Syllabus
Course Information
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Course Name and Number: |
Cultural Geography-Geography 205 (Honors
Section) |
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Instructor: |
Steve Graves |
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Class Room: |
George T. Madison Hall Room 123 A |
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Scheduled Class Time: |
M & W 2:00-3:50 |
Contact Dr. Graves
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Office: |
GTM 127C |
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Office phone: |
257-2774 |
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E-Mail: |
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Office Hours: |
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Department Phone: |
257-3427 |
Web Address
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Course Description
This course is a general education course; its primary
purposes are to help students to:
- Develop
an interest in learning about culture and cultures.
- Develop
an understanding of spatial patterns and processes that affect culture
and cultural developments.
- Learn
to apply some of the ideas brought to class to political, cultural and
other everyday decisions in your life.
Required Materials
1.
Don Mitchell.
2000. Cultural Geography: A
Critical Approach. Malden, MA:
Blackwell
Classroom Activities
Classroom activities will consist largely of discussion of
assigned readings, unless the class decides that other methods of instruction
or pathways to understanding are more effective. Alternative course activities may include GIS and Internet based
activities, field trips, videos, concerts, etc.
Students must complete all assignments in order to get a
good grade. Click below to access the
class reading and assignment page for details regarding assignments.
Class
Reading and Assignment Page
Attendance
Attendance is mandatory. In accordance with
university policy, attendance will be taken each class session and used to aid
in your quarter-end evaluation. If you must miss a class AND you miss an
in-class assignment, you must produce a written excuse in order to make up your
work, or to be excused from taking the assignment.
Because irregular attendance can become a chronic problem
that undermines the overall quality of my courses, I require students to sign a
course contract, which essentially states that they have read the course policies
and that they agree to follow them. Click
here to access the course contract
Major Exams
There will be two exams during the quarter. The second exam will not be
comprehensive. The tests will be
largely multiple choice and students are required to bring a number 2 pencil
and a blue “scantron” sheet.
Make-up Exams. . If a person misses an
exam and is able to produce a valid excuse for his or her absence then he or
she will be allowed to take an equivalent exam within one week of their return
to class. Failure to produce a valid
excuse for a missed exam will result in a grade of 0 for that exam.
Assignments
During the course of the quarter three to five
"homework" assignments will be issued. You may be asked to read
a newspaper article, analyze a map, etc. and write a one and a half to two page
response paper. Details will be forthcoming in class and on the course
assignments web page.
Map Quizzes
Depending on the course, one or more map quizzes may be
administered during the quarter. These
quizzes are for most an easy source of grade points and are designed to test you
on the most basic components of geographic knowledge.
Obligations
- Attendance will be taken at
every session in accordance with University policy. Students are expected to arrive on time
for class and to remain until dismissed.
Failure to attend class or to be less than punctual will influence
your grade. For more details, click
here to access the course contract.
- Food, drink and tobacco
products are not allowed inside the classroom. These products
create extra work for the janitorial staff and I treat transgressions of
this simple courtesy a sign of disrespect for me and for those who have to
clean up student created messes.
Evaluation
Grades will be determined by your performance on the
various assignments and tests as well as your attendance/participation where
appropriate.
|
Tentative Grading Regime |
Percent |
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Attendance and participation |
10 |
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Quizzes (5) |
5 |
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Assignments (3) |
2+10+10+15 |
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Exam I |
25 |
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Exam II |
25 |
Grade Scale
A = (90-100%)
B = (80-89%)
C = (70-79%)
D = (60-69%)
F = (59% or less)
Back to
Geography Home
If you have comments or suggestions, email me at sgraves@latech.edu