Dr. Rodrick A. Hay
Office: NSM B306 or NSM B320 (lab). Phone: (310)
243-3385
Office Hours: MW 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m., TTh 5:30 -
6:30 p.m., or by appointment
Email: rhay@csudh.edu
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
This course is designed to provide:
1. A background in map reading and interpretation as
it applies to the field of geography
2. An understanding of Geography as a discipline with
an emphasis on identifying geographic problems
and their solutions
3. General knowledge of social and environmental patterns,
processes, and their global distribution
4. An introductions to a broad range of topics including
mapping, population dynamics, political boundaries,
agriculture, language, religion and folk/popular
culture
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of the semester students should:
1. Be able to read maps, tables and other
figures containing geographic data
2. Use an atlas
3. Find and interpret geographic information
4. Be prepared to think about and possess a vocabulary
that allows you to talk about historical
and current events from a geographical perspective
5. Be prepared for upper division courses in human
geography
ASSESSMENT;
Student success in meeting learning outcomes will be assessed through midterm and final exams, which will contain questions reflecting the objectives and learning outcomes listed above. Projects and/or exercises will be based on information provided in class and will enhance the understanding of topics presented in lectures. One of your exercises will be a critical reasoning assignment.
TEXT and MATERIALS: Human Geography: Places and Regions in Global Context, Knox and Marston, third edition.
Rand McNally Atlas of World GeographyGRADING: | 3 Midterm Exams (100 pts each) | 300 pts |
1 Final Exam (100 pts) | 100 pts | |
Exercises | 100 pts | |
Extra Credit (5 pts each) | 25 pts |
A Likely Grade Distribution:
EXAMS:
Each exam is worth 100 points. The exams may have multiple choice and true-false questions. They may also include a map location section and short essay questions (in other words, anything goes). Students must provide a scantron form and bring a #2 pencil (with eraser) for each test.
MISSED EXAMS and EXERCISES:
If you are going to miss an exam, SEE ME EARLY! If possible the exam should be taken before the rest of the class and certainly before the graded exams are returned. If a makeup exam is approved, it may not be the same as the exam administered to the rest of the class. If you don't inform me that you are going to miss an exam, and you miss the exam, there is a chance a makeup exam may not be administered, and a grade of 0 will be entered for that test. Late exercises will be penalized 10% for each day overdue.
EXTRA CREDIT:
You can turn in up to five extra credit assignments. The assignments will consist on attending a cultural event and writing a two page paper about your experience. Directions for fulfilling the extra credit assignments will be handed out later in the course. Only one extra credit assignment may be handed in per week and no extra credit assignments will be accepted the last week of class.
ATTENDANCE:
There are no attendance requirements, however it is highly unlikely that any student will be successful in the course without attending class.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY AND PLAGIARISM:
Academic integrity is of extreme importance in the university community and involves committed allegiance to the values, principles, and the code of behavior held to be central in that community. Integrity concerns honesty and implies being truthful, fair and free from lies, fraud, and deceit. For more information or clarification, see the University Catalog.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULEDate | Topic | Reading |
8/31 - 9/2 | Class Introduction | |
GeographyMatters | Ch.l | |
9/7-9/9 | " | |
" | ||
9/14-9/16 | The Changing Global Context | Ch.2 |
" | ||
9/21-9/23 | " | |
Geographies of Population | Ch. 3 | |
9/28-9/30 | " | |
10/5-10/7 | Test #l | |
Test Return-Slides | ||
10/12-10/14 | Nature and Society | Ch. 4 |
" | ||
10/19 -10/21 | " | |
Cultural Geographies | Ch. 5 | |
10/26-10/28 | " | |
Interpreting Places and Landscapes | Ch. 6 | |
11/2-11/4 | " | |
" | ||
11/9-11/11 | Test #2 | |
Test Return and Slides | ||
11/16-11/18 | Agriculture and Food Production | Ch. 8 |
" | ||
11/23-11/25 | The Politics of Territory and Space | Ch. 9 |
Thanksgiving - No Class | ||
11/30 -12/2 | Future Geographies | Ch. 12 |
" | ||
12/7-12/9 | Test #3 | |
Review | ||
12/14 | FINAL - 4:00-6:00 p.m. |