GEO 2000
Professor: Dr. Jennifer Gebelein
Teaching Assistant: Frances Spiegel
Meeting Times: Monday and Wednesday, 9:30-10:45 am
Class Location: Room 149, Green Library
Office: DM-434
Office Hours at FIU: 4:00-5:30 pm, Monday & Wednesday or by appointment
Virtual Office Hours: 8:00-9:00 pm Tuesday &Thursday or by appointment
Phone: 348-1859
Email: gebelein@fiu.edu
Required Text: Getis, A., Introduction to Geography, 8th Edition
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to basic geographic concepts as well as topics on both human and physical geography. Geography literally means “description of the Earth” but it takes into account many aspects of almost every science. Broadly speaking, we will examine how and why people, landscapes and opportunities differ from place to place on Earth.
Tentative Weekly Schedule
·
Please
note: Assigned readings are to be completed PRIOR to lectures and WILL APPEAR
on periodic pop quizzes. BE PREPARED!!!
·
I
will have a fair amount of online handouts available for you to print
out; I recommend you have a folder for class handouts that you bring to each
class.
·
Please
see me if you have any disability that requires accommodations. Documentation of any disability is
required.
[Course Requirements],[Grading],[Course Policies],[Important Dates],[Quiz #1],[Quiz #2],[Quiz #3],[Quiz #4],[Quiz #5],[Midterm],[Final],[Web Rules],
Week 1: (8/28/02)
Topic:
What is Geography and why is it important?
Readings:
(Getis) Chapter 1, pp. 1-20
Week 2: (9/4/02)
Topic:
Maps – What are they and what defines them?
Readings:
(Getis) Chapter 2, pp. 21-54
(9/2/02 = Labor Day!)
Week 3: (9/9/02, 9/11/02)
Topic:
Physical Geography - Landforms
Readings:
(Getis) Chapter 3, pp. 59-73
FIRST QUIZ: 9/9/02: only on material from weeks 1-3
Week 4: (9/16/02, 9/18/02)
Topic:
Physical Geography – Landforms, Weather & Climate
Readings:
(Getis) Chapter 3, pp. 74-98
(Getis) Chapter 4, pp. 99-146
Assignment
Due 9/18/02:
Go to http://www.sciencecourseware.com/VirtualEarthquake/
, scroll down to “Execute Virtual Earthquake” start and finish the online test,
print out your certificate (with your name on it) and hand it in.
Hand
in your “Virtual Seismologist Certificate”
to Prof G. by class time 9/18/02. *(Info from this will appear on
midterm)
Week 5: (9/23/02, 9/25/02)
Topic:
Human Impacts on the Environment
Readings:
(Getis) Chapter 5, pp. 148-188
SECOND QUIZ: 9/25/02:
only on material from weeks 4-5
Week 6: (9/30/02, 10/2/02)
Topic:
Population Geography
Readings:
(Getis) Chapter 6, pp. 194-229
Week 7: (10/7/02, 10/9/02)
Topic:
Cultural Geography
Readings:
(Getis) Chapter 7, pp. 231-280
Gather
Data for Mental Map Exercise!
THIRD QUIZ: 10/9/02: only on material from weeks
6-7
Week 8: (10/14/02, 10/16/02)
Topic:
Transportation – How has it changed in America?
Readings:
·
FILM: “Taken for a Ride” History about evolution of
transportation
·
Possibly “Review Jeopardy” Session…TBA
·
MIDTERM: 10/16/02 on material from weeks: 1-8
Week 9: (10/21/02, 10/23/02)
Topic:
Geography of Spatial Behavior – Space, place and time
Readings:
(Getis) Chapter 8, pp. 282-311
Week 10: (10/28/02, 10/30/02)
Topic:
Political Geography
Readings:
(Getis) Chapter 9, pp. 312-349
FOURTH QUIZ: 10/30/02:
only on material from weeks 9-10
Week 11: (11/4/02, 11/6/02)
Topic:
Economic Geography – What is it and how is it changing?
Readings:
(Getis) Chapter 10, pp. 354-396
Week 12: (11/13/02)
Topic:
Distribution and Description of our Natural Resources
Readings:
(Getis) Chapter 11, pp. 397-440
11/11/02
= Veteran’s Day!
Week 13: (11/18/02, 11/20/02)
Topic:
Urban Geography
Readings:
(Getis) Chapter 12, pp. 441-484
FIFTH QUIZ: 11/20/02:
only on material from weeks 11-13
Week 14: (11/25/02, 11/27/02)
Topic: Our
Concepts of Regions in Science, Culture and Tradition
Readings:
(Getis) Chapter 13, pp. 489-508
Week 15: (12/2/02, 12/4/02)
Topic I:
Geography from Space – Looking in and Looking Out
Topic II:
Are We Alone in the Universe?
Topic III:
Possibly “Review Jeopardy” Session…TBA
Two
special lectures – Material from these WILL appear on your final
Be There
and Take Notes!
FINAL
EXAM: COVERS ONLY WEEKS 9-15
·
Students are expected to attend all
lectures and to complete all reading assignments. Class participation (including attendance!!!) makes up 15% of
your total course grade. These points
are easy to get: all you have to do is be present for random roll calls
throughout the semester. You can also
lose the points easily if you show up late consistently or skip class a
lot. If you are present, you are
counted, if you are not present (either late or absent) you are not counted. Each student is allotted 3 “personal days”
throughout the semester, to use for whatever reason: traffic tie-ups, no
parking, illness, vacation, etc. Each
day that you are not present for roll call that exceeds these three “personal
days” subtracts one point from your final point total, up to a maximum of 15
points off your final grade. Do not
bring notes or excuses, except for long-term illnesses. There are no exceptions to this policy.
·
You are responsible for all
material in lecture, films and readings.
The quizzes, listed in the syllabus, will encourage you to finish
assigned reading prior to the week it appears in lecture (when you are supposed
to have the reading completed). The
quizzes can come in many formats including: multiple choice, map quizzes, short
answer, and lists. There are five
quizzes listed throughout the semester, but I will calculate your final grade
on only four of these. This is so you
can drop your lowest quiz score, or miss one, with no problem.
·
This course is broken down into
quizzes every few weeks (25%), a midterm (30%), final (30%) and class
participation (15%). I use a standard
grading scale, and don’t “curve” (force and equal percent of the class to earn
“A”s, “B”s, “C”s, “D”s, and “F”s. Final
grade ranges are as follows:
A = 93-100% C = 73-76%
A-
= 90-92% C- = 70-72%
B+ = 87-89% D+
= 67-69%
B = 83-86% D = 60-66%
B-
= 80-82% D- = below 60%
C+ = 77-79% F
= never attended class
** Please note: I
reserve the right to subtract up to 5 percentage points from your final score
for “lack of civility”. I expect all
students to behave in a courteous, adult fashion. A pattern of disruptive, disrespectful, and/or harassing behavior
or your part – towards your fellow students or your professor – will result in
a lower grade. Any type of disruption
caused by a cell phone, pager or beeper or any electronic device may result in
a lower grade in the class. Make sure
and turn off ALL electronic devices before you enter the classroom. Really. **
Composition
of Final Grade:
Quizzes: 25%
Midterm: 30%
Final: 30%
Class
Participation/Attendance: 15%
Total:
100%
Much
of what is learned in this class is covered in lecture. Missing a lot of lectures, or not showing up
on time, will bring your grade down. To
encourage attendance, I will take roll at the beginning of most classes. Part of your final grade for this class
comes from attendance. See policy
above, under “Course Requirements”.
You
have my email address and the email address of the Teaching Assistant on the
first page of the syllabus, I encourage you to make use of them! I’m available in person during office hours
both at FIU and during online office hours, also, we are always “virtually
around” at our email addresses to answer last minute questions, clarify
lectures, readings, or assignments, and to discuss grades.
The
only allowable excuse for missing the midterm, final or quizzes
is a serious illness, and you must provide a signed and stamped Doctor’s note
written on medical stationary in order to have a makeup exam scheduled.
All
examinations will take place as scheduled in this syllabus. The only reason I will reschedule an
examination is in the case of the entire University closing. Class cancellations will be indicated by a
note posted on the door, on Department letterhead, and signed by the Department
secretary.
Note: I like to provide you with as much information as possible on
grade calculations and dates for your readings and examinations. Like everything in life, however, some things
cannot be controlled. All dates on this
syllabus are subject to change.
·
Quiz #1: Monday, 9/9
·
Quiz #2: Wednesday, 9/25
·
Last Day to Drop: 9/5
·
Quiz #3: Wednesday, 10/9
·
Midterm:
Wednesday 10/16
·
Quiz #4: Wednesday, 10/30
·
Quiz #5: Wednesday, 11/20
·
Final
Exam: TBA
No Class: September 2 (Labor
Day), November 11 (Veteran’s Day), November 28-29 (Thanksgiving Holiday)
The
following rules should be followed when you are in the discussion/chat rooms or
in virtual office hours:
1)
Be patient
2)
Be polite
3)
Your writings should be short and concise, no more than 1 short sentence each
time you post
4)
Realize that the professor will be monitoring the things you write
5)
No foul language
6)
Do not use the chat rooms (for this class) for socializing
7)
DO participate!
For
any questions on anything to do with Internet Etiquette, or
"Netiquette" see the following websites for help, or contact the
professor:
http://www.albion.com/netiquette/
http://www.fau.edu/netiquette/net/index.html