Population and
Geography of the
GEA 3635, U01A. Summer A 2009
Class Location: PC 214 GL 165
Time: 2:00-4:45 pm.
MW
Instructor: Benjamin Smith Email: bsmith@fiu.edu
Office: DM 437B Office Phone: 348-2074
Office Hours: Monday &
Wednesday 12:45-1:45 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 “
1. Understand how the
2. Be able to critically examine
what you hear about the
A short course is a strange creature – I want you to learn everything a student in a full semester would learn, but I also recognize the time limitations. So there are two big changes from the way I would teach this in Fall or Spring:
1. There are two tests not three. I cannot be testing you every few days. BUT… each test is worth more, which means you ABSOLUTELY CANNOT BOMB the first exam, or you will have dug yourself a deep hole. FURTHERMORE, we cover exactly the same amount of material as the normal semester class, so if you do not study a little bit, multiple times a week, you will be in bad shape.
2. Because we have only seven weeks, as opposed to the full semester, I am forgoing you having to write a semester research paper – there is not enough time for you to be able to formulate a topic, propose it, and research it. Instead, I am going to assign you a place in the region and you have write a travel guide for a week’s journey – more details to follow, but it will be shorter and less research intensive than the paper, while giving you virtually the same amount of points.
The State of the
Supplemental
Monday, May 25 – Memorial Day, University Closed
Wednesday, May 27 –Exam One
Monday, June 8 – Travel Guide Due
Wednesday, June 17 – Exam Two
Grading
There will
be 500 total points available in this class, broken down as follows:
75 points: Attendance and Participation
100
points: Travel Guide
155 points:
Exam 1
170 points: Exam 2____
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
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 14
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.
Travel
Guide
While more
specifics will be given soon, just to reiterate, you will be required to
produce one travel guide covering somewhere in the
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,
I have a 1 year old and am moving into a new apartment – 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 why you are emailing. 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 or assignment – you will receive at minimum a zero on that assignment. 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!