GEOGRAPHY 352-01
WORLD
REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY
Fall 2013
Tuesday,
Thursdays 5:30-6:45; G03 Chichester
Lecturer: Dr. David S.
Hardin
Office:
205D Chichester; 395-2581; hardinds@longwood.edu
Hours:
Monday, Wednesday 1:00-3:00 pm; or by appointment
Course Description
Analysis of the
geography of major world regions, emphasizing the physical, cultural, and
economic factors affecting life in each. Special consideration is given to
current problems involving natural hazards, political developments, and
cultural attributes of countries around the world.
Course Objectives
This course is designed to teach you about
the important geographical qualities of major world realms. This is
accomplished by delving into geographical themes concerning the physical,
human, and economic qualities of the realms discussed. Each realm will be
approached from the standpoint of geomorphology, climatology, culture, and
economics. Specific realms will be used to illustrate major geographic
themes, such as political evolution in Europe, the clash of religions in North
Africa/Southwest Asia, population issues in South Asia, and the ecological
consequences of rapid economic development in
My Expectations
This course
approaches the world from a geographic perspective. It may sound like a
world civilizations course at times, but you should always remember that I
expect you to know not only the "who," "what,"
"when," and "why," but also the "where."
That means being able to locate the major patterns of physical, climatic,
cultural, and economic processes on maps of each of the realms we will
investigate. As a result, maps will account for a large percentage of exam
questions. As a historical geographer, I tend to approach geographic
subjects with an emphasis on process and origins. I expect you to listen during
lectures, take notes, review those notes each day and as the semester
progresses, obtain and read any supplemental materials, and read the textbook
assignments. You will be given a great deal of information. I expect you
not only to master it as it comes along but also to retain what you have
learned. If you heed my expectations and the other advice you will
receive (see "How to Survive a Hardin
Course" and "Classroom Etiquette"),
you not only should do well in this course but enjoy it too.
Your Responsibilities
This is a course with many different facets. In part, this is a Canvas
course, so you are responsible for completing all surveys, discussions,
and textbook exercises found there by the time they are due. You
are responsible for finding and using a computer and internet connection
capable of successfully completing said Canvas assignments in a timely
manner. If you have a glitch, you are responsible for contacting
me in a timely manner so that I can reset the system for you.
Because I am not online twenty-four hours a day, you take the risk upon
yourself if you wait until the last minute to complete assignments. You
are responsible for coming to the lectures, listening and
participating during lectures, taking comprehensive notes (you cannot
rely on the online outlines and PowerPoint lectures alone!), reviewing
those notes each day and as the semester progresses, being prepared to answer
questions on that material at any time during quizzes, and obtaining and
utilizing any supplemental materials on the course webpage. It is your
responsibility to make sure that each assignment's score has successfully been
added to the Canvas grade book. You are responsible for entering Canvas
often enough to keep up with important course announcements. Soon after
the semester begins, you must (1) enter Canvas and make sure you are in the
grade book; (2) change your email address if the address in Canvas is not
the one you use regularly so that you will receive course emails; and (3) let
me know if you drop out of the course so I can remove your name from the grade
book so you won't get emails from the course.
Required/Suggested Materials
Text: deBlij and Muller, Geography: Regions and Concepts
Fifteenth Edition
Map set: Hardin, World
Regional Geography Maps First Edition
· a three-ring binder is suggested for holding notes, maps from the map set, material you will download from the course web page, and the few items I will distribute in class
· color pencils or markers for the creation of maps and diagrams
· http://www.longwood.edu/staff/hardinds/Courses/World/index.html for other course resources
· this is a Canvas course. Textbook exercises, practice exams, announcements, and posted grades will all be found here.
Grading
|
Evaluation |
Number of Questions, Point Values (Points Per Item/Total) |
Proportion of Grade |
|
Three exams Final Exam |
up to 100 questions, 1 point each (100/300) ≈ 100 points (100/100) |
20% each; 60% of
total 20% of total Total: 500 points |
· If you have or
even suspect you have any special needs in regard to test-taking, make
arrangements with me and the
Exams
Exams are made up of a mix of multiple choice,
true/false, matching, map, definition and/or problem solving questions. The
total number of questions will depend on what was covered in class and will
total 100 points if all subjects are covered. The exams are closed
notes and text. You will be allowed to bring with you into the exam handwritten
notes on both sides of one 3x5 card. There will be study guides posted
sometime before each exam. Each exam will have a seventy-five minute time
limit.
Textbook Exercises
There will be ten Canvas textbook exercises based on readings from the
text. These will comprise twenty or so questions about topics, maps, and
images from the text. They will be open book and have no time limit, but
they will require you to read the material, interpret maps, figure out simple
formulas/equations, and to use your critical thinking skills. Each set
of exercises will be due on the morning that the exam for that section is administered
(except the final set, which is due on the last day on classes).
The syllabus will list when exercises must be finished and I will give you
warnings, but it is your responsibility to make sure you have completed all
of the exercises. Make me aware of any problems related to computer
glitches as soon as you can in person or via e-mail (which also means you
should complete the exercises well before the exam dates!). Because these
are open-book and have no time limit, you should be able to do quite well on
them, so they usually are a good counterbalance to at least one bad exam score.
Attendance
Because of federal regulations, we must have a means of determining if and when
students stop attending classes. Therefore, attendance will be taken via
a sign up sheet beginning after the add period.
I reserve the right to (1) administer pop quizzes/exercises if attendance drops
below fifty percent on any given day, (2) dock 1.5 points for each absence, (3)
lower your final grade by half a letter grade for missing more than 1½ weeks worth of classes (>3 classes; roughly
5%), or (4) lower your grade a whole letter grade or fail you outright if you
miss more than three weeks worth of classes (>6
classes; roughly 10%). It is your responsibility to keep me informed of
any events that warrant an excused absence (sports teams, academic teams, field
trips, job interviews, court appearances, GRE/MCAT, etc.). Social events
do not qualify. If you have a family emergency or an extended
illness (covering more than two classes), your first move should be to contact
the Dean of Students, who then will notify all of your professors and ask that
we accommodate your needs. Attendance is recorded weekly, so the following
week is the time to amend the roll. Appeals at the end of the
semester about absences will fall on deaf ears unless you have compelling and
documentable evidence and even then you may not obtain a reversal.
Technology Policy
You may record lectures. Computers for note taking are fine, but you MUST disable WiFi while in my classroom. If you are found multi-tasking, playing games, surfing the web, etc. on your computer, you will be banned from using it for the next week. Using personal communication devices such as iPhones, iPods, Blackberries, etc. is strictly prohibited. If you are found using one while in my class, for the first offence I may be mean to you and for the next instance you will be told to leave for the day.
Honor
Code
All students are expected to abide by the Honor Code at all times.
Collaborating on Canvas textbook exercises and exams is strictly
prohibited. Unauthorized back-filling of the roll is a violation of the
Honor Code. USE OF COMPUTER-PRINTED 3X5 CARDS DURING EXAMS IS A
VIOLATION OF THE HONOR CODE. All submitted work must be
pledged.
CLASS SCHEDULE
|
Week # |
Dates |
Topics |
Readings &
|
|
1 |
Aug. 27, 29 |
Introduction;
|
|
|
2 |
Sept. 3, 5 |
|
" " |
|
3 |
Sept. 10, 12 |
Europe |
|
|
4 |
Sept.
17 Sept. 19 Sept. 19 |
Former
EXAM 1 |
|
|
5 |
Sept. 24, 26 |
North Africa/Southwest |
|
|
6 |
Oct. 1, 3 |
North
Africa/Southwest |
|
|
7 |
Oct. 8, 10 |
Sub-Saharan
|
" " |
|
8 |
Oct.
15 Oct. 17 Oct. 17 |
FALL BREAK – NO CLASS EXAM 2 |
|
|
9 |
Oct. 22, 24 |
South Asia |
|
|
10 |
Oct. 29, 31 |
South
Asia/East |
|
|
11 |
Nov. 5, 7 |
East
Asia/Southeast |
|
|
12 |
Nov. 12 Nov. 12 Nov. 14 |
EXAM 3 |
|
|
13 |
Nov. 19, 21 |
|
" " |
|
14 |
Nov. 26 Nov. 28 |
THANKSGIVING – NO CLASS |
|
|
15 |
Dec. 3, 5 |
South America/Austral Realm |
|
|
|
Tue, Dec. 10 6:30-9:00 pm |
FINAL EXAM |
-- |
THIS SCHEDULE IS
SUBJECT TO CHANGE AS EVENTS AND INTEREST
WARRANT,
INCLUDING THE RESCHEDULING OF CLASSES, EXTRA
CLASS
ASSIGNMENTS, AND POP QUIZZES
Created August 26, 2013