Frederick Community College

 

GG 101 ONL– Elements of Geography

 

Fall 2011

 

Class begins:  8/22/11

Class ends:  12/10/11

Last Day to Withdraw: 11/2/11

 

Instructor Information:

 

 

Name:  Corwin Parker

Office:  H-230

E-mail:  cparker@frederick.edu

Phone Number: (301) 624-2837

Contact Hours: email and  by appointment for in-person meeting

Campus Mail Box #:  290

           

Course Information:

 

Credits:  3

On-campus Meetings:  None

On-campus Exams:  1

Prerequisites:  :  EN 52 or ESL 99

Corequisites:

 

Course Description:

 

Explores elements of man’s environment and the changes resulting from natural and human agents.  Includes map reading and interpretation.

 

 

Core Learning Outcomes:

 

Upon completion of this course students will demonstrate

 

1.                ( Goal I)  Demonstrate college-level communications skills by

·        writing and speaking effective, organized, clear, and grammatically correct English in explaining the basic geographical concepts and vocabulary (1)

·        understanding and interpreting texts on issues related to geography, the environment, and/or human society (2)

 

2.                (Goal II)  Demonstrate critical thinking skills by

·        researching, analyzing, comparing, synthesizing, and drawing inferences from readings and other research materials in order to make valid judgments and rational decisions in defining the basic geological processes involved in the creation of the physical environment and in locating and identifying on a map or globe the basic landform, i.e., mountains, river, valleys, coastlines, etc. (6)

 

3.                (Goal III)  Display general knowledge and historical awareness by

·        demonstrating a general knowledge of history, culture, society, and of relationships among various disciplines of study through explaining the cultural/social implications of location theory, e.g., the “where” and “why” of socio-cultural phenomena as manifested in the environment (8)

·        displaying historical awareness and demonstrating an understanding of contemporary issues within their historical and cultural context through demonstrating an awareness of current global issues, events and processes that may have direct and indirect effects on their lives and through applying their geographic skills and knowledge in a practical manner (10)

 

4.                (Goal VII)  Understand and be able to interpret social and educational values by

·        displaying academic honesty and adhering to professional standards in the field of geography (23)

 

 

 Instructional Methods:

 

Group Discussion (in-class and online), videos, lectures, quizzes, research paper, internet companion site, reading assignments (in-class, current & relevant articles and homework textbook reading)

 

 

 How is this course organized:

 

This is not a self-paced course! You are required to check your announcements weekly and are responsible for submitting assignments on time. You are also required to read online instructions and guidelines thoroughly.

 

Text(s) and Course Materials:

World Regional Geography, 6th Edition, (Hobbs);

ISBN: 0-495-38950-1

Brooks/Cole Thompson Learning

 

Progress Report:

 

Students may receive some form of written assessment of their progress in the course no later than the sixth week of a fifteen week semester or one-third of the instructional time for shorter sessions. Grades are only guaranteed at two points in the semester, at the Progress Report and at Final Grades.

 

 

Evaluation Methods:

 

Tests / Papers / Projects / Participation

Point Value

Final Grade Scale

Exams (3)

Research Paper

Discussion Boards, Worksheets, and Exercises

Extra Credit

200 Points each

200 Points

200 Points

By Discretion

900 or greater = A

800 – 899 = B

700 – 799 = C

600 – 699 = D

Below 600 = F

 

If the graded performance for online assignments differs significantly from the grade average for proctored assignments, the instructor reserves the right to administer additional tests.

 

 

Student Services

 

A variety of services are available to assist students in succeeding at FCC. Students can learn more about these services by visiting the Student Services web page: http://www.frederick.edu/student_services/index.aspx.

Students with disabilities who are in need of accommodations or who have questions related to disabilities services should contact the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) office at 301-846-2408. Students can learn more about these services by visiting the Services for Students with Disabilities web page: http://www.frederick.edu/student_services/disability.aspx.

 

 

 

 

 Participation Policy:

 

(1)    Class participation is an integral part of successfully completing this course. Read the chapters and complete other required readings so you may participate intelligently in the discussion boards. This syllabus is not a contract and the only guaranteed information you will receive is in class. Accordingly, you will submit assignments on your own volition and keep track of your own grades.

(2)    Students must log on and submit forum postings in the Discussion Board by all given deadlines  to receive participation grade; THERE ARE NO MAKE-UPS!

(3)    In case of serious illness, emergency, religious holidays, or participation in official college functions, students remain responsible for completing the requirements of the course. No late assignments (or incomplete assignments) will be accepted for partial credit or otherwise for any reason. NO EXCEPTIONS!

(4)    If online components cannot be met due to serious illness, emergency, religious holidays, or participation in official college functions, THERE ARE NO MAKE-UPS of assignments missed but student may be eligible to participate in extra credit given to the entire class to make up for those missed points. There is no guarantee that the amount of extra credit given will be commensurate with the amount of credit missed by the student.

(5)   Students are responsible for being familiar with and meeting all deadlines. Technical Difficulties with computers are not excuses for late assignments. Late assignments will not be accepted.  Blackboard Support must be contacted within 24 hours (who will in turn contact me) of the due date and time of any assignment for any technical issues.

 

 

 

 

 Email Policy:

 

With the exception of MOL students, all FCC students will receive and are expected to use their FCC email address for correspondence with faculty and staff at the college. Students can establish and access their FCC email accounts at https://myfcc.frederick.edu. Email is an instructional tool essential to student-instructor and student-student communication. In the Blackboard environment by default, your email address is available to all students in this course.

However, students are permitted to use email addresses of other students in this course only for the purpose and the duration of this course. The instructor can be expected to respond to regular student email inquiries (grades, posted assignments, and tests excluded) within the time frame of 24 to 48 hours. Students are expected to use proper decorum in communicating with faculty. Emails which fail to meet this etiquette will not be responded to.

 

 

 

 

Academic Integrity:

 

Work in this course is subject to the provisions of the FCC Code of Academic Integrity. Plagiarism in any form will not be tolerated. As a student, it is your job to practice academic honesty at ALL times.  Make sure that all sources, particularly Internet sources, get proper credit for quotations, paraphrases, and ideas. More information about this and the Student Conduct Code are available at http://www.frederick.edu/student_services/studentpolicies.aspx

You must send your Academic Integrity Pledge to the instructor. The form is available at http://courses.frederick.edu/_utilities/regform.htm

 

 

 

 

 

Topical Outline

Every effort will be made to keep to this schedule; however, the instructor reserves the right to alter or amend it as necessary. Additional dates, as published in the academic schedule of classes and listed below, may be required as make-up days for inclement weather.

 

NOTE:  Content in Italics refers to assignments. Content in bold refers to reminder due dates.

 

Week

Subject

Text

1

8/22

Objectives and Tools of World Regional Geography

Global awareness

Perspectives in World Regional Geography

Latitude and Longitude

News, newspapers, and geography

 

Ch.1

8/29

Physical and Human Processes that Shape World Regions

Climate and weather

Global environmental change

The geography of human populations;  Globalization.

 

 

Ch. 2 & 3

3

9/6

A Geographic Profile of Europe & The European Core

Geographic profile

Populations and the landscape

The Dynamics of European Nations: The European Union Industry and power in Europe. Labor day is 9/5 so all assignments will be due Tuesday 9/6

 

Research Paper Topics Due

 

Ch. 4

4

9/12

The European Periphery

The Mediterranean

Resources and industry

Turmoil and stability in Eastern Europe

Geoquizator will be available as well as other study guides in preparation for the test

 

Ch. 4

5

9/19

A Geographic Profile of Russia and the Near Abroad & Fragmentation and Redevelopment in Russia and the Near Abroad

Physical geography and human populations

Geopolitical issues

Fragmentation and redevelopment

Exam 1: Chapters 1 – 4

 

Ch. 5

6

9/26

A Geographic Profile of the Middle East & North Africa

Regional profiles

The Saharan environment

Geographic settings and resources

 

Ch. 6

7

10/3

Countries of the Middle East and North Africa: Modern Struggles in an Ancient Land

Modern Struggles in an Ancient Land

Geography and religion

The oil resources

Ch. 6

8

10/10

A Geographic Profile of Monsoon Asia
Complex and Populous South Asia.
Southeast Asia: From Subsistence Farming to Semiconductors.

 

 

Ch. 7

9

10/17

China, Japan, and the Koreas

Physical geography of China

A populous nation

Effects of the Maoist Revolution

Japan: before and after WWII Japanese society

Divided Korea

 

Research Paper Draft Due

 

Ch. 7

10

10/24

A Geographic Profile of Pacific World; Prosperous, Remote Australia and New Zealand – move to a Pacific Rim orientation

The ocean and the islands

Peoples and populations

The Australian environment

Remote New Zealand

Contrasts in the use of natural resources

Exam 2: Chapters 5-7  

     

Ch. 8

11

10/31

A Geographic Profile of Africa South of the Sahara; The Assets and Afflictions of Countries South of the Sahara

The landscape and its features

Physical geography and human adaptations

Diverse nations, prosperous and poor

The colonial legacy

 

Last day to Withdraw 11/2

 

Ch. 9

12

11/7

A Geographic Profile of Latin America; Middle America: Land of Shaking Earth

A latitudinal spread of nations

Geopolitical issues and underdevelopment

Mexico

Central America and the Caribbean Islands

 

Ch. 10

13

11/14

South America: Stirring Giant

The Andean countries

Resources, poverty, and revolution

Brazil and Amazonia

Argentina: resources and economic trouble – starting to come back

Venezuela: Socialist and Defiant

Research Paper Final Product Due!

 

Ch. 10

14

11/21

A Geographic Profile of the United States and Canada; Canada, from Sea to Sea

The geography of North America

The Canadian Provinces

Canadian landscapes

The Arctic regions: Canada and Alaska

Geoquizator and other study guides will be available in preparation for the last exam

 

Ch. 11

15

11/28                              

The United States

A landscape transformed

Contrasts in regions and customs

Use and abuse of natural resources

Alaska and Hawaii

Exam 3: Chapters 8 – 11

 

Ch. 11

12/5

Evaluation/Inclement Weather Make-Up

 

 

 

 

Criteria For Grading

Grading for all subjective assignments, including debates, will be done on the basis of the SMART system:

 

S = Spelling, Grammar, Punctuation (20% of assignment)

M = Make-up or “structure” (20% of assignment)

A = Authenticity (20% of assignment)

R = References (20% of assignment)

T = Topic (20% of assignment)