WORLD REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY

Geography 1982

IMPORTANT NOTICE (4/29/02): Here is the link to the review sheet for the final exam: FINAL EXAM REVIEW

(04/13/02): The order of the lectures in WEEK 14 (the upcoming week) has been switched. Zapatistas now will be discussed on Monday and the US/Mexican border on Wednesday.

(04/08/02): Extra Credit Opportunity for recitation. The University is holding the World Affairs Conference this week, April 8^th-12^th (http://www.colorado.edu/cwa/). If you would like, attend one of the sessions related to the course and right up one-half page double spaced paragraph summary of the issues discussed. Anything longer will not be accepted. Hand in your summary during next week’s recitation (April 15^th – April 19^th). If you have any questions, ask your TA.

(03/25/02): The chapters covered for the upcoming midterm on April 3^rd are as follows: 8, 9, 11, 12, and 13. The protocol for this exam, as noted below, is the same as the first.

02/04/02: For the upcoming midterm (and all future exams) students must attend the lecture (100 or 200) they are OFFICIALLY signed up for to take the test. Please also note that the date and time for the final exam is different for each section (see the bottom of this page). Furthermore, please be advised that anyone late for any of the exams will not be allowed to take it. BE SURE TO BE ON TIME…

RECITATION ASSIGNMENTS

COURSE TOPIC

What is geography? When most of you think about it, you probably imagine studying maps and learning capitals. But geography is a much richer topic. Geography is the study of places, and the ways that specific spaces shape the people who live in them. Geography, as an academic discipline, links the physical sciences (including geology, physics, biology, and ecology) with social sciences like anthropology, sociology, economics, and political science. Geographers study how places and people vary over space, and the way different groups of people organize their societies, make a living, and relate to the environment.

In this course, we will survey the world. Yes, we will look at maps and discover what countries are in Africa and what the capital of Macedonia is. We will also look at some very nice National Geographic-style pictures. But we will build on that basic knowledge as we study some of the problems that people in the world are confronted with today. As we study each world region, we will take up topics such as globalization, the spread of AIDS in Africa, the geopolitics of oil, the transition from Communism in Eastern Europe, and the diffusion of rock and roll across space and time.

Geographical knowledge is the process of thinking through the physical, social and political consequences of spatial processes. Therefore, you need to do more than just memorize geographical facts. More importantly, you will need to think carefully about the implications of the material presented in lectures and recitations. There will be many times when you don’t agree with the professor or the teaching assistants. That’s good. At these times, you should feel free to state your position. But also be prepared to listen to the objections to your own position. That is how we all learn. Most of all, we want you to think critically about the world around you.

Learning world geography can do more than ensure you always win the “blue pie” in Trivial Pursuit or prepare you to earn big bucks on “Jeopardy.” Understanding how places across the world are increasingly connected will make you a more informed newspaper reader, an astute critic of foreign policy, and a more active, informed citizen.

INSTRUCTORS

Professor Elizabeth C. Dunn

Email: Elizabeth.Dunn@Colorado.edu

Office: Guggenheim 103B

Office Phone: 492-5388

Office Hours: Monday 2:30-3:30, Wednesday 2:30-3:30, and by appointment

TAs:

RECITATION ASSIGNMENTS

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Because the lecture DOES NOT repeat material from the textbook but presents all new material, it is IMPERATIVE that you attend class! When you miss class, you miss important material that WILL be on the exams.

In addition, you will have one recitation section per week, led by one of the teaching assistants. The recitation both reviews material covered in the book or in class and presents new material. It is IMPERATIVE that you attend your recitation. Failure to attend recitations will have a very negative effect on your grades!

Assignments and grades are as follows:

Recitation Participation 8%

Recitation Exercises: Best 8 of 9@ 4 points each 32%

Midterms: Best 2 of 3 @ 15 points each 30%

Final: 1 and only 1 @ 30 points 30%

TOTAL 100

Note that because you can “drop” one grade for each set of assignments (i.e., you only take your best two out of three midterm exam scores), there will be no late work accepted. If you miss an exam or a recitation exercise, you take a ZERO for that assignment. No excuses will be accepted under any circumstances.

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK

Rowntree, Les, et. al. 2000. Diversity Amid Globalization. Prentice Hall.

The textbook can be purchased at the University Bookstore, where it comes packaged with a FREE study guide and atlas. There are a limited number of copies on reserve at Norlin Library.

EXPECTATIONS AND CLASS ETIQUETTE

For many students, “World Regional Geography” is one of the most intellectually exciting courses they have had at CU. They discover that geography is not just about knowing where places are, but rather is an exploration of how spatial relationships are fundamental parts of all aspects of our lives. Moreover, the topics we explore in this class lead directly into topics studied in numerous other courses—in sociology, history, economics, political science, environmental studies, environmental biology, gender studies, and so forth. 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:

· You will come to both recitation and lecture on time. You will arrive at all exams on time. No examinations will be handed out after the class period starts.

· You will turn all cell phones and pagers OFF before entering the lecture hall

· You will not leave class until it is finished—which is when your instructor says it is finished. Please do not start packing until Prof. Dunn says that class is over.

· You will not talk during lecture, except to raise questions or points for the whole class, and you will not read non-class related material during lectures and recitations.

· You will turn in all assigned work on time. We will not grant extensions for any reason, medical, funereal, or otherwise. Any late work will be given a zero. If you are an athlete, you must turn your work in before it is due. Athletic commitments are not valid excuses for handing in late work.

· You will take the exams as scheduled. This means working your travel plans around the exams, not the other way around! No makeup exams will be given for athletes—if you have a competition, you'll have to use your "freebie" exam.

· You will treat the professor and the teaching assistants in a respectful manner. Disruptive behavior is grounds for expulsion, and will not be tolerated.

· PLEASE NOTE: if you do not attend one of your first two recitation meetings, you will be dropped from this course. This policy is to ensure that we can accommodate as many students with a genuine interest in the course as possible.

SPECIAL ACCOMODATIONS

We allow for rescheduling of exams ONLY under the following two 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 February 20.

· If you have a verified physical or learning disability, you must contact Professor Dunn to explain your circumstances and the modifications to the course that you need no later than February 6. You must also bring a letter from Disability Services explaining the nature of the arrangements and a contact name and telephone number. After February 6, no modifications or accommodations will be granted.

· Please note that no special accommodations are offered for athletes.

SURVIVING IN STYLE

· We want to make this the most productive learning experience for you that it can be. To help you, we've created some features for this class that you can access online at www.colorado.edu/geography/courses/geog_1982s02/

·Notes for all the lectures given by the professor or the TAs (but not for guest lecturers) will be posted online the morning of the lecture. You can print these notes out and use them as a skeleton for your own notes. They won't give you enough information to skip the lecture, but they'll help you process what you hear.

·Because Professor Dunn strongarmed the publisher, Prentice Hall has agreed to include a study guide and an atlas with your textbook at no cost to you. Use them to study for exams, answer questions as you read, and prepare yourself for lecture.

·At various points in the semester, recitation exercises, maps, cool links, an online syllabus and other information will be posted on our course website.

·Your TAs are here to help you: make use of them! In addition to asking questions in recitation, you should visit their office hours immediately when you run into trouble with the material. Remember, the earlier you see them, the more help they can offer you.

RECITATION ASSIGNMENTS

COURSE SYLLABUS AND SCHEDULE OF EVENTS