WORLD REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY - GEOG 2310
SPRING 2015
ONLINE
INSTRUCTOR INFO
Dr. Jess C. Porter
Assistant Professor of Geography
Department of History
Office: 604D Stabler Hall
Phone: 501.569.8730
E-mail: Please send me a message in Blackboard for all course-related correspondence. If it is an urgent matter or is
not course related, send an email to jcporter@ualr.edu.
DR. PORTER’S OFFICE HOURS:
Tuesday and Thursday 10:45 am – 11:45 am, but you are always welcome to stop-in.
REQUIRED TEXT and WEBSITE
Rowntree et al. Globalization and Diversity: Geography of a Changing World, 4TH ed. with Mastering Geography. 2014.
ISBN: 0-321-80726 or ISBN: 321-86227-3 (e-text) and Mastering Geography for this course ISBN: 0-321-84141-4
Or
ISBN: 0-321-821467 (Rowntree book with Mastering included)
Mastering Geography website Course ID: PORTERUALRGEOG2310
ONLINE COURSE RESOURCE
Blackboard: bb.ualr.edu
 Supplementary narrated PowerPoint course lectures located here.
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES
This course is designed to help you understand how relationships between the environment, people, and places play out
in the different regions of the world. We will pay particular attention to the ways that globalization is continually
reshaping these relationships. The tension between the consequences of converging environmental, cultural, political,
and economic systems associated with the forces of globalization versus the persistence of geographic diversity and
difference is an additional focus. Our course objectives include the following:
 Develop a nuanced understanding of the world’s diversity of people, places, and contemporary events
 Understand how humans impact the environment and how the environment impacts humans
 Learn to identify the increasing interrelatedness of people, places, and events (gain a BIG PICTURE mentality)
 Learn the locations of key human and physical features around the globe
 Hone your ability to see the many sides of any story
 Develop critical thinking and analytical skills through comparing world regions
COURSE CONTENT
Materials for the course are delivered through four primary mechanisms:
 Textbook. You are expected to read your textbook at the rate of one chapter per week.
 Google Earth Virtual Tour Videos. These are available in the Study Area of each chapter at Pearson’s Mastering
Geography website. Each chapter has three of the one to three minute videos.
 Dynamic Study Modules. Each chapter has two dynamic study modules. These are required elements. See
below for more information.
 Lectures. Course lectures are available for each chapter in the class shell for the course on UALR’s Blackboard
site. These narrated PowerPoint lectures are not required, but they will provide significant reinforcement of the
content provided by the preceding three mechanisms.
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Note: I strongly encourage you to digest the course content by reading your chapter first, then watching that
chapter’s Google Earth videos, then completing the Dynamic Study Module. If you need further reinforcement of the
chapter’s content, then watch the recorded lecture. By this point, you will have significant familiarity with the
region, and the chapter homework should go more quickly for you.
GRADING
Grades for the course are calculated from your performance in three realms. Twenty percent of your grade is
accumulated from completing the dynamic study modules, forty percent comes from the chapter homework, and forty
percent comes from the exams.
Course grades will be based on the following:
30 Dynamic Study Modules = 20% (no credit for late assignments)
14 Chapter Homework = 40% (reduced credit past due date)
5 Exams = 40% (reduced credit past due date)
TOTAL = 100%
Grades will be assigned based on the following percentages: A > 89.6, B >79.6, C > 69.6, D > 59.6, F < 59.6
Here is the computation of a sample student’s course grade:
Dynamic Study Module’s completed 12/14 = 85.7% - 20% of grade
Chapter Homework = 91.3% - 40% of grade
Exam average (82, 78, 74, 89, 77) = 80% - 40% of grade
85.7*(.20) + 91.3*(.40) + 80*(.40) = 17.14 + 36.52 + 32 = 85.66% (B)
All Dynamic Study Modules, Chapter Homework, and Exams are due by 8PM on the due date. If you experience
computer problems, this will not constitute a valid reason not to submit an assignment or exam. You have been given
exceptionally long assignment and testing periods – SO COMPLETE YOUR WORK WITH TIME TO SPARE!
DYNAMIC STUDY MODULES
Dynamic Study Modules are provided on the Mastering Geography website to help students check and improve their
knowledge of material you must master to do well in this course. These modules are always available to view and use for
studying, BUT you must complete each module by its due date to receive credit. There are no opportunities to submit
the Dynamic Study Modules late (and still receive credit), and they are 20% of your grade, so don’t put these off.
CHAPTER HOMEWORK
Chapter homework principally consists of interactive map identification exercises. Occasionally, a GeoTutor coaching
exercise or two is also a part of your homework. All chapter homework takes place in the Mastering Geography website.
You may submit late chapter homework assignments until the last day of the course. However, there will be a deduction
of 5% credit for each day your assignment is late (with a maximum 20% deduction).
EXAMS
All exams are weighted equally and are non-comprehensive. Exam questions will be a combination of multiple-choice,
true-false, and short essay formats and will be based on the textbook, Google Earth videos, and Dynamic Study Modules.
The recorded lectures are not a direct source for exam material, but cover the same content as the textbook and the
Dynamic Study Modules. Exams are completed on the Mastering Geography website. Exams can be submitted until the
last day of the course. However, there will be a deduction of 10% credit for each day your exam is late (with a maximum
40% deduction).
EXAM PERIODS
Exam 1 – January 23, 8PM – January 30, 8PM
Exam 2 – February 20, 8PM – February 27, 8PM
Exam 3 – March 13, 8PM – March 20, 8PM
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Exam 4 – April 10, 8PM – April 17, 8PM
Exam 5 – April 24, 8PM – May 1, 8PM
SCHEDULE (Homework and Dynamic Study Modules average completion time for previous students). Note: All items are
due at 8PM on their respective date.
Week of January 12 – Concepts of World Geography
 Read Chapter 1; watch Google Earth Virtual Tour videos (five for this chapter)
 Homework: Introduction to Mastering Geography (20 minutes) – Due 1/14
 World Regional Geography Essentials Module 1: The Science of Geography Dynamic Study Module (45 minutes)
– Due 1/16
Week of January 19 – The Changing Global Environment
 Read Chapter 2; watch Google Earth Virtual Tour videos (three for this chapter)
 World Regional Geography Essentials Module 2: Globalization and Regions (40 minutes) – Due 1/19
 Homework: Chapter 1 (40 minutes) – Due 1/20
 Human Geography Module 1: Economic and Political (35 minutes) – Due 1/21
 Human Geography Module 2: Population and Culture (20 minutes) – Due 1/23
 Exam 1 (chapters 1 & 2) opens – 1/23, 8PM
Week of January 26 – North America
 Read Chapter 3; watch Google Earth Virtual Tour videos (three for this chapter)
 Physical Geography Module 1: Land, Environment, and Biogeography Dynamic Study Module (45 minutes) – Due
1/26
 Homework: Chapter 2 (45 minutes) – 1/27
 Physical Geography Module 2: Water and Climate Dynamic Study Module (45 minutes) – Due 1/28
 North America Module 1: Physical Geography & Human Environment Interaction Dynamic Study Module (25
minutes) – Due 1/29
 North America Module 2: Cultural, Economic, & Political Geography Dynamic Study Module (30 minutes) – Due
1/30
 Exam 1 due – 1/30, 8PM
Week of February 2 – Latin America
 Homework: Chapter 3 (30 minutes) – Due 2/3
 Read Chapter 4; watch Google Earth Virtual Tour videos (three for this chapter)
 Latin America Module 1: Physical Geography & Human-Environment Interaction Dynamic Study Module (70
minutes) – Due 2/4
 Latin America Module 2: Cultural, Economic, & Physical Geography Dynamic Study Module (45 minutes) – Due
2/5
 Homework: Chapter 4 (30 minutes) – Due 2/6
Week of February 9 – Caribbean
 Read Chapter 5; watch Google Earth Virtual Tour videos (three for this chapter)
 The Caribbean Module 1: Physical Geography & Human-Environment Interaction Dynamic Study Module (20
minutes) – Due 2/9
 The Caribbean Module 2: Cultural, Economic, & Physical Geography Dynamic Study Module (25 minutes) – Due
2/11
 Homework: Chapter 5 (40 minutes) – Due 2/13
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Week of February 16 – Sub-Saharan Africa
 Read Chapter 6; watch Google Earth Virtual Tour videos (three for this chapter)
 Sub-Saharan Africa Module 1: Physical Geography & Human-Environment Interaction Dynamic Study Module (50
minutes) – Due 2/16
 Sub-Saharan Africa Module 2: Cultural, Economic, & Political Geography Dynamic Study Module (35 minutes) –
Due 2/18
 Homework: Chapter 6 (20 minutes) – Due 2/20
 Exam 2 (chapters 3-5) opens – 2/20, 8PM
Week of February 23 – Southwest Asia and North Africa
 Read Chapter 7; watch Google Earth Virtual Tour videos (three for this chapter)
 The Middle East and North Africa Module 1: Physical Geography & Human-Environment Interaction Dynamic
Study Module (40 minutes) – Due 2/23
 The Middle East and North Africa Module 2: Cultural, Economic, & Physical Geography Dynamic Study Module
(25 minutes) – Due 2/25
 Homework: Chapter 7 (20 minutes) – Due 2/27
 Exam 2 due 2/27, 8PM
Week of March 2 – Europe
 Read Chapter 8; watch Google Earth Virtual Tour videos (three for this chapter)
 Europe Module 1: Physical Geography & Human-Environment Interaction Dynamic Study Module (70 minutes) –
Due 3/2
 Europe Module 2: Cultural, Economic, & Physical Geography Dynamic Study Module (50 minutes) – Due 3/4
 Homework: Chapter 8 (20 minutes) – Due 3/6
Week of March 9 – The Russian Domain
 Read Chapter 9; watch Google Earth Virtual Tour videos (three for this chapter)
 The Russian Domain Module 1: Physical Geography & Human-Environment Interaction Dynamic Study Module
(20 minutes) – Due 3/9
 The Russian Domain Module 2: Cultural, Economic, & Physical Geography Dynamic Study Module (20 minutes) –
Due 3/11
 Homework: Chapter 9 (45 minutes) – Due 3/13
 Exam 3 (chapters 6-8) opens – 3/13
Week of March 16 – Central Asia
 Read Chapter 10; watch Google Earth Virtual Tour videos (three for this chapter)
 Central Asia Module 1: Physical Geography & Human-Environment Interaction Dynamic Study Module (20
minutes) – Due 3/16
 Central Asia Module 2: Cultural, Economic, & Physical Geography Dynamic Study Module (20 minutes) – Due
3/18
 Homework: Chapter 10 (20 minutes) – Due 3/20
 Exam 3 due 3/20, 8PM
Week of March 30 – East Asia
 Read Chapter 11; watch Google Earth Virtual Tour videos (three for this chapter)
 East Asia Module 1: Physical Geography & Human-Environment Interaction Dynamic Study Module (30 minutes)
– Due 3/30
 East Asia Module 2: Cultural, Economic, & Physical Geography Dynamic Study Module (30 minutes) – Due 4/1
 Homework: Chapter 11 (20 minutes) – Due 4/3
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Week of April 6 – South Asia
 Read Chapter 12; watch Google Earth Virtual Tour videos (three for this chapter)
 South Asia Module 1: Physical Geography & Human-Environment Interaction Dynamic Study Module (30
minutes) – Due 4/6
 South Asia Module 2: Cultural, Economic, & Physical Geography Dynamic Study Module (30 minutes) – Due 4/8
 Homework: Chapter 12 (20 minutes) – Due 4/10
 Exam 4 (chapters 9-11) opens – 4/10
Week of April 13 – Southeast Asia
 Read Chapter 13; watch Google Earth Virtual Tour videos (three for this chapter)
 Southeast Asia Module 1: Physical Geography & Human-Environment Interaction Dynamic Study Module (30
minutes) – Due 4/13
 Southeast Asia Module 2: Cultural, Economic, & Physical Geography Dynamic Study Module (30 minutes) – Due
4/15
 Homework: Chapter 13 (20 minutes) – Due 4/17
 Exam 4 due 4/17, 8PM
Week of April 20 – Australia and Oceania
 Read Chapter 14; watch Google Earth Virtual Tour videos (three for this chapter)
 Australia and Oceania Module 1: Physical Geography & Human-Environment Interaction Dynamic Study Module
(30 minutes) – Due 4/20
 Australia and Oceania Module 2: Cultural, Economic, & Physical Geography Dynamic Study Module (30 minutes)
– Due 4/22
 Homework: Chapter 14 (20 minutes) – Due 4/24
 Exam 5 (chapters 12-14) opens 4/24
Week of April 27
 Exam 5 due 5/1, 8PM
Week of May 4
 Deadline for late homework (with reduced credit) and Exams 1-5 (with reduced credit) 5/8, 8PM
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 The grade cut-offs listed earlier are firm; for example, a percentage of 89.4 will be a B. No individual extra credit or
"redo" work is possible for this class. Don't ask. There is no possibility of a grade being changed except for a genuine
computational error on my part.
 No course scores or grade information will be divulged over the phone or e-mail. Blackboard and/or Mastering
Geography will be used to report course scores and will be the only place exam scores can be obtained besides my
office.
 Incomplete grades (I) will be given only in the case of extended, verifiable illness that occurs after the automatic W
period; you should withdraw if it occurs before then. Even if you have notified me during the semester of your
situation, you must also contact me at the end of the semester to confirm your cause of absence and to discuss
arrangements for finishing the incomplete work.
 Your success in this class is important to me, and it is the policy and practice of the University of Arkansas at Little
Rock to create inclusive learning environments consistent with federal and state law. If you have a documented
disability (or need to have a disability documented), and need an accommodation, please contact me privately as
soon as possible, so that we can discuss with the Disability Resource Center (DRC) how to meet your specific needs
and the requirements of the course. The DRC offers resources and coordinates reasonable accommodations for
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students with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations are established through an interactive process among you,
your instructor(s) and the DRC. Thus, if you have a disability, please contact me and/or the DRC, at 501-569-3143
(V/TTY) or 501-683-7629 (VP). For more information, please visit the DRC website at www.ualr.edu/disability.
Don’t wait until the last week of class to start worrying about your grade if your scores are not as high as you hoped.
Contact the instructor for questions/concerns.
All students are required to perform their own work. Students caught cheating on exams or assignments, or
representing their work as someone else’s or vice versa, will be charged as appropriate under the university’s
Academic Integrity Policies.
All students are expected to maintain a working e-mail address on file with the university and to log into Blackboard
daily for ancillary information, updates, and submission of writing assignments. On occasion, I may need to send out
a broad informational e-mail to all students through Blackboard.
Above all, the instructor expects a civilized, respectful, professional, and open-minded attitude to prevail in the faceto-face and online classroom. Students are expected to conduct themselves accordingly.
UPCOMING GEOGRAPHY COURSES
Summer 2015
 GEOG 1311 – Physical Geography (online)
 GEOG 2312 – Cultural Geography (online)
Fall 2015
 GEOG 2312 – Cultural Geography (classroom)
 GEOG 3305 – Environmental Conservation (online)
 GEOG 3320 – Urban Geography (online)
Think about a Geography minor. It only requires Physical Geography, Cultural Geography and 12 additional Geography
hours.
I hope to see you in another UALR Geography course soon!
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