MIDTERM – EXPECTATIONS… Note: this is a draft to encourage you to prepare for the exam. It may change.

There will be two parts to the exam.

Part 1. Terms and definitions. (Short answer) worth 50%

Part 2. Analysis of Utah’s regions. Maps 25%; Observations / Evidence 25%; Analysis (link to lecture content) 25%; Interpretation (why it matters, link human and physical geographies 25%)

Closed book. No electronic devices or communications with others, etc. etc. No breaks. I encourage you to take the entire time (until 1:45 PM). You’ll be graded on the abundance of your observations / insights as well as their accuracy and importance. Don’t be cryptic or assume I know more than what you say. Colored pencils and sketches encouraged.

PART 1. Define each of these terms and use each in a sentence that refers to Utah’s geography or a place in Utah.

(The terms or concepts will come from key terms of the lectures. I’ll make a list for your reference.)

Define eight of ten terms. No extra credit for additional terms.

Term	Definition	Use the term in a sentence about Utah that shows you understand the term and how it relates to Utah geography.	Why does this matter … reference at least one of the five subsystems of Earth systems or seven fields of social and behavioral sciences
Bedrock… as an example	The firm, coherent, continuously solid-rock part of Earth’s crust.	The big bold, red, layered bedrock of southeastern Utah draws tourists to experience the grandeur and wonder of the Colorado Plateau.	With respect to ___________ (in this case, the anthrosphere). Bedrock matters because Earth’s materials determine where roads can be built and therefore the connectedness of communities.
Other examples. Hydrosphere, or Latitude, or Region, or Migration, or Climate change, or Geography…

PART TWO: Respond to only one of these two questions. (Only two of the following four questions will be choices)

1. Compare and contrast Utah’s 3 physiographic provinces. Or 2. Compare and contrast Utah’s 2 major drainage basins, or 3. Compare and contrast six of Utah’s 29 counties, or 4. Compare and contrast Utah’s 4 climate regions.

Take an Earth systems approach. There’s a page for observations / evidence. There’s a page to discuss course concepts. There’s a page for discussion of associations of human and physical geographies… how and why these are inter-related.

Draw the approximate boundaries on this DEM. Additional sketches and maps are encouraged. It’s okay to make lists rather than write complete paragraphs. You responses will be scored on quantity as well as accuracy. Additional paper is available at the front desk.

Page for observations and evidence that compare and contrast.

Page(s) for ANALYSIS and INTERPRETATION.

Analyze your observations and the regions in the context of course concepts. For example, you could discuss the basis for defining regions. Interpret why the regions are important to geographers, and others. How might I respond? I’d consider the five themes of geography, the five subsystems of Earth systems, and the seven fields of social and behavioral sciences. .

(Lots of room for sketches…)