Frederick Community College

 

GG 102 ONL– Cultural 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 #:  105

           

Course Information:

 

Credits:  3

On-campus Meetings:  None

On-campus Exams:  1

Prerequisites:  :  EN 52 or ESL 99

Corequisites:

 

Course Description:

 

Studies man in his regional settings, with emphasis on the interrelationships of physical and cultural phenomena.

 

 

Core Learning Outcomes:

 

Upon completion of this course students will demonstrate

 

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

·        writing and speaking effective, organized, clear, and grammatically correct English appropriate for a specific subject, purpose, and audience (1)

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

 

2.                ( Goal II)  Demonstrate critical thinking skills by

·        evaluating evidence by differentiating among facts, opinions, and inferences (4)

·        generating and evaluating alternative solutions to problems (5)

·        researching, analyzing, comparing, synthesizing, and drawing inferences from readings and other research materials in order to make valid judgments and rational decisions (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 to explain how cultural regions change over time (8)

·        displaying historical awareness and demonstrating an understanding of contemporary issues within their historical and cultural context through comparing and contrasting the distribution, growth rates, and characteristics of human populations in terms of settlement patterns and the location of natural and economic resources as well as analyzing the causes and impact of human migration in both historical and contemporary terms (10)

 

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

·        identifying and evaluating moral issues and conflicts with respect to this field of study (22)

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

 

5.                (Goal X)  Value the emergence of a multicultural society by

·        acknowledging a plurality of cultural and pesonal values and by demonstrating respect for the right of  others to express their viewpoints (30)

·        examining a global issue/event from multiple perspectives (31)

·        recognizing the importance of language in understanding cultural differences (32)

 

 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:

 

Jordan-Bychkov, Terry G. and Mona Domosh. The Human Mosaic – A Thematic Introduction to Cultural geography, 11th Ed. New York: W. H Freeman and Company, 2009

 

Pearce, Margaret W. Exploring Human Geography with Maps. W. H Freeman and Company, 2003

 

Electronic atlas (available online at Google Earth or other application)

 

 

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)

Cultural Geography Essay

Tourism Brochure

Discussion Boards, Worksheets, and Exercises

Extra Credit

200 Points each

100 Points

100 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

Date

Subject

Activities

Human Mosaic

Exploring…with Maps

1

 

 

8/22

Class Introduction and general Information.  Syllabus, policies and class resources.

Topical Outline:

Global awareness

Cultural Geography

Human Beginnings; the Origins of Culture Geographic Tools

Syllabus and topical outline.  Blackboard Online

Grading policy and methods

Additional Readings

Textbook and Lab overviews: Five Themes

Read & Understand Course Policies

 

Maps Applied

Define Vernacular Regions Exercise

Maps Lab – a look at why people live where they do

 

Ch. 1

Ch.1

2

 

 

8/29

Folk and Popular Culture

Cultural Regions and a Sense of Place

Diffusion and Communication

Cultural Ecology and Cultural Landscapes

Parallel Worlds

Folk and popular culture

 

Video& Worksheet

Maps Lab-Appalachia and Sea Islands

Essay topic chosen

 

Ch. 2

Ch. 2

3

9/5

 

Labor Day

 

Assignments Due

9/6

The Geography of Religion

Spaces and Places of Faith

Main World Religions

Religious Diffusion

Cultural Interaction

Religious landscapes

 

Paganism and nature-based religions. 

Other religions over the world

Regional comparisons.

 

•Maps Applied

•Chestnut Article Questions Due

Video & Worksheet

•Maps Lab-A closer look at Middle East

 

Ch. 7

Ch. 7

4

 

 

9/12

The Geography of Languages

Dialects

Linguistic Diffusion

Socio-economic issues

 

 

 

The dynamics and evolution of the English language and other languages in the US; US English dialects; Language; Linguistic regions; vernacular dialects

 

Word Game Exercise

•Maps Applied

Short Video on using Writing Center

 

Ch. 4

Ch. 4

5

 

 

9/19

Exam 1 Review

 

Exam 1 – Chapters 1, 2, 7 & 4

 

 

 

Exam 1-Exam will be 1 hour.

 

 

 

6

 

 

9/26

 

 

Homelands and ghettos

Ethnic regions

Learn the particulars of homelands and ghettos in cities.

 

Progress Report

 

Ch. 5

Ch. 5

7

 

 

10/3

Political Geography

 

A Divided World

State Morphology

Political Behavior

 

ESSAYS  DUE 10/10

 

Ch.  6

Ch.  6

8

 

 

10/10

Geodemography: the peopling of the Earth

Demographic regions and the population explosion

Human settlements and change

 

Human populations vs. populations of other species; Human fertility and population trends

Maps Applied

•Maps Lab-“One Child” Policy

Video/Worksheet

Ch. 3

Ch. 3

9

 

 

10/17

Agricultural Geography

Food from the Good Earth

Agricultural regions

The origins of agriculture

Food and the environment

Food production as a major factor in human history; agro-industry and bioengineering

• Maps Applied

•Maps Lab-Guns, Germs, & Steel

 

•WHERE IS MY FOOD FROM?-HW

 

Ch. 8

Ch. 8

10

 

 

10/24

Exam 2 Review

 

* EXAM 2: Chapters 5, 6, 3 & 8

 

*Exam 2- Exam will be 1 hour done on campus in the testing center

 

 

 

11

 

 

10/31

Industries: how we use our resources.

Origins of the Industrial Revolution

Industry and the environment

Geography as a determinant of industrial development; Major shift in global industries continued

 

Maps Lab-Industrial Revolution Around the World

“U.S Automakers Bailout” Exercise

 

Last Day to Withdraw 11/2

Ch. 9

Ch. 9

12

 

 

11/7

Urbanization: the city in time and space

The evolution of urbanism

The ecology of urbanism

The city as a cultural center; our cities, our legacy; suburbia and the megalopolis.

•Maps Applied

•Maps Lab-Cities Through Time

 

Ch. 10

Ch. 10

13

 

 

11/14

Inside the city:

cultural mosaic

Urban culture regions

Suburbanization and decentralization Urban ecology

Cultural interaction and urban models 

 

Mapping urban populations; maps and urban planning; Analyzing your community with maps and census data

 

• “The End of Suburbia” Video/Worksheet

 

 

 

Ch. 11

Ch. 11

14

 

 

11/21

One world or many? The cultural geography of the future; Cultural ecology

Uniqueness in culture vs. globalization

 

Cultural Geography:  a review of the Five Themes

Culture and global awareness

 

Trends towards globalization; technology and global culture

Developing multi-cultural and global awareness; Cultural geography and our future

 

BROCHURES DUE 11/21

Ch. 12

Ch. 12

15

 

 

11/28

Final Exam Review

 

FINAL EXAM: Chps. 9-12

 

 

 

 

Exam 3- Exam will be 1 hour.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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)