LONE STAR COLLEGE-MONTGOMERY
COURSE SYLLABUS
FOR
GEOGRAPHY 1303
WORLD GEOGRAPHY
CATALOG DESCRIPTION
Geography 1303 is a survey of human activity within the context of its regional settings. The course considers ideas such as economic development and the cultural, physical, and political, and political dynamics at work within each region. The course guides the student into thinking about human phenomenon from a spatial perspective. It emphasizes the understanding of place, region, and spatial connection.
CREDIT
3 hrs.
PREREQUISITES
None.
ADA STATEMENT
Students with disabilities who believe that they need accommodations in this course are encouraged to contact our division counselor Matthew Samford in F-338 (936-273-7341) as soon as possible to better ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.
PURPOSE
As the world has become increasingly interconnected through mutual social, political, economic, and environmental concerns and rapidly advancing technology, the need to understand geography and to be able to utilize geographic skills and perspectives has become even more critical. As educated citizens, reasoned decisions regarding issues like free trade and other matters relating to global competitiveness will require a sound understanding of foreign markets.
This course “introduces students to the geographical foundations of development and underdevelopment and to help us recognize the contributions that the study of geography can make to environmentally and culturally sustainable global development.” This in turn should place students “in a unique position to increase their understanding of the world and to use that knowledge to benefit themselves and others” (from the preface of the
textbook).
COURSE OUTCOMES
In completing this course, you will:
• Discover the scope, methods, and perspectives of geography.
• Define the relationship between geography and economic development.
• Account for the disparity among countries in the level of economic development.
• Explore the spatial bases of Europe.
• Compare and contrast the bases of economic development in Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.
• Identify the spatial bases as causes of Latin America’s pervasive economic underdevelopment.
REQUIRED MATERIALS
Texts:
Required: Clawson, Johnson, Haarmann and Johnson, World Regional Geography (Tenth Edition, 2010), Prentice-Hall. In the syllabus the book is referred to as “JHJC.”
Note: I have two copies of the JHJC ninth edition on reserve in the library; the tenth edition is a major reorganization and update, however.
Required: One pack of Scranton Form No. 882-E; you will need four of them for testing.
Optional: The Nystrom Desk Atlas. Note: This is not required, but it will help you study for the four map tests. If you have access to a recent-vintage atlas, it will supplement the map program in the textbook.
TOPICS
• Introduction to Geography.
• People and Resources.
• Physical and Cultural Components of the Human Environment.
• An overview of Economic Development.
• Europe.
• Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.
• Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
PLAGIARISM AND CHEATING; FOOD AND PHONES
• Plagiarism and cheating will earn the miscreants a failing grade for the course.
• Snacks are allowed in the classroom but no cooked food, please.
• Turn off your cell phone and BlackBerry during class or set them to vibrate or whatever it is they’re supposed to do silently. Flagrantly ignoring the cell phone mandate could earn you an expulsion from the course.
• Laptop use? Go right ahead, but don’t use class time to play Solitaire online so as to distract other students. Your laptop is to be used for note taking exclusively.
• Tape recorders and video recorders? Knock yourself out—whatever helps you learn more effectively.
INSTRUCTOR
Gary Brown
OFFICE
A-220 G
OFFICE HOURS
MWF—7:00 a.m. to 8 a.m.; 11 a.m. to 12 noon.
T-Th—7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.; 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
PHONE
• Work (936) 273-7324
• FAX (936) 273-7322
• e-mail garyb@lonestar.edu
• Web site: http://mcweb.woodstock.edu/~garyb/
PROPOSED CALENDAR:
Week of:
08/29 Topic One: What is Geography?
In-class material
Note: No class on September 5—Labor Day
09/05 Topic Two: An Overview of Economic Development and Globalization
Reading Assignment: JHJC, Ch. One, pp. 1-8; 17-24
09/12 Topic Three: People and Resources
Reading Assignment: JHJC, Ch. One, pp. 8-17
09/19 Topic Four: Physical and Cultural Components
Reading Assignment: JHJC, Ch. One, pp. 24-46
09/19 Topic Five: Geographic Dimensions of Development
Reading Assignment: JHJC, Ch. One, pp. 51-71
09/26 Test One: Topics One, Two, Three, Four, Five
The test will consist of objective questions and Europe place-name
09/26- Topic Six: Europe
10/17 Reading Assignment: JHJC, Ch. 4, pp. 212-269
10/24 Test Two: Topic Six
The test will consist of objective questions and Asia place-name.
10/24- Topic Seven: Australia, New Zealand, and Japan
11/14 Reading Assignment: JHJC Ch. 12, pp. 589-606; JHJC Ch. 10, pp. 538-559 (Japan)
11/14 Test Three: Topic Seven
The test will consist of objective questions and Latin America place-name.
11/21 Research Paper Due—November 21 is the Drop Dead Deadline
Note: Thanksgiving holiday is November 24-27
11/21- Topic Eight: Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
12/05 Reading Assignment: JHJC Ch. 3, 142-183
12/12 Final Exam: Topic Eight
The final exam will consist of objective questions and Africa/Middle East place-name.
ATTENDANCE EXPECTATIONS
• Attendance will be taken on a daily basis, beginning with the second meeting. A student who has missed more than six hours of class is in a position to be dropped from the roll, though the responsibility for dropping a class belongs to you. For whatever reason a student is able to fly under the radar and exceed the allowed number of absences, under no circumstances will the grades of “A” or “B” be given to anyone who has missed more than six hours of class time.
• Remember that November 11 is the last day to drop and receive a “W.”
EVALUATION
• Testing: There are three tests, a research paper, and a final exam. Each is worth 20% of the final grade. The final letter grade is based on the ten-point scale, i.e., 90-100=A, 80-89.9=B, 70-79.9=C, 60-69.9=D, 59.9 and below= F. A final average of 79.9% is a C, so every point counts.
• Extra credit: There is no extra credit available; work hard on the assigned tasks at hand.
• Make-up Tests: You are expected to take tests on scheduled test days. If you are not in your assigned seat for a scheduled test, it will be so noted. No phone calls or emails are necessary; a test in your name will be carried to the Test Center in the C-building (second floor). You have until the end of the following day to take the makeup. Failure to follow this procedure forfeits your right to take a makeup test. No makeup will be allowed for the final exam.
• Cal Ripken Jr. “Iron Man” bonus points for attendance: 0 hours missed is worth 3 extra points, 0.1-1.0 hours is worth 2 extra points, 1.1-2.0 hours is worth 1 extra point to be added to the final average. For example, the student who has a 78.4 average after four tests and the research paper but maintains perfect attendance throughout the semester will end up with a B instead of a C.
• I allow students who choose to do so to prepare one 3” x 5” note card, front and back, containing as many class notes (but no map information) as possible, for use on a test. The notes must be tangential to the surface of the card, which will be checked before the test is distributed. No note cards will be allowed for use with make-up tests.
Tags: GEOG 1303 syllabus
