|
|
|
|
MONTGOMERY COLLEGE- DEPARTMENT OF APPLIED TECHNOLOGY
GEOGRAPHY 201: POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY
SPRING 2005
PROFESSOR: SAL DIMARIA OFFICE: TECHNICAL CENTER 209 TELEPHONE: 240-567-7596; E-MAIL: sal.dimaria@montgomerycollege.edu OFFICE HOURS:W, TH-12:00-1:30
TEXTS:(1) Glassner, Martin Ira, and Chuck Fahrer, Political Geography, 3rd. ed. (2) Rourke, John T., Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Issues in World Politics, 11th ed.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
This course will introduce students to the field of Political Geography, and will include topics such as States, colonialism, international relations, geopolitics, and migrations. By the end of the semester, students should have an understanding and appreciation of the diversity of political systems and their interrelationships; a basic understanding of the roles of boundaries, types of governments, economies, and other factors in tying countries together as well as separating them; and a sufficient background to understand and evaluate global developments, conflicts and problems.
CLASS PREPARATION
This class is an in-depth course in Political Geography, which means that while some topics are covered briefly, others are covered more comprehensively. Consequently, many new terms, definitions, and concepts will be introduced. There will be approximately 60 pages of reading per week. You should read the textbook chapters before we cover the scheduled topics. This will help prevent information overload and give you the background to what is being covered in class. It is extremely important to keep up with the readings. You will be expected to participate in discussions, especially on Fridays when we meet in a less formal, “debate” format.
I would like to stress one other point. Even if you have had a limited geography background, most likely you will not have any difficulty with the concepts introduced in this class. However, if you feel that some of the material is going over your head, see me early, so we can discuss it. Please don't wait until much of the term is over to start working on this problem.
ATTENDANCE AND WITHDRAWAL
Attendance is crucial, especially in a class in which discussion plays a key part. “Excessive absence” is defined by Montgomery College as one more absence than the number of classes per week during a fall or spring semester. Thus, for a Monday/Wednesday/Friday class, 4 absences are excessive. Attendance means coming on time and staying for the entire class period. I will be noting attendance and, except for extenuating circumstances (e.g., hospital stay, jury duty, etc.) may drop anyone who is repeatedly absent.
The official academic regulation for student withdrawal and for dropping students from a class reads as follows:
“Students who wish to withdraw from classes must do so formally. Proper procedures must be completed in the Office of Admissions, Records, and Registration or via the Web. The procedure for official withdrawal or dropping from classes requires the student to complete and process a “Change of Schedule” form, with the campus Office of Admissions, Records, and Registration within the scheduled time frame or via the Web. The student who fails to complete the official withdrawal process may receive grades of “F,” with academic restriction or suspension as a probable consequence. However, if an instructor wishes to drop a student who has stopped attending class, after a good faith effort has been made to contact the student, he/she may drop the student by submitting a “Change of Schedule” form to the Office of Admissions, Records, and Registration. Students who are dropped after the last day to withdraw using this procedure will receive an “F” for the course.
According to Academic Regulation 9.823, the student attendance policy states that students are expected to attend all class sessions. In cases involving excessive absences from class, the instructor may drop the student from the class resulting in a grade determined in accordance with Academic Regulation 9.645.
A course dropped on or before 20 percent of its duration will not be recorded on the student’s transcript. If a course is dropped after the completion of 20 percent of its duration and before the completion of 73 percent of its duration, the grade of "W" will be recorded. After the completion of 73 percent of a course, a grade of “F” will be recorded.”
The main point of all this is that DAILY ATTENDANCE IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!! In fact, it is the single most important factor in doing well in this (and any) class. Class time is NOT the time to make medical or other appointments. Book studying or note borrowing alone cannot substitute for class attendance. By being in class you are better able to understand the topics by hearing the presentations, participating in discussions, taking your own notes, and asking questions. I strongly encourage you to ask questions during class! If you don't understand something, please ask, or, at the very least, see me after class (office hours).
LATENESS AND RELATED POLICIES
I start my classes on time and expect everyone to be in class at the scheduled time for class to begin. Though lateness sometimes cannot be helped, repeated lateness is disrupting to the class and is unacceptable.
During class I request your attention and expect that you do not try to carry on a conversation with a classmate. Also, do not eat or drink during class. As a courtesy to everyone, please turn off pagers, phones, etc. before class begins.
STUDYING
Keep in mind that there is a great deal of information being presented, and the best way to learn it is to keep up with the readings and to review your notes every day after class. Please don't wait until just before an exam to begin studying. You simply won't be able to absorb all the material in one brief period of cramming.
Each of you has different methods of studying for exams, and, in general, you know what works best for you. However, let me offer some advice:
(1) The exams will be short answer-essay exams so, when studying for an exam, concentrate on the key concepts covered in class and in the texts. Since we will not be able to cover all the topics touched on in the textbook, exams will include questions from the assigned readings as well as class lectures and discussions.
(2) If you study with others, take turns explaining different topics to each other. You will find that there is no better way to learn something than to teach it to someone else!
ASSISTANCE FOR STUDENTS
Montgomery College offers a variety of counseling and academic assistance for any student who feels a need for some help. Some of the offices and facilities available for students include:
∙ Counseling- this includes personal, academic, career, transfer counseling, and help for international students. Contact the Counseling Center at (240)567-5063. You can also visit the Counseling Center in Room CB215.
∙ Learning Centers- The Reading and Writing Tutoring Center is designed for students who may need extra support, services, or tutoring in such areas as reading, writing, and language. Located in Humanities 002. Phone: (240)567-7401.
∙ Library- The MC Library, located in the Campus Tower building, has help available for students who are doing research or needing more information about a topic. See the Reference Librarian for help.
SPECIAL ACCOMODATIONS
If you need an accommodation due to a disability, please see me. A letter from Disability Support Services authorizing your accommodations will be needed. If you will need assistance in the event of an emergency evacuation, please inform the Disability Support Services at the beginning of the semester if you have not already done so. The Disability Support Services is located in the Counseling and Advising Building (CAB), Room 122. Telephone is 240-567-5058. The email is: dss@montgomerycollege.edu.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING
There will be a total of 500 points for the course, divided as follows:
(1) Two exams (midterm and final), worth 125 points each (see the syllabus for scheduled exam dates). Each exam will cover only the lecture and reading material after the previous exam. Exams will be weighted: your best score will be weighted 67%; your lowest exam will be weighted 33%. MAKEUP EXAMS WILL BE GIVEN ONLY FOR VALID REASONS (MEDICAL, OTHER EMERGENCY).
(2) A Term Paper, due Friday, April 29 (one week before the last day of classes), worth 100 points. A LATE TERM PAPER WILL BE PENALIZED 20 POINTS UP UNTIL THE LAST DAY OF CLASSES AND 50 POINTS THEREAFTER UP UNTIL THE FINAL EXAM. IT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AFTER THE FINAL EXAM.
(3) Presentation of debate issues during assigned discussion periods and submittal of a 500-800-word written summary of your arguments at that time, worth 75 points. IF YOU MISS THE PRESENTATION OF YOUR ASSIGNED DEBATE ISSUE YOU WILL LOSE 40 POINTS. YOU MUST STILL SUBMIT THE WRITTEN SUMMARY, HOWEVER, WITHIN TWO WEEKS OR LOSE THE OTHER 35 POINTS.
(4) Participation in a panel discussion, worth 25 points.
(5) Participation in class discussions, worth 50 points.
Since the course is worth 500 points, the final grade will be based on the following scale:
450-500 points (90-100%) = A 400-449 points (80-89%) = B 350-399 points (70-79%) = C 300-349 points (60-69%) = D under 300 points (< 60%) = F
Midterm grades will be based on points earned from the first exam, class participation, and a debate issue, if scheduled. A steady or dramatic improvement during the term (from one exam to the next) will help in borderline grade situations.
TENTATIVE LECTURE SCHEDULE
Note: Readings in Rourke (Taking Sides) will be determined during the first week of class. You will receive an updated schedule.
GEOGRAPHY 201: POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY
UPDATED LECTURE SCHEDULE
|
|
Send mail to
karl.reis@montgomerycollege.edu
with questions or comments about this web site.
|
