Course Outline
COURSE NAME: World
Regional Geography
COURSE ALPHA/NUMBER: GEOG 102
CREDIT HOURS: (3)
CATALOG DESCRIPTION: World Regional Geography is an introduction to the study of
geographic regions. Each region will be examined in terms of its underlying
physical, cultural, economic and political backgrounds.
INSTRUCTOR:
Office
hours: MW:
T:
Th:
Phone:
REQUIREMENTS COURSE SATISFIES:
At WCC: Meets
AA degree social science requirement
At UH Manoa: Meets
FG requirement of the Foundations Requirements.
PREREQUISITES: None
REQUIRED TEXT: Concepts and Regions in Geography by DeBlij and Muller,
COURSE OBJECTIVES: At
the conclusion of the course, the student should learn to:
1. Be familiarized with place locations by
studying regional maps of the world.
2. Dispel ethnocentrism by developing an
appreciation for different people and cultures, together with an analysis of
the underlying causes for such human differentiation.
3. Recognize patterns of similarity and
differentiation by following a region-by-region examination of environments,
cultural backgrounds, economic activities, and political developments.
4. Have interest in current world affairs and to
help place daily happenings into a broad and meaningful framework.
5. Be familiarized students with basic
geographic concepts and aid them in the inductive formulation of mental models
by placing facts and isolated ideas into systematic themes and patterns.
6. Stimulate a continuing quest for knowledge
and understanding of the environments and people that share this planet with
us.
Fall 2005 (
(MW
Dear Geography Student:
Welcome to the Geography 102 course, World Regional (Physical/Cultural) Geography. In this
course, we examine the geographic forces working to shape the complex features
of world environments and civilizations. Our purpose is to understand the link
between the natural world and societies. To enhance our geographic
understanding, we explore the 12 geographic realms of the world and their
interconnectedness, physical and human contents, assets and liabilities, links
and barriers, and potentials and prospects.
Assignments:
It is assumed that you read and
understand all the assigned part of the textbook before each class
period (see the class schedule attached). During and after each class you will
write a learning log which will be
counted toward your final grade. There may also be non-prescheduled pop-quizzes and/or assignments in any
classes, which will be counted toward your final grade.
Attendance/participation:
Attendance is
mandatory, and presence/absence will be evaluated by roll call (signup sheet)
and participation is evaluated by
class participation and learning logs. It is assumed that you know and
understand all the materials covered in all lectures (part of which may not be
covered in the textbook).
Also, any changes in the
content/material/schedule/procedure related to the class, announced during any
class period will stand, even if you are not there. It is your responsibility
to obtain such information from your classmate or any other sources, if you miss
any lectures.
Student Evaluation:
There will be two midterm exams
(20% of the total grades each), one final exam (30% of the total
grades), and attendance/participation
(30% of the total grades) for the evaluation.
IMPORTANT
NOTE: Participation
(via learning logs) will be used to evaluate each student’s achievement of
course objectives listed above, especially #6: Stimulate a continuing quest for knowledge and
understanding of the environments and people that share this planet with us.
Because these learning logs are record of
class participation and will be done in class, students missing class regularly
(thus, missing learning logs) cannot be assessed for these objectives and
therefore will not be able to pass the course.
Please mark your calendar now.
|
Exams |
Material Covered |
Date |
|
Midterm 1 |
Lectures of Weeks 1–4 Textbook: Introduction, Ch. 1–3 |
10/17 (M) |
|
Midterm 2 |
Lectures of Weeks 5–10 Textbook: Ch. 4–8 |
11/16 (W) |
|
Final |
Cumulative: Materials covered in Midterms 1 & 2 Lectures of Weeks 11–14 Textbook: Ch. 9–12 |
Check
the schedule ( |
|
Learning logs |
|
Due on the last day of instruction (12/8) |
NOTE: Exams cover both lectures and the textbook. It
is mandatory to attend all the lectures. Each exam include (1)
multiple-choice questions, (2) true/false questions (3) map questions, (4)
fill-in-the-blank questions and (5) any possible essay type questions. When you
study, it is strongly recommended to check ideas and concepts using the
textbook (the glossary section of textbook becomes handy). Review sheet for each exam may (or may not) be distributed in the class prior to the exams.
Supplies:
Typical school supplies
Academic dishonesty:
(SERIOUS WARNIG!!)
Academic
dishonesty such as cheating and plagiarism that may occur in this class will be
severely punished. It most likely results in immediate discharge not only from
the class, but also from this academic institution. In other words, “DON’T
DO IT” even if you have any noble reasons to do so. It is NOT worth
to try it in this class.
Grading uses the standard scale:
A: 90.0-100.0%, B: 80.0-89.9%; C: 70.0-79.9%,
D: 60.0-69.9%, F: 0-59.9%.
NOTE:
1. There is NO extra credit work.
2. Make-up
exams will be all essay type (with automatic 10% point reductions, that is,
maximum is 90%).
Legal
assumptions: It is hereby assumed that you will strictly follow all and any reasonable
procedures/ethics, etc. that have been enforced in this academic institution.
SERVICE LEARNING OPTION:
You are encouraged to participate in Service Learning
during this semester. Those who do participate will write about their
experience (as journals and a final summary) as a part of their weekly course
work. Also, two-hours, weekly, for a ten-week period, of active participation
in a class at the assigned elementary school,
working with students, under the supervision of an instructor, is required.
1. Learning Objectives:
(1) Learn and develop tutorial skills in a school
setting.
(2) Develop verbal and non-verbal communication and
listening skills to be used with tutoring young children in a classroom milieu,
while simultaneously sharing your own knowledge about geography of
2. Tasks and Activities:
(1) Meet regularly (twice, weekly, one hour each
period, unless otherwise stipulated, for a ten-week period) with children to be
tutored at the assigned school.
(2) Keep journal of tutorial activities.
(3) Submit a minimum two-page summary of student
learning experiences/activities.
(4) Complete twenty hours tutoring during the
semester.
(5) Complete two Quarterly Conferences.
3. Criteria for Grading:
(1) 30% of the total grades may be earned by
fulfilling the “Objectives” and “Tasks and Activities” criteria stated above; however,
the learning logs will be excused.
4. Service Learning Guidelines:
(1) If you choose to volunteer for this Service
Learning Project, please see me during the first week of class to discuss your
eligibility for approval, to sign a contract, an Assumption of Risk, Release,
and Waiver, etc.
(2) You are expected to conduct yourself in a
responsible manner when you do your service in the classroom and community.
(3) If you have problems or concerns about your
service in the community, you should talk to your on-site supervisor, me, or both.
(4) Service Learning does not exempt you from the
deadlines of this class. Please see me well in advance of deadlines if there is
a problem.
(5) You are expected to attend two, 50-minute hour
sessions for the required Service-Learning Student Tutor/Mentor Training. These
two hors count towards your 20-hour semester S-L commitment.
World Regional Geography (GEOG 102) Schedule
Week (Date) Subjects (Reading assignment of Textbook)
|
Week |
Monday |
Wednesday |
|
1 |
|
Introduction
(Introduction, Appendixes A & B) |
|
2 |
(Continued) |
|
|
3 |
(Continued) |
|
|
4 |
(Continued) |
|
|
5 |
(Continued) |
|
|
6 |
(Continued) |
Review for Midterm 1
(Introduction, Chapters 1-3) |
|
7 |
Midterm 1 (50
questions) |
|
|
8 |
(Continued) |
North Africa/Southwest |
|
9 |
(Continued) |
Subsaharan |
|
10 |
|
|
|
11 |
Review for Midterm 2
(Chapters 4-8) |
Midterm 2 (50
questions) |
|
12 |
|
The Austral Realm (Chapter
11) |
|
13 |
Film: First Contact |
The Pacific Realm (Chapter
12) |
|
14 |
Film: Strangers in |
Review for Final Exam
(Midterms 1 & 2, Chapters 9-12) |
|
15 |
Final Exam (100
questions) December 12, |
|
Revised on
August
22, 2005