College Geography

Class Syllabus for ELAC Geography 002 classes ONLY.

Print this out and bring a copy to class on Tuesday.


                                COURSE OUTLINE


Cultural Geography 2                                  Instructor: Prof. Konovnitzine
ELAC    AA-3                                                Spring, 2012


T 6:50PM – 10:00PM                                   Office Hours: see below               

TEXTS: Required:        An Introduction to Human Geography, Rubenstein
                                                  World Atlas, Goode’s, 22ed.


COURSE PURPOSE:  To provide the student of cultural geography with the experience of investigation and interpretation of the physical and cultural regions of the world today, with emphasis on location, population, migration, language distribution, religions, political divisions, agriculture, economics and the urban landscape.



A.   Student Learning Outcomes:
   

At the end of the course, each student will be able to:
 

  1.    Analyze the importance of Topography (landscape) on the shaping of           cultures in various parts of the world, and the interactions between areas        that arise from their differences. 

  
    2.    Critically analyze the effect of culture on the shaping of Humanity in     various parts of the world.


    3.    Understand the importance of available resources to a country’s     economic success.

 

  4.    Critically evaluate and appreciate other customs, languages, religions     and cultural mixes.


    5.    Appreciate and critically evaluate the importance of different cultural     approaches to important issues of today.

Be more aware of current international news events.


    6.    Analyze the geopolitical/historical reasons for decisions made by     various countries.

   

7.    Learn to use an atlas and correctly locate and name countries, rivers,     oceans, bays, lakes, mountain ranges, etc., on a map.


B.    Class Assignments
 Examinations:

Two midterm examinations and a final exam will be given during the class.   There will also be five map quizzes.  The examinations will comprise a combination of multiple- choice, short answer essays/definitions, and long essay questions.  The examinations will relate to the textbook, videos and the lectures.

NO make-up exams or map quizzes.  See below.


You will need a mini essay book, pens and pencils for each exam.


C.        Grading Policy
      

 In order to do well in the class, one will need to attend the class lectures     (listen, comprehend AND TAKE NOTES), and read the text PRIOR to the     lecture.  YOU NEED ACCESS TO A COMPUTER.  The final grade will be based on the number of points the student has earned by the end of the semester. 

Letter grades will be awarded on the following scale:


90    –    100    =    A                   5 maps @ 5%        =    25%
       

80    –      89    =    B                   2 exams @ 20%    =    40%
70    -      79    =     C                   1 final @ 35%        =    35%
60    –     69    =     D                                                       100%
          

  0    –     59    =     F 
                                                        


D.        Course Policy


1.        Class Attendance: Attendance will be taken daily and is recorded.  A          student may be dropped from the class for poor attendance and/or     performance.  Good attendance is VITAL to your success.



2.        Drop Policy: If you decide to drop the class, YOU must do so formally.      Although I will make every effort to update my class roster, occasionally,     I may not drop you in time.   If you remain on the roll at the end of the     class, I  MUST  give you a grade(A-F).



3.        Academic Honesty: Please refer to the academic policy in the college     catalog. All cheating or plagiarism will be reported to the Dean for disciplinary action. In addition, that map quiz, assignment or exam will  get zero points.



4.       Success Strategy: In order to relate to the lecture, read the textbook     assignment prior to that week’s lecture as noted on the lecture  sequence outline. Also, you must turn in all assignments on time. Points  will be DEDUCTED for poor performance on homework assignments.



5.        Recording Equipment: No electronic recording equipment is allowed     without my WRITTEN permission. Please turn off your pagers, beepers,  and cell phones. NO TEXTING IN CLASS.



6.        Classroom Etiquette:  Please do not arrive late to the lecture.  Also do     not leave the lecture except in an emergency situation.  Walking out     of the classroom, talking during a lecture, arriving late, leaving early  is disruptive to the classroom, is impolite and will not be tolerated.

Please be considerate of your academic environment and your fellow     students. NO TEXTING IN CLASS.


E.        OFFICE:  AA-2
       

Hours: Office hours as mutually convenient.
 E-mail address: “prof@college-geography.com”
 This is the best way to contact me.

                          LECTURE  SEQUENCE

 

LECTURES:                                          TESTS/MAP QUIZZES:
                                
CHAPTER:
 

1.    Basic Concepts
   

2.    Population                                 Map: The Americas    
   

3.    Migration
                                   EXAM 1   (date to be announced in class)

 5.    Language   
 6/4. Religion/Folk Customs           Map: Africa
   

                                                           EXAM 2   (date to be announced in class)
    
 7/8.    Political Geog./Ethnicity       Map: Europe
   

9.     Economic Development
   

10.    Agriculture
   

11.    Industry                                    Map: Asia
 



FINAL EXAM: All Chapters and World Map on:

Tuesday, May 29, 2012, 7:30-9:30PM

STUDENTS ARRIVING LATE WILL NOT BE ADMITTED TO THE EXAM.



CURRENT INTERNATIONAL NEWS EVENTS: Each student is expected to keep up with current INTERNATIONAL news events as they relate to our class.
There may be periodic “pop quizzes” on world events. 



WEB SITE address:
 www.college-geography.com


Telephone: You may also leave a message for me by dialing my office at (909) 652-6428.
I check my telephone messages several times a week.
Please speak clearly and leave a working telephone number.


NOTE:    NO MAKE-UPS. However, if you miss one of the scheduled midterm examinations, I will take your existing exam score and deduct TWENTY POINTS from it and apply this score as your second exam score.  This does NOT apply to the Final Examination or the map quizzes.

ALSO, you must be on time to take any map quiz or midterm exam.
 Students arriving late will not be able to take the map quiz, midterm or final exams.

This is a tentative outline and is subject to change/alteration as deemed necessary and/or appropriate.