The
Geography 247
- Quantitative Analysis in Geography
Fall 2007
Class Timings and Location: Lec. 401, MW 8:00-9:15 am in Bolton Hall Room Number
B95
Lab Timings and Location: Lab. 801, F 8:00-9:15 am in Bolton Hall Room Number
289
Instructor: Rama Prasada Mohapatra
Office: Room No. 444, Bolton Hall
Phone: (414)229-5818
email: rama@uwm.edu
URL: www.uwm.edu/~rama
Office
hours: Monday and Wednesday 10:00 am
-11:00am, or by appointment
Class Website: http://www.uwm.edu/~rama/geog247.htm
Required Textbook:
Bluman, Allan G. 2006. Elementary
Statistics, A Step By Step Approach, 6th edition. McGraw-Hill. Assigned
readings are listed in this syllabus. I reserve the right to change or assign
additional readings.
Credit hours: The
course has three credit hours (undergraduate) consisting of two 75 minute
lectures and one 75 minute lab each week.
Prerequisite:
Math 105 (Intermediate Algebra)
Course Description and Objectives
The main objective of this
course is to introduce the concepts of basic statistical techniques and its
applications in geography. Specifically the course would address descriptive
and inferential statistics, including measures of central tendency, the normal
distribution, ANOVA, chi-square, regression and correlation techniques. The
course will utilize computers and software such as Microsoft Excel for
performing all the computational work. Initially the lab class would go through
some Excel basics, but students will be expected to be able to use the software
successfully afterwards. This is a required class to complete the undergraduate
core curriculum in geography, and is a Conservation/Environmental Science elective.
Course evaluation:
Test material will come
directly from lecture and the textbook, as well as from slides and other visual
presentations provided in class.
Examinations (70% of class grade) - There will be three examinations (grade details are
mentioned in next page). The test questions would come from the topics covered
in lecture and labs associated with lecture. I offer extra credit questions on
tests.
Missed Exams:
Do not miss exams! I will allow students to take make-ups, however,
make-up tests are more difficult than the regular in-class exams, and do
not include extra-credit questions.
Laboratory exercises (10% of class grade) – There will be five laboratory exercises which will
require the use of Microsoft Excel. Each of the labs is worth of 10 points. I
will discuss further about the lab assignments in the class.
Paper/Applied Project (10% of
grade)
Each student will turn in a
3-5 page paper on an applied project that uses descriptive statistics,
correlation, regression, chi-square, or ANOVA. I will discuss this further in
class. TERM PAPER FORMAT: 1-inch margins, 12 point Times New Roman font,
double-spaced, paginated. Put name and title on the first page. Tables and
figures are not to be included in the page count. The students will have to
present the project findings to the class.
Class Participation (10% of grade)
I strongly encourage class
participation. Questions about lecture topics are welcome. In addition, I
always encourage students to ask questions when concepts are not clear.
Throughout the semester quizzes and other assignments will be given as a
component of class participation. Therefore, it is expected that all students
make it a high priority to always attend class. Students who miss class also
miss important announcements or changes to the syllabus.
Extra Credit
I give bonus questions on
tests. Other than these, NO EXTRA CREDIT IS GIVEN IN THIS CLASS!!! NO
EXCEPTIONS!!!
Grades
Exam1 100 points (20%)
Exam 2 100 points (20%)
Final Exam 150 points (30%)
Labs 50 points (10%)
Project 50 points
(10%)
Class participation 50 points (10%)
Total = 500
points (100%)
Grading scale
A =
450 points & above (90-100%), A- = 435- <450 points (87-89.99%)
B+
= 415- <435 points (83-86.99%), B = 400- <415 points (80-82.99%), B- =
385- <400 points (77-79.99%)
C+
= 365 - <385 points (73-76.99%), C = 350- <365 points (70-72.99%), C- =
335- <350 points (67-69.99%)
D+
= 315 - <335 points (63-66.99%), D = 300- <315 points (60-62.99%)
F =
<300 points (<60%)
After the final exam, I may
choose to alter the above grading scheme.
Important information
I may not remain perfectly on
track with the syllabus (which is a general outline for what we will cover) and
I reserve the right to alter the syllabus. As we proceed through the class, any
changes will be announced in class. Students are responsible for being aware of
any and all changes to the syllabus, including any announcements made while the
student was absent or tardy. Students agree to accept and comply with these
requirements by choosing to remain enrolled after learning of these course
conditions.
Special accommodation:
Students with limitations due
to disability, including learning disability may request for any reasonable accommodations. Students will be allowed
to complete examinations or other requirements that are missed because of a
religious observance. Incase of special accommodations are needed in order to
meet any of the requirements of this course, please contact me as soon as
possible.
Geography
247 Tentative schedule (Fall 2007)
|
Week |
Dates |
Lecture Topics |
|
|
1 |
Sep. 5 - 7 |
Introduction Introduction |
Class handout |
|
2 |
Sep. 10 -14 |
Chapter1 |
|
|
3 |
Sep. 17 – 21 |
Chapter 2 |
|
|
4 |
Sep. 24 – 28 |
Data exploration and
management in Excel |
Chapter 3 |
|
5 |
Oct. 1 – 5 |
Exam. 1 preview Exam. 1 on October 3 |
|
|
6 |
Oct. 8 – 12 |
Probability and counting
rules Performing mathematical calculations in Excel |
Chapter 4 |
|
7 |
Oct. 15 - 19 |
Chapter 5 |
|
|
8 |
Oct. 22 - 26 |
Functions in Excel |
Chapter 6 |
|
9 |
Oct. 29 - Nov. 2 |
Chapter 7 |
|
|
10 |
Nov. 5 - 9 |
Exam. 2 preview Exam. 2 on November 7
Exploratory data
analysis in Excel |
|
|
11 |
Nov. 12 - 16 |
Lab5 is due on Nov. 30
Download Data for lab5 |
Chapter 8 |
|
12 |
Nov. 19 – 21 No lab |
Chapter 10 |
|
|
13 |
Nov. 26 – 30 |
Analysis of variance, Time to work on projects T test, correlation
and regression in Excel |
Chapter 12 |
|
14 |
Dec. 3 – 7 |
|
|
|
15 |
Dec. 10 - 12 |
Spatial data analysis, Final
exam preview Project report due
on December 12 (9:15 am) |
handout |
|
|
Dec. 18 |
Final Exam (7:30 am – 9:30 am) |
|