Population and
Geography of the
GEA 3635, U01A. Summer A 2008
Class Location: GC 285 Time: 3:30-6:15 p.m. T,Th
Instructor: Benjamin Smith Email: bsmith@fiu.edu
Office: DM 437B Office Phone: 348-2074
Office Hours: Tuesday &
Thursday 2:15-3:15 or by appointment
Teaching Homepage Which You Must Check Frequently: http://www.fiu.edu/~bsmith/teaching.htm
There is More to the Middle East than the Headlines
This is going to be the theme of this course. I also imagine, since you are going to
devote a compressed semester to studying the region, you have that inkling,
too. You are probably thinking that
there is more to life for the 300-400 million people (depending on what
countries are included) who call this region home than 1) gender oppression and
2) violence. If this is what you are
thinking, you are, of course, right.
In this course, while we will address issues that grab headlines –
Israel/Palestine conflict, the state of
We will also do all this from a geographic prospective. On the one hand this means a grab bag
approach – environment, politics, economics and culture are all fair game. On the other hand, this also mean paying
attention to geographic perspectives such as how humans interact with the
natural and built environment, how ideas and people diffused through the region
over time, and how the region came to be defined as it.
1. Develop
an understanding of the diversity of the Middle East. The “
2. Understand
how the
3. Be
able to critically examine what you hear about the
Because
we have only seven weeks, as opposed to the full semester, I am forgoing you
having to write a semester paper. To make
up for the loss of the cushion of points that the paper provides, I am
increasing the amount of attendance points you receive. So it is of paramount importance you attend
each and every session of the course.
Secondly, my wife will be having a baby sometime in
May. Thus, it is very likely I will
have to miss one class. Obviously I do
not know when that will be. I have
arranged for someone to show a movie on that day. While this will push back the lecture
schedule by one session, the first test will take place on Thursday, May 29 no
matter what. See the course schedule for
more details. NOTE: I will also announce
on the website if I know in advance I am going to miss.
Supplemental
Thursday,
May 29 –Exam One
Thursday, June 19 – Exam
Two
Grading
There will be 400 total points available in
this class, broken down as follows:
75
points: Attendance and Participation
155 points: Exam 1
170
points: Exam 2____
400 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 :
400 thru 372 points
A-:
371 thru 360 points
B+: 371
thru 348 points
B:
347 thru 332 points
B-:
331 thru 320 points
C+:
319 thru 308 points
C:
307 thru 292 points
C-: 291 thru 280 points
D+: 279 thru 268 points
D:
267 thru 252 points
D-:
251 thru 240 points
F: 239
thru 0 points
Each exam will be a
combination of multiple choice, matching, map identification, and short
answers/miniature essays, drawn from lectures, readings, videos, etc. –
basically anything covered in class or assigned in reading.
There are slight
differences between the two exams – besides the fact that they cover materials
from different lectures. The first
exam will have two map sections – one covering physical features and one
covering cities (study lists will be provided).
You will be given a list of features, and given a map covered in
letters. You find the letter that
corresponds to the feature. On the
second exam, there will be only one map section that will ask you to label all
the countries in the region (a list will again be provided). However, you will only be given a numbered
map – it will be up to you write the name of the country. Also, there will be one 10 point essay
question which requires you to summarize big ideas from the course (it will be
clear what this question is later).
Exam 1: 155
pts
Exam 2: 170
pts.
Attendance and
Participation Points, Reading & Classroom Etiquette
There will be oodles – oodles I say! – of
information covered in this course. You
need to be in class to learn it all. This is especially true because lectures, while
drawing on the readings, will expand upon them as well. You will not do well on the tests unless you
come to class. This is even more true
in the compressed summer semester.
Similarly, if you do not do the readings,
you will not do well on the tests. This
is especially true on essays questions based on more conceptual readings –
though we will cover the readings in class, you will not understand them fully
unless you read and then re-read them.
To reward you for reading
and attendance, I will have various easy point opportunities throughout the
semester. Sometimes they will be
announced tasks – like bringing three questions to class about the reading for
discussion. Other times, they will be
unannounced – like having a quick individual quiz about the reading that asks a
few, really simple questions. If the
reading is particularly theoretical, I will put you into groups during class so
you and your classmates can hash it out together. Sometimes, I will just have you sign in. These are meant to be low stress, and
providing everyone makes a good faith effort (and attends), these points should
be easy to get.
However, these points can
also be taken away, at the instructor’s discretion, in extreme circumstances,
due to repeated bad behavior. Reasons
for losing points include being aggressive, rude or dismissive towards your
fellow students or the instructor.
Though people may express opinions different than your own in this
class, you are free to disagree – providing you do so in calm, courteous
manner. This is especially important
because we will be covering some sensitive, divisive subjects during this
class. Points can also be taken away if
a student shows lack of engagement by talking to other students while the
instructor, guest or another student is speaking, repeatedly reading the newspaper, using their cell phone or mp3
player, doing homework for other classes, or using their notebook computer for
IM’s (not note-taking). However, I doubt
it will come to this. So basically, respect
everyone, and this should be a great semester.
If points are taken, the student will be notified as to why.
Attendance
quizzes and activities will contribute a maximum of 75 points to your final
grade. There will likely be more than
75 points made available during the semester, meaning if you miss a class or
have an off day, you will still be able to receive full attendance credit.
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
. There will be a copy of the syllabus
there, as well as the course schedule and instructions for the paper and paper
proposal. Additionally, I will post study guides for the exams there and there
only – meaning I will not be handing out copies of the study guides in
class. Also, if I know in advanced
I will be out of class for the birth, I will put it at the top of the
page. Thus, if you have a question about the structure of the class (due
dates, test structure, etc.), check the website and the blog, because the
answer will probably be there.
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 make sure you learn the
material, not just to assign grades.
I
will also try my best to answer questions promptly via e-mail, but realize that
apart from teaching this class, there will be a new baby in my house – so
please be patient. Also, please do not
call outside of office hours, and just email instead – games of phone tag
usually don’t end well. If you e-mail me, please put “GEA 3635”
or “Geography of the M.E.” in the subject line – so I know what class you are
in. Also, pretty please put your name
in the email, so I know who I am replying to.
Earning
the Grade You Want
If
you are doing poorly in the class, the time to ask how you can do better is not
right before, and especially not right after, the Final. If you do badly on the first test PLEASE
PLEASE PLEASE come to office hours or make an appointment to see me as soon as
possible after that test, and I will help you devise strategies to study more
effectively. In the summer there is
little room for error.
Academic Integrity, Cheating and
Plagiarism:
Cheating and plagiarism are done by pathetic and
desperate people – don’t be one of them.
If you cheat on an exam – you
will receive at minimum a zero on that assignment, which basically
means you have failed this course. If
you find yourself in a desperate situation while taking a test do the best work
you can do at the time. Getting a 50%
means you will get some points – getting caught cheating means you get
zero. Furthermore, depending on the
severity of the case, I can choose to pursue harsher penalties, including
assigning an F0 for the course or pursuing your expulsion.
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
me of the absence in advance of class by e-mail (and within 1 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 I can keep. If this
is done, and I determine the absence to be excused, I will do my best make sure
you make up what you missed and give you attendance credit.
Make-up exams will only be given in extreme
circumstances. The make-up exam 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 and the
final. To sit a make-up exam, you
must 1) provide documentation to me in class within two class periods of the
missed exam addressing why your absence qualifies as excused 2) have that
documentation accepted by me 3) email me asking to be given a make-up exam and
4) receive back an email from me confirming a make-up exam will be given.
Your choices to attend or not attend have consequences
– just like they would at work. I take
my responsibilities and role as a teacher seriously; I hope you hold your role
and responsibility as a student in equal respect.
HERE’S TO A GOOD SHORT SEMESTER AND BEST OF LUCK!