COURSE SYLLABUS

 

Course:  Introduction to Cultural Geography

               GEOG 130

 

Instructor:  Dr. James Duvall

 

Office:  LA-205, Hours:  MW 7:30 – 8:00 A.M. and 12:30 P.M. - 1:00 P.M. Tues. 7:00 A.M. - 8:00 A.M. Thursday 7:00 – 8:00 A.M. and 9:30 – 10:00 A.M. 510/235-7800 Ext. 4284, Evening Hours: Tuesday 5:30 – 6:30 P.M., (email at jduvall@contracosta.edu)

Website: See department website on college website (http://www.contracosta.edu)

 

 

General Requirements

 

 

                        Attendance and Tardiness:    School policy sets the

                                                                        following guidelines which

                                                                        I will follow.  After (4)

                                                                        absences you may be

                                                                        dropped from the class.

                                                                        Tardies are discouraged

                                                                        as they interrupt the

                                                                        class and cause the

                                                                        student to miss infor-

                                                                        mation.

 

Grading Policy:                                                                                                                                                          

Tests, and homework

assignments will be

given point value.

Tests will comprise  

50% of your grade with

the other 50% being the 

Case Study essays.  

Grade Scale:           

90% - A, 80% - B, 70% - C,

60% - D, < 60% - F.

                                   

                        Exams:                                    There will be a formal mid-

                                                                        term and final exam.

                                                                        These will be graded on a

                                                                        curve determined by the

                                                                        individual class.

  Schedule

 

1st Half (Reading and chapter questions are indicated below). Please answer all chapter questions for every chapter assigned.

 

1.         Introduction:  What is Cultural Geography?  Text C-1

 

2.         People on the Land.  Text C-7

 

3.         The Agricultural World.  Text C-8

 

4.         Case Studies.  Group Work (handout)              

 

5.         Industrial Geography.  Text C-9        

 

March, 4 2009 - Term Paper due.

 

Week of March 9, 2009 - Midterm Test

 

2nd Half

 

6.         Political Patterns.  Test C-6

 

7.         The Mosaic of Languages.  Text C-4. 

 

8.         Religious Realms.  Text C-3           

 

9.         Folk and Popular Culture.  Text C-2

 

10.       Ethnic Geography.  Text C-5

 

May  4, 2009 - Oral Presentations (Voluntary-50 pts. extra-credit) (Turn in an outline)

 

Week of May 18, 2009 -  Final Test

 

 

Term Paper

 

The student is required to write one short term-paper on any of the topics or sub-topics listed for the semester.  The paper must be a minimum of 1250 words in the main body.  This is equivalent to 6 full typewritten pages with normal (1") margins.  A paper exceeding this minimum will not be awarded extra credit.  Citations and a bibliography must be included in the paper or it will receive no credit.  An example of a citation is the following:

     "As hot air rises it expands without losing heat."(Brown: 57)

 

     Citations must be used and the bibliography must display the source of the citation.  Use is not just for quotes, but also for any ideas, which you have borrowed from a reference.  All ideas and facts not your own must be cited.

 

Requirements for the Term Paper

 

1.  Must be typewritten. (12 pt. and Times New Roman)

 

2.  Minimum 1250 word text. (5 - 6 pages double spaced)

 

3.  Minimum of five (5) sources.  Citations are required.  No encyclopedias or newspapers!

 

4.  Bibliography (alphabetical order by author)

 

5.  No folder or holder: Just staple it.

 

6. 1" margins. (Use the MLA Handbook for Writers, MLA, New York).

 

 

Hints to Help You Pass a College Class and Classroom Rules!

 

1.  Be on Time!  Most students who are constantly tardy miss all of the announcements and thus do not know what is going on.  If you are tardy come in quietly and check-in at the end of class.

 

2.  Be There.  Most instructors test more heavily on lectured material.  Absences should only be taken because of extreme emergency or bad illness.

 

3.  Get involved in discussions.  If you are passive you probably won't remember as much.  Don't be embarrassed to speak out.

 

4.  Use Time Management.  Schedule your study time each day.  Don't let studying get away from you so that you feel overwhelmed.

 

5.  Write your term paper early.  Get it out of the way.  You'll feel better and you can then get on to more important things.

 

6.  Study all of your notes every day for every class.  Believe it or not this does not take long.  By the end of the semester you'll nearly have them memorized without even trying and you will not have to cram for final tests!

 

7.  Do the Oral Report.  Sure it's voluntary but it's very good experience.  You need to be able to speak in front of groups, with poise.  College is a very good, non-threatening environment in which to practice.

 

8.  No food or drink may be consumed in the classroom.

 

9.  Turn off all cell phones and aural pagers before entering class. All electronic devices must be out of sight and off!