Geography 110: the WORLD PEOPLES and REGIONS

Syllabus for Geog 110 - SEC201, Fall 2010

Geography 110: THE WORLD – PEOPLES AND REGIONS

Course Syllabus

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Lecture and Discussion: D2L-based online course

Instructor:Jonathan Burkham, PhD Candidate, Geography

E-mail:

Office: 446 Bolton Hall

Office hours: Tuesday and Thursday 3-4 pmor by appointment

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INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE

Syllabus for Geog 110 - SEC201, Fall 2010

In this introductory yet challenging course we will study selected regions of the world. We will emphasize the formation of world regions through cultural, political, economic, demographic, and urbanization processes. We will also pay close attention to human-environmental interactions while framing them in specific historical and socio-economic contexts. A goal of this course is to apply geographic concepts to identify and describe relationships between people and places, and to think geographically and critically about yourself and your place in the world. By extension, I hope that you will also come away from this course more capable of relating to and empathizing with other people in other places on this planet.

Syllabus for Geog 110 - SEC201, Fall 2010

This course focuses upon contemporary processes of globalization but also addresses the historical paths that lead to the differential outcomes of these processes. Many people understand globalization as the growth of worldwide linkages, and the changes those linkages are encouraging, including economic, cultural, and political changes. Many think that globalization is making everywhere in the world the same.Some view those changes as positive; others say that globalization is harmful.

Syllabus for Geog 110 - SEC201, Fall 2010

But geographerssee globalization as much more complicated. First, it is not just one process—rather, it is multiple processes. Second, globalization is uneven. Often people think of globalization as making all places around the world more connected and therefore more similar. In this course we do not assume this is true, but ask:What kind of globalization is happening in this place or region? Why is this happening? How are people in this place or region differently effected?

What kind(s) of globalization is this cartoon describing? What is its perspective on globalization?

Syllabus for Geog 110 - SEC201, Fall 2010

COURSE PREREQUISITES

There are no prerequisites, as this is a 100-level introductory course. Geography 110 is not open to graduate students for credit.

REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDED MATERIALS

Textbook: Rowntree, Les; Lewis, Martin; Price, Marie; and Wyckoff, William. Globalization and Diversity: Geography of a Changing World. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. 2nd edition.

The course textbook is available at the UWM bookstore and through online vendors. To compare prices, check Used copies are certainly available. The UWM bookstore also gives you the option of downloading an electronic copy of the book at a lower cost ( There is one copy of the textbook on reserve at the UWM Library.

D2L: Aside from the textbook, all material for this course will be posted on the D2L website. As this is an online course, you are expected to check the D2L website regularly for announcements, lecture slides, discussions,online quizzes, and so on.

Syllabus for Geog 110 - SEC201, Fall 2010

What kind of globalization might the figure be protesting? How is he involved in that same kind of globalization?

COURSE OBJECTIVES

1)To become familiar with the cultural, political, economic, urban, and environmental geographies of world regions.

2)To develop your geographic thinking by relating patterns and processes of various human activities in different parts of the world.

3)To develop your critical thinking through evaluation of world regional controversies and participation in online discussionsabout these issues.

4)To develop your synthetic thinking through writing about geographic issues.

Syllabus for Geog 110 - SEC201, Fall 2010

COURSE POLICIES

1. Evaluation:assignments and exams

Online quizzes: Online quizzes are designed to help you to check your mastery of the textbook material, and ensure you are familiar with maps of the regions studied.Online quizzes are open book and are due by 5PM Friday of the week they are assigned in the COURSECALENDER. They will be posted by 5PM Tuesday of the week they are due. Each online quiz consists of 15 multiple choice questions, and you will have 120 minutes and 2 attempts. There will be 7 online quizzes throughout the semester. Your lowest grade will be dropped, so only 6 of these will count. If you are unfamiliar with the quiz format on D2L, check out the following document:

Online discussions: There will be five online discussions in which you are required to participate. The online discussions will draw from class concepts as well as material provided by the instructor. You are required to read the material and/or watch video links before posting a thoughtful and well-articulated message. You will then be required to provide thoughtful responses to at least two of your fellow students’ posts. The instructor will monitor the discussion and occasionally interject. Detailed instructions for the online discussions, including a grading rubric, will be posted as ONLINE DISCUSSION GUIDELINES. Please do not take the online discussions lightly, they are a major portion of you grade. The following document explains the D2L discussion interface:

Three exams: There will be two mid-terms and one final. The tests will be multiple-choice, and will evaluate your understanding of basic geographic information and processes. They will combine material from the textbook, lecture slides and discussion sections. There will also be a map portion to each exam. The multiple-choice portion of the final will not be cumulative but basic geographic concepts from previous exams will be applied to successive regions. The map portion of the final exam is cumulative.

Class commons: Participation in the “Class Commons”forum on the discussion page is voluntary. This space is provided to encourage you to introduce yourselves to your fellow students and to freely discuss current events and class material. Though it is a free and voluntary discussion, I ask you to be respectful of each others’ opinions and perspectives. . Although voluntary, those students who actively participate in the “Current Events” section of the class commons or who provide helpful feedback to student questions in the “Class Material” section may receive favorable treatment should they find themselves on the cusp of higher letter grade. The discussion on “Class Material” is intended to give students a forum to ask questions and/or express concerns and grievances about class material. “Class Material” postings can be carried out anonymously, without either the instructor or the students’ knowledge of who you are. The instructor reserves the right to delete any posts he finds inappropriate

2. Grading Basis

Online quizzes: 6@ 15 points =90 points20%

Online discussions: 5 @ 30 points = 150 points33%

Mid-term exams: 2 @70 points = 140 points30%

Final exam: 80 points = 80 points17%

TOTAL 460points 100%

3. Grading Policy

See the following site for UWM policy on grades and grading:

If you take the class pass-fail (S/U), you must get the equivalent of at least a “C” to earn an “S” in the course.

Guide to grades

Syllabus for Geog 110 - SEC201, Fall 2010

93-100% A

90-92% A-

86-89% B+

83-85% B

80-82% B-

76-79% C+

73-75% C

70-72% C-

66-69% D+

63-65% D

60-62% D-

0-59% F

Syllabus for Geog 110 - SEC201, Fall 2010

4. Contacting the Instructor

Please feel free to stop by my office in Bolton Hall 446 from 3-4pm Tuesday and Thursday. I will also make myself available by appointment. I’m lamenting the lack of face-to-face contact that comes with an online course and will be happy to meet with you to discuss the course material or related issues. I will also respond to emails between Monday and Thursday within 24 hours.

5. Penalties for late work

To be fair to students in the course who complete assignments on time, unless a documented medical or personal emergency arises, online quizzes and discussion postings will not be accepted after theirassigned deadlines. If you know you will have a problem turning your work in on time or you feel that you are falling behind in the course, please contact the instructor as soon as possible. I will do my best to work with you to try to keep you on track.

6. Make-up exams

Again in the interest of fairness to all students, you may not retake exams or resubmit coursework unless a documented medical or personal emergency arises. In the event that you must be absent on the day of an exam, you must contact me immediately to reschedule the exam, and provide official documentationto justify a makeup exam.

7. Registration deadlines for fall semester 2010

ADD/DROP: The last day to add or drop a full-term class without fee penalty is September 16th.

WITHDRAW: The last day to withdraw from a class without it showing on your transcript is October 1st. Your final opportunity to withdraw from a class is October 29th, but then it will show on your transcript.

UNIVERSITY POLICIES

Students with Disabilities: Students with disabilities should be evaluated by the Student Accessibility Center, which will give them a VISA listing appropriate accommodations to give to instructors.

Please visit the Student Accessibility Center website for more information:

Accommodations for Religious Observances: After making the necessary arrangements ahead of time, students will be allowed to take examinations and submit assignments that cannot be completed on time because of religious observances.

Please see this website for more details:

Academic Misconduct: Students are expected to complete and represent their work honestly, cite sources appropriately, and respect each other’s academic endeavors. I follow the UWM Policies and Procedures for Academic Misconduct.

For more details, please visit this website:

Complaint Procedures: Students may direct complaints to the Director of Undergraduate or Graduate Studies, the Chair, or to the offices responsible for enforcing specific University policies.

Grade Appeals: Students may appeal grades on the grounds that they are based on capricious or arbitrary decisions by instructors. Procedures are available in the departmental office and the Dean's office.

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