World Regional Geography
Geography 1982, Fall 2006
Course Requirements and Policies

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Course Requirements

 

Attendance:

  • You are required to attend lecture and recitation.  Lectures will sometimes introduce information not included in the textbook; exams are written with the lectures as the primary resource.  Thus your attendance at lectures and recitations is your best strategy for succeeding in the course.  Recitation attendance will be counted and compiled as part of your overall grade.
  • If you fail to attend the first two recitations of the course, you will be automatically dropped.
  • Lecture outlines will be posted prior to lectures.  You are encouraged to download and print the outlines prior to lecture, or bring them to lecture on your personal laptop.

 

Readings:

  • You are required to complete all reading assignments prior to the date indicated in the lecture schedule.
  • Textbook – Your textbook is World Regional Geography, by Lydia Pulsipher and Alex Pulsipher, 3rd Edition, without subregions.  Pages for reading assignments are based on this edition.  If you have a used copy of the 2nd Edition or the 3rd Edition with subregions you may use it, but you are responsible for any changes that have occurred between the 2nd and 3rd Editions, as well as making sure that you are reading the assigned pages.
  • Several copies of the textbook have been placed on reserve in Norlin.
  • Web-based materials - The most interesting reading for this course is found online.  Reading assignments for recitations and debates include web-based units developed by Oakes exclusively for Pulsipher’s World Regional Geography.  There are two ways to access these units:
  • These web units are meant to provide materials needed for completing debate and position paper assignments, as well as facilitating recitation discussions.  You will not be tested on these materials unless they are specifically discussed in lectures.

 

Assignments and Exams:

  • Debates – There will be 6 debates in recitation.  You will be responsible for participating in one of these 6 debates.  Debate assignments will be made during the second recitation.
  • Position papers - Position papers are short (3 pages) papers developing an argument regarding one of the debate issues. You may not write a position paper on the debate in which you directly participate.  Please see the section at the bottom of this page on how to write an "A" paper.
    • You are required to write 3 position papers, covering any 3 of the 5 debates that you do not directly participate in.  With the exception of the final debate, position papers are due in recitation the week following the relevant debate.  Position papers for the final debate must be turned in at the same time as the debate (the semester’s final recitation).
  • Exams - The final exam is non-cumulative.
    • Exam 1, 9 October
    • Exam 2, 13 November
    • Final Exam:
      • Section 100:  18 December, 4:30 – 7:00
      • Section 200: 19 December, 1:30 – 4:00

 

Grading:

  • Position Papers and exams 1 and 2:                60%
    • Each position paper and exam is worth 15%; we will drop the lowest grade among these five (thus 4 x 15% = 60%)
  • Debate participation:                                      15%
  • Attendance and participation in recitation:        10%
  • Final Exam:                                                   15%


Special Accommodation and Resources
If you miss exam 1 or 2, or don't complete one of the position papers on time, you will not be allowed to make these up.  Instead, we will be dropping the lowest of these five grades.   We allow for rescheduled exams only under one of the following three circumstances:

  • If you have three or more examinations scheduled on the same day, you may arrange an alternative time for the last exam scheduled on that day.  However, you must make arrangements with us no later than October 2nd.
  • If you have a verified physical or learning disability, please contact Professor Oakes to explain your circumstances and the modifications to the course that you need no later than October 2nd. You must also bring a letter from Disability Services (DS) explaining the nature of the arrangements and a contact name and telephone number. You can reach DS at 303-492-8671 or contact them online at http://www.colorado.edu/disabilityservices.
  • If an exam conflicts with a religious observance, please contact Professor Oakes by October 2nd to make alternate arrangements.

Important campus resources to be aware of:

 

Expectations and Class Etiquette - Despite the large size of the class, "World Regional Geography" is a course that will ask you to think critically and to develop your own ideas about contemporary issues. In order for this class to be a success, and in order for you and the other students to get as much as possible out of the class, you must meet us halfway. We understand that sitting with 250 other people in a lecture hall is not ideal. We also understand that most of you are taking this class because you are required to. Nonetheless, we expect at least the following from you:

  • This course often deals with controversial topics.  You are encouraged to engage us with questions, comments, and arguments relevant to lectures and recitations.  We will treat all opinions fairly and with respect, and we expect the same from you.  Please respect your instructors and classmates.  Disruptive behavior in lecture or recitation will not be tolerated. See http://www.colorado.edu/policies/classbehavior.html for further information on campus policies on classroom behavior.
  • Be on time for class!
  • If you plan on talking or reading during class, please do not bother to attend!  This is a matter of courtesy to your classmates.  Talking, in particular, is a distraction to those who are listening.  Likewise, if you plan on leaving class early, do not bother coming at all! Leaving lecture early is disrespectful and disruptive both for the instructor and your classmates.
  • Do not bring food or pets to class; drinks are OK.
  • It is particularly important to be on time for exams. No examinations will be handed out after the first person has completed an exam and left the room.
  • Please turn all cell phones OFF before entering the lecture hall.
  • Position papers are due in recitation with no exceptions.  Work placed in TA or Professor mailboxes will not be accepted.  E-mailed papers will not be accepted.  Late work will not be accepted, period.  Please also see "Special Accommodations" above.
  • Other than for valid exceptions (see "Special Accommodations" above), no make up exams will be given.  Please make careful note of the exam schedule and plan your travel around these dates.
  • Please familiarize yourself with the campus honor code.  Academic dishonesty, such as cheating on exams or plagiarism, will result in an automatic F for the course.  Plagiarism is one of the most common forms of academic dishonesty, and sometimes students don't realize they are doing something wrong by not citing their sources or giving credit for someone else's ideas.  Ignorance is no excuse!  The details of the honor code, as well as definitions of academic dishonesty, can be found at http://www.colorado.edu/academics/honorcode.

 

The rest of the “fine print” (other university policies):

Sexual Harassment:  The University of Colorado Policy on Sexual Harassment applies to all students, staff and faculty.  Sexual harassment is unwelcome sexual attention.  It can involve intimidation, threats, coercion, or promises or create an environment that is hostile or offensive. Harassment may occur between  members of the same or opposite gender and between any combination of members in the campus community: students, faculty, staff, and administrators. Harassment can occur anywhere on campus, including the classroom, the workplace, or a residence hall.  Any student, staff or faculty member who believes s/he has been sexually harassed should contact the Office of Sexual Harassment (OSH) at 303-492-2127 or the Office of Judicial Affairs at 303-492-5550.  Information about the OSH and the campus resources available to assist individuals who believe they have been sexually harassed can be obtained at: http://www.colorado.edu/sexualharassment


How to write an "A" position paper

We understand that students in this class will possess a wide range of writing skills.  The purpose of this section is to provide a blueprint for writing a good position paper.

The purpose of the position paper in this class is for you to express yourself about topics in readings and in class.  To do that, you will need to write clearly and carefully.

  • Take a clear position in your writing.  Your position is your thesis statement. You thesis statement should be included in your first paragraph.  The following paragraphs should support your thesis statement with evidence and/or illustration. Each paragraph should begin with a clear topic sentence.  Any significant conclusions that you draw in your position paper should also be included your first paragraph; this helps your audience know where the paper is headed.
  • Assume that your reader is intelligent, but that she or he may not have necessarily read or heard all that you have.  Thus, you will need to tell your reader enough so that she or he will know what you are talking about, but not so much that she or he gets bored or feels talked down to.
  • Be sure to support your assertions with both logic and information.  For your reader, many things will not be as self-evident as they are to you.  Be sure to tell your reader why you are saying what you are saying.  Always ask the question of yourself, why is this important?  Then answer that question in your essay.
  • Always read your essay out loud before you turn it in.  If you were hearing it for the first time, would it make sense to you?  Have you expressed yourself as clearly as possible?
  • Always proof-read everything you turn in.  Typographical errors, spelling mistakes, and bad grammar prove very frustrating for your audience.  They also result in lower grades.

Essays should be at least five paragraphs, double- or 1 1/2 spaced.  They must be printed, not hand-written.  The font must be 11 or 12 pt; there must be 1-inch margins on all sides.  Finally, essays must be handed in on time; late essays will not be accepted.

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