FEEDBACK Geog3600 – Geography of Utah

HW A06 – Atlas for a Utah School – Chapter 4: Hydrology: water availability, water use, water issues for ___ community.

 

GENERAL COMMENTS

 

Purpose of the homework assignment:

Apply concepts of geography to Utah and to Utah places.

Geography is the web of relationships among people, places, and environments.

Your atlas chapter presents information about Utah’s hydrology and how Utah’s hydrology is part of the web of relationships that defines your school / community / watershed / water planning region / hydrologic region / and state’s geography.

Expectations:

1.      Present information

2.      Analyze information

3.      Interpret information 

 

CONCEPTS of the HYDROSPHERE from lectures include:

·        SURFACE WATER defines the shape of the land by showing contours of equal elevation above sea level.

·        DRAINAGE BASIN / WATERSHED / MAJOR HYDROLOGIC BASIN… Utah has two major hydrologic basins and a very small piece of a third.

·        WATER RIGHTS are almost-property-rights, granted by the state of Utah for the right to use a certain amount of water for a given purpose.

·        FIRST IN TIME, FIRST IN RIGHT is the prior appropriation’s doctrine that says that the right to use water is based on the date the water right was filed, not based on the water running through your property, or your need for water.

·        WATER ISSUES that are important to Utahns. They include water use, water availability, consequences of climate change, water quality, and water costs. .

 

Assessment:

Approximately:

25% on map files.

75% on cover page discussion…

(a) Observations of geographic characteristics of your area’s geosphere;

(b) Analysis and discussion of those patterns

(c) Recognition, description and discussion three possible landmarks for your school. 

 

Supporting files (____ of 10)  - Complete?     Tell a story. Present substantial information. Basis for your observations, analyses, and interpretations. Include maps. Sources attributed.    

            Troubles         Just fine          Terrific

   

 

Cover page Chapter 5: Water and water issues of  ___________.

Observation: presentation of information about significant characteristics of the hydrosphere of “your” community and its drainage region.

Analysis of information and interpretation

Connection to themes of geography (location, place, interaction, migration, and regions… regions are very big deal).

Discussion of aspects of the hydrosphere: water plan: water cycle, precipitation, surface water, ground water, water rights, waste water, water usage, and water rights.

Interpretation… webs of relationships… people, places and environments. Water ISSUES.

Critical thinking: impacts and relationships of HYDROSPHERE with

·        other subsystems of Earth systems (geosphere, (hydrosphere), atmosphere, biosphere, and anthrosphere) 

·        Social and behavioral systems (anthropology, economics, family and consumer studies, (geography), political science, psychology, and sociology.

 

ABOUT YOUR ATLAS CHAPTER -- HYDROSPHERE.

 

(A few concepts… to you)

 

Observations (weight = 10)  ____ of 10.

Terrific: abundant, meaningful, show and understanding of what is special or important about the hydrologic setting of your community

Very good: important information provided. A “local” person would recognize key characteristics of the hydrosphere.

Just fine: at least observations… some diversity… evidence that you understand that water is important to a place

Not quite: observations aren’t quite observations (might be interpretations, or feelings); or lack of diversity (five observations of exactly the same theme); or narrow focus. Trouble: concepts not understood, such as, observations are not about the hydrosphere..

 

Analysis (weight = 10) ____ of 10.

Terrific: conveys concepts of geography… hydrologic regions are identified (major drainage basin and sub-basin planning unit) are discussed. Characteristics of your community’s hydrologic setting are identified and some are discussed.  

Very good: concepts of geography presented; discussion of region. Word such as hydrologic region and watershed planning and water availability appear in your write up;

Just fine: concepts are clear… hydrosphere, water availability, water rights.

Not quite: analysis is minimal or superficial… or your analysis does not tie to your observations or other supporting files. Not quite clear how your analysis defines your place, specifically its physical geography and hydrologic setting

Troubles: concepts jumbled, hydrology-terminology confused; or … discussion is missing.

 

Interpretation (weight = 10)   ____ of  10.

Terrific: the web of relationships is explored; of the 17 words/phrases I am delighted to see in your discussions… a few (2 or 3)are explored with some depth or a bunch (4-8) are explored superficially. The 17 key words are:

Themes of geography: location, place, interaction (human and physical environments), migration, and regions;

Subsystems of Earth systems (physical geography): geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere (weather and climate), biosphere, and anthrosphere

Fields of social and behavioral sciences (human geography): anthropology, economics, family/consumer studies, (geography), political science, psychology, and sociology.

Very good: hydrologic setting discussed as part of the web of relationships, or as big part of the physical geography of a place. Themes of geography are there, and / or aspects of physical geography, and / or aspects of human geography.

Just fine: clear evidence that you’ve thought about what matters about your area’s hydrologic setting… that the hydrosphere makes a difference to your place.

Not quite: connections aren’t clear, discussion is missing

Troubles: I’m concerned that the fundamental concept that every thing is related to everything is missing… that you may not see connections between characteristics of the hydrosphere and your locale.

 

Assessment… ___________ OUT OF A TOTAL OF 40 points…