The exam will be a Quiz on Canvas.
The Exam is NOT open book.
ANY cheating, use of notes, text, or communication during the exam will result in a “0” on the exam and an “F” in the course. The exam will be monitored by Zoom.
As per College policy, the exam uses a lockdown browser. Details for the Lock down browser are on the UBC Canvas site, and here: https://rossway.net/lockdown-browser/
I have posted a Respondus Test Quiz – PLEASE take it to make sure your tech works. This will save you stress during the exam.
You will be monitored by Zoom (using a second device like your phone, showing you and your desk). You must be on the Zoom call and keep your CAMERA ON at all times. Please keep your MICROPHONE OFF.
- I will ask you to show your faced clearly on Zoom at the beginning of the exam.
- I will ask you to pan around your exam space at the beginning of the exam.
- During the exam, please have your camera to the side showing your face and your desk.
Remember you are studying in Catholic learning environment and are expected to behave by standards of Christian morality and ethics.
The exam covers chapters 16-19 text and online notes, and online notes on Eolian and Deserts
A few things you should definitely review (not an exhaustive list!):
- coastal landforms (tombolos, sea stacks, beaches, etc)
- glacial landforms (various moraines, cirques, tarns, etc)
- soils – the sand/silt/clay triangle (if I give you numbers like 10/20/70, know it’s 10% sand, 20% silt, 70% clay – and what characteristics that kind of high-clay soil might have)
- coral reefs
- periglacial (arctic) landforms (pingos etc)
- tides – what causes them/high and low tide
- soil orders – know basic info about them
- wave motion and beach sorting
- eolian erosion – how wind sculpts landscape and names of features (yardangs, blowout depressions, etc)
- desert landscapes – how sand dunes form
- soil profiles – how they work
- ecosystems basics: habitats, niches, stability and instability
- nutrient cycles
- law of the minimum and limiting factors
Format
The exam will be 1.5 hours and will include multiple choice and short answer questions like the midterm
How to Study …
- The College provides study resources. Check them out.
- Read over the online notes. The exam is based on them.
- Make your own notes based on what you read.
- Quiz yourself.
- Use the questions at the end of each chapter in the text as a guide to study
- Make up your own questions to test yourself
- Use flashcards for key terms and concepts
- As you read the notes, do use the figures in the text (an online resources) as references. The figures/pictures really help you visualize what you’re studying.
- Review the chapters in the text. Note that I will NOT ask you anything that is only in the text, but not in your notes
You can NOT use your notes, my notes, or the text during the exam. Doing so will mean an automatic 0 and will be referred to the Dean for further discipline.
What Should You Bring or NOT Bring?
You should bring …
- Yourself! (refreshed, relaxed, invigorated)
You should NOT bring …
- Your text or notes (sorry, this exam is not open book!)
- Your cousin (a geography graduate student at Cambridge)
- A calculator (any math will be VERY simple)
- A cell phone, iphone, tablet, netbook, desktop, or other electronic device
- Any crib notes, cheat sheets, or other “aids”
You’ll do fine! That’s about it! Study hard! I know there is lots to know and lots to memorize (the plague of introductory science courses!), but go at it!
Bruce
Extra note on the soil texture triangle from Chapter 18 / Lab on Soils
What you need to remember is the numbers are always in the order: sand, silt, clay (drill it into your memory: sand, silt, clay … sand, silt, clay… sand, silt, clay ..)
So if your sample is 20/70/10
So, start with sand. In this example, the % sand is 20. So, go along the bottom from right to left to 20. Your sample will be along that 20 “line” somewhere.
Next go to silt — 70%. Silt is along the right hand side. Go down from the top to 70. When you find 70 on the silt axis (edge), your sample will be along that line.
Last, go to clay — 10%. Clay is along the left side. Go to 10. Clay is the easiest because the white lines go horizontally, so you go across on the 10 line.
And you’re there! A beautiful SILT LOAM!
It is a bit confusing! The key is to remember it’s always SAND-SILT-CLAY! And to make sure you are using the correct side. I will give you the identical diagram as above in the exam (I’ll just cut and paste it).
Hope that helps. B