Important Information

• Professor: Dr. G. Jay Lennartson
• Class Meetings: T,R 3:30-4:45.; Graham 116 (and locations to be announced)
• Email: gjlennar@uncg.edu
• Course WWW URL: http://www.uncg.edu/~gjlennar/fms104.html
• Office: Graham 120
• Office Phone: 334-3913
• Office Hours: T,R 10:00-11:30 am; and by appointment
• Geography Department: Graham 129
• Geography Department Phone: 334-5388
• Geography Department FAX: 334-5864

• FMS 104W is designed to provide you with a thorough understanding of the causes, nature, and geographical occurrence of atmospheric hazards: both natural and anthropogenic (human-induced).
• You will be introduced to the fundamental principles of atmospheric science.
• The course will probe thoroughly into a wide range of atmospheric hazards and will sensitize you to the impact and consequences of such events.
• Because FMS 104W is a writing-intensive course, one of its aims is to improve your writing skills in the context of learning about atmospheric hazards. The course will treat writing as a means of learning, as well as a skill to be honed.
• An additional (and mandatory) component of the course is the opportunity to participate in field experiences¾these will allow you to experience, firsthand, many of the important Earth-Atmospheric Science principles and processes discussed in class.

• Textbook: Understanding Weather and Climate; 1^st Ed. (by Aguado and Burt; Prentice Hall) (Required). Make certain that the book contains the accompanying CDROM!
• Laboratory Manual: The Atmosphere; 7^th Ed. (by Carbone, Lutgens, and Tarbuck; Prentice Hall) (Required)
• To supplement the required textbook you may find it useful to refer to a basic atmospheric science (meteorology) textbook. The Jackson Library has several good ones available in the stacks for check-out.  Additionally, I have placed meteorology texts on reserve (under my name and FMS 104W) in the Reserve/Periodicals room of the library.
• Throughout the semester you will be asked to visit various WWW sites and to explore certain CDROMS.  The information from this electronic media will serve to augment lecture and laboratory discussions.

• There will be a total of "3" exams. The exams will be equally weighted and will collectively count for 45% of your grade in the course. Examinations will draw questions from my lectures, your textbook, CDROMS, WWW sites, and supplementary reading assignments. Make-up exams will only be given under extraordinary circumstances, and must be accompanied by bona fide documentation. All make-up exams will be given on the last day of final exams -- no exceptions!
• Exercises & Participation (30% of your grade): a wide variety of exercises will be assigned throughout the semester. The types of exercises include (but are not limited to): in-class writing assignments, field exercises, CDROM exercises, WWW exercises, and library research assignments. All assignments are due at the very start of the class meeting on the due date.  Late assignments will not be accepted under any circumstances [including car accident, flat tire, printer problems, disk problems, illness (even with a doctor's note), personal emergency, alien abduction, etc.].

• Since FMS 104W is a writing-intensive course, a very important component of the course is a semester paper. You will be required to chose a topic from the field of atmospheric hazards and write a research paper on that topic. You will submit "three" drafts of your paper plus an outline. Each draft will have a due date (due dates are listed below in the schedule of topics). Only the final draft will be graded, however, your grade on the final draft will be lowered 5% for each day that a draft (or the outline) is late or incomplete.
• Each draft of your paper will be carefully reviewed and commented on. On each phase (draft) of your paper you will be provided with instruction and coaching in the following areas: command of the subject matter, clarity, organization, correctness, and effectiveness of expression.

Course Resources and Success in FMS 104W

• You are required to fully utilize E-Mail and Internet resources in this course.
• Material (e.g., lecture notes/outlines, figures, images) for upcoming classes will often be available from the course home page (http://www.uncg.edu/~gjlennar/fms104.html).  Such material will be posted on the course home page in advance of the class meeting.
• Classes will be conducted based on the expectation that you have familiarized yourself with the posted material and completed the asssigned readings, and other assignments, prior to coming to class.
• You are strongly encouraged to frequently check your E-Mail and the course home page (http://www.uncg.edu/~gjlennar/fms104.html) for important course-related announcements from me.  I often find it useful between class meetings to pass along, via E-Mail and the course home page, important course-related information (e.g., information about lecture material, topical information, web sites to look at, and information related to exams). Information relayed via E-Mail and the course home page will not necessarily be repeated in class!
• Obtain assistance from me - at the earliest possible opportunity - if you have questions regarding the class material, exercises, or reading assignments.
• I encourage you to come visit me during my office hours or if these times are not convenient for you please schedule an appointment.
• I would encourage you to take advantage of the "Writing Center". Their services can be of tremendous benefit to you and could improve the grade on your semester paper considerably.

• Any student in this class who has a documented disability that prevents the fullest expression of abilities should contact me personally as soon as possible so that we can discuss class requirements and accommodations.
• Final grades once posted will not under any circumstance be changed (with the exception of clerical error).
• In all matters related to this course, it is expected that you will conduct yourself in an honorable fashion and exhibit the highest level of integrity.

Important Web Resources

• FMS 104W Home Page: http://www.uncg.edu/~gjlennar/fms104.html
• WW2010 Web Site: http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/home.rxml
• Textbook's Web Site: http://www.prenhall.com/aguado

Miscellaneous Course Resources

• The Weather Channel (On Cable Channel 26 in Greensboro)