Geog 2212: WORLD GEOGRAPHY Spring 2010

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1 Location: Wood 001 Time: MWF 11:00-11:50 am Instructor: Office: Telephone: Office Hours: Course Description: Geog 2212: WORLD GEOGRAPHY Spring 2010 Dr. Ho-Seop Cha Wood 8a (660) (Direct)/ (660) (Department) 2-3pm Monday through Friday or other times by appointment This course will introduce you to the major geographic realms and regions of the world. We will investigate interrelationships among these realms, and we will try to understand why the world is the way it is. We will also learn about geographic theories that can be applied to many different parts of the world. In our discussion of the world, we will make side-trips into history, politics, current events, climate, and ecology. By the end of the course, you will know how to locate events on maps and answer the questions: where, why, when, and how things are in different places. In doing this, you will integrate ideas from both soft sciences (anthropology, history, political science, sociology) and hard science (geophysics, climatology, physics) with geography to understand these interrelationships from a geographic perspective. Moreover, this course introduces you to the lives, conditions, environments, cultures, and conflicts of people around the world. I sincerely hope that this course will also whet your collective appetites for more information about the world we live in. Purpose of the Course: To accomplish one of the UCM s mission statements in developing an undergraduate foundation in the liberal arts, with an emphasis on integrating critical thinking, interaction, valuing, communication skills and technological applications through the use of geographic techniques; To familiarize students with countries, regions, and events happening around the world; To bridge gap between the social and physical worlds; To educate students on the geographic theories; and To situate local events within the broader picture and understand the theoretical basis of spatial geography. Expected achievements from this course: Upon the completion of this course students should be able to: 1. Appreciate the depth, breadth and value of geography as a discipline by: a. the study of the relationships between regional and systematic geography and b. the exposure to the major current geographic themes and approaches. 2. Educate others to enable them to: a. identify, describe, and correlate patterns of spatial distribution of human activities around the world; and b. understand the fundamental concepts of regions, their natural resources and social factors governing these resources. 3. Analyze regional and global patterns of: a. available resources and their economic importance; b. agrarian, political, and industrial revolutions; and c. rural and urban settlement systems. 4. Demonstrate an understanding of human sequence: a. cultural fragmentation; b. economic integration; 1

2 c. politico-cultural and economic developments, reasons for changing countries boundaries; and d. urbanization patterns and rural-to-urban migration and vice-versa. 5. Demonstrate an understanding of global cultural and economic diversities by identifying and correlating: a. ethnic and racial contrasts with patterns and landscapes, and b. economic activities by regions and countries. 6. Exercise skills in creative thinking individually and in groups. 7. Evaluate geographic factors in real-world scenarios, case studies, and/or field settings. 8. Hold an appreciation for the world geography. Learning Outcomes: Higher-Order Thinking # 3: Employ both induction and deduction and manipulate quantitative and qualitative evidence to study relationships. Social & Behavioral Sciences # 5: Articulate the interconnectedness of people and places around the globe. Course objectives: 1. To familiarize students with various geographic terms and concepts. 2. To introduce the regional concept and increase students appreciation to familiarize with world s culture, demography, religion, politics, and economies. 3. To gather students first hand experience and progressively develop this course toward more applied to solve real life problems. Communicating: 1. Communicate in written and spatial forms of geographic concepts through the making and interpretation of maps and integrating findings from maps into geographic theories. 2. Data interpretation to explain the on-going socio-demographic and socio-cultural processes around the world realms and regions. 3. Read and interpret maps to: a. employ the concepts of geographic coordinates systems; b. apply the concepts of functional and uniform regions; c. interpret distance, direction, size, shape, and assorted map symbols; d. locate and interpret places, boundaries, and regions; e. interpret cultural, quantitative data/information; f. read and interpret maps, topographic quadrangles, and remotely-sensed images using both hard copy and electronic forms; and g. read and interpret maps showing quantitative data by the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Grading and Evaluation: Grading Policy Midterm I, II, and III (the lowest one dropped) 120 points: 40 % Final 60 points: 20 % Assignments (two to three) 30 points: 10 % 10 to 20 Random Attendance Checks (10% dropped) 30 points: 10 % 4 Map Quizzes (the lowest one dropped) 60 points: 20 % Total 300 points: 100 % 2

3 1. There will be three midterm tests and a final exam. Three midterms are worth 20% respectively and the lowest one will be dropped. However, you cannot drop a midterm with a score of 0. In other words, you must take all 3 midterm exams in order to drop the one with the lowest score. If you have any midterm with a score of 0, then there will be no drop. The final exam is worth 20% and there is no drop. All midterms including final exam will cover material up to that point in the class, but will NOT be cumulative. The midterms and the final will use the full class period. You are responsible for bringing your own scantron and #2 pencil for those exams. The appropriate scantron form is NT-4521, which is available at the bookstore in the union. 2. Homework Assignments will be required. These assignments will be worth 10% of the course grade. It will be handed out at the beginning of class and will be due by 5 pm of the class day one week or so later. 5% out of full score for the assignment will be subtracted from the assignment score for every day it is late. 3. There will be 10 to 20 attendance checks, together worth 10% of the course grade. For students convenience, 10% of them will be dropped. Absence with reasonable reasons with official or proven documents will be excused. 4. There will be 4 map quizzes, together worth 20% of the course grade. Each map quiz is worth 20 points and the lowest one will be dropped. However, you cannot drop a map quiz with a score of 0. In other words, you must take all 4 map quizzes in order to drop the one with the lowest score. If you have any quiz with a score of 0, then there will be no drop. These will cover physical features, political units, and cities, and will be used to ensure that students are familiar with the regions being discussed. A study guide for the map quizzes is included at the end of the syllabus and also available on Blackboard. Each map quiz will be given at the beginning of the class period and will last for 15 minutes. Students arriving late will NOT get extra time. Basis of letter grades: A: % B: 80-89% C: 70-79% D: 60-69% F: <60% Attendance and behavior in class: I will take attendance once or twice per week. I keep track of attendance because it helps me to learn your names, and because it helps me to evaluate my teaching when I correlate your attendance with your grade. But, you do not need my permission to miss class. I believe in treating you all like the adults that you are. You have all paid good money to attend this university and this class, and if you feel like wasting that money by not attending, that is your decision. You should be aware that all my test questions will come directly from class lecture. Thus, regular attendance and good note-taking will help you to get a better grade. I will not tolerate any disruptive behavior in class. This includes but is not limited to text messaging, allowing your cell phone to ring during class (including vibrate!), talking to your neighbor, or sleeping. These things are disrespectful not only to me, but also to your fellow classmates, and if I see you engaging in any of these behaviors, then I will ask you to leave class. If you persist with disruptive behavior over multiple class periods, then I will not allow you to attend future classes. Also, it is distracting if you leave during class. Consequently, I expect you to attend the entire class unless you ve arranged for special considerations. Policy on Academic Honesty: Students should be familiar with university regulations regarding academic honesty. Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated, i.e. cheating and plagiarism are grounds for failure of the course. Student conduct in accordance with the UCM Student Handbook is expected. 3

4 Accessibility Statement: Students with documented disabilities who are seeking academic accommodations should contact the Office of Accessibility Services, Union 222, (Voice and TTY) Text and Supplements: 1. de Blij, H.J. and Peter O. Muller (2006). Geography, Realms, Regions, and Concepts. Twelfth Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ISBN: Map Packet: Required (Free download from Blackboard) 3. A world atlas is not required but recommended. Goode s World Atlas is good, and there are a number of good ones available in the bookstores. Make sure you find one published in the last year or so. 4

5 Tentative Schedule: Week Lecture Date Chapter Topic 1 1/11 Intro Introduction to class and to geography 1 2 1/13 Intro Basic concepts 3 1/15 Intro Basic concepts 1/18 No Class Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday 2 4 1/20 Intro Basic concepts 5 1/22 Intro Basic concepts, Map Quiz 1 6 1/25 3 United States and Canada 3 7 1/27 3 United States and Canada 8 1/29 3 United States and Canada, assignment 1 handed out 9 2/1 3 United States and Canada /3 3 United States and Canada 11 2/5 Midterm I 12 2/8 1 Europe, assignment 1 due /10 1 Europe 14 2/12 1 Europe, Map Quiz /15 1 Europe /17 1 Europe 17 2/19 2 The Russian Realm 18 2/22 2 The Russian Realm /24 2 The Russian Realm 20 2/26 2 The Russian Realm, Map Quiz /1 11 Austral Realm /3 11 Austral Realm 23 3/5 Midterm II 24 3/8 11 Austral Realm /10 9 East Asia 26 3/12 9 East Asia 10 3/15-3/19 No Class Spring Break 27 3/22 9 East Asia /24 8, 10 South Asia, Southeast Asia 29 3/26 8, 10 South Asia, Southeast Asia, Map Quiz /29 8, 10 South Asia, Southeast Asia /31 7 North Africa/Southwest Asia 32 4/2 Midterm III 33 4/5 7 North Africa, Southwest Asia /7 7 North Africa, Southwest Asia 35 4/9 7 North Africa/Southwest Asia 36 4/12 6 Subsaharan Africa 14 4/14 No Class: Instructor attends AAG Conference 4/16 No Class: Instructor attends AAG Conference 37 4/19 6 Subsaharan Africa /21 6 Subsaharan Africa, assignment 2 handed out 39 4/23 5 South America 40 4/26 4, 5 Middle America, South America /28 4, 5 Middle America, South America 42 4/30 4, 5 Middle America, South America, assignment 2 due 17 5/5, Wed Final Exam: 11:00am-1:00pm 5