GOG 2433
Section 39112
MTWThF 9:05-10:35
World Regional Geography
Summer 2002
Instructor: Michael Pool
Office Hours:
MWF 11:00-12:00
Home: 280-7654 (no calls after 10:00 p.m.)
E-mail: mpool@austin.cc.tx.us
Copy of syllabus: http://www.austin.cc.tx.us/pool/pool.htm
May 29 de Blij and Muller, Introduction
Study Guide
Video 2: Boundaries and Borderlands
May 30 de Blij and Muller, Chapter Europe
Study Guide
Video 4: East Looks West
Video 5: The Transforming Industrial Coreland
June 3 de Blij and Muller, Chapter 2: Russia
Study Guide
Video 7: Facing Ethnic and Environmental Diversity
Video 8: Central and Remote Economic Development
June 5 de Blij and Muller, Chapter 3: North America
Study Guide
Video 10: Ethnic Fragmentation in Canada
Video 11: Regions and Economies
Test 1 (Introduction-Chapter 3) June 7
Study Guide Due
June 10 de Blij and Muller, Chapter 4: Middle America
Study Guide
Video 14: Migration and Conquest
Video 15: Andes and Amazon
Video 16: Accelerating Growth
June 14 de Blij and Muller, Chapter 6: North Africa/Southwestern Asia
Study Guide
Video 17: Sacred Space Under Siege?
Video 18: Population, Food Supply, and Energy Development
June 18 de Blij and Muller, Chapter 7: Subsaharan Africa
Study Guide
Video 19: The Legacy of Colonization
Video 20: Understanding Sickness, Overcoming Prejudice
Study Guide Due
June 21 de Blij and Muller, Chapter 8: South Asia
Video 21: Urban and Rural Contrasts
June 25 de Blij and Muller, Chapter 9: East Asia
Study Guide
Video 12: The Japanese Paradox: Small Farms and Mega-Cities
Video 23: China’s Metropolitan Heartland
June 27 de Blij and Muller, Chapter 10: Southeast Asia
Study Guide
Video 25: Mainland Southeast Asia
Video 26: Maritime Southeast Asia
July 1 de Blij and Muller, Chapter 11-12: Australia and the Pacific
Study Guide
Video 13: Global Interaction
Study Guide Due
Texts
de Blij, H.J. and Peter O. Muller (2000) Geography: Realms, Regions, and Concepts, Ninth Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.: New York.
de Blij, H.J. and Peter O. Muller (2000) Study Guide for Geography: Realms, Regions, and Concepts, Eighth Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.: New York.
Recommended: Espenshade, Jr., Edward B. (1995) Goode’s World Atlas, 19th Edition. Rand McNally & Company.
Course Description
This course will introduce you to the breadth and depth of the discipline of geography. It is designed to view the globe and its human/cultural diversity from a perspective that explores human landscape patterns and uses that are produced by continental, historic, and economic regions of the world. From large-scale realms to the small-scale patterns produced by families, towns and cities within large regions, this course provides the student with a spatial perspective of human lifestyles as adaptations to local and global economic development.
This course is designed to develop an understanding of the character of various regions as influenced by environmental, historical, and cultural forces. Emphasis is given to thinking geographically in the study of man/land relationships and place formation. Lecture themes for each region will include:
a) physical geography and the environment
b) development issues
c) human rights
d) cultural groups/values
e) population
f) urbanization
By the end of the semester, you should also know how to locate each country and the main physical and cultural features of the regions that we study.
Grading
Exams (50 points): There will be three multiple-choice tests. You can drop the lowest grade of the first two tests; if you miss a test, that will be the dropped test. Test 3 is mandatory but not comprehensive. Students are required to bring a scantron and No. 2 pencil to each test.
Study Guide (25 points): Your grade will be based on completing the Map Exercises and Practice Examinations (except essay questions) for each chapter in the study guide, including the Introduction; location names as well as locations must be marked on the maps. The chapters in the study guide matching the chapters in the test are due the day of the test. Because it will take me several days to grade and return them, you may wish to Xerox them or tear them out of the study guide to hand in separately. This will enable you to keep working on your study guide while I am grading. Used study guides require instructor approval.
Participation (25 points): This part of your grade is based on your attendance and participation in class discussion. This will consist of three parts: attendance (15 points), chapter summaries (5 points), and class discussion (5 points).
Attendance (15 points) will be taken from Jan. 22 through May 4. You will receive the following points based on absences:
|
Absences |
Points |
Absences |
Points |
|
1 |
14.3 |
7 |
10.4 |
|
2 |
13.7 |
8 |
9.8 |
|
3 |
13.0 |
9 |
9.1 |
|
4 |
12.4 |
10 |
8.5 |
|
5 |
11.7 |
11 |
7.8 |
|
6 |
11.1 |
12 |
7.2 |
Chapter Summaries (5 points): write a minimum 275 word summary of the chapter using the Model for Studying a Place outline template that is due on the date in the syllabus for that chapter. Each summary is worth 0.42 points. I will accept the chapter summaries late until the test over that material, but they will receive ˝ credit (0.21 points).
Discussion (5 points): You can earn up to five points for participating in class discussions. This means consistently asking questions, answering questions, and discussing the material. At the end of the semester (Aug. 21), the class will evaluate each individual to determine how many points each receives.
Policies
1. One point will be deducted from your grade for each calendar day an assignment is late after its due date. Points will be deducted until a maximum grade of 70 can be earned; points will not be deducted below a grade of 70. After July 3, a score of zero will be recorded.
2. It is not my policy to drop students; it is the student's responsibility to drop the class.
3. Students are responsible for informing me when they show up for class after roll is called.
4. Incompletes are discouraged and will only be given for extenuating circumstances. Time conflicts and poor time management are not acceptable reasons; ACC has a very liberal drop policy you can use in these circumstances.
5. In cases of scholastic dishonesty (cheating) and after meeting with the student or notifying the student of the reasons for believing scholastic dishonesty occurred, a grade of 0 will be recorded for any work determined by the instructor to result from an act of scholastic dishonesty. The Dean of Student Services will be notified of the incident and the academic penalty and will determine if any further disciplinary penalty will be assessed. The student can accept the penalty or dispute in writing to the Dean, within five (5) College class days (excluding weekends) of the student's receipt of written notice of the academic penalty assessed, either the facts of the offense or the academic penalty assessed. The student is referred to the ACC Student Handbook for further details.
Extracredit
Book Review
You will receive up to 15 points added to your final grade for writing a 5-page review of a regional geography book that you select and the instructor approves. An A on the review will get 15 points, a B 10 points, and a C 5 points. You will be guaranteed at least a C if you meet the following guidelines:
typed, double-spaced with one-inch margins, no more than 12 point type
a minimum of 10 pages (9 1/2 pages not accepted).
received by the due date and not later
instructor approval of the books
Regional geographies are noted at the end of each chapter in the study guide. The full references are noted by chapter at the end of the textbook.