World Regional Geography

Geography 120Professor Lisa Schmidt

Important Information

• Ref. 0714 Section 80• Friday 10:00 AM - 12:50 PM• Room: LRC 231• Professor: Lisa M. Schmidt• (760) 440-8977 Text or Voice Mail• E-mail: ProfessorLisaS@gmail.com• Office Hours: By appointment• Class Website:

http://worldregionswiki.wikispaces.com

World Regional Geography

• World Regional Geography is a study of the major developed and developing regions of the world, with emphasis on an awareness of prevailing world conditions and emerging developments, including the diversity of ideas and practices in various regions.

• Major topics will include: – culture, religion, language, landforms, climate, agriculture,

and economic activities.

Two Broad Objectives

• Explain the modern world’s geographic realms and their human and physical components, their assets and liabilities, links and barriers, and their potentials and prospects.

• Introduce geography itself, the discipline that links human societies and natural environments.

Textbooks

• Fundamentals or World Regional Geography (3rd Edition)– This book is REQUIRED.– 978-1133113782– A digital version of this book is available

through http://www.coursesmart.com/ • National Geographic College Atlas of

the World (2nd Edition)– This book is REQUIRED.– 978-1426201967

• Geography Coloring Book (3rd Edition)– This book is NOT required, only

recommended– ISBN-13: 978-0131014725

Required Materials

• Pens, Pencils, Paper

• Internet Access– Recommended: Colored Pens or Pencils for Map

Study

Course Objectives

Upon satisfactory completion of this course, students will be able to:1. Make a distinction between formal culture regions and functional culture

regions, recognizing the concepts of culture boundaries, core areas and codes.

2. List key culture traits that make the landscapes of each of the major culture regions of the world distinctive.

3. Recognize the significant landforms of each of the major culture regions of the world.

4. Describe the broad climatic patterns that characterize the culture regions of the world.

5. Compare and contrast the political, social and economic traits that characterize developed and technologically less developed regions of the world.

6. Describe ways that humankind has developed to deal with the arid lands of the world.

7. Outline the impact of humankind on the rainforests of the world, indicating the long term implications.

8. Compare and contrast market and command economic systems as they relate to the major culture regions of the world.

9. Compare and contrast the basic elements of urbanism First and Third World countries of the world.

A few More Course Objectives

1. To introduce students to several important problems, events, and issues that affect the world today.

2. To develop a knowledge of the relative location of places in the world*major states, cities, and geographical features.

3. To become thoroughly conversant with the global/regional issues presented in class and in the readings.

4. To be able to demonstrate effectively the ability to synthesize, evaluate, and form well-informed opinions about contemporary global and regional issues.

5. To be able to acknowledge and critically evaluate various viewpoints concerning a specific issue.

Assignments

• 1 Presentation worth 100 points• 4 Exams worth 100 points each for a total of 400 points• 11 Chapter Quizzes worth 20 points each for a total of 220

points• 11 Worksheets worth 10 points each for a total of 110

points• 10 Postings worth 10 points each for a total of 100 points• Random Participation Points up to 100 possible

– Total Possible Points = 1030

Grading Scale

• Grades will be calculated based on the following:

• You are also required to complete a project for this class.

• Projects will consist of a report on a place-you will write a paper or create a web page and give a five minute presentation.

• Your project is worth 100 points and can be done alone or in groups with instructor approval.

• Projects instructions are on the class web page.

Presentation Project

• Your exams will be based on chapter quizzes and material from postings and worksheets.

• Exams will be multiple choice, true/false, matching, and written.

• Exams will be given online using Blackboard.

• Exams will close at 9:30 A.M. on their due dates.

• Exams will be worth 100 points and you have ONE chance.

Exams

• There will be one quiz for each chapter. Quizzes will be given online using Blackboard.

• You will have one week to complete quizzes and get two chances.

• Each quiz will close at 9:30 AM on its due date. • Quizzes will be multiple choice, true/false, or matching. • Quizzes will be based on the chapter covered that week and

they will include maps. • Each quiz will be worth 20 points.• Quizzes are times, you have 30 minutes.

Chapter Quizzes

• You will be required to complete worksheets in class

• These worksheets will revolve around maps and vocabulary words.

• There will be 11 worksheets. Worksheets will be worth 10 points each and will be due at the end of class.

Worksheets

Web Postings

• You will be required to join a group/pair that will be in charge of one region of the world.

• You will be required to post something about your region on the class web page each week or so (check the schedule.)

• Instructions about posting are on the class web page and will be discussed in class.

• You will also fill out a checklist about your posting and discuss it in class.

• Postings will be worth 10 points each and are due at the beginning of class one week after they are assigned.

Web Postings

• Regions there will be groups for:

1. Europe

2. Russia & Neighbors

3. Middle East & North Africa

4. South and East Asia

5. Oceania

6. Sub Saharan Africa

7. Latin America

8. North America???

• Items you will be posting-Elements of Culture:– Music

– Food– Language– Art– Literature– Holidays– Beautiful Place– News– Theater/Film– Customs

• 100 Random points have been built into the points for this course.

• These will be given for things like in class activities, pop quizzes, after the break attendance, and parts of your project-topic, sources, main points.

• They will be unannounced and you will need to be present to earn them.

Random Participation Points

• Late work will not be accepted.

• Do not ask me to open exams or quizzes after their due dates.

Late Work and Missed Exams or Quizzes

• I reserve the right to drop students for excessive absences, which is defined as missing three classes.

• I reserve the right to drop students for excessive tardiness, which is defined as being more than five minutes late three times.

• If you need to miss class, you should contact me and it is your responsibility to make up work and get notes.

• Make friends!

Absences and Tardiness

Emailing Assignments

• Assignments will NOT be accepted by e-mail.

• If you are having difficulty making it to class when an assignment is due, contact me.

• If you decide to drop, it is your responsibility to drop yourself from the class.

• If you stop coming, I don't know what you want and will likely give you an F.

Dropping

• Some extra credit may be offered during the semester.

• It will be announced in class and your attendance will be required to take advantage of it.

Extra Credit

• Cheating of any kind will not be tolerated.

• Any incidences of cheating or plagiarism will be reported to the deans office.

• Please refer to Crafton Hills College policy on academic honesty.

Academic Honesty

• Use of cell phones for talking or texting during class is inappropriate. You may be asked to leave the classroom if you are talking or texting during lecture.

• Phones should be set to silent mode when in class.

• Laptop computers and mobile devices may be used, but only for class related activities.

• No iPods, mp3 players or headphones are allowed.

Cell Phones

• If you have, or think you have a disability which may interfere with your ability to perform in this class, please speak with me immediately regarding any accommodations and contact the Disabled Students Programs and Services Office at (909) 389-3325.

Disabled Students Programs and Services

• Blackboard will be used during this course.

• You must use Blackboard to take your quizzes and exams.

Blackboard

Class Web Page

• I have created a web page for your class.

• On this page, you will find the PowerPoints that will be used for lecture, study guides, maps, and other important documents.

• You will use the web page to post for your groups each week.http://worldregionswiki.wikispaces.com/

• The BEST way to reach me if you have any questions or concerns is by e-mail. My e-mail address is: ProfessorLisaS@gmail.com

• (760) 440-8977 Text or Voice Mail

Contact Information

• All dates, topics, rules, and point totals are tentative.

• I reserve the right to make changes as they become necessary throughout the semester.

• It is your responsibility to stay informed. • Attendance is the best way, having a friend in class

is the next best, try to make friends.

Note About Dates, Topics, and Assignments

Conduct for Presentations• You are expected to be courteous to your classmates for presentations of

any kind.

• Do not talk while presentations are being given. Talking while another student is presenting is disruptive behavior and you may be asked to leave class for doing this. If you are asked to leave class, you may be suspended from attending the next class if disciplinary action has to be taken.

• When presentations are being given, you are to have NOTHING on your desk. You may be asked to leave class for violating this rule.

• Cell phones are to be on silent when in class. If your phone goes off during a presentation, you will lose 10 points from YOUR grade for your presentation for being discourteous.

• Final presentations will be scheduled. If you do not present on the night you are scheduled, you will lose 10 points.

Class Schedule• At this time I would like you to take a look

at the schedule in your syllabus and notice:– Dates– Topics– Assignments: what gets assigned that day.– Posts: when your posts are due.– Project: When parts of your project are due.– What’s Due: what quizzes or exams are

closing on Blackboard.

For Your Success• Counseling Services 389-3366• Library 389-3378• Tutoring Services 389-3312• Financial Aid 389-3223• EOPS 389-3239• Health Center 389-3272• CalWORKS Assistance 389-3239• And more!

Where Computers Are Available on Campus

• Library

• Learning Resource Center

See the campus map in your syllabus!

What is Geography?

The scientific study of the Earth's surface and its various climates, countries, peoples, and natural resources.

Fields of Geography• Human or Cultural

Geography– Deals with social,

economic, and behavioral processes

• Physical Geography– Examines the natural

processes occurring at Earth’s surface that provide the physical setting for human activities

Branches of Physical Geography

• Biogeography• Climatology• Coastal Geography• Geomorphology• Glaciology• Hydrology• Oceanography

Branches of Human Geography

• Cultural Geography• Regional Geography• Developmental Geography• Economic Geography• Medical Geography• Historical Geography• Political Geography• Population Geography• Demography• Transportation Geography• Urban Geography

Tools Geographers Use

• Maps– Paper representations of space showing point, line, or area data

• Or more simply put, locations, connections, and regions• Remote Sensing

– Aircraft or spacecraft provide images of earth’s surface• GIS or Geographic Information Systems

– Powerful computer mapmaking software connected to data bases• Mathematical Modeling and Statistics

– Used to understand natural and human phenomenon

• Get in groups of _______• Designate a leader of your group.• Group leaders: record the names of your

group members on a piece of paper.• As a group, look through all of the things

you have brought to class with you, see where they are made.

• Group leaders: record the items and the places they were made.

The most stuff comes from:

What do you know about these places?• Where are they?• How big is that country?• What is the capital city like?• What’s the weather like there?• What kind of money do they use? • What kind of economic system do they have?• What kind of political system do they have?• What language do the people speak?• What religion(s) are they?• Is there a male or female preference for the

manufacturing of a particular item?• How old do you think the person who made your stuff is?