Geography Department

GEOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT WORLD GEOGRAPHY CATALOG DESCRIPTION: 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 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. For students interested in world affairs, culture, international relations, and understanding the characteristics of places around the world. Course Title: Course Number Credit Hours: Semester and Year Instructor WORLD GEOGRAPHY 1303 3 Spring 2004 Mrs. Jennie Pierce T/TH M/W Class Days and Times FLEX - arranged #39001 9:30 – 10:50 a.m. 5:30 – 6:50 p.m. Tomball S259 #31002 Willow Chase 209 #30002 Office: Office Hours: Tomball S206 M/W - before or after class by request T/TH - 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. (or before class by request) jennie_hou@yahoo.com (preferred) E-mail Jennie.M.Pierce@nhmccd.edu Phone: 281-357-3655 (office) or 281-376-3414 (home) Course Learning Outcomes: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. World Geography 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 locational and physical bases of global human activities. Examine the diverse physical environment of world regions in relation to human geography. Demonstrate a stronger knowledge base of place-name geography by using and atlas. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ REQUIRED MATERIALS: TEXT : CONCEPTS AND REGIONS IN GEOGRAPHY DEBLIJ & MULLER (LATEST EDITION) ATLAS : GOODE’S WORLD ATLAS RAND MCNALLY (LATEST EDITION) OTHER MATERIALS : Base maps for map tests may be copied from instructor or others found online Evaluation: Your final grade in this class will be based on your total points from the following: TESTS : There will be 5 Topics tests. Map Tests : There will be 4 Map tests plus a COMPREHENSIVE map as the Final Book Review for Extra Credit : 2-3 page review from the list provided Misc. Assignments : there will be other assignments during the course. Current Events Quizzes : quizzes will be given the last day of the class covering the news of the week. There will be 7 – 12 quizzes beginning the 2nd week of class. LETTER GRADE ASSIGNMENT: Final grade will be based on total number of points earned (required + extra credit) as a percentage of the total points required. ( PE/PR) Final Average in Percent Letter Grade 100 – 91 % 90 - 81 % 80 - 70 % 69 - 60 % 59 – 0 % A B C D F ATTENDANCE POLICY: This is YOUR responsibility. There will be a sign in sheet passed around. I do not count absences against your grade but if you are “between” grades at the end of the course I will take it into consideration. If you are absent, please get the notes and assignments from another student. YOU DO NOT NEED TO NOTIFY ME IF YOU WILL BE ABSENT UNLESS IT IS FOR AN EXTENDED TIME. I have no policy on later arrival, however I, and the rest of the class, would appreciate it if you would enter or leave as quietly as possible. PRACTICE CONSIDERATION !!! ASSIGNMENTS: All assignments are to be completed and submitted to the instructor on the scheduled due date. Late assignments will be accepted, but there WILL be points deducted. No extra credit or make-up work will be accepted during the last week of class. MAKE-UP EXAMS: All make-up exams will be administered in the Assessment Center (or may given by me by arrangement.) You will need to arrange with me to have a test left in the Assessment Center. To take a test there, you MUST show a PICTURE ID. EXAMS for FLEX class : ALL topic and map test will be taken at one of the NHMCCD Assessment Centers. (IF the tests become available on WebCT at a later date, I will let you know) The current events quizzes WILL be available online by Thursday and due by Sunday. You will be notified as to when tests will be in the Assessment Centers and when they must be completed. WITHDRAWAL POLICY: Withdrawal from the course, after the official day of record (see current catalog), will result in a final grade of “W” on the student transcript and no credit will be awarded. The last day to drop this class and still receive a “W” is April 5th, 2004. I will NOT withdraw you from this class for administrative reasons. It is YOUR responsibility to submit the required forms. Failure to do so will result in an “F” in this course ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: NHMCCD is committed to a high standard of academic integrity in the academic community. In becoming a part of the academic community, students are responsible for honesty and independent effort. Failure to uphold these standards includes, but is not limited to, the following: plagiarizing written work or projects, cheating on exams or assignments, collusion on an exam or project, and misrepresentation of credentials or prerequisites when registering for a course. Cheating includes looking at or copying from another student's exam, orally communicating or receiving answers during an exam, having another person take an exam or complete a project or assignment, using unauthorized notes, texts, or other materials for an exam, and obtaining or distributing an unauthorized copy of an exam or any part of an exam. Plagiarism means passing off as his/her own the ideas or writings of another (that is, without giving proper credit by documenting sources). Plagiarism includes submitting a paper, report or project that someone else has prepared, in whole or in part. Collusion is inappropriately collaborating on assignments designed to be completed independently. These definitions are not exhaustive. When there is clear evidence of cheating, plagiarism, collusion or misrepresentation, a faculty member will take disciplinary action including but not limited to: requiring the student to retake or resubmit an exam or assignment, assigning a grade of zero or "F" for an exam or assignment; or assigning a grade of "F" for the course. Additional sanctions including being withdrawn from the course, program or expelled from school may be imposed on a student who violates the standards of academic integrity. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT: It is the policy of the North Harris Montgomery Community College District to provide equal employment, admission and educational opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, or disability. NHMCCD Colleges strive to provide an excellent learning environment free from harassment or intimidation directed at any person’s race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, or disability. Any form of harassment will not be tolerated. ADA STATEMENT: The NHMCCD colleges are dedicated to providing the least restrictive learning environment for all students. The college district promotes equity in academic access through the implementation of reasonable accommodations as required by the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title V, Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) which will enable students with disabilities to participate in and benefit from all post-secondary educational activities. If you require reasonable accommodations because of a physical, mental, or learning disability, please notify the instructor of this course as soon as possible and preferably before the end of the first two weeks of class to arrange for reasonable accommodations. TOPICS MATERIALS POINTS INTRO, CANADA, U.S. INTRO. PGS 1-28 APPND. “A-1”, ATLAS VI-XII TEXT CHPTR 3 & MAP LIST TEST # 1 (includes map test) ++++++++++++++++++++++++ CENTRAL AMER., SOUTH AMER. +/- 100 ++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++ TEXT CHPTRS 4, 5 & MAP LIST TEST # 2 (INCLUDES MAP TEST) ++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++ +/- 100 +++++++++++++++++++++ CHPTRS 1, 2 & MAP LIST EUROPE AND RUSSIA TEST # 3(LNCLUDES MAP TEST) +++++++++++++++++++++++ AFRICA , SOUTHWEST ASIA AND SOUTH ASIA +++++++++++++++++++++++ CHPTRS +/- 100 ++++++++++++++++++++++ 6, 7, 8 & MAP LIST TEST # 4(INCLUDES MAP TEST) +++++++++++++++++++++++++ ASIA AND PACIFIC ++++++++++++++++++++++++ CHPTRS +/- 100 +++++++++++++++++++++ 9,10,11,12 & MAP LIST TEST # 5(INCLUDES MAP TEST) +++++++++++++++++++++++ COMPREHENSIVE MAP FINAL ADDITIONAL WORK & CURRENT EVENTS QUIZZES ++++++++++++++++++++++++ +/- 100 ++++++++++++++++++++++ 50 +/- 200 TOTAL POINTS(aprox) +/- 750 BOOK LIST - WORLD GEOGRAPHY PLEASE BE ADVISED: There are several controversial topics and authors included on this list. Most of these books are fictionalizations of historic happenings and are open to interpretation. They are NOT to be taken as “fact” but may be representations of the events the author is dealing with. The purpose of this book review is to introduce you to other ideas and viewpoints. TITLE Sarum Poland families Centennial The Source The Covenant groups Alaska Caribbean Beirut to Jerusalem journalist Noble House business Plains of Passage The Haj fictionalization Arabia A Year in Provence France Galveston informative Princess woman’s story Princess’ Daughters The Kingdom Wine & War from Germany in WWII Body of Truth years Mirage The Perfect Storm the movie Stolen Lives story of escape Surviving Galeras Colombia No Apparent Danger viewpoint AUTHOR Rutherfurd Michener SUBJECT English history in fictional setting Polish history – follows several fictional Colorado territory – fact & fiction Israel settlement – by archeological “dig” South African history – through various Alaskan history – through statehood Caribbean history/culture – fact & fiction Lebanon’s civil war by American Jewish China & Hong Kong – attitudes and ancient Eastern Europe – fictionalized history Israel & Palestine – controversial Michener Michener Michener Michener Michener Friedman Clavell Auel Uris Raban Mayle Cartwright Persian Gulf region Englishman relocates to southern Island’s history – very interesting and woman of Saudi Royal family – one Sasson Sasson Lacey Kladstrup Lindsey story continues history of Saudi Arabia saving France’s wines set in Guatemala – mystery set several ago a woman of the Middle East the “perfect” East Coast storm more than “modern” Morocco volcanic eruption in same story.. different S. Khashoggi S. Junger Oufkir S. Williams V. Bruce Isaac’s Storm Larson 1900 Galveston storm – meteorologist I’m a Stranger Here Myself Bryson expat returns to the US after 20 years The Great Railroad Bazaar Theroux by train through Asia Yemen Mackintosh-Smith story of an ancient country to today The Sunburned Country Bryson American expat in Australia The Last Boom Clark & Halbouty discovery of Texas’ great oil fields Nathaniel’s Nutmeg Milton saga of the Spice Traders(historical) Volcanoes in Human History de Boer & Sanders impact of various eruptions historically Firestorm at Peshtigo Gess & Lutz 1871 firestorm in Wisconsin (Chicago Fire) Volcano Cowboys Thompson a look at American volcanologists Islam a Short History Armstrong a look at Islam by respected Catholic author Under a Sickle Moon Hodson journalist view of Afghanistan Heart of Islam Nasr exploring Islam’s basic philosophies Al_Jazeera el-Nawawy & Iskandar the “CNN” of the Middle East? DIRECTIONS FOR : Worth 30 points NOTE: hard BOOK REVIEW EXTRA CREDIT if it comes in LATE, you will lose 1 point per day. Reviews may be turned in as a copy or emailed as an attachment. DUE : March 20th, 2004 Book MUST be from list provided. BOOK REVIEW: 1) Must be 2 - 3 pages long, TYPED and DOUBLE SPACED …. (after 3 pages, I get “testy”!) 2) Must include : 1) Title, author, when the book was written 2) Summary or examples from the book and the time period it covers 3)What you discovered about the people and/or the location …may be positive, may be negative, depending on the author’s point of view. 4) Do you agree with the author’s “conclusions” or bias? (if any) 5) Your opinion of the book and why you chose it 6) Would you recommend this book to others…why or why not These books cover a variety of Geographical topics both human and physical. Some are fiction and others non-fiction and they vary in length. I suggest you pick your book early and take your time reading it, making notes as you go. I have read them all and know the differences between the books and movies! IF you find it necessary to quote the author or another reviewer, be sure to include (“…”) quotation marks and credit the author!!!!!