World Geography syllabus spring 2015

Terron Brooks– Spring 2015
World Geography
Spring 2015
World Regional Geography
Social Studies Department
Mr. Terron Brooks
Credits 1.00 credits Office Hours
Mon to Fri : 10.00 – 12.00 Noon |
TuTh 9.30 am to 11.00 am
Class Days MTWTHF Email tbrooks3566@myasu.alasu.edu
Room Room 903 Telephone (334) 549-0041
Location Office
CLASS POLICIES
A. About the Couse
During this course, the student will study the world and its people. The introductory unit emphasizes the use of
maps and globes, latitude and longitude in locating places, and the interpretation of geographical data and how it
relates to local peoples. Students will then develop an understanding of the ever-changing physical characteristics
of the Earth and how we humans interact with, adapt to, and/or exploit our physical environments. Other physical
geographic concepts include climate and vegetation patterns, as well as the differing physical regions of the globe.
Human geographic concepts will focus on educating the student on today’s various cultures and how they function,
or don’t function, in the modern globalized/interconnected world. With that, the student will learn about differing
political and economic systems, religions and their histories, human migration and urbanization patterns,
population growth, and the ever-present globalization trend. Ultimately, this class will not only provide the student
with the ability to recognize and appreciate the various peoples and cultures of the world, but it will also help
him/her gain an understanding of the modern global community in which we live.
B. The Goals of the Course
1. End of the semester you will have a basic awareness about what is out there in the world. This
includes regions, countries, capital cities, economic activities, development hubs, major physical
features, international institutions, political situation, environmental problems, cultural complexes,
and population concentrations. This does not mean you will need to know the name of every
mountain, river, and capital cities in the world. But it does mean that when some important issues is
discussed in the news, politics, laws, and other courses then you will have some ideas about what is
being discussed, or at least enough of an idea to begin to learn more based on related information.
2. End of the semester you will have more in depth knowledge about major physical and human
processes that shape the world. Large activities such as development, business, religion, war,
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governments, and migration – cut across countries, regions, and hemispheres. Thus, it is not enough
to know what is out there; it is equally important to understand how these processes work.
3. End of the semester you should able to critically think and explore what you hear about the world.
This course is structured not about you agreeing on my way of thinking, or others perspective on the
world. What I wanted to provide you the basic knowledge is about understanding that there are
multiple perspectives and views about many of the world’s issues, and being able to explore yours
assumptions about how the world works.
C. REQUIRED TEXT BOOK
Please make sure to get the proposed text books for the course by next week. You need to have this
text book (Fundamentals of World Geography) and Goode’s Atlas.
Required Text Book:
Fundamentals of World Geography, 2nd
, by Erhunmwnsee, George, Iyegha and Tribble: Boston,
MA: Pearson Publishing, 2009
Required Atlas:Goode’& s World Atlas22nd
Edition, Boston, MA: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2010
D. Attendance Policy
Attendance is mandatory. You are expected to come to class, complete required readings and
completed assignment and to actively participate, in an informed manner during class discussion.
That said, as responsible college students, it is totally up to you to do your works. However, if you
do not come to class and participate in discussion, it will affect your performance and your grade.
Thus, attendance and participation is must and you are expected to attend all regularly scheduled
classes as a significant amount of information will come from lectures, discussion, pop quizzes,
handouts, and other class activities. Therefore, please be sure to miss no more than 1 (one) class
session. Attendance will be marked.
As a way to help ease the more compressed schedule and fewer possible point getting opportunities,
I will be giving bonus points for those with good attendance and participation. Therefore, regular
attendance / roster will be taken at some point in the class session. Here is how it will work:
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A student is permitted one (1) unexcused absence for each credit hour generated
by the class. For example, two (2) absences are allowed in a two-hour class.
Excessive absenteeism, whether excused or unexcused, may result in a student’s
course grade being reduced or in assignment of a grade of “F”
If you miss four classes, I need an official excuse letter for the fourth (4th
) and further continuing
missing class from the university. Otherwise, as described earlier, it will impact your grade and lead
to grade of “F.”
E. Class mind-set
It is disruptive to the instructor and your fellow classmates for you to enter a class once it has begun.
Thus, in order to avoid this situation please arrive class on time. This policy applies to all classes,
test, and exams days. If you do not come to class within 10 minutes, you will be marked absent.
It is equally disruptive for a student to leave class before the end of the period. If you intend to leave
before class is officially dismissed, you must inform me before the start of lectures. Should you
leave before class is dismissed (unless you are sick) you will be marked absent.
F. Cell phones, IPods and Other Electronic Devices Policy:
Please turn off your cell phones and all other electronic devices from the beginning until the end of
each class session. You are requested to turn-off and store such devices, not in your pocket, but in
your HANDBAG OR BACKPACK. I should not see you are using those devices during the class
period. Laptops are allowed, but only to take notes for this class. Laptops are not allowed to use to
read email, news, or doing other class related work.
G. DO NOT READ NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES OR ANY OTHER TEXTS DURING CLASS
SESSION
H. DO NOT WORK ON YOUR OTHER CLASS ASSIGNMENTS DURING THIS CLASS PERIOD
I. Please MAINTAIN an appropriate dress and ASU dress code when you come to this class. If it is
crucial, I will not hesitate to discuss with this matter and take appropriate action.
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Violation of any of these polices above (D - H) shall deserve 5
penalty points every occurrence. The instructor reserve the right to
forbid students from committing other acts that may hinder other
students from learning or that may inhibit the instructor from
effectively managing the classroom.
J. Map Test / Exams
Throughout the semester there will be 11 EXAMS, which include map quizzes and multiple
questions. The features that will be tested include: countries, cities, rivers, seas, mountains,
peninsulas, development, population, cultures, trade, industrial development, agricultural, foods,
weather, physical landforms, politics, institutions etc.
You will be given a study list in advance of each exam to help make your task easier. I will post this
study guides in the blackboard. It is your responsibility to get print out for your convenience.
During my teaching, you should take good notes in order to prepare for exams. I am not going to
distribute notes for any given reason. It is your responsibility to take notes.
Exams will have two parts: 1) map quizzes and 2) multiple questions. Both parts will contribute a
maximum of 100 points and (final is 200 points) total of 1000 Points.
Group Research Paper (100 Points)
Each student will be required to write a research paper. This assignment will be considered as
information literacy activity. Additional research and reading will be required (readings from
books and journal articles should be used). Please do not depend only on internet research
(especially Wikipedia) and all sources must be properly cited. PLAGIARISM will result in getting
“ZERO” points for the paper! Specific instruction/guide for research paper will be provided in class
and blackboard. Your paper must be uploaded Blackboard before Apr 30th 2014. Submission
should be via SafeAssign- Blackboard Late paper will be accepted within 3 working days
from the due date with 10 points reduction for each day. No paper will be accepted after 3
working days from the due date. This paper is a requirement of the department and failure to
submit will result in a grade of “0” grade.
Bonus Points (100 Points)
Students who obtain over 80 points in exam will be awarded (10 X 3) = 30 extra bonus points for
any 3 exams. In order to achieve this extra 30 points, you need hard work and dedication. Another
(10 X 3) = 30 points will be given for class quizzes. Another (10 X3) = 30 extra will be given for
class open book tests in the class. Final 10 points will be given to your participation. Please
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note that there will be NO OTHER extra credit assignments for this class.
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K. Exam Day Seat Preparation
During the exam hour(s) the instructor (which is me) will arrange student(s) seat location. This will
help you and the instructor to conduct fair and free exams.
L. Critical issues you should know:
i. Do not miss test or exams on designation test days. Otherwise, you will need a written excuse
from the office of Student Affairs to take a makeup test/exam
ii. Make up of test/exam MUST BE completed within 4 calendar days of the date of the
test/exam. No make-ups will be given after 4 days period. It is your responsibility to talk to me
and get an appointment to take your make-ups. If you fail to show-up after appointment is made,
you will be given ZERO to that test/exam. (If your 4 calendar day period is expiring, take the
makeup and bring me an excuse later).
iii. NO makeup test/exam during final exam.
iv. NO makeup of test/exam will be given without proper excuse from the Office of Student Affairs
v. Once a test/exam begins, you may not leave the classroom and return to continue working on
that test/exam. If you are sick, you should leave and go to the Student Health Center. If
personnel at the center confirm that you are sick, I will give you a makeup test later.
vi. Cheating and dishonest on a test/exam will result in an automatic ZERO score for that
test/exam.
vii. Plagiarism/forgery/theft of course materials will result in an automatic “F” for the course.
M. Make-up Exam Policy
If any student misses scheduled exam, Instructor will decide the make-up exam format. This means
the makeup exam could be any different format compare to the original exam design which include
essay type exam. In another words, the original exam format will not be distribute in make-up exam.
N. Exams
Altogether there will be 10 exams including the FINAL. 6 map tests and 4 multiple question exams
will count 100 points each (6 + 4 = 10 X 100 = 1000) and the Final multiple question exam will
count
200 points. Final research paper will count 100 points.
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O. Exam Bonus Points (30 points)
(Mr. Terron Brooks’ class) offers bonus points. Students who obtain over 80 points in exams will
be awarded 10 extra bonus points, In order to achieve this extra 10 points, you need hard work and
dedication. Importantly, students do not follow class norms, expectation, requirement, and rules
will not qualify for bonus points. Instructor will decide this particular issue.
P. Class quizzes (100 points)
I will give 11 class quizzes/tests. Each exam will count 10 points: (11 X 10 = 110). There won’t be
any make up for open book test. It is purely class activity and in order to participate, you should be
in class.
Q. Privacy
No grades will be given out in the classroom in order to protect your privacy. In class, I will
distribute your grades to you or you can meet me at my office hours to receive your grades. Also,
and importantly I will post all your grades in Blackboard. It is absolutely your responsibility to
check your grades regularly in Blackboard and bring any concerns to me if you may have. That said
I will not post grade any other means. Grades are never given out over the telephone.
R. Email and Blackboard Policy
Communication should not be a barrier in 2015 we have several modes of Information Technology
Communications. I will communicate with you via your School or personal Emails or Blackboard
with regard to course related issues. It is absolutely your responsibility to set up or change your
correct email in Blackboard. Also it is your responsibility to check your emails regularly or visit
blackboard to see any updates in order to avoid test/exam related discussion.
I will upload all course materials in the Blackboard. Please be prepared to access Blackboard for
course materials. If you have any question with regard to Blackboard Technology and Email, we can
always discuss and find solutions. With that said, keep in mind, the knowledge and training of
Information Technology extremely is vital component for your future career development.
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EVALUATION
Map Test 1 ( The World) 100pt Map Test 3 ( Asia and Pacific)
100ptExam 1 (Chapter 1,2,3)100pt Map Test 4 ( Africa) 100pt
Map Test 2 (North America) 100pt Exam 3 (Chapter 7,8,9) 100pt
Map Test 3 (Europe and Russia) 100pt Map Test 5 (Latin America) 100pt
Exam 2 ( Chapter 4,5,6) 100pt Exam 4 ( Chapter 10,11) 100pt
Documentary Critiques 80pt Group Research Paper 100pt
Quizzes 60pt Documentary Critiques 80pt
Classwork 100pt Quizzes 60pt
Homework 100pt Exam 5 200pt
Notebook 100pt
Bonus Points 65pt
GRADING SYSTEMS
Letter Grade
Percenta
ge
(100
Total
Grade
Poin
GP
A
A 90 - 100 900 Above 4.0
B 80 - 89 800 – 899 3.3
3C 70 - 79 700 - 799 3.0
0D 60- 69 600- 699 2.0
0F 59 Below Below 599 1.6
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COURSE PREREQUISITES
Eligible Students: Advance Placement Students
Course Objectives
1. Demonstrate knowledge of key geographical concepts: (Chapter-1)
a. Define geography and identify it major sub-fields
b. Identify the five themes of
geography i. Location
ii. Place
iii. Human environmental
relation iv. Movements
v. Regions
c. Describes the basis of geographical study (differences, similarities, regularities, and
interactions)
d. Define and describe the relationship between cultural and physical landscape
e. Define the tool in geography (globe, maps, charts, statistical data and computers)
f. Describe rotation and revolution of the earth; distinguish the four seasons of each
hemisphere. g. Identify major geographical facts (such as most central continent, largest,
continent)
2. Understand the major physical process that was involved in shaping the each
(Chapter-2)
a. Describe the earth system, its four main components, their composition and their
interrelatedness, and their significance of living things.
b. Describe the interrelatedness terms – continental drift theory, plate tectonics, and seal
floor spreading
c. Describe mountain building process
d. Describe insolation and its relationship to weather, climate, and natural vegetation
e. Describe some of the major weather related hazards (hurricanes, tornadoes, thunderstorms)
f. Identify major geographical facts (such as driest continent, highest mountain)
3. Understand the world population and its impacts of the earth’s environment
(Chapter-3)
a. State the approximate population of the world and identify the distribution of people over the
land surface
b. Describe demographic concepts and models
c. Identify major geographical facts (such as the most populous continent, oldest
cultural landscapes..)
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d. Identify culture and the major culture hearths of the world
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4. Understand the geographic of Anglo America (Chapter-4)
a. Describe the landforms, climate, water bodies, and natural vegetation of the region and their
relationship to human activities
b. Identify natural resources
c. Describe demographic characteristics
d. Describe the cultural landscape
e. Describe social, political, and economic activities
f. Identify major geographical facts related to the region
5. Understand the geography of Europe (Chapter-5)
6. Understand the geography of Russia and its Neighbors (Chapter – 6)
7. Understand the geography of Asia (Chapter – 8)
8. Understand the geography of Sub-Saharan Africa (Chapter – 9)
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9. Understand the geography of Middle East (Chapter – 10)
10. Understand the geography of South America (Chapter – 11)
11. Research Paper
a. Will enhance writing, reading, and IT stills in Geography
b. Topics to research paper will be given during the course
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World Geography syllabus spring 2015

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