Geography 102D: World Regional Geography
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Instructor: Kerry Lyste |
Office Hours: see my homepage http://campus.everettcc.edu/Departments/sciences/klyste/index.html | |
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Office: |
e-mail: klyste@everettcc.edu |
Phone: |
By signing, you agree that you have read this syllabus and understand and agree to follow all classroom and evaluation policies. You will not be handed back any graded work until I have received a signed copy of this syllabus.
Course Syllabus - Spring 2008
Course Goals/ Learning Objectives:
First of all, you
will notice the date above - this is a dynamic syllabus, subject to
change throughout the quarter, as necessary. While you can expect very little
change in this syllabus, the linked schedule will be updated periodically, and I
will change the date on the course schedule when I do so. You will be expected
to review the course schedule regularly for additional readings, web materials,
updates, and announcements.
This course
examines cultural geographic processes (adaptation, diffusion, colonization,
imperialism, and representation) and cultural phenomena (human practices,
attitudes, values, and behaviors) as they relate to people's relationship with
their environment. It is designed to view humans from an environmental
perspective that explores human spatial behavior as adaptations to evolving
ecosystems. A wide range of cultural topics will be covered from a spatial lens,
which is not just concerned with the location of cultural activities, but the
reasons for spatial patterns, as well as the underlying factors, or meaning of
these patterns.
The group process
is a core element of this class, and the inclusion of everyone's perspective is
a key instructional tool. The class will be split between discussion group
format, lecture, and film presentations.
Upon successful completion of this course, you will know
and understand:
Materials:
Classroom Policies:
It is an
expectation that you act and be treated as adults in this class. Many of these
expectations are laid out in the student handbook, available in several
locations on campus. Your ethical behavior in regards to the completion of
coursework should be of the highest caliber, and your treatment of other
students and staff should be of utmost respect. It is also expected that you
will posses the skills necessary to function efficiently in the classroom. If
you require help in regards to language difficulties, comprehension, reading,
writing, taking notes, and conducting research online and in the EVCC library,
the college has many award winning programs and tools at your disposal. Please
do not hesitate to ask if you feel you have any skills that you need to address,
and I may point out help for deficiencies as they come up.
This quarter we
travel the world in just 3 months! This class takes a detailed look at the
diversity of cultural systems on the planet, and how they relate to the
environment. Apply concepts independently of the context you learn them (this is
referred to as critical thinking), and you can expect to do very well in this
class. It will be necessary for you to think analytically and apply concepts
outside of the box (or books) that you learn them in. Geography is a science,
but not static in any sense – just as the world is constantly changing, so is
Geography. To be content to regurgitate or memorize information is not the
essence of what geography is about. It is living and breathing.
In terms of study
skills, you will need to take good notes on lectures, videos, and group
presentations – you will be able to use these notes on the Midterm and
Final. You will find it important to treat videos like a guest lecturer.
Interact with the texts by highlighting key phrases and jotting notes in the
margins. Also, you will find study groups to be a powerful learning tool, which
will be reinforced by weekly group assignments. Also, there will be homework in
this class – you should expect to spend a good amount of time researching and
writing your group projects, and completing your weekly
assignments.
When class starts I
expect your attention! Please either turn your cell phones off, or on vibrate.
If you must converse (e.g.: cell phone), leave the classroom. While I understand
the importance of your being notified in case of emergency, responsible cell
phone etiquette must be followed, or they will be barred from the
classroom. During tests, all
cell phones must be turned off.
Your presence in
class and punctuality arriving to class are expectations and not pleasant
surprises. If you must unavoidably miss a class you will be expected to know the
material covered. Special arrangements for a test will need to be made in
person, in advance, and confirmed by e-mail. Absence due to illness will
need to be confirmed by a doctor to make up a test. You are responsible
for knowing what is happening in the course and for your grades. Also, I will
not accept late assignments outside of class.
Please, no
conversations while I am lecturing. It disrupts our classroom environment. If
you are unable to comply with this courtesy you will be warned the first time it
occurs, and be asked to leave if it happens again. If this behavior continues,
you will be withdrawn from the class. If you have questions about expectations
of your conduct, I would again advise you to consult the EVCC Student
Handbook.
It is assumed that
you will complete a week’s assigned reading prior the start of the week.
The weekly assignments should reflect this assumption. This process will allow
you to be actively involved, rather than passively involved in the learning
process.
If you require any
kind of special arrangements, do not hesitate to ask. I will do whatever I can
to help you do well in the class and have an enjoyable experience. There are
also many resources (such as tutoring, the writing center, etc.) that are
available to you through
Cheating on a test
will earn an automatic "F" grade for obvious reasons. You should also be aware
that expulsion is a possibility in such circumstances. Plagiarism will have
similar results – if it is not your work, it is not your grade. I am committed
to your academic growth, but can only be of assistance with you engaged in the
learning process. Taking what seems to be the easy way out is a short-term
solution to a long-term problem. Work with me if you are having difficulties -
my office is open to you, and I welcome your presence.
This is a fun class. Geography is what happens outside the classroom, and yet what you learn inside will allow you to interpret your world in a different way. You will see and examine cultures and people you never realized existed. Hopefully your world will be expanded a little. To me, traveling is one of the most enjoyable experiences - and that is what we will be doing in this class: traveling to different parts of the world and examining their cultural constructs.
Grading:
On the third day of class
you will be expected to hand in the first page of this syllabus. You will need
to sign your name and will be credited 2 extra credit points for this
assignment. I will keep the first page of the syllabus on file. By signing the
syllabus, you are signing a contract, that you have read this syllabus, and
agree to fulfill its terms. If the you do not hand in the syllabus on the third
day of class, you will still be expected to do so, to receive credit for
assignments that you turn in (you will not receive extra credit for syllabuses
turned in late).
ON the first school day of
each week, you will need to come prepared to take a map quiz on the week’s
region. You will need to know both physical and cultural features. You will need
to locate 20 features and each map quiz will be worth a total of 10 points.
Make up quizzes will only be given if you have arranged an excused absence
before, and only after you have missed more than one map quiz. An additional
map quiz on Oceania will be given on the day of the final exam for those who
have missed a map quiz.
There will be a variety of
weekly exercises that will be assigned the week previous. They will take place
on Fridays. The first week you will
be organized in teams. One week your team will present a topic in one of the 5
core areas (which you will be assigned). You must be present on the week your
team presents to receive credit (unless prior arrangements have been made). Every other week, we will do a
discussion group assignment. They will usually involve a modest amount of
research either online, or at a library. You will need to come prepared on
Friday to discuss what you have learned and found out from these exercises. You
will be able to utilize a group workspace in Blackboard to organize these
assignments. There will be 10 weekly exercises worth a total of 100 points.
There will be a Midterm and
a Final exam each worth 75 points each, for a total of 150 points. There will be
30 multiple-choice questions (worth 2 points each) and 1 essay question worth 15
points. Bring a scantron card, pencil, and paper. You
will be able to use your notes on the tests but not your book. You will be
tested on the text, lectures, films, and all material covered in class. If you
miss taking any of these exams, a make-up exam will not be given, unless you
have made prior arrangements (resulting in a failing grade for that
exam).
The last component of your
grade will be a final essay. The essay will need to be type-written, in 12 point
font, with 1.5 spacing, with sources cited and maps showing your topic. It
should compare two countries from the Carribean and Oceania, and be a minimum of
5 pages in length. It should also address what you have learned in class, and
especially the cultural diversity your study areas derive from the regions they
reside in. The grading breakdown for the paper will be up to 10 points for
each of the 5 core areas of:
Geopolitics, Economics and Social Development, Population and Settlement,
and the environment of your study areas. The final essay will be worth up to 50
points, and will be due on Tuesday, of week 10.
In general, you can expect
materials handed back within 1 week of when I receive them (not accounting for
times of unusually heavy volume such as Midterms, etc.). Your grades will be
posted on Blackboard. You can access Blackboard from the Student Favorites
dropdown menu on the Everett Community College homepage. Instructions how to
sign will appear when you load the link.
If you fail to complete any
assignment/s worth up 10% of your grade, it will be up to my discretion to
assess that you have failed to meet the minimum requirements of the class at the
end of the quarter. Therefore, your grade will be a maximum of
400 points, which will then be calculated on a 4.0 scale, with letter grades
assigned accordingly. The breakdown is as follows:
|
Map Quizzes |
100 points |
|
Weekly Exercises – Discussion Groups |
100 points |
|
Midterm Exam |
75 points |
|
Final Exam |
75 points |
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Final Essay |
50
points |
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Total |
400 points |