Final letter grades may have a plus or minus according to the following scheme:

A = 93% or higher; 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 = < 60 %

Students will be able to monitor their individual grades (including the final letter grade) on the class WebCT site.

How to succeed in this class:

ü Ask questions in class, during office hours, and in the field.

ü Be aware of due dates, and prepare in advance

ü Keep up with the class material

ü Think carefully about your assignments

ü HAVE FUN IN THE FIELD!

Rules of Conduct (the tough stuff):

Attendance. Attendance is required. Please be on time, especially for field trips.
Exams. Tests are closed book, closed notes. It is your responsibility to be on time for tests, and to contact your instructors well before the test if you absolutely cannot attend. Students who arrive after the first person has completed the test will automatically receive a zero. Make-up examinations will be given only with an MD's note requesting permission in the case of illness, or a death certificate in the case of a family death. Medical excuses are invalid if turned in after the test has been graded.
Field Trips. It is essential that every site we will visit, either for fieldwork, camping or sight-seeing, remains as undisturbed as possible after we leave. In particular, all garbage (even small pieces) must be packed and discarded in appropriate containers.

Computer Lab[1]

Each student will have an account in the Department of Geography GIS laboratory. This computer lab has about 20 PCs running Windows XP. Please read, sign, and return to the instructor the lab Signup Sheet, even if you have already done it for other classes.

ü Turn on the computer

1. Press Ctrl-Alt-Del to log in

2. A window will come up asking for your Username and Password

ü Username and password are the same as your NetID ones

All of your work needs to be saved inside your folder, which is a subdirectory located on the lab server (check with the lab administrator for the actual path). Anything saved outside of your folder may be lost as soon as you log out. Make sure that each program you use will save files to your subdirectory.

Class web site

The class web site is located on UNR’s WebCT system. You need your UNR netID to enter the WebCT system. To activate your netID, if you have not already done so, please direct your Web browser to http://computing.unr.edu/authenticate.html.

1. Go to http://webct.unr.edu/

2. Click on LOG ON! to myWebCT

3. A window will come up asking for your WebCT ID and Password

***** These are the same as your UNR NetID and Password *****

(Make sure you activate your UNR NetID and Password before trying to access the class web site. Also, once you activate your NetID, it will take some time - at least 5 minutes - before the WebCT system will recognize them.)

After logging, you will be directed to the myWebCT page, which contains a link to all your WebCT courses. For this class, the web site will be used to post any updates to the syllabus, examples of quizzes and homework from previous years, test answers, and your final grade. Please remember to hit the "Reload" button of your web browser to view the most recent changes. Material made available on the web is not intended to be a synthesis of material required for the exams.

NOTE: Although WebCT can be used for virtual discussions, chat rooms, class e-mail, electronic tests, etc., we will not use those functions.

[1] This section may not be up-to-date because of changes that were made to the computer lab last week.