Geography 100 H: World Regional Geography

Instructor: Irene Naesse Fall 2016

Office: Social Science Forum 4 Orange Coast College

Drop in Office Hours: Mon & Thurs 1:00-3:00 (or by appointment) Tues – Thurs 11:10-12:35

Phone: 714.432.5032 (use during office hours only – email best option) Email: inaesse@ occ.cccd.edu

OCC Web Site: http://occonline.occ.cccd.edu/online/inaesse (just Google me!)

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Discuss the historical and contemporary interactions of different world cultures.

2. Demonstrate knowledge of current national and global issues for the world’s regions.

3. Identify major landforms and climates for the world’s regions and discuss their impacts on culture.

4. Compare and contrast less developed and more developed world regions based on demographic, economic

and cultural characteristics.

Course Goals & Objectives

Geography is the study of the “what”, “where” and “why” of physical and human landscapes on the earth’s surface.

What – observation, identification, description

Where – location and spatial distribution

Why – theoretical and critical analysis of interrelationships

In this course we will be examining the interrelationships of human and physical landscapes for the world’s major

geographic regions.

Human Geography – history, demographics, migration, land uses, economics, politics

Physical Geography – climate, soils, landforms, vegetation

After the completion of this course, not only will you have a greater knowledge of “what” is “where” but more

importantly “why”. This is the essence of geographic inquiry. In addition to learning geographic concepts, this course

is designed to exercise your critical thinking and writing skills.

Recommended Prep: The instructor suggests that all students in this course have successfully completed all basic

skills courses in reading and writing. You will be expected to perform at the college level.

Required Texts: Geography 100 Resource Packet https://students.universityreaders.com/store/

Nystrom Desk Atlas 2008 (ISBN 978-0-7825-1188)

Optional Texts: L. Rowntree, Globalization and Diversity 4th edition (ISBN 0321862244)

Course Requirements:

To be eligible for a grade of C or higher, all students must complete the following:

� Regular Attendance and Class Participation

OCC Attendance policy - No more absences than the class meets per week

Being on time and not leaving early or in the middle of lecture

Actively taking notes and participating in class discussions

� Completion of 6 Map Quizzes

� Completion of 5 Regional Portfolios

� Completion of 1 Comprehensive Final

Map Quizzes: Quizzes will cover material from lecture, the reader and assignments. They are multiple choice

format. Students will intensify physical, cultural and current events on the map from material covered in class and

homework. I recommend that you print out extra blank maps for each region for taking notes in class.

Regional Portfolios: Students will complete a portfolio for each region. See handout for more details.

Map Packets: Students will be completing 7 map packet sets mapping cultural and physical features for the world’s

geographic regions. Be sure to follow guidelines for completing them for maximum points. Outline maps and

feature list are located on my faculty website under “Handouts” and in your Resource Packet.

• See the “Map Packet Do’s and Don’t” online or come by my office to check out examples!

Supplemental Assignments: Extra Credit is not a substitute for a poor work ethic, rather a way to challenge and

supplement course material for interested students. Additional extra credit will be assigned during the semester;

however, the points will only count for students who have excellent attendance, class participation and no outstanding

assignments at the conclusion of the semester.

Grading Policy: The final grade will be based on the percentage of total number points earned by each student.

Assignment Points Possible Total Points* % of Grade

7 Map Packets 10* 65 15%

1 Comprehensive Exam 50 50 12%

6 Regional Portfolios 35 200 47%

6 Map Quizzes 15 90 21%

Homework / In Class variable 20 5%

TOTAL @ 425**

* Introduction Map Packet only worth 5 points; Introduction Portfolio worth 25 points

**Total points will vary depending on actual homework’s assigned

Grading Scale: The grading scale for this course is based on the percentage of each student’s total number of points

accumulated divided by total number of points assigned for the semester. The percentage scale for points earned is as

follows:

A 100% - 90 % (Passing, surpasses expectations)

B 89% - 80% (Passing, above expectations)

C 79% - 70% (Passing, meets expectations)

D 69% - 60% (Passing, below expectations)

F 59% (Does not meet expectations)

* Note: 1 percentage point = 4.25 points

FERPA Policy:

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 is a federal law regarding the privacy of student

records. The posting of student grades using the institutional student identification number without the student’s

written permission is a violation of FERPA. If you wish to access your grades posted by your student I.D. number on the

website or in class you must sign the waiver form. Otherwise, you will need to personally come to my office for your

class grade and information.

Class Policies and Information:

� Unless otherwise instructed, all assignments must be typed, double-spaced, 10-12 point font with standard margins

(.5 to 1 inch). Assignments turned in handwritten will be returned to the student with a “zero” score. Points will be

deducted for assignments turned in that do not conform to the above format.

���� Late work will NOT be accepted. Student can turn in ONE assignment late in case of emergency. It is up to the

student to decide what constitutes the emergency. Fill out and attach the “Late Work Coupon” at the end of the

syllabus to your assignment. Any late assignments due to emergency must be turned in within one week of the due

date. Once the “late” option has been used, no other assignments can be turned in late regardless of circumstances.

� Students with learning disabilities are required to inform the instructor if they require special assistance for note-

taking and examinations.

� Petitioners are responsible for adding the course by the next class meeting or your seat will be given to another

student.

� Please check your OCC email account regularly or forward it to your personal email account. I do not use

Blackboard.

� Students are expected to attend class regularly. If you do miss class, you are responsible for getting the class notes

from another student, finding out what announcements were made and what assignments are due. You are also

responsible for turning in any assignments that were due to my office or mailbox before class meets.

� It is the student’s obligation to file the appropriate paperwork to drop the course. Do not assume that you will be

automatically dropped if you stop attending class. Please be aware of the OCC Drop Deadlines to avoid an F in the

class.

� No laptops or ipads are allowed in class. Students may not photography lecture powerpoints.

� Students who wish to record the lecture must first ask permission from the instructor and sign an agreement on the

appropriate use of recorded intellectual property.

� Behavior that is disruptive to the instructor and other students will not be tolerated. This includes but is not limited

to the following:

• Cell phones and pagers ringing or vibrating during class.

• Text messaging - Do not have your cell phone on your desk or hand at any time during class!

• Tardiness, stepping outside during class or leaving early.

• Interrupting the instructor or other students while speaking ; talking to your neighbor while lecture is in

progress

• Sleeping or working on assignments for this or other classes

• Backpacks and handbags must be stored on the floor, not on your desk. • Students who are chronically tardy will be sent to the Dean of Students.

This is your warning!

� Plagiarism is taking credit for someone else’s words or ideas. All work must be properly cited from the text or other

sources. If you do not know how to cite sources see the instructor, librarians or weblinks under “Student Resources”.

There are no group projects in this course and students are expected to turn in assignments using individual ideas,

analysis and words. Anyone caught plagiarizing will be sent to the Dean of Students and will fail the assignment

regardless of extent (one sentence or entire paper).

� It is the student’s obligation to be familiar with all of the policies set forth in the syllabus. Please read through the

entire packet before the next class meeting. By staying in the course, you are agreeing to abide by these policies.

� This is a rigorous course in both scope and topics. It is important that you review text and lecture material each

week in order to be prepared. The suggested amount of time for a college course is two hours per week per unit

outside of class time. For a 3 unit class you should spend six hours per week outside of class reading, working on

assignments and studying.

(3 unit class) x (2 hours per week) = 6 hours per week

Exam, Quiz and Assignment Due Dates

Map Quizzes will be scheduled for the class period following the conclusion of a region. Study maps with the quiz

locations marked will be provided. Students will need a scantron for the Map Quiz.

Comprehensive Final is on the last day of class (Dec. 15). This is a multiple choice exam that will cover course

concepts. A study guide will be provided. Students will need a scantron.

Regional Portfolios

Map Packets

These are in your Resource Packet and provided on my faculty website under “Handouts”

If you are having trouble printing them, PLEASE come and see me well before they are due so I can

print them for you otherwise you will need to use you Late Work Coupon or receive a zero score.

����See the “Map Packet Do’s and Don’ts” or come by my office to check out examples!

Region Date *

Introduction Sept. 13 (T)

Europe Sept. 27 (T)

Russia and Central Asia Oct. 11 (T)

Latin America Nov. 1 (T)

North Africa & Southwest Asia Nov. 15 (T)

Sub-Saharan Africa Nov. 29 (T)

Australia & the Pacific Dec. 15 (Th)

Course Schedule and Assignments Fall 2016

There is no textbook required for this course, it is optional. However, here is the course schedule which is based on the

Rowntree text. This is the order that chapters will be covered this semester. You will need to attend class to know

where we are on the schedule and what will be covered on exams.

• Copies of the textbook are on reserve in the library.

• Chapter Reading Guides are posted on the website.

• Lecture Outlines are on the website & Resource Packet

Topic Assignment Concepts – Reading Guides on Website

Basic Concepts

Ch. 1 & 2

Geography, regions, population & demographics, more & less

developed, culture & society, GNP, climate & land use

Europe

Ch. 8

Climate & landforms, rivers, significance & growth of Europe,

demographics, urban structure, cultural traits, EU, transition

of Eastern Europe

Russia & Central Asia

Ch. 9 & 10

Climate, landforms & resources – constraints, Soviet system,

Aral Sea, transition issues, current political and resource

issues, cultural diversity

Latin America

Ch. 4 & 5

Tropical climate, tectonic landforms (ch.2), colonial legacies –

urban, land use, ethnic groups, gender roles, language, religion,

current social, political & politics, maquilladoras, drug trade

Southwest Asia & North Africa

Ch. 7

Arid climate, landforms & land use, origin of 3 religions,

current issues, hydro politics, urban form, fundamentalism,

demographics, oil

Sub-Saharan Africa

Ch. 6

Climate, land use, landforms, pre-colonial kingdoms, language,

colonialism & independence, apartheid, family structure,

demographics, AIDS, poverty

Australia & Oceania

Ch. 14

Climate, landforms & land use, island types, aborigine,

settlement, cultural legacies, changing identity

East Asia

Ch. 11

Climate, landforms, environmental issues, Three Gorges Dam,

culture –similarities & differences, demographics

political change, current issues

South & Southeast Asia

Ch. 12 & 13

Climate & natural hazards, cultural diversity, caste system,

cultural diversity, colonialism, economic development,

current political, social & environmental issues

USE ONLY IN CASE OF EMERGENCY!

LATE WORK COUPON

Name:

Class Days and Time:

Date:

� Remove coupon and attach to the assignment you are turning in late (cannot be used for the final project!)

� Assignment must be received by the instructor within one weekone weekone weekone week of the original due date

� Once you have used this coupon, you may not turn in additional late work RRRREEEEGGGGAAAARRRRDDDDLLLLEEEESSSSSSSS OOOOFFFF CCCCIIIIRRRRCCCCUUUUMMMMSSSSTTTTAAAANNNNCCCCEEEESSSS!!!!