Geography 104

Syllabus: World Regional Geography with Honors Option*

Spring Semester 2015 Instructor: Chaddock

#08555, Room S116 Mon/Wed 9:35-11:00am

This is your invitation to explore. The course you are about to embark upon is the study of the World Regional Geography, or the study of the converging currents of Globalization. The interactions within and between the human trade systems, capital accumulation and international finance, the environment and resources, the relationships between rich and poor, and migration of workers from place to place, demographics, urbanization and agricultural patterns are all part of this Globalized soup. The goals are to promote your understanding of the world through the approach of studying population and settlement, cultural coherence and diversity, geopolitical framework, economic and social development and environmental concerns and crisis, and to develop your ability to think critically, i.e. take diverse information and put it into an order that can logically be evaluated, in terms of processes and systems. Likewise, you will need a clear understanding of how critical thinking and the scientific method are simple and valuable touchstones for evaluating circumstances or landscapes, whether they are of cultural or physical attributes. This course provides you with a survey of the physical, cultural, political, and economic characteristics of the world's major geographical regions. These regions include Europe, North America, Latin America, Africa, Australia, Oceania, and South, East, and Southeast Asia. There are patterns to be discerned in the cultures or regions of the Earth, both in time and space, and I hope that you find that you come away from this class with a deeper knowledge of the diversity of the many peoples of this planet, and that you can apply this knowledge to all aspects of your life.

I reserve the right to modify this syllabus as needed due to unexpected circumstances, or to explore current events in earth systems, or to maintain the integrity of the learning environment.

Week# and date / Classroom Topic / Reading / Due
1/Jan 26-28 / Globalization and Diversity, Scientific Method / Ch. 1 / In class 1
2/Feb 2-4 / The Changing Global Environment / Ch. 2 / In class 2
3/Feb 9-11 / North America / Ch. 3 / In class 3
Take home Exam 1
4/Feb 16-18
*Feb 17 is a holiday / Globalization and San Diego
Exam #1 due Tuesday / Pryde 10, 11, 16, 17 / Group Presentations 1a
5/Feb 23-25 / Latin America / Ch. 4 / In class 4
6/Mar 2-4 / The Caribbean / Ch. 5 / In class 5
7/Mar 9-11 / Sub-Saharan Africa / Ch.6 / Group Presentations 1b
Take Home Exam 2
8/Mar 16-18 / Southwest Asia and North Africa
Exam #2 due Tuesday / Ch. 7 / In class 6
Homework 1 due Wed
9/Mar 23-25 / Europe / Ch. 8 / In class 7
10/Mar 31-Apr 4 / Spring Break
11/Apr 6-8 / The Russian Domain / Ch 9 / Group Presentations 2a
Take home Exam 3
12/Apr 13-15 / Central Asia
Exam #3 due Tuesday / Ch. 10 / In class 8
13/Apr 20-22 / East Asia Tues
South Asia Thurs / Ch. 11
Ch. 12 / Homework 2 Due Wed
14/Apr 27-29 / Southeast Asia / Ch. 13 / Group Presentations 2b
Take home Exam 4
15/May 4-6 Australia and Oceana / Ch. 14 Exam #4 due Tuesday / In class 14
Service Learning or Community Event paper due Wed

Instructor Prof. Lisa Chaddock Section 08555

Room S116, Mon/Wed 9:35-11:00am Email:

Twitter: ListmakerLisaFacebook: Lisa Chaddock - Geographer

Website: click “World Regional Geography” link.

Textbooks:

Globalization and Diversity: Geography of a Changing World 3rd (2011) or 4th (2013) Ed., Rowntree, et al, Prentice Hall Publishing

San Diego: An Introduction to the Region, 4th or 5th Edition, Ed. by Pryde, Pearson Custom Publishing

STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVE for analysis this semester: #2 Identify areas of geographical study and major cultural realms and regions.

Student Learning Objectives per Curricunet

Upon successful completion of the course the student will be able to:

1. Identify areas of geographical study and major cultural realms and regions

2. Describe the world's main environmental systems and patterns of industrial development

3. Explain current political and economic trends in the European realm based on its physical setting and

subregions as well as its historical legacies

4. Identify the physiographic regions within the Russian realm; analyze how regional differences have

led to geopolitical fragmentation in the post-Soviet Union era

5. Assess the role of natural resources and agricultural development in the rise of the North American

realm as an industrial and post-industrial power

6. Compare and contrast the cultural and economic development of the Middle and South American

realms based on each one's experience with conquest and colonization

7. Identify and explain which regional issues have led to geopolitical conflict in the North Africa and Southwest Asia realm

8. Analyze current economic, environmental and social problems throughout Sub-Saharan Africa based

on factors such as climate, resources, colonial legacies, cultural differences, and nationalism

9. Compare and contrast the effects of globalization on the geo-political, cultural, and economic

experiences of South, East, and Southeast Asia

10. Analyze the environmental issues currently affecting Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea,

and the Pacific Islands.

Grading Criteria:

Exams: There will be four (4) exams, each worth 50 points. Exams will involve a combination of objective, short answer, and critical thinking essay questions. Exams are not cumulative; each exam will cover a discrete block of material as covered in class. The lowest of the 4 exam scores will be dropped before final grades are calculated.

Online Quizzes for the textbook – You will go to the website for the textbook at

and then, for each chapter, complete the 25 question quiz. You can do the quiz as many times as you want, but you will email the finished quiz to me at . You will get 5 points for every chapter you complete with a score of 20 or above, 4 points for 15-19, 3 points for 10-14, 2 points for 5-9, and 1 point for a score of 1-4.

Name Placard: You will be issued a card on the first day of class that you will fold lengthwise in half and put your name on in GREAT BIG LETTERS. You will have this with you for each class, and I will use this to take roll quickly. At the end of the course, you will have earned 25 points.

In-Class Activities: 8 in class activities, each worth 5 points for a total of 45 points. In class activities will consist of brief problem solving exercises and/or focused discussions relevant to the topic of the day. In class activities cannot be made-up if missed. 4 of 8

Poster Session: CHOOSE ONE (1). This is worth 100 points. Please go to the Writing Center if you need assistance with this assignment. There is a link on the website for more help with this assignment.

(1) Choose a region, and compare two nation states in regards to how they approach tourism (i.e. ecotourism, cultural aspects, archaeological or historical draws, institutions, etc.) Discuss the role of tourism in cultural cohesion and diversity.

(2) Choose a nation-state and elucidate the different centrifugal and centripetal forces within that nation-state. Based on your findings, speculate on how that nation-state might change in the next 10 years. You must include a map of the nation-state depicting the forces you are explaining. Example: North and South Korea – do they reform, or remain apart?

(3) Choose a nation-state and find a Population Pyramid for 1980, and one from 2010. Compare these to track the generation born in 1970 versus 1990 for patterns of change. Discuss the population pattern in view of Globalization, and in the context of the role/standing of women in the society.

(4) Conduct a detailed analysis of the issue of Global Warming/Climate Change as it pertains to a country of your choice. Create or find a map depicting some of these changes, including sea level rise, water issues (rivers, glacial melt, floods or droughts), fire and drought, and any other hazards you see facing this country, and discuss what steps they are taking to mitigate these changes.

Homework: There will be 2 homework assignments, each worth 50 points. Homework assignments may be turned in early, but will be considered late if not turned in by the start of class on the assigned due date. Late homework assignments will lose 15% of the total possible points for up to one week late. Homework assignments will not be accepted more than one week after the assigned due date.

  • Homework 1 - Sustainability and Globalization - You will be reading a journal article in either “Nature”, AAG, or “Science” concerning Sustainability and/or Globalization. You will evaluate the article by using the Critical Thinking PDF handbook provided for you on Blackboard. The instructions on how to ask and look for answers to questions will lead you through the process of critical thinking and evaluation of a journal article. The articles will be provided on Blackboard, and are online. They are also in the library. A list of articles will be listed on Blackboard. 50 points
  • Homework 2 - Attend a Lawn Program on Sunday afternoon at Balboa Park, and tour the Houses of Pacific Relations in Balboa Park. You will download the Field Research form on the website, and fill out the research questions, as well as analyzing the information you receive. The form must be completed, no other paper required. 50 points

Group Presentations – Touring the World– You will be working in a group of 5 throughout the semester. You will receive a type of tour that you must plan for the region assigned to your group, and you will present this to the class on the Thursday you are assigned. Example: Spa tour, Honeymoon spots, Cheap Eats, Great Sunsets. You will receive 50 points.

Service Learning Project OR Community Event or Speech: Worth 100 points.

(1) You will attend a community based activity that complements the study of World Regional Geography in San Diego County – just one day. You can feed the hungry, help immigrants with issues of their move, teach children about Global Warming, or attend a Pow Wow: 3-5 page paper with analysis of how Cultural Cohesion, Diversity, or Globalization is expressed through this activity.

(2) You will attend one event or speech concerning a specific region or topic pertaining to Globalization. Either will do. San Diego City College offers a variety of events this semester in the World Heritage presentation, and there are other options such as UCSD, USD, SDSU, the Museum of Man, the Natural History Museum, or any of the Art Museums in San Diego or any Environmental group either on campus or off campus. I will be posting events on Blackboard. You will write a 3-5 page paper on the topic. You must include a map of the country/region and a brief discussion of the speaker’s qualifications and specializations on this topic. In your paper, you will answer these questions:

  • Does this speaker express a bias that is verified by the facts he/she has presented?
  • Is the topic covered holistically, or is there only one point of view discussed?
  • Is there an aspect of Globalization implicit in this speech or event?
  • What was the most compelling point that the speaker made in defense of their thesis?
  • What other exhibits did the speaker use to substantiate their statements or elucidate the information?
  • Remember, maps help you explain process, so use them whenever you can.

Extra Credit: Up to twenty extra credit points are available for doing the World Regional Field Trip on the San Diego Trolley (found on the website), OR an extra Service Learning Project, or a combination of 5 point options to be issued in class (ex: 5 points Earthquake Preparedness Guide or extra credit Ted.com essay, or another type of analysis opportunity as the world changes during the semester.)

*Honors Project – If you qualify for Honors, you will first sign up through the Honors Office, and present your paperwork to me during the first week of class. I will not accept Honors contracts after this time. You will select a topic covered in this class, and either 1) present a 15 minute discussion for the class, 2) create a YouTube 5 minute video for presentation to the class, 3) create a Google Earth map layer depicting a facet of Globalization in San Diego, or 4) write a 20 page research paper. This is worth 100 points, and if you do not complete it, you will receive a grade no higher than a C.

The following is a breakdown of points possible for this course:

4 exams at 50 points each (lowest score exam dropped) = 200

Name Placard = 25

2 homework assignments at 50 points each = 100

Group Presentations at 50 points = 50

13 In-class activities at 10 points each = 130

Online quizzes = 70

Service Learning/Event Project = 100

Poster = 50

Honors Project = 100* *This is only for Honors Students, not for all students.

Total Points = 725 [*825 for Honors Designation]

A= (90-100%)

B= (80-89%)

C= (70-79%)

D= (60-69%)

F= (<60%)

Disabled Students: Please let me know during the first week of class how I can accommodate your needs, and please present the paperwork from DSPS, because I want to make sure that we can work together to make this class enjoyable for you. Remember, my goal is for you to learn the material, so I am willing to individualize lessons to assure that you get the most out of this class.

Attendance: I will take attendance. If you are late 3 times, I will deduct 5 points from your grade. If you continue to be late, we’ll discuss whether or not you are able to complete the course.

Both regular class attendance and independent study are imperative in order to enjoy the class and master the material. Falling behind in either the lecture or the reading assignments will detract from your enjoyment of the subject and your ability to complete the course with a passing score.

You may be dropped if you miss more than 3 hours of class before the drop date, especially if you are not handling assignments or taking exams.

In cases of emergency or special circumstances, let me know immediately so I don’t drop you, and we will try to work something out.

You may be reinstated if there is a good reason that you were absent (and you are carrying at least a C in the course.)If you wish to drop the course, please do so yourself. Otherwise, you may receive a grade of “F”.

Classroom Etiquette: The key term is Common Courtesy. You should arrive to class on time, prepared and ready to contribute. If you are in Law Enforcement, Fire or Medical, Military, or are a parent of a child in school during class hours, you may put your phone on “silent” and take the call outside the classroom. If you are chatting, or your phone rings loudly during class, remember that I am not a TV set, and am offended by such rudeness. I may even point this out, much to your embarrassment. If you anticipate arriving late or leaving early please let me know in advance, and be aware that you will need to hold the door so it does not slam and disrupt the class.

  • You are not allowed to wear iPod earphones in class, or play video games or view your Facebook or email during class. Remove all devices of distraction prior to entering the classroom, or risk getting a ZERO on any and all work for the day.
  • Should you use a laptop computer for taking notes, remember that I wander all over the classroom. I may wander past your open laptop, and if I view Facebook instead of Word, I will ask you to leave, and you will forfeit all points for that day, including whatever is due that day (be it exam, homework, etc.) You are in an adult situation where this kind of unprofessional behavior is unacceptable. Do everything in your power to contribute to a productive, enjoyable class environment. You are expected to conduct yourself with good manners and common courtesy.
  • I reserve the right to drop a student for disruptive behavior as is outlined in the San Diego City College Catalog.

Study Sessions and Office Hours in Room S211K: I’m in my office after class, and we can talk informally at that time, or I offer office hours by appointment as well as a walking study session once a week on Wednesday, immediately after class on Monday at 2:30 and Wednesday from 11:15-12:00. I encourage you to join me for a 1 hour walk around the campus while discussing the topics we are studying in class, every Thursday at 11:15 starting from my office. I am here to answer your questions and work with you to understand the materials we cover in this course.

Learning Resource Center (LRC): You will be expected to use the LRC on many occasions throughout the length of this course. Listed are the most likely resources you will be using:

Library –The library is open Monday through Thursday 7:30am-7:45pm; Friday 7:30 am-12:45 pm; closed weekends and holidays.

Open Computer Lab – The open computer lab is on the first floor of the LRC and is available for use by all registered City College students. Word processing, desktop publishing, email and internet access are all available. The open computer lab is available Monday - Thursday 7:30am-7:45pm, Friday 8:00 am-12:45 pm, closed weekends and holidays.