Winter Quarter 2010/2011
Course Title:
Course Number/Section:
Instructor:
Metropolitan Community College 1

SYLLABUS
METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE
SECTION I: THE CLASS AND THE INSTRUCTOR
COURSE SECTION AND TITLE: GEOG 1010 Section 4A: Fundamentals of Geography
CREDIT HOURS:
QUARTER/ ACADEMIC YEAR:
INSTRUCTOR’S NAME:
LOCATION OF CLASS:
LOCATION OF LABS:
4.5 Hours
Winter 2010
Victoria Alapo
Fort Omaha Campus, Building 10, Room 108
N/A
METHODS OF CONTACTING INSTRUCTOR:
METRO EMAIL: voalapo@mccneb.edu
METRO OFFICE LOCATION:
METRO OFFICE HOURS:
FOC, Building 5, Room 203
Usually after class or otherwise scheduled
METRO OFFICE PHONE:
FACULTY WEB SITE:
ACADEMIC AREA:
ACADEMIC DEAN’S PHONE:
402-457-2243
402-738-4545 http://faculty.mccneb.edu/voalapo/
Social Sciences
IMPORTANT DATES :
MEETING DAYS/TIME:
DATE CLASS BEGINS:
DATE CLASS ENDS:
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 2:00pm – 3:55pm
December 2, 2010
February 24, 2011
LAST DATE TO DROP CLASS:
DATES CLASS DOES NOT MEET:
February 9, 2011
December 23, 28 & 30, 2010
Please check this link for other important college dates ( .docx or .pdf
): www.mccneb.edu/sos/enrollman.asp
SECTION II: THE COURSE
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This is an introductory course designed to acquaint the student with the diverse content of the field of academic geography and provides the student with an overview of the environmental and social concerns encompassed by the discipline of geography. Essential concepts in both cultural/human and physical geography will be surveyed and the student will acquire basic skills in the use and interpretation of maps.
COURSE PREREQUISITES:
There are no formal prerequisites for this course. However, the ability to read and write at the college level is highly recommended.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Define Geography and compare the contrast the subfields within the discipline.
2. Read and interpret various types of maps.
3. Describe and discuss key issues within the field of geography
4. Give examples of different types of human impacts on the environment.
5. Define different types of regions and understand their usefulness in geographic analysis.
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REQUIRED & SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL:
REQUIRED TEXTBOOK: Bergman, Renwick, 2008, Introduction to Geography 4th edition , Prentice Hall
Publishers.
TEXTBOOK WEBSITE: www.prenhall.com/bergman
SECTION III: STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
CLASS DECORUM:
Your first responsibility in this course (or any other) is to make sure that you have read and understand the syllabus . The terms outlined in this document will bind both instructor and student for the coming quarter. Thereafter, your responsibilities, should you wish to succeed in the course, are: to come to class prepared and on time; to pay attention to lecture and take notes on important points raised therein; to ask questions when they occur to you and; to do your part to maintain a classroom atmosphere that facilitates learning for all. This means that you are to avoid behaviors that prevent others from learning and to treat the diverse viewpoints expressed in class respectfully.
Please turn cell phone ringers off or to vibrate and put pagers on vibrate . If you have an emergency, take the phone or pager out of the classroom to respond.
Using a cell phone in class disrupts the class and shows disrespect for the instructor and your fellow classmates.
METHODS OF LEARNING:
Textbook, lecture, in-class discussion, in-class activities, videos, written assignments, quizzes, and exams.
Students will learn in this course by attending class regularly, by participating in lectures, discussions, and activities in class and by completing any and all assignments in a timely fashion. You will get far more out of the class if you make an effort to stay current with your reading assignments and come to class prepared to discuss and ask questions about course material.
ATTENDANCE STATEMENT:
Attendance is encouraged because in-class activities, discussions, videos, quizzes, and exams will take place during class time and exam material will come from lectures, in-class discussion of the text, activities, and videos, thus it would be difficult to do well in this course if you do not attend regularly. Note that class attendance is required for many financial aid programs. It is t he student’s responsibility to contact the instructor prior to, on the day of an absence, or as soon as possible in case of an emergency.
Failure to do so is noted in the instructor’s grade book and this information is utilized when the instructor considers whether or not to give the student the benefit of the doubt on subjective matters. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain all missed notes, makeup assignments, or materials. If you have a problem and need an accommodation from the instructor, contact the instructor to work out a solution.
BONUS POINTS FOR ATTENDANCE:
The following additional credit may also be earned for good attendance:
• Perfect attendance will result in two bonus percentages being added to the final grade.
• One unexcused absence will result in only one percentage being added to the final grade.
• No extra points will be awarded for 2 or more unexcused absences.
An “excused absence” is when a student lets a Professor know they will be absent before class begins .
STUDENT WITHDRAWAL:
If you cannot participate in and complete this course, you should officially withdraw by calling Central
Registration at 402-457-5231 or 1-800-228-9553. Failure to officially withdraw will result in an attendancerelated failure ( FX ), which is the same as a failing grade. The last date to withdraw is noted in the CLASS
IDENTIFICATION section of this syllabus ( see
“important dates”
).
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ACADEMIC HONESTY STATEMENT:
Students are reminded that materials they may use as sources for this course may be subject to copyright protection. Additional information about copyright is provided on the library webpage at http://www.mccneb.edu/library or by the College's Copyright Officer. In response to incidents of student dishonesty (cheating, plagiarism, etc.), the College imposes specific actions that may include receiving a failing grade on a test, failure in the course, suspension from the College, or dismissal from the College. The disciplinary procedures are available in Student Services. Any instance of academic dishonesty in this course, including (but not limited to) cheating on exams or any form of plagiarism, will carry penalties including, but not limited to, an automatic "F" in the course.
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:
If you have a disability that may substantially limit your ability to participate in this class, please contact a
Disability Support Services Counselor, located in the Student Services Office on each campus. Metro
Community College will provide reasonable accommodations for persons with documented qualifying disabilities. However, it is the student’s responsibility to request accommodations. For further information, please contact the Student Services Office at your campus.
ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT LEARNING PROGRAM:
Metropolitan Community College is committed to continuous improvement of teaching and learning. You may be asked to help us to accomplish this objective. For example, you may be asked to respond to surveys or questionnaires. In other cases, tests or assignments you are required to do for this course may be shared with faculty and used for assessment purposes. This will be done in accordance with FERPA guidelines.
TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES AND USE OF COLLEGE COMPUTERS:
By using the information technology systems at MCC (including the computer systems and phones) you acknowledge and consent to the conditions of use as set forth in the Metropolitan Community College
Procedures Memorandum on Acceptable Use of Information Technology and Resources. It is your responsibility as a student to be familiar with these procedures. The full text of the Procedures Memorandum may be found at the following website: http://www.mccneb.edu/itprocedures.htm
When using College computers at the computer labs, Learning Centers, Libraries and classrooms, you need to login with your username and password * . Your username and password are the same whenever you log into the network (campus computers), SharePoint Services, student e-mail, WebAdvisor and WebCT (if enrolled in an online or blended course). For other systems (not listed above), your instructor will provide you with the necessary username and password information.
The Password Center ( http://www.mccneb.edu/password ) is a new web resource available to all students and staff. This web site allows you to change (reset) your password even if you don’t know your username and password, provided the personal information you enter to verify your identity, matches the information the
College has in it’s database. Verification information consists of student ID number (or the last 5 digits of your
Social Security number), last name, birth date, street address and ZIP Code.
*Note : If you have not logged in before, your initial password is the first initial of your first name (in
UPPERCASE), the first initial of your last name (in lowercase), followed by your student ID number with leading zeros to make the password 9 characters long. For example, if your name is Chris Doe and your student ID number is 1234, your initial password will be Cd0001234.
EDUCATIONAL SERVICES PROGRAM AREA IDENTIFICATION:
Program Area: Social Sciences
Dean Jane Franklin
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Dean’s office phone: 738-4545
The Office of the Dean should be contacted with any questions or problems that you and your instructor are not able to resolve to your satisfaction.
SECTION IV: INSTRUCTOR RESPONSIBILITIES
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION:
Lectures, demonstrations, discussions, videos, in-class activities, and written assignments will be used. The student is expected to read assigned material before attending class as this will be part of the discussion and activity in class.
METHODS OF ASSESSING STUDENT PROGRESS:
Exams, written assignments, in-class activities, and in-class participation.
SELECTED TESTING/ASSESSMENT METHODS:
Total Points:
Three (3) exams of 100 points
One (1) written term paper of 100 points
One (1) Syllabus Assignment of 10 points
Six (6) homework / class assignments of 15 points
Six (6) Articles related to Geography of 10 points each
Total Points Possible:
300 pts
100 pts
10 pts
90 pts
60 pts
560 pts
CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING FINAL COURSE GRADE:
Your final grade will be determined by the percentage of the total possible points (560) earned on exams, term paper, homework assignments, in-class projects and articles brought by students.
A = 90% - 100%
B = 80% - 89%
C = 70% - 79%
D = 60% - 69%
F = below 60%
For example, if you scored the following: 242 total points on exams, 90 points on your term paper, and a total of 70 points on homework assignments, 50 points on articles, and 8 points on your syllabus assignment, your grade would be computed this way: dividing the total number of points you scored (460) by the total number of points available (560), and multiplying the result by 100 (to produce a percentage). That would be
450/560=.821x100= 82.1%, a 'B'.
MAKE-UP TEST PROCEDURES:
Make-up tests and make-up in-class projects or quizzes will only be given at the instructor’s discretion. It shall be the student's responsibility to contact me before the test or quiz is given or as soon as possible in case of an emergency to arrange to take a make-up test or quiz. Missing a test or quiz without an excused absence
WILL result in a grade of zero (0) points.
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LATE ASSIGNMENTS:
Home assignments are due at the beginning of class, the week after they are assigned. Late homework assignments may be accepted but will be reduced by 10% for every day that it is late beyond the due date unless prior arrangements have been made with the instructor. Late assignments and papers can be turned in through student services so they can be placed in my mailbox. Be sure to ask the student services worker to date and time stamp what you are turning in so there will be no disagreement concerning when you turned in your assignment.
TERM PAPER REQUIREMENTS:
For the term paper, each student will choose one topic of their choice, and will adhere to the following requirements;
1. The Term Paper is DUE on February 15, 2011 , and it is worth 100 points.
2. I WILL NOT ACCEPT LATE PAPERS. You have 2 whole MONTHS to write it. Do NOT wait until the last minute to think of what to write. Otherwise, if you turn it in late (even in the case of emergencies), you will loose 10% per day, same as 10 POINTS PER DAY (because it is worth 100 points). However, I will accept early papers .
3. The paper can be about any region, country, or continent, but it must be 3 to 6 pages . 3 pages minimum, 6 maximum pages. It has to be AT LEAST 3 pages BEFORE you add any maps or illustrations of any kind.
4. Your term paper must be typed, and double-spaced. Also, your paper must have a TITLE (what it's about).
5. You MUST NUMBER YOUR PAGES. This is a scholarly habit you should develop early. STAPLE your work.
6. Keep in mind the 55 branches of Geography when selecting a topic. Choose a topic relating to any of those and you will be fine. As long as you RELATE it to a PLACE. Geography is about LOCATION.
7. As far as topics are concerned, do not limit yourselves to the stereotype of Geography - "landforms". Of course it could still be about landforms if you like, e.g. describing the landscape of a particular country or region or state or place or it could be about the climate of a particular country or region or state or place. Or the Biogeography (plants, animals) of a particular place, the culture of a place, the population geography of a place, the agricultural (what they grow) or even medical geography of a place (what kind of diseases they have, etc). Or Gender Geography -- what kind of rights women have there. Or Political Geography, etc, etc.
It has to be about a specific PLACE, otherwise, it STOPS being Geography. You will be submitting a diversity of article topics during the term, so that should give you some ideas as well. But feel free to ask me if you have a question about a potential topic you have in mind.
8. MAPS of the PLACE you're describing are a great addition to Geographical discourse; it's not required to obtain a ‘passing grade’ on the paper, but it might decide what type of a pass you get. In other words, it will increase your points. Besides, it makes your paper sound/ look more Geographical. Graphs, pictures, and other items/illustrations (where possible) will also add points. But note the SOURCES of everything you use.
9. Your paper must have REFERENCES from at LEAST 2 sources, listed in the LAST PAGE of your paper.
Your reference page does NOT count as your 3 minimum pages. Your class textbook and Wikipedia does not count as part of your 2 minimum sources , but they can be used as an additional reference. Use library databases .
10. Do NOT limit yourselves to the internet; BOOKS are great SOURCES of information. GO TO THE LIBRARY.
Book sources get more points . Go to the Library/ Writing Center to see how to correctly list a book reference. And if you go through the trouble of using a book, quote some portions of it in your narrative or at least put the name of the author after the sentence or idea you got from the book, so I can see evidences of it . If you use the internet, I want to see the site listed (http listed). I will check it. I do
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occasionally use "TURN IT IN" to check papers; so please, originality is encouraged even when using other sources. Use your own words, unless when you're quoting facts.
11. As I said above, if you do use a book , I want you to show evidence of it , by referencing the author and his/her opinions in the BODY of your essay. State something he/she said. E.g. “according to __________...”
That’s how academic papers are written. I don’t want you just listing a bunch of books at the end of your paper. You won’t earn any points for it, otherwise .
ARTICLE REQUIREMENTS:
Newspapers all over the country (Omaha Herald, New York Times, etc), magazines (National Geographic, Time magazine, etc), ALL carry geographical articles. I want you to start THINKING Geographically. In fact, that is why
I am having the class submit articles. In other words, I want you to start seeing GEOGRAPHIC PATTERNS AND
EVENTS in things AROUND YOU (and in the world) that you have always taken for granted.
This will also help you when the TIME comes for you to write your TERM PAPER; what you read about world events will give you IDEAS on what to write about. Besides, it will make you break out of your shell, and learn about what's going on around the world.
1. All you need is an article that is GEOGRAPHICAL.
2. Hint: Look at the list of CHAPTERS in your textbook. If your article FITS ANY of those chapter topics, it is
Geographical; also, it has to relate to a SPECIFIC PLACE when you decide on an article. That is what makes something "Geographical".
3. Your article also needs to have the SOURCE and DATE OF PUBLICATION ( not the day YOU printed it out or tore it out of a publication). I want to know how old the information is - otherwise, you will LOOSE
POINTS.
4. That is ALL you have to do, other than putting your name on it. If the source and date is torn out,
WRITE THEM ON. You don't have to write anything about the article, just bring it in. And the article
CANNOT be more than 2 years old.
Yes, I know, it's 60 unbelievably easy points, but some people still fail it anyway, because they don't listen to instructions.
:
CLASS
DATE
IN CLASS
ASSIGNMENTS DUE TODAY ASSIGNMENTS FOR NEXT
CLASS
- Chapter 1
12/2/2010
- Introduction to Geography (Ch 1) - Syllabus Assignment
- Article related to Geography (1)
12/7/2010
12/9/2010
- Introduction to Geography (Ch 1)
- Weather and Climate (Ch 2)
- Syllabus Assignment
- Article related to Geography (1)
- Homework Assignment 1
- Chapter 2
- Homework Assignment 1
- Chapter 2
- Article related to Geography (2)
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:
CLASS
DATE
IN CLASS
ASSIGNMENTS DUE TODAY ASSIGNMENTS FOR NEXT
WEEK
12/14/2010
- Weather and Climate (Ch 2) - Article related to Geography (2) - Chapter 3
- Homework Assignment 2
12/16/2010
- Landforms (Ch 3) - Homework Assignment 2
- Chapter 3
- Article related to Geography (3)
- Article related to Geography (3) - Chapter 4
12/21/2010
12/23/2010,
12/28/2010,
12/30/2010
- Landforms (Ch 3)
- No Classes
1/4/2011
1/6/2011
1/11/2011
1/13/2011
- Biochemical Cycles & the
Biosphere (Ch 4)
- Exam 1
- Biochemical Cycles & the
Biosphere (Ch 4)
- Population, Population Increase and Migration (Ch 5)
- Population, Population Increase and Migration (Ch 5)
- Exam 1
- Homework Assignment 3
- Prepare for Exam 1
- Prepare for Exam 1
- Chapter 5
- Homework Assignment 3
- Chapter 5
1/18/2011
1/20/2011
1/25/2011
- Cultural Geography (Ch 6)
- Cultural Geography (Ch 6)
- The Geography of Languages &
Religions (Ch 7)
- Homework Assignment 4
- Chapter 6
- Homework Assignment 4
- Chapter 6
- Article related to Geography (4)
- Article related to Geography (4)
- Homework Assignment 5
- Chapter 7
- Homework Assignment 5
- Chapter 7
- Article related to Geography (5)
1/27/2011
- The Geography of Languages &
Religions (Ch 7)
- Article related to Geography (5)
- Chapter 10
- Prepare for Exam 2
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:
CLASS
DATE
IN CLASS
ASSIGNMENTS DUE TODAY ASSIGNMENTS FOR NEXT
WEEK
2/1/2011
- Exam 2
- Cities and Urbanization (Ch 10)
- Exam 2 - Chapter 10
2/3/2011
2/8/2011
2/10/2011
- Cities and Urbanization (Ch 10)
- The Human Food Supply (Ch 8)
- Earth’s Resources &
Environmental Protection (Ch 9)
- Homework Assignment 6
- Chapter 8
- Homework Assignment 6
- Chapter 9
2/15/2011
2/17/2011
- A World of States (Ch 11) - Term Paper Due
- Chapter 11
- Finish Term Paper
- Chapter 12
- Chapter 13
- Article related to Geography (6)
2/22/2011
- National Paths to Economic
Growth (Ch 12)
- Political Regionalization and
Globalization (Ch 13)
- Final Exam
- Article related to Geography (6)
- Prepare for Final Exam
2/24/2011
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