World Regional
Geography
GEA 2000, Spring 2014 U01
Main Lecture Room: Green Library 100 Time: Tuesday and Thursday, 3:30-4:45 PM
Instructor: Benjamin Smith Email: bsmith@fiu.edu Office: SIPA 305
Office Phone: 348-2074
Office Hours: Thursday. 2:15-3:15
Teaching Assistants (who you contact
about absences):
Faye Cobb: fcobb001@fiu.edu (Contact if Last Name begins with A-J)
Yogesh Dongol: ydong005@fiu.edu
(Contact if Last Name begins with K-Z)
Teaching Homepage Which
You Must Check Frequently: http://www.fiu.edu/~bsmith/teaching.htm (also available on http://fiu.blackboard.com )
So
you want to know everything there is to know about the world? (or perhaps fulfill a requirement)
Either way, you have come to the right place. It is my hope that this will be one the broadest ranging, most chocked full o’ information courses you will take in college. I also hope it will be one of the most enjoyable.
Why This Course is in
the University Core Curriculum and is Global Learning designated.
This course is part of the University Core Curriculum, in the area of Social Inquiry. Like all courses in this area of the Core Curriculum, GEA 2000 is designed to: “investigate social, political, and economic configurations; cultural and psychological features of human life; gender, race/ethnicity, and social class; consciousness and identity; social interactions with the natural environment; and local, national, and global aspects of the human world.” Furthermore, GEA 2000 is a particular type of social inquiry, namely one that helps you as a student to “be able to compare and contrast societies and cultures.” In fact, we are confident this course will achieve all of the above goals. For nearly every area of the globe, this course will discuss how environment, politics, population, culture, and economy have shaped the diverse lives of people living on this increasingly connected planet. Furthermore, as a geography course, special attention will be paid to how issues of place and location influence and are influenced by human activity. Thus, this course will not only shed light on what is out there in the world, but also the major patterns and processes which cut across regions that explain why what is out there is where it is.
Also, from the above, this course clearly fits as a “Global Learning” course.
This
is a foundational course.
Consider this course to be “anatomy of the world.” In medicine, anatomy is the foundation of everything. You cannot operate, prescribe medicine or do anything particularly effectively (or at least not know why it is effective) without knowing anatomy. This course is the equivalent for geography, but I would also argue it is potentially equally foundational for many of you who are in other majors (IR, economics, social studies education, etc…). If you are in business, chances are some aspects of your operation (raw materials, labor, suppliers, customers, etc.) will be located outside the local area. If you are an engineer, environmental factors and social factors help determine what is appropriate to create, as well as how it is created. If you’re a doctor, you will be treating patients from all over the world, and it helps to know a little bit about where they are from. Law is getting increasingly internationalized, and the list goes on and on. And as a human being, who has respect for other human beings, it is important to know what the rest of planet is like. Gaining basic knowledge about the world and how it works is the first step to becoming a good citizen of the world.
This means
there will be a lot of information
and ideas presented in this course, but I think it will be information that
will in someway be useful, or at least enlightening,
for you. Thus you must come prepared to
class, and be prepared to learn.
Global Learning &
UCC Societies and Identities Learning Outcomes
1.
Gain an understanding of the world’s human and
physical geography. This includes
countries, economic activities, international institutions, environmental
cycles, cultural complexes, etc. At the
most basic level, before you can talk about what connects different parts of
the globe, you need to be aware of what the different parts of the globe
are. Thus being able to identify major
human and environmental features and processes will be a part of the
course. But more than that, knowing at
least of little bit about the historical geography of major facets of our world
provides a base on which to learn more.
Like a doctor needs to know anatomy to be able to practice, as a future
professional in – and citizen of – the world, this grounded knowledge is a
foundation upon which further growth and learning can be built. (Global
Awareness)
2.
Understand major processes that shape the world. Very little of
what happens on Earth happens in isolation.
Large processes – such as trade,
religion, environmental degradation and migration – cut across countries,
regions, and hemispheres. At the same
time, it is important to understand that these processes always take place in
specific on-the-ground circumstances.
Thus, it is not enough to know what is out there; it is equally
important to understand, develop multiple perspectives on, and be able to
articulate how things relate to each other (or sometimes do not). (Global
Awareness)
3.
Critically examine the world from multiple
perspectives. This course is not about adopting any one particular
perspective on the world. What this is about is realizing that there are
multiple perspectives about many of the world’s big and little issues – even
amongst those who conduct scholarly research on them –and being able to examine
your and others’ assumptions about how the world works. This means tempering your own opinions with
a willingness to examine other perspectives on their own terms. This geography
course is an excellent vehicle for gaining multiple perspectives, since
geography as a discipline draws on a wide-array of both social and physical
sciences disciplines. (Global
Perspectives)
4.
Gain the ability to impact global processes. What will
become obvious, as the course goes on, is that living in Miami places you at
the center of many global processes – trade, migration, urbanization, and
environmental change, just to name a few.
Through discussions and participation, students will gain the ability to
connect these processes, and understand how their actions – individually or
collectively –impact the local and global community. (Global
Engagement)
World Regional Geography (without
sub-regions): Global Patterns, Local Lives, 5th Edition. By Pulsipher & Pulsipher. W.H. Freeman ISBN: 1-4292-3244-7
Thursday, Jan. 23, Map Quiz 1
Tuesday, Feb. 4, First Exam
Thursday, Feb. 27, Map Quiz 2
Tuesday, March 18, Second exam
Thursday, March 27, Map Quiz 3
Tuesday, April 8 – Last Day to Submit Report
on Common Readings to Drop-box on Blackboard Site
Thursday, April 10, Map Quiz 4 and Discussion
of Common Reading
Tuesday, April 15 – Last Day to Submit
Co-Curricular Activity Report to Drop-box on Blackboard Site
Final Exam TBD (either Tuesday April 22 or
Thursday April 24)
Grading
There will
be 500 total points available in this class, broken down as follows:
50 points:
Map Quizzes
75 points:
Discussion Section Attendance & Participation
15 Points: Global Learning Common Reading Response
10 Points: Co Curricular Activity Report
100 points:
Exam 1
100 points: Exam 2
150 points: Final Exam
500 points Total
The grading scale is A = 100-93%, A- = 92.9-90%, B+ = 89.9-87%, B = 86.9-83%, B- =82.9%-80%, C+ = 79.9-77%, C = 76.9-73%, C- = 72.9-70%, D+ = 69.9-67%, D = 66.9-63%, D- = 62-60% F = 59-0%, which translates to, in points:
A : 500 thru 465 points
A-: 464 thru 450 points
B+: 449
thru 435 points
B: 434 thru 415 points
B-: 414 thru 400 points
C+: 399
thru 385 points
C: 384 thru 365 points
C-: 364 thru 350
points
D+: 349 thru
335 points
D: 334 thru 315 points
D-: 314 thru 300 points
F: 299 thru 0 points
Due to the large enrollment of this class, each exam
will be multiple choice. Questions will be drawn from lectures,
discussions, videos, etc. – basically anything covered in lecture and
discussion. To aide you in your
preparation, study guides will be provided on the teaching website.
On the first two exams, there will be 50 multiple
choice questions. The first exam will
cover the Introduction,
On the final, there will be 50 multiple choice questions
covering South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, and
Because the enrollments are so large in this class,
you will need to bring your FIU ID card with you to the exams. Also, please bring a pen or pencil.
Throughout the semester there will be four map
quizzes, which test your knowledge of where the world’s stuff is on maps. The features that will be tested include, but
are not limited to: countries, cities, rivers, seas, mountains, peninsulas, and
sub-regions.
You will be given a study list in advance of each map
quiz, to help make your task easier.
Map quizzes will contribute a maximum of
50 points towards your final grade.
However, there will be more than 50 points of map questions offered
during the semester. This means you can miss several questions on
map quizzes over the course of the semester, and still receive the full 50
points. This means if you have one poor
quiz, or solid, if not perfect, performance on all quizzes, then you will still
receive full points.
Common
Reading Individual Essay & Group Report
A special reading
assigned by FIU’s Global Learning initiative is required for this class. Everyone in class will complete this reading,
write a one page reflection on the piece, discuss the reading in small groups,
and submit a group report (handwritten or typed in class). Your grade for this assignment will be based
on completing each part of the assignment.
Instructions for this assignment will be available on the course
website.
Co-Curricular
Activity & Report
Throughout
the semester, FIU brings in an exciting array of outside speakers through the
SIPA lecture series, AADS, LACC, and MESC centers, and the Tuesday Times
Roundtable. Each student must attend
one of these events, and write a one page report that connects the topic to
course material through perspective analysis, highlighting possible routes for
engagement. You must submit your Report
within one week of the event you attend.
Instructions for this assignment will be available on the course
website.
Reading the textbook before you come to class, even quickly, will
help your grade tremendously. I basically lecture from the book (with a
little bit of added material of my own), and having an idea of what is coming
up in lecture will allow you to more easily keep up with my pace.
Attendance
At least
once a week (usually, but not always, on Thursday) we will have some sort of in
class activity. Sometimes, this is the
map quiz; right before a test, it will be review for the exam. Other times, we will watch a short video or
be given a question and break into groups to discuss and write down
answers. Whatever paper is collected on
the day will be used to count attendance.
You get two free absences throughout the semester. For your first two absences, you do not need to contact your TA. Beyond that, you need to provide an excused absence to your TA. AGAIN, THE TA YOU CONTACT IS BASED ON THE FIRST LETTER OF YOUR LAST NAME. TA’s are the final authority on attendance and make-up matters; for questions about course content or questions about how wonderful geography is, feel free to email Prof. Smith.
When at
lectures, I expect you to be on time, be engaged and non-disruptive to other
students (which means no use of smart or cell phones, doing homework for other
classes, headphones, setting off fireworks, etc..). Those students
who keep other students from learning, or who are disrespectful of other
students and/or the instructor will be asked to leave that day’s lecture.
I want
everyone to do well, and showing up will certainly help.
Excused absences include serious illness; illness of a spouse or dependent; death of an immediate family member; University-sponsored trips; and major religious holy days. It is your responsibility to inform your TA of an absence in advance of class by e-mail (and within 2 weeks of the start of class if it is a university trip or holy day), but no later than two class sessions after the missed class. In order to have an absence excused, you must provide original documentation which your assigned TA can keep. If this is done, and the TA determines the absence to be excused, they will not figure the missed day (provided there is not a quiz or exam) into your grade.
Make-up exams and quizzes will only be given in extreme circumstances. There are just too many of you to make arrangements otherwise. The make-up exam or map quiz will not be the same one given to those who took the test on the established date, and will be given during the final examination period, during which time you will take both the make-up exam/quiz and the final. To sit a make-up exam, you must 1) provide documentation to your TA in class within two class periods of the missed exam/quiz addressing why your absence qualifies as excused 2) have that documentation accepted by the TA 3) email your TA asking to be given a make-up exam and 4) receive back an email from your TA confirming a make-up exam will be given.
Your choices to attend or not
attend have consequences – just like they would at work. The TA’s and I take our responsibilities and
roles as teachers seriously; I hope you hold your role and responsibility as a
student in equal respect.
Teaching Website, On-Line Articles, and Updates
At the top of this document, you will find
the address for my teaching homepage, which is http://www.fiu.edu/~bsmith/teaching.htm .
You can also always find it by Googling
“Benjamin Smith Teaching.” There will be a copy of the main course syllabus,
copies of all the TA section syllabi, the course schedule, exam study guides,
map quiz study guides, and lecture outlines.
Due to the cost of printing, none
of the materials will be handed out. If
you want them, you must go to the website.
Links to all of this information (as well as
possible exercises for discussion sections), will can also be found on http://fiu.blackboard.com . If
you have trouble logging on to that website, contact UTS to help you get on
board.
Thus, if you have a question about the
structure of the class (due dates, test structure, etc.), check the website,
because the answer will probably be there.
Email, Office Hours & Making Contact
My office hours are
posted at the top of this document. If you are having trouble at all, I
strongly encourage you to stop by or call during office hours or make an
appointment to do so. My job is to
help you learn, not just to assign grades.
If you have a question,
and cannot find the answer on the website or in the book, please, if you can,
hold on to it until class time – because chances are other students have it as
well and answering questions is what class is for. I am happy to help answer substantive
questions; however, please recognize that besides that besides teaching this
class, I teach another course, several independent studies, serve on
committees, conduct research and have a 5 year old at home. While I want you to learn and do your best,
please remember there are only 24 hours in the day. If in doubt, check the website first – it is
designed to answer most of your questions before you ask them.
But again, let me repeat,
above all, we want to help you succeed.
If you can’t figure out the answer, please email us.
Academic
Integrity and Cheating: