Reference no: EM132692143

GEOG 1221 Introduction to Physical Geography - Thompson Rivers University

Assignment 1: Physical Geography Report

Assignment 1 is a required, comprehensive, 2000-word report, based on focused fieldwork and independent research over the duration of the course, in which you interpret aspects of the physical geography of a chosen study area.

This report, supported where necessary by additional pages of tables, data, photos, and maps, should:
• Describe the characteristics and interrelationships of the biophysical processes and features, and the human influence features of your chosen study area (one to two square kilometres maximum).
• Include maps and diagrams and use other reference materials, where appropriate.
• Indicate how the characteristics and interrelationships of the natural environment have been influenced by human activities.
Be sure to take a look at the marking structure below!
Based upon a suggested 15-week schedule, the final report for this assignment should be submitted in Week 14, but the outline for the research design should be submitted at the end of Week 10. You must start thinking about Assignment 1 and talk to your Open Learning Faculty Member about it early in the course.
Refer to the following "Suggested Timetable for Assignment 1" for suggested due dates for the various parts of this assignment.
Initial Discussions with your Open Learning Faculty Member
Contact your Open Learning Faculty Member early, by Week 3 at the latest, or soon after completing Assignment 2, to obtain agreement on Assignment 1, so you can start planning it.
When contacting your Open Learning Faculty Member, focus on the following discussion topics to help you plan and write your report:
• Maps showing the general location and main characteristics of your study area
• Description of the climate, aspects of the hydrological cycle, and ecosystems
• Analyses of the spatial and functional interrelationships between environmental systems
• Discussion of how human activities have influenced biophysical processes and patterns
Suggested Timetable for Assignment 1
We recommend that you follow this suggested timetable:
• During Week 1, read the instructions for completing Assignment 1.
• By Week 3, or shortly after completing Assignment 2, discuss the report with your Open Learning Faculty Member and decide upon at least a tentative framework.
• Work progressively on the assignment throughout the course as your knowledge develops with each unit.
• Submit the outline for your research design, outlining the study area and scope of report, by Week 10, shortly after completing Assignment 4.
• Allocate Weeks 11 through 13 to correlating and putting the final touches on material that you have gathered during the earlier weeks.
• By Week 14, submit Assignment 1, shortly after completing Assignment 5.*
*If you are undertaking a self-paced schedule and not completing in 15 weeks, plan your timetable with your Open Learning Faculty Member.
Marking Structure for Assignment 1
Breakdown of the 100 marks for this assignment is as follows:
1. Discussion(s) about the assignment with your Open Learning Faculty Member and an outline of your research design (5 marks)
2. References used and map (or maps) showing the general location and main characteristics of the area (5 marks)
3. Description of the climate, aspects of the hydrological cycle, and ecosystems/vegetation (based on course material); collected data as part of the exercise; and the textbook and other published sources-This description may include tables, photographs, and diagrams, in addition to written material. (40 marks)
4. An analysis of the spatial and functional interrelationships between the environmental features described in (3) (25 marks)
5. A discussion of the way in which human activities have influenced biophysical processes and patterns in the study area (25 marks)
Steps for Completing Assignment 1
1. Discuss Assignment 1 with your Open Learning Faculty Member.
This part of the assignment is worth 5 marks.
You may be keen to jump into the assignment and start collecting data and information right away. However, by talking to your Open Learning Faculty Member first, you can find out how to avoid common pitfalls-not focusing on a small area, not basing the assignment on your own fieldwork, and not focusing primarily on biophysical aspects and secondarily on human impacts. Initial discussions with your Open Learning Faculty Member will help you to focus on biophysical aspects of your chosen study area and find and use local resources for information.
2. Submit an outline of your research design.
This research design outline will form the organizational basis for your report. Think about and visit potential study areas, then develop research plans before deciding on your area and research focus. This will help you to prepare the outline of your research design. At first, you may feel apprehensive about the topics to be covered in the assignment, but rest assured that you will learn about those topics at some point during the course.
Together with the initial discussion with your Open Learning Faculty Member, the outline of your research design is worth 5% of the assignment mark.
If following the Suggested Schedule, it is recommended you submit the outline, together with Assignment 4, around Week 10. Your Open Learning Faculty Member will review and comment on this outline, then return it marked, along with Assignment 4.
Once you have read the Open Learning Faculty Member's comments and are happy with the content and organization of your report, begin writing your report.
3. Collect references used and a map (or maps) showing the general location and main characteristics of your study area.
This part of the assignment is worth 5 marks.
Remember, the objectives of the assignment are satisfied by concentrating on a relatively small area of one to two square kilometres, rather than by spreading your efforts over a larger, less well-defined area. You should be careful to choose a study area that contains enough biophysical variation and human influences upon biophysical processes to make your assignment interesting.
For a good mark, it is important to:
» Highlight the dominant characteristics that are to be the focus of your report.
» Support your fieldwork by researching a range of reference material from a variety of sources.
» Locate your study area. A good map or a number of maps (at a variety of scales) is essential to the report.
» Give the latitude and longitude of your study area.
» Locate your study area on the course poster "Biogeoclimatic Zones of British Columbia." This poster provides useful regional-scale information on all parts of the province. If your study area isn't in BC, try and locate a similar system (which you will use in-text citations and end references to cite, of course). An example in the course material points to Ontario, but there are many jurisdictions that have similar classification systems.
You may wish to collect some data or supplement your observations, such as temperature or precipitation measurements that may be available from local forest service/government headquarters, airports, research stations, or municipal, provincial, or federal government websites.
For instance, if you have developed an interest in a particular aspect of the course, such as vegetation succession, stream discharge, or microclimate, you may wish to elaborate on this aspect in a little more detail.
4. Describe the climate, aspects of the hydrological cycle, and ecosystems/vegetation, based on course material, the textbook, collected data, or other published sources.
This part of the assignment is worth 40 marks.
Your description may include tables, maps, and diagrams, in addition to text. Good answers incorporate other reference material and information from the course units. They also describe, for your study area, general characteristics and interrelationships of:
» Regional climate
» Soil-water budgets
» Surface and groundwater
» Vegetation
5. Write an analysis of the spatial and functional interrelationships between the environmental features and ecosystems/vegetation described in step 4.
This part of the assignment is worth 25 marks.
A good report will examine the more detailed area-specific physical and ecological characteristics and interrelationships that are influenced by such factors as:
» Local topography (elevation, aspect)
» Weather patterns (influence of water bodies, mountains, and land masses)
» Human activity (past or present)
• Other factors (producing the unique biophysical/human patterns of your study area)
6. Write a discussion of the way in which human activities have influenced biophysical processes and patterns.
This part of the assignment is worth 25 marks.
Good reports examine how land-use practices have influenced the physical landscape and vegetation patterns of the study area over time. Examples of human land use that might be considered include:
» Aboriginal land uses
» Urban and rural development
» Construction and maintenance of road, rail, power, and pipe-line corridors
» Past and present forest and agricultural practices
» Past and present industrial land use
» Development of water and recreational resources
» Exploitation of mineral resources
** Remember, if your study area is in an urban area like greater Vancouver or Victoria, the biophysical environment has been much modified by human activity. Observing and interpreting physical features and processes in urban and suburban areas is difficult or often impossible, so you may wish to visit an easily accessible rural region that is less affected by human activity.