SYLLABUS HANDOUT
for
Spring Quarter – 2011
Course Title:
World Regional Geography
Course Number/Section:
GEOG 2150 – 4A
Instructor:
Victoria Alapo
WELCOME TO METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE
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SYLLABUS
METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE
SECTION I: THE CLASS AND THE INSTRUCTOR
COURSE SECTION AND TITLE:
CREDIT HOURS:
QUARTER/ ACADEMIC YEAR:
INSTRUCTOR’S NAME:
LOCATION OF CLASS:
LOCATION OF LABS:
GEOG 2150 Section 4A: World Regional Geography
4.5 Hours
Spring 2011
Victoria Alapo
Fort Omaha Campus, Building 10, Room 124
N/A
METHODS OF CONTACTING INSTRUCTOR:
METRO EMAIL:
voalapo@mccneb.edu
METRO OFFICE LOCATION:
FOC, Building 5, Room 203
METRO OFFICE HOURS:
Usually after class or otherwise scheduled
METRO OFFICE PHONE:
402-457-2243
FACULTY WEB SITE:
http://faculty.mccneb.edu/voalapo/
ACADEMIC AREA:
Social Sciences
ACADEMIC DEAN’S PHONE:
402-738-4545
IMPORTANT DATES:
MEETING DAYS/TIME:
Mondays & Wednesdays, 12:00am – 1:55pm
DATE CLASS BEGINS:
March 10, 2011
DATE CLASS ENDS:
May 24, 2011
LAST DATE TO DROP CLASS:
May 9, 2011
DATES CLASS DOES NOT MEET:
None
Please check this link for other important college dates: www.mccneb.edu/sos/enrollman.asp
SECTION II: THE COURSE
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The course is designed to expand the student’s knowledge of the world beyond Nebraska. The earth is divided
into a manageable number of geographical areas (regions) that are analyzed in terms of their human and
physical geographies. Particular attention is given to distinctions between the wealthy, technologically
advanced regions of the earth, and those regions that remain less developed. The processes of globalization
that increasingly link regions to one another are examined.
COURSE PREREQUISITES:
There are no specific prerequisites for GEOG 2150, but the ability to read and comprehend college-level texts
is essential. You will also be well served by a healthy curiosity about the world in which you live.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Upon completion of the course students will:
1)
Increase their level geographical literacy and proficiency with maps
2)
Comprehend basic concepts in human and physical geography
3)
Understand the processes of globalization and their impacts on different world regions
4)
Appreciate the increasing environmental impacts of human activity in the modern world.
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REQUIRED & SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL:
REQUIRED TEXT:
De Blij, H.J. and Peter O. Muller. Geography: Realms, Regions and Concepts,
14th edition. John Wiley and Sons.
SUPPLEMENTAL:
An up-to-date world atlas is strongly recommended for general knowledge and map quizzes.
SECTION III: STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
Your first responsibility in this course (or any other) is to make sure that you have read and
understood the syllabus. The terms outlined in this document will bind both instructor and the
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 (e.g. inappropriate talking in class etc.), and that
you treat the diverse viewpoints expressed in class respectfully. Please turn off your cell phone
ringers upon entering class and refrain from texting during class time.
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 the 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.
TIME DEMANDS:
This is a social science course for which you will be granted 4.5 (quarter) credit hours that are transferable to
nearly any college or university in the United States. You should plan on devoting about 4-6 hours per week to
the course beyond time spent in the classroom. Experience shows that persons unwilling to devote this much
time to the course will do poorly.
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.
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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 either an
attendance-related failure (FX) or failing (F) grade. The last date to withdraw is noted in the CLASS
IDENTIFICATION section of this syllabus (see “important dates”).
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 its 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.
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EDUCATIONAL SERVICES PROGRAM AREA IDENTIFICATION:
Program Area: Social Sciences
Dean Jane Franklin
Dean’s office phone: 402-739-4545
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, maps, quizzes, 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, map quizzes, and in-class participation.
SELECTED TESTING/ASSESSMENT METHODS:
Three (3) exams of 100 points
One (1) written term paper of 100 points
One (1) Syllabus Assignment
Five (5) map quizzes of 15 points
Seven (7) Articles related to Geography of 10 points each
Total Points Possible:
Total Points:
300 pts
100 pts
10 pts
75 pts
70 pts
555 pts
CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING FINAL COURSE GRADE:
Your final grade will be determined by the percentage of the total possible points (555) earned on exams, term
paper, map quizzes, 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: 245 total points on exams, 90 points on your term paper, and a total
of 60 points on map quizzes, 65 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 (468) by the total number of
points available (555), and multiplying the result by 100 (to produce a percentage). That would be
468/555=.843x100= 84.3%, 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.
**I do not allow the eating of MEALS during my class. My class is NOT a Cafeteria; therefore,
if you’re hungry, that’s where you need to go. However, small vending snacks are acceptable.
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 the date listed in the Schedule, 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.
Your term paper must be typed, and double-spaced, and have a one inch margin. Also, your paper must have
a TITLE (what it's about).
4.
You MUST NUMBER YOUR PAGES. This is a scholarly habit you should develop early.
5.
The paper can be about any region, country, or continent, but it must be 3 to 6 pages. 3 pages minimum, 6
maximum pages. As long as you RELATE it to a PLACE; Geography is about LOCATION.
6.
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 still make sure you ask me if
you have a question about a potential topic you have in mind.
7.
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. Also, maps with scales
get more points – in Geography, they are considered more useful. Graphs, pictures, and other
items/illustrations (where possible) will also add points. But note the SOURCES of everything you use.
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.
8.
9.
Do NOT limit yourselves to the internet; BOOKS are great SOURCES of information. GO TO THE LIBRARY
(or at least visit the Library’s Online Databases. Call them if you have questions on how to use it). Book
sources get more points. Also, 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.
10.
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 World Herald, New York Times, etc) or 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 news articles. In other words, I want you to start seeing
GEOGRAPHIC PATTERNS AND EVENTS in things AROUND YOU (and 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 around the
world 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 you.
1.
All you need is an article that is GEOGRAPHICAL.
2.
However, as you’ll notice in this syllabus, it has to be about a SPECIFIC REALM.
3.
Your article also needs to have the SOURCE on it (who published it).
4.
DATE OF PUBLICATION - the day it was PUBLISHED BY THE NEWSPAPER/ MAGAZINE, NOT the day
YOU printed it out or tore it out of the magazine/newspaper. Otherwise, you will LOOSE POINTS. I want
to see how OLD it is. 2 years is the maximum age it can be.
5.
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 it, just bring in an article.
Yes, I know, it's 70 unbelievably easy points, but some people still fail it anyway, because they don't listen to
instructions.
SECTION V: TEACHING SCHEDULE & SCHEDULE OF ASSIGNMENTS:
CLASS DATE
IN CLASS
3/10/2011
- Introduction to World Regional
ASSIGNMENTS DUE TODAY
- Introduction
- Syllabus Assignment
Geography
- Introduction to World Regional
3/15/2011
3/17/2011
Geography
- Europe (Ch 1)
- Syllabus Assignment
- Article related to Geography 1
(Europe)
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ASSIGNMENTS FOR NEXT
CLASS
- Chapter 1
- Article related to Geography (1)
- Chapter 1
- Prepare for Map Quiz 1
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SECTION V: TEACHING SCHEDULE & SCHEDULE OF ASSIGNMENTS (Continued):
CLASS DATE
IN CLASS
3/22/2011
- Europe (Ch 1)
3/24/2011
- Russia (Ch 2)
3/29/2011
- North America (Ch 3)
3/31/2011
- Middle America (Ch 4)
ASSIGNMENTS DUE TODAY
- Map Quiz 1 (Europe)
- Exam 1
- South America (Ch 5)
4/7/2011
- South America (Ch 5)
4/12/2011
- Sub-Saharan Africa (Ch 6)
4/14/2011
- Sub-Saharan Africa (Ch 6)
4/19/2011
- Chapter 3
(Russia)
- Prepare for Map Quiz 2
- Map Quiz 2 (Middle & South
- Chapter 4
America)
- Article related to Geography (3)
- Article related to Geography 3
- Chapter 6
- Map Quiz 3 (Africa)
4/26/2011
(Sub-Saharan Africa)
- Prepare for Map Quiz 4
Middle East)
- South Asia (Ch 8)
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- Article related to Geography (4)
- Chapter 6 & 7
- North Africa/ Southwest Asia
(Ch 7)
- Chapter 6
- Article related to Geography 4
- Map Quiz 4 (Southwest Asia –
- North Africa/ Southwest Asia
- Prepare for Exam 1
- Prepare for Map Quiz 3
(Ch 7)
4/21/2011
- Chapter 5
- Exam 1
- Sub-Saharan Africa (Ch 6)
- Sub-Saharan Africa (Ch 6)
- Article related to Geography (2)
- Article related to Geography 2
(Middle or South America)
4/5/2011
ASSIGNMENTS FOR NEXT
CLASS
- Chapter 2
- Article related to Geography 5
(South Asia)
- Chapters 6 & 7
- Article related to Geography (5)
- Chapter 8
- Chapter 8
- Prepare for Exam 2
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SECTION V: TEACHING SCHEDULE & SCHEDULE OF ASSIGNMENTS (Continued):
CLASS DATE
IN CLASS
- Exam 2
4/28/2011
- South Asia (Ch 8)
5/3/2011
- East Asia (Ch 9)
5/5/2011
- East Asia (Ch 9)
5/10/2011
- Southeast Asia (Ch 10)
5/12/2011
- Southeast Asia (Ch 10)
5/17/2011
5/19/2011
- The Austral Realm (Ch 11)
- The Pacific Realm and Polar
ASSIGNMENTS DUE TODAY
- Exam 2
ASSIGNMENTS FOR NEXT
CLASS
- Chapter 9
- Article related to Geography (6)
- Article related to Geography 6
- Chapter 9
(East Asia or South East Asia)
- Finish Term Paper
- Term Paper Due
- Chapter 10
- Prepare for Map Quiz 5
- Chapter 10
- Map Quiz 5 (South, East and
- Article related to Geography (7)
South East Asia)
Chapter 11
- Article related to Geography 7
- Chapter 12
(Austral or Pacific Realm)
- Prepare for Final Exam
Futures (Ch 12)
5/24/2011
- Final Exam
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