WORLD PHYSICAL
GEOGRAPHY
Bluefield State
College
GEOG 301—FALL 2012, Section
1
CRN: 10156
Colin S. Cavell, Ph.D. Course Room No.: B103
Class TTH: 16:00-17:15 INTERNET:
ccavell@bluefieldstate.edu
Office Hours: MWF 11:00-13:00, 14:00-16:00 Office No.: B120
VOICE: 304.327.4034 (W) 512-924-2364 (M)
A comprehensive and in-depth study of
the interaction between people and the environment around the world. Based on a regional study rather than themes,
the course offers exceptional depth in environmental physical geography as well
as well as historical geography and current events. Attention is focused on the issues of
culture, ethnicity, language, religion, the physical environment, and
indigenous peoples. PR: GEOG 150.
Grading
Policy: 25% for Attendance*; 25% for the In-Class
Presentation; 25% for the Midterm Exam; and 25% for the Final Exam. A
Guidelines sheet will be distributed outlining the requirements for your In-Class
Presentation.
Grading
Scale: 90-100=A; 80-89=B; 70-79=C; 60-69=D; 0-59=F. These numerical scores correspond to the
following evaluations: “A” = Excellent;
“B” = Good; “C” = Satisfactory (NOTE: A
grade of “C” or better is required in major courses); “D” = Poor (passing,
except in major courses); “F” = Earned Failure (removed only by repeating the
course; upon successfully passing the course, the first grade is “excluded”
from grade point average. The second
grade is “included” in the recalculation of the grade point average); and “I” =
Incomplete.
Learning
Outcomes: Upon completion of GEOG 402, students should
be able to read and provide an immanent critique of texts; to articulate
arguments and examine their flaws; be familiar with the basics of logical,
ethical, and dialectical reasoning; be familiar with essays, both pro and con,
regarding the interactions between people and environments; be able to read and
comprehend maps; know what geography is; understand the world regional approach
to geography; identify essential elements of geography; know key concepts in
geography; understand what GIS and remote sensing are; and know what
geographers do and what kinds of jobs in geography are available.
Academic
Integrity Policy: Academic
integrity is expected of all students. This means that all work for this class
must be undertaken and completed by you alone without collaboration from
others. Any dishonesty in the performance of course work, such as plagiarism or
cheating in other forms, will be reported. In the event the student is charged
with some form of dishonesty, the Student Discipline Policy will be followed.
The full text of the BSC Academic Honesty Policy can be found at: http://www.bluefieldstate.edu/academics/academic-honesty-and-proctoring.
In addition, students should be aware that research paper assignments may be
submitted to Turnitin by the instructor for the purpose of checking for
possible plagiarism. Submitted assignments will be included in the BSC
dedicated database of assignments at Turnitin and will be used solely for the
purpose of checking for possible plagiarism during the grading process during
this term and in the future.
Attendance
Policy*: Attendance in class is mandatory. It is the student’s responsibility to sign
the attendance sheet each day of class; failure to sign the attendance
sheet—even if in attendance—will be counted as an absence. “When the number of clock hours of willful
absences exceeds the number of semester
hours of credit, the instructor will notify the Registrar that the student has
exceeded the permissible number of absences and should be withdrawn from class”
(Bluefield State College Academic Catalog
2010-2012). As well, you are expected to follow the
syllabus and accordingly be prepared for each day’s class. This means that you must read the
pre-assigned readings before class so that you will be prepared to discuss and
debate in class the subject matter scheduled for that day and answer questions
related to the issues being covered. NOTE: TURN OFF all cell phones during class.
* Absence from class may be made up by preparing a two-page, typed (i.e. using maximum 12 point font size and maximum
double-spaced text with one-inch margin on all sides), summary on the missed material scheduled to be covered the
day(s) of your absence. The summary must
be in your own words and must not be copied material from the text(s),
the internet, or any other source(s). All
summaries must be turned in to me by the last day of classes if you want
credit for your absences.
Withdrawal
Policy: Academic
Withdrawal from the course prior to the deadline date for withdrawal as
published within the academic calendar is accomplished by securing a change in
schedule form and having it signed by appropriate persons. Blank copies of the change in schedule form
are available in the offices of the Registrar, the Vice President for Academic
Affairs, the Dean and the advisor. After
obtaining the required signatures, the student must submit, prior to the
deadline date, the change in schedule form to the Office of the Registrar.
Disability
Services Statement: BSC is committed to full inclusion of all
students. Students who, by nature of a documented disability, require
classroom, equipment, testing or assignment accommodations should contact the
Student Support Services at 304.327.4227 to request accommodations before the
start of the semester. Your immediate attention to these arrangements is
necessary to assure a positive learning experience.
Free Tutoring Services Available: BSC offers free
online tutoring for all BSC students in the following subjects: Math; Accounting, Managerial; Accounting,
Financial; Writing (all subjects); Grammar; Microeconomics; Macroeconomics;
Statistics; Spanish. Chemistry, etc. This service is free and available 24
hours a day to all BSC students. Go to http://www.smarthinking.com/ and
follow these instructions.
Required Texts:
Hobbs,
Joseph J. 2008. World Regional Geography, Sixth Edition.
Brooks Cole/Cengage Learning:
Independence, KY [ 0495389501 978-0495389507].
Sept. 18: Introduction – Differences Between Human
and Physical Geography
Readings: Hobbs, Introduction.
Sept. 20: Objectives and Tools of World Regional
Geography
Readings: Hobbs, Ch. 1
Sept. 25: Objectives and Tools of World Regional
Geography
Readings: Hobbs,
Ch. 1
Sept. 27: Physical
Processes that Shape the World
Readings: Hobbs, Ch. 2
Oct. 2: Physical Processes that Shape the World
Readings: Hobbs, Ch. 2
Oct. 4: MIDTERM EXAM
Oct. 8: Mid-Semester grades due to Registrar
Oct. 9: Human
Processes that Shape World Regions
Readings: Hobbs,
Ch. 3
Oct. 11: Human
Processes that Shape World Regions
Readings: Hobbs,
Ch. 3
Oct. 12: Faculty Workshop
(No Classes)
Oct. 16: A Geographic Profile of Europe
Readings: Hobbs,
Ch. 4
Oct. 18: A
Geographic Profile of Europe
Readings: Hobbs,
Ch. 4
Oct. 22-Nov. 2:
Pre-Registration for Spring Semester for Currently Enrolled Students
Oct. 23: A
Geographic Profile of Europe
Readings: Hobbs,
Module 4.1: The European Core
Oct. 25: A
Geographic Profile of Europe
Readings: Hobbs,
Module 4.1: The European Core
Oct. 30: A
Geographic Profile of Europe
Readings: Hobbs,
Module 4.2: The European Periphery
Nov. 1: A
Geographic Profile of Europe
Readings: Hobbs,
Module 4.2: The European Periphery
Nov. 6: A
Geographic Profile of Russia and the Near Abroad
Readings: Hobbs, Ch. 5
Nov. 8: A
Geographic Profile of Russia and the Near Abroad
Readings: Hobbs,
Ch. 5
Nov. 9:
Last Day to Withdraw with "W" for Full Semester Classes
Nov. 13: A
Geographic Profile of Russia and the Near Abroad
Readings: Hobbs,
Module 5.1: Fragmentation and Redevelopment in Russia and the Near Abroad
Nov. 15: A
Geographic Profile of Russia and the Near Abroad
Readings: Hobbs,
Module 5.1: Fragmentation and Redevelopment in Russia and the Near Abroad
Nov. 19-23: Thanksgiving
Day Holidays – College closed
Nov. 27: A
Geographic Profile of the Middle East and North Africa
Readings: Hobbs,
Ch. 6
Nov. 29: A Geographic Profile of the Middle East and
North Africa
Readings: Hobbs, Ch. 6
Dec. 4: A
Geographic Profile of the Middle East and North Africa
Readings: Hobbs,
Module 6.1: The Middle East and North Africa: Modern Struggles in an Ancient
Land
Dec. 6: Last
day of classes.
Assignment: Complete
all readings.
Dec. 11: FINAL EXAM
Dec. 17: Final
grades due to Registrar electronically