INTRODUCTION TO GEOGRAPHY
SYLLABUS
GEOG 2613 Introduction to Geography
Fall 2010
Instructor: Dr. Hubert B. Stroud, Professor of Geography
Email Address: bstroud@astate.edu
Telephone Number: 870-972-3125
Office Hours:
7:30 – 8:30 MW
10:00 – 11:00 MW
11:00 – 12:00 T
(or by appointment)
Office Location: International Student Center (ISC 214).
Required Textbook: Getis, Getis, and Fellman, Introduction to Geography, 12th Edition,
McGraw Hill, 2009.
Catalogue Description: Emphasizes the physical and cultural patterns in the world.
Learning Goals/Objectives: The goal of this course is to emphasize the physical and cultural
patterns of the world. There are four objectives for the course: 1) To help students to understand
current events and global issues; 2) To provide students with information that is useful in
understanding the physical (natural) environment; 3) To assist students as they strives to
understand our complex cultural world; 4) To help students better understand the importance of
protecting our limited natural resources and developing sustainable societies.
Course Requirements and Evaluation Procedures:
A. Attendance Policy: For maximal learning, it is necessary for students to attend class
every day. Experience has shown that students who miss tend to perform poorly on exams
and thus, earn poor grades.
B. Examinations, Homework Assignments, and Presentation: 1. Memorizing course
information will be insufficient to receive full credit on exams. Not only should you know
and understand the material but, more importantly, you should be able to apply content
learned in class. Thus, tests will contain application and analysis questions along with
more basic questions.
2. There will be weekly quizzes and mid-term and final exams.
C. Make Up Policy:
You must have an excused absence to make up work missed. If you do not have a
reasonable excuse (reasonableness determined by the professor) you will not be able to
make up exams.
D.
Grading Scale:
A = 100 to 90%
B = 89 to 80%
C = 79 to 70%
D = 69 to 60%
F = Below 60%
E.
Evaluation:
Three Exams, 300 points
Chapter Quizzes, 100 points (based on 10 of 12 quiz scores; I will drop
your two lowest scores)
Student Activities:
Discussion Board—24 points
Web Links, Internet Exercises and
Critical Thinking Questions—42 points
Interactive Activities—0 points (for your own benefit)
Student Paper—30 points
Disabilities Policy
If you have a disability which makes it difficult for you to succeed in this course, please contact
me as soon as possible. Your privacy will be respected and every effort will be made to meet
your needs. All students requesting accommodations for disabilities should be registered through
ASU’s Disability Services (870 972 3964). If Disabilities Services determines you should be able
to take tests in their office, it is your responsibility to schedule the test for the same time and date
as the exam is administered to other students.
Inclement Weather Policy
Information on campus closure can be found on the ASU web page, KASU, and local radio and
television stations. If inclement weather prevents you from being able to come to class and
campus is not closed, please call me at 870-972-3125.
Academic Misconduct Policy
Plagiarism (the act of taking and/or using the ideas, work, and/or writings of another person as
one’s own) is a serious offense against academic integrity which could result in failure for the
paper or assignment, failure for the course, and/or expulsion from Arkansas State University.
Cheating is an act of dishonesty with the intention of obtaining and/or using information in a
fraudulent manner.
For further information, including specifics about what constitutes plagiarism or cheating, see
ASU’s Academic Integrity Policy at http://studentconduct.astate.edu/AcademicIntegrity.html.
Course Segments
Week 1 (Aug. 22 - 28)
Listen to general guidelines podcast (on Blackboard, referenced as Bb in the future).
*The Podcasts are included under the heading Tegrity Campus on Bb.
Listen to Podcast Lectures 1 - 2 (Click on Tegrity Classes).
Read Chapter 1 (textbook).
Go to Course Documents and click on Chapter 1. Under Web Links go to Resources for
Geographers and name three specific web sites that discuss resources for geographers.
Submit the names of these web sites in the digital drop box by Aug. 28 (3 points). Go to
Internet Exercises (Chapter 1) and answer question 1a., b., and c. Submit your answer in
the digital drop box by Aug. 28 (3 points). Go to Critical Thinking Questions (Chapter 1).
Answer question # 3 and submit your answer in the digital drop box by Aug. 28 (3 points).
Complete Interactive Activities for Chapters 1 as directed on Bb (0 points; these are for
your own benefit).
Participate in Discussion Board on Aug. 26, 27, or 28. Answer the following questions:
1. Why study geography? 2. Think about the concept of relative location. What
businesses in your community are most reliant on their location? What types of
businesses are less dependent on their location? Why? (from Chapter 1).
Take Multiple Choice Quiz (Chapter 1) on Aug. 27 or 28 (The chapter quizzes are found
under Course Documents. They are included as one of the items provided for each
chapter).
Week 2 (Aug. 29 – Sept. 4)
Listen to Podcast Lectures 3 & 4 (Parts I & II).
Read Chapter 2 (textbook).
View Web Links and Internet Exercises for Chapter 2 as directed on Bb (0 points; these
are for your own benefit).
Complete Interactive Activities for Chapter 2 as directed on Bb (0 points; these are for
your own benefit).
Participate in Discussion Board on Sept. 2, 3, or 4. Answer the following questions:
Why is data from civilian satellites important? Who do you think should have access to
the information the satellites provide? In these days of terrorist threats, should free
nations that are the most vulnerable to terrorism make efforts to limit access to this kind of
potentially dangerous information? (from Chapter 2).
Week 3 (Sept. 5 – 11)
Listen to Podcast Lecture 5 on the geographic grid.
Review material in Chapter 2 on the geographic grid.
Complete geographic grid handouts 1 – 3.
Answer the following review questions (from Chapter 2): 1. From a world atlas,
determine in degrees and minutes, the locations of New York City; Moscow, Russia;
Sydney, Australia; and your hometown. 2. List at least five globe properties. 3. In what
different ways can map scale be presented? Convert the following map scales into their
verbal equivalents. 1:1,000,000
1:63,360
1:12,000.
4. What is the purpose of a contour line? What is a contour interval? What landscape
feature is implied by closely spaced contours? Submit your answers in the digital drop
box by Sept. 11. (8 points)
Take Multiple Choice Quiz (Chapter 2) on Sept. 10 or 11.
Week 4 (Sept. 12 - 18)
Listen to Podcast Lecture 6 on global time.
Review material in Chapter 2 on global time.
Complete time problems sets 1 & 2. Submit your answers in the digital drop box by Sept.
18.
Week 5 (Sept. 19 – 25)
Listen to Podcast Lecture 21 on Landforms.
Read Chapter 3 (textbook).
Answer the following review questions (Chapter 3): How can rocks by classified? List
three classes of rocks according to their origin. In what ways can they be distinguished
from one another? Submit your answers in the digital drop box by Sept. 25. (4 points)
View Web Links and Internet Exercises for Chapter 3 as directed on Bb (0 points; these
are for your own benefit.
Complete the Interactive Activities on Chapter 3 as directed on Bb (0 points; these are for
your own benefit).
Participate in Discussion Board on Sept. 23, 24, or 25. Answer the following questions:
Should the government spend money to stop naturally occurring processes along our coast?
What are the pros and cons of a “hands-on” or “hands-off” approach to shoreline
protection? (from Chapter 3)
Take Multiple Choice Quiz (Chapter 3) on Sept. 23 or 24.
Take Exam I on Sept. 24 or 25 (review Chapters 1, 2, & 3, Podcast Lectures 1 – 6 & 21,
and handouts and problem solving exercises on the grid and global time).
Week 6 (Sept. 26 – Oct. 2)
Listen to Podcast Lectures 7 - 10.
Read Chapter 4 (textbook).
Complete the Interactive Activities on Chapter 4 as directed on Bb (0 points; these are for
your own benefit).
Go to Chapter 4 Web Links and click on Human-Environment Relations. Go to Center
for Marine Conservation and summarize two of the articles that are presented (“U.S.
proposes new climate service” and “Goodbye Galapagos ….” are the first two listed).
Submit your answer(s) in the digital drop box by Oct. 1 (3 points). Go to Internet
Exercises (Chapter 4) and respond to question 1c. Submit your answer in the digital drop
box by Oct. 1 (3 points). Go to Critical thinking Questions (Chapter 4) and answer
question # 5. Submit your answer in the digital drop box by Oct. 1 (3 points).
Participate in Discussion Board by Oct. 2. Answer the following question:
Why are world maps of climate, soil formation, and natural vegetation so similar? (from
Chapter 4)
Take Multiple Choice Quiz (Chapter 4) on Oct. 1 or 2.
Week 7 (Oct. 3 – Oct. 9)
Listen to Podcast Lectures 11 – 15.
Read Chapter 5 (textbook).
Answer the following review questions (Chapter 5): 1. Why are energy resources called
the “master” natural resources? 2. Why has oil become the dominant form of commercial
energy? Which countries are the main producers of crude oil? Submit your answers in
the digital drop box by Oct. 9. (4 points)
View Web links and Internet Exercises for Chapter 5 as directed on Bb (0 points; these are
for your own benefit).
Complete the Interactive Activities on Chapter 5 as directed on Bb (0 points; these are for
your own benefit).
Participate in Discussion Board on Oct. 7, 8, or 9. Answer the following question: What
are the resource problems, as well as opportunities, faced by less developed countries that
want to improve their per capita GNP and standard of living? (from Chapter 5)
Take Multiple Choice Quiz (Chapter 5) on Oct. 8 or 9.
Week 8 (Oct. 10 – 16)
Listen to Podcast Lecture 16, 17, & 18.
View tornado videos on various web links.
Complete handout(s) on storms, climate, and water resources.
Week 9 (Oct. 17 – 23)
Listen to Podcast Lectures 19 & 20.
Complete handout(s) or exercises on soil and natural vegetation.
Take Exam II on Oct. 21, 22, or 23 (review Podcast Lectures 7 – 20, Chapters 4 & 5, and
handouts and exercises).
Week 10 (Oct. 24 – 30)
Listen to Podcast Lecture 22.
Read Chapter 6 (textbook).
Answer the following review questions (Chapter 6): 1. How is a population pyramid
constructed? What shape of “pyramid” reflects a rapidly growing country? 2. Why is
population momentum a matter of interest in population projections? Submit your
answers in the digital drop box by Oct. 30. (4 points)
Go to Chapter 6 (under course documents) Web Links and click on Demographics. Then
click on about.com’s Population Geography Pages. Based on the information you see,
answer the following question: “What is population geography?” Submit your answer in
the digital drop box by Oct. 30 (3 points). Go to Internet Exercises (Chapter 6) and
respond to question # 1 a., b., & c. Submit your answer in the digital drop box by Oct. 30
(6 points). Go to Critical Thinking Questions (Chapter 6) and answer question # 3 and
submit your answer in the digital drop box by Oct. 30 (3 points).
Complete Interactive Activities for Chapter 6 as directed on Bb (0 points; these are for
your own benefit).
Participate in Discussion Board by Oct. 30. Answer the following question: Discuss the
statement “Famine has always been a region’s natural population control.” Is this still true
in the modern era? (from Chapter 6).
Take Multiple Choice Quiz (Chapter 6) on Oct. 29 or 30.
Week 11 (Oct. 31 - Nov. 6)
Listen to Podcast Lectures 23 & 24.
Read Chapter 7 (textbook).
Answer the following review questions (Chapter 7): 1. What is a culture hearth? 2. Why
might one consider language the dominant differentiating element of culture separating
societies? Submit your answers in the digital drop box by Nov. 6. (4 points)
View Web Links and Internet Exercises for Chapter 7 (0 points; these are for your own
benefit).
Complete Interactive Activities for Chapter 7 as directed on Bb (0 points: these are for
your own benefit).
Participate in Discussion Board by Nov. 6. Answer the following questions: What are
the benefits to/problems for humankind in having many different cultures? What are the
benefits/negative aspects if we assimilate into one cultural norm? (Chapter 7).
Take Multiple Choice Quiz (Chapter 7) on Nov. 5 or 6.
Week 12 (Nov. 7 – 13)
Listen to Podcast Lecture 25.
Read Chapter 9 (textbook).
Answer the following review questions (Chapter 9): 1. What are the differences among a
state, a nation, and a nation-state? 2. How do borders create opportunities for conflict?
3. Distinguish between centripetal and centrifugal forces. Submit your answers in the
digital drop box by Nov. 13. (6 points)
Go to Chapter 9 Web Links and describe what is provided under the Link entitled Atlas of
US Presidential Elections? Submit your answer in the digital drop box by Nov. 13 (3
points). Go to Critical Thinking Questions (Chapter 9) and respond to question # 2.
Submit your answer in the digital drop box by Nov. 13 (3 points).
Complete the Interactive Activities for Chapter 9 as directed on Bb (0 points; these are for
your own benefit).
Participate in Discussion Board on Nov. 10, 11, or 12. Answer the following question:
Organizations such as the European Union and NAFTA have attempted to overcome
national divisions through free trade. Do you think these forces for economic unity will
overcome ethnic, linguistic and religious differences in shaping the world in the twentyfirst century? (from Chapter 9).
Take Multiple Choice Quiz (Chapter 9) on Nov. 12 or 13.
Week 13 (Nov. 14 – 20)
Listen to Podcast Lecture 26.
Read Chapter 10 (textbook).
Define the following terms (Chapter 10): Green Revolution, intensive subsistence
agriculture, nomadic herding, and tertiary activity. Submit your definitions in the digital
drop box by Nov. 20. (4 points)
View Web Links and Internet Exercises for Chapters 10 as directed on Bb (0 points; these
are for your own benefit).
Complete the Interactive Activities for Chapters 10 as directed on Bb (0 points; these are
for your own benefit).
Participate in Discussion Board on Nov. 18, 19, or 20. Answer the following question:
Explain why the Humid Subtropical Climate (Cfa) is one of the world’s most
agriculturally productive climates and also one of the most densely populated (from
Chapter 10).
Take Multiple Choice Quiz (Chapter 10) on Nov. 19 or 20.
Week 14 (Nov. 21 – 27)
Fall Break (Nov. 22 – 27)
Week 15 (Nov. 28 – Dec. 4)
Listen to Podcast Lecture 27.
Read Chapter 11(textbook).
Go to Chapter 11 Web Links and click on the Center for Urban Policy Research and
describe some of the important research activities of this important organization. Submit
your answer in the digital drop box by Dec. 4 (3 points). Go to Critical Thinking
Questions (Chapter 11) and respond to question # 5. Submit your answer in the digital
drop box by Dec. 4 (3 points).
View Web Links and Internet Exercises for Chapter 11 as directed on Bb (0 points; these
are for your own benefit).
Complete the Interactive Activities for Chapter 11 as directed on Bb (0 points; these are
for your own benefit).
Participate in Discussion Board on Dec. 3 or 4. Answer the following question:
Explain the statement “urbanization will spread along lines of transportation” (from
Chapter 11).
Take Multiple Choice Quiz (Chapter 11) on Dec. 3 or 4.
Week 16 (Dec. 5 - 6) (Dec. 7, Study Day)
Listen to Podcast Lecture 28.
Read Chapter 13 (textbook).
View Web Links and Internet Exercises for Chapter 13 as directed on Bb.
Participate in Discussion Board on Dec. 5 or 6. Answer the following question: What
can be done in your community or on your campus to reduce the negative effects of
human activity on the environment? Go beyond the obvious answer of recycling.
Take Multiple Choice Quiz (Chapter 13) on Dec. 5 or 6.
Submit student paper in the Digital Drop box on Dec. 7 (see last paragraph in the syllabus
for details).
Take Final Exam on Dec. 8, 9, or 10 (review Podcast Lectures 22 – 28, Chapters 6, 7, 9,
10, 11, & 13, and handouts and exercises).
General Education: Because Introduction to Geography is a General Education course, students
will have the opportunity to further develop their reading, critical thinking, and effective writing
skills, which will fulfill one of the primary goals of the General Education curriculum at ASU.
General Education develops a foundation and motivation for the lifelong pursuit of learning in
undergraduate students by introducing them to a broad range of essential areas of knowledge that
will enable them to participate in our democratic nation and in a global society. One important
Course Goal that is directly related to General Education is understanding global issues.
Students should be aware of the social, political, economic and cultural dimensions of a diverse
national and world community. They should have the intellectual and interpersonal skills needed
to participate and succeed in a dynamic global society.
Course Structure: The course is set up in sixteen segments or weeks (see detail above). All class
activities are outlined under Course Segments. Numerous podcasts will be presented periodically
during each course segment. Please listen to these very carefully. Many questions on the quizzes
and the mid-term and final exams will be taken from the podcast lectures.
Submit completed work through Blackboard. If the assignment is a written assignment, it should
be typed in a Word Document and submitted into the Digital Drop Box on Blackboard. The
Digital Drop Box is located under tools. Be sure to add the file and then send the file. Using the
Digital Drop Box is a two-part process.
Statement on Late Credit: Assignments must be completed on or before the due date.
Assignments submitted after the due will receive no credit. Quizzes and exams will be open on
selected days only and will not be reopened.
Discussion Board Guidelines: Participation by everyone in the class is critical for the discussion
board sessions to work effectively. We will use these sessions to clarify understanding of certain
issues so read all posts even after you have posted because you might stumble onto very valuable
information. We will always address each other with respect and in a professional manner. At
least one post is required for each discussion board but I encourage you to engage in a thoughtful
discussion with each other.
Student Paper: You are to write (in your own words) a three to four page paper (double spaced
using normal font size—12) on the earthquake and tsunami of December 26, 2004. Describe the
event and discuss the details of the disaster including the location and magnitude of the event,
number of deaths by country, and other factors that indicate the seriousness of the event. You
might conclude your paper with tsunami safety tips. Also include a reference page that includes
at least four important sources (references). See the link Tsunami Resources on Bb. Submit your
paper in the Digital Drop Box on Bb on Dec. 7. Or You may write (in your own words) a three to
four page paper (double spaced using normal font size—12) on the recent deepwater oil spill in
the Gulf of Mexico. Describe the event and discuss the details of the disaster. Provide estimates
of the volume of the spill (gallons per day) and discuss problems associated with petroleum
toxicity, oxygen depletion and other negative aspects of crude oil pollution. You should also talk
about BP’s pre-spill precautions (if any) and problems associated with the blowout preventer.
You might conclude your paper with comments on the ramifications of this ecological disaster.
Also provide a reference page at the end of your paper that includes at least four important
sources (references). Submit your paper in the Digital Drop Box on Bb on Dec. 7.