GG 102 – Cultural
Geography
Fall 2007
Instructor Information:
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Name: Jennifer Dotson |
Office: B101 |
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E-mail: jdotson@frederick.edu |
Phone Number: 301-846-2507 |
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Office Hours: via email |
Campus Mail Box Number: 381 |
Course Information:
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Credits: 3 |
Last Day to Drop: |
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Prerequisites: None |
Co-requisites: None |
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Meeting Day(s): Online |
Meeting Time(s): online |
Course Description:
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Studies man in his regional settings, with emphasis on the interrelationships of physical and cultural phenomena. |
Core Learning Outcomes. Students completing this course will be able to:
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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) |
Additional Outcomes:
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In addition to the
above, the students will demonstrate geographic literacy by being able to:
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Classroom activities and assignments, discussion, internet websites; map reading, drawing, and interpretation exercises; homework assignments. |
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Jordan-Bychkov, Terry G. and
Mona Domosh. The Human Mosaic – A Thematic
Introduction to Cultural geography, 10th Ed. |
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Pearce, Margaret W. Exploring Human Geography with Maps. W. H Freeman and Company, 2003 |
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Electronic atlas from National Geographic-available at bookstore. |
Graded Items
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Final Grade Scale |
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· Exams (3) · Weekly Geography Assignments · Map Workbook exercises · Participation in discussions online · Each graded item will be scored in points. |
96-100 |
A+ |
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90-95 |
A |
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80-89 |
B |
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70-79 |
C |
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60-69 |
D |
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Below 60 |
F |
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Assignments: Many assignments are for practice only. The assignments that must be
turned in will be noted on the syllabus and in the Announcements section of
the Blackboard site. Required turn-in assignments include weekly forum
discussions. Refer to the syllabus for guidance on deadlines. No late
assignments will be accepted without a doctor’s note. Should you have a
family emergency or other issue, notify the instructor immediately and WELL
BEFORE (at least two days) the due date to arrange a new due date. Computer
problems are not a valid excuse. Make Up
Exams: If it is necessary to miss an exam, you will be allowed to take a make-up exam ONLY if you have a valid excuse and have notified your instructor BEFORE the exam. If you want to make up an exam, it is your responsibility to schedule your make-up exam with the instructor. Failure to follow this procedure will result in NO MAKE-UP EXAM!!! |
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Students will be provided a progress report at week six via email. |
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Students in this class are expected to attend each week. Blackboard
enables the instructor to check if students have read materials and
downloaded practice assignments. You are expected to complete the practice
assignments, though they are not turned in for a grade. All material presented
in the course could appear on the exams. The majority of students will find that class attendance is required in order to complete course work satisfactorily. Excused absences include illness (with doctor's note), emergencies, religious holidays, and official College functions. However, because this is an online course, you should plan ahead, manage your time wisely, and complete assignments in a timely manner. |
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Each student is expected to perform his/her own academic work. Plagiarism and other forms of academic
dishonesty are considered extremely serious offenses. The student is
personally responsible for understanding the various forms of academic
dishonesty as they are explained in the "Student Code of Conduct"
in the Student Handbook. Ignorance of
any requirement for academic honesty will not constitute an excuse from
disciplinary proceedings. Any form of cheating will be considered grounds for
failure of the course. |
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The instructor reserves the right to
adjust the assignments or schedule.
This may also change the date(s) of one or more of the exams. Any affected assignment due dates may also
be adjusted. In the event the schedule
is adjusted, the student will remain responsible for all the assignments
listed in this syllabus and online. Email is vital and you must check it in
order to be updated on any and all changes to the syllabus and assignment
deadlines. |
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Students are required to have a valid
e-mail address and it must be the one listed in the school’s database. You
can change your email address in the database. Emails will only be sent to
the email address listed in the class database. Class resources in Blackboard
include announcements, course syllabus, web links, and assignments. |
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Class participation is an integral part of successfully completing
this course. Discussion forums will be the main way you will communicate with
other students. Count on making the discussion forums a major part of your
course instruction. |
GG 102 – Cultural
Geography – Fall 2007
|
Week |
Week of |
Subject |
Activities |
Textbook |
Workbook |
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1 |
Aug.
27 |
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
Textbook
and Lab overviews: Five Themes Read
& Understand Course Policies Lecture and discussion •Maps Applied •Maps Lab-a look at different maps |
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Ch.1 |
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2 |
Sept.
3 |
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 CHESTNUT
ARTICLE-TURN IN QUESTION SHEET-DUE SEPT. 10 •Maps
applied •Maps Lab-Appalachia and |
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3 |
Sept.
10 |
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. CHESTNUT ARTICLE QUESTIONS DUE •Maps
Applied •Optional
Video & Worksheet •Maps
Lab-A closer look at |
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4 |
Sept.
17 |
The Geography of
Languages
Dialects
Linguistic Diffusion
Socio-economic
issues
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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 |
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5 |
Sept.
24 |
EXAM
1: Chapters 1-4 |
Exam
1-Take the exam anytime from Sept. 22, 6 am-Sept. 26, |
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6 |
Oct.
1 |
Homelands and ghettos Ethnic regions |
Learn the particulars of
homelands and ghettos in cities. •Maps
Lab-Comparing Historic Cities Around the World |
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7 |
Oct.
8 |
Political Geography:
A
divided World Regions
and borders Political
diffusion and migration Culture
and politics |
Human migration. Why people live where they do? •Maps
Applied •Maps
Lab-Projections & How They Work ESSAY DUE OCT. 15-TOPIC OF
YOUR CHOICE RELATING TO CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY |
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8 |
Oct.
15 |
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 •ESSAY DUE •Maps
Applied •Maps
Lab-Geography of Disease •Optional
Video/Worksheet •Tracking
the Bird Flu |
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9 |
Oct.
22 |
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-Remote Sensing/Data Collex. •WHERE IS MY FOOD FROM?
ASSIGNMENT DUE OCT. 29. |
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10 |
Oct.
29 |
EXAM 2: Chapters 5-8 |
•
FOOD ASSIGNMENT DUE |