INSTRUCTOR:
 

Dr. Chuck Ziehr	(pronounced "Z-ear"), Professor of Geography
Office:	Broken Arrow Building C-153 and Tahlequah Seminary Hall 313
Office Hours:	11:00 a.m.- Noon, MTWTh in Broken Arrow, or by appointment
Phone:	(918) 456-5511 ext. 6129 (secretary in BA) or ext. 3525 (Tahlequah office)
Fax:	(918) 449-6146 (in BA) and (918) 458-2390 (in Tahlequah)
E-Mail:	ziehr@nsuok.edu
WWW:	http://arapaho.nsuok.edu/~ziehr/

 

COURSE TITLE AND NUMBER:	CLASS TIME & DAYS & PLACE:
GEOG 3253 - World Regional Geography	8:30 - 10:50 a.m. MTWThF, Broken Arrow C-239

PREREQUISITES:

None, but it is best to have had at least one course in geography (preferably GEOG 2243, Fundamentals of Geography)
 

CATALOG DESCRIPTION OF COURSE:

A general survey of the world regions including the geographic factors which underlie the basic strength of world powers.
 

COURSE PURPOSE:

The primary goal is to learn to gain an overview of the world's major regions from a spatial perspective. Since everything happens somewhere for reasons and with consequences, geography is essential to an informed understanding of the world and current events.  The course provides the geographic foundations to develop an informed world view of global events and regional situations.  Each region will be examined within five thematic contexts:  environmental geograpy, population and settlement, cultural coherence and diverstiy, geopolitical framework, and economic and social development.  Globalization amid diversity will be the major focus of the course.  Critical-thinking is stressed.  Students will need to master factual information and concepts and apply these to analyzing the world's regions and to understanding current world events.

EXPECTED COURSE OUTCOMES:

Each student will be expected to:

1. Develop a mental map of the location of major human and physical features of  the twelve major regions of the world: North America, Latin America, The Caribbean, Sub-Saharan Africa, Soutwest Asia and North Africa, Europe, The Russian Domain, Central Asia, East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia,  and Australia and Oceania.
 
2. Be able to place major global, current events into a locational context in order to gain insight into the interrelationships that exist among people, cultures, countries, economies, and the environment.
 
3. Acquire skills in utilizing maps as analytical tools.
 
4. Apply a geographic perspective and critical thinking skills to problems in environmental geograpy, population and settlement, cultural coherence and diverstiy, geopolitical framework, and economic and social development in the context of major world regions.
 

1. Rowntree, L.; Lewis, M.; Price, M; and Wyckoff, W.  Diversity Amid Globalization: World Regions, Environment, Development, 2nd Edition.  Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, Pearson Education, Inc., 2003  (CD-ROM included in textbook).
   The textbook is available at the NSU bookstore in Broken Arrow.
   
   
2. Six SCANTRON Form 882 grading forms (answer sheets) and a #2 lead pencil.
   
   
3. An up-to-date atlas would be very helpful, but the student may use one of the variety of atlases in the library rather than purchase one.
   

The pedagogic strategies employed in the course include in-class lecture and discussion; assigned readings in the textbook; place location practice using printed and WWW-based maps; in-class reflective writing exercises; data gathering and analysis using the WWW and printed sources; in-class, group problem-solving; interactive, on-line practice exams; interactive modules on the WWW and CD-ROM; and in-class videos. Students are encouraged to contact the instructor for personal assistance as needed. Students are also encouraged to work and study in pairs and groups outside of class. Please refer to the on-line material entitled "Academic Success Strategies" for additional specific suggestions for how to succeed in this course; it can be accessed at <http://arapaho.nsuok.edu/~ziehr/courses/geog3253/success-geog3253.html>.  Students should obtain their "first exposure" to the conceptual content of the course by reading the textbook before coming to class.  While some content will be introduced and/or reviewed in class lectures, much of the in-class time will be spent "processing" the conceptual information via discussion, analysis, and practical applications.

This course can be categorized as "web-enhanced." A significant amount of supporting material has been developed and/or located and placed or linked on the worldwide web (WWW). Several entries can be found on the class home page under three main headings: Assignments, Communication, and Study Suggestions. Students MUST use this web-based material in completing this course. The WWW address (URL) of the home page for this course is <http://arapaho.nsuok.edu/~ziehr/courses/geog3253/>. For instructions on how to use e-mail and the WWW please refer to the document entitled "Using E-mail and the WWW in GEOG 2243," (I know this is GEOG 3253, but the e-mail instructions will apply); it can be found online at <http://arapaho.nsuok.edu/~ziehr/courses/geog2243/using-email-and-www.html>.

1. Diversity Amid Globalization--Introduction (Week 1), Chapter 1
   
 
2. The Changing Global Environment (Week 1), Chapter 2
   
 
3. North America (Week 1), Chapter 3
   
 
4. Latin America (Week 2), Chapter 4
   
   EXAM 1, Tuesday, May 20, 2003 (first hour of class)
   
 
5. The Caribbean (Week 2), Chapter 5
   
 
6. Sub-Saharan Africa (Week 2), Chapter 6
 
7. Southwest Asia and North Africa (Week 2), Chapter 7
  
8. Europe (Week 3), Chapter 8
 
9. The Russian Domain (Week 3), Chapter 9
   
   EXAM 2, Thursday, May 29, 2003 (first hour of class)
   
 
10. Central Asia (Week 3), Chapter 10
 
11. East Asia (Week 4), Chapter 11
    
    
12. South Asia, (Week 4), Chapter 12
    
    
13. Southeast Asia, (Week 4), Chapter 13
    
    
14. Australia and Oceania, (Week 4), Chapter 14
    
 
EXAM 3 (Final Exam), Friday, June 6, 2003, 8:30 a.m.

STUDENT PERFORMANCE ACTIVITIES: (Attendance/Punctuality)

Class attendance and participation are essential to your success in this course. A four-week intersession class goes very quickly.  Each class period is equivalent to 2.5 class periods in a normal semester (MWF sequence).  If you miss a class, borrow a classmate's notes, review the textbook, check the material on the CD-ROM, and the class websites (instructor's and textbook's websites).
 

ASSIGNMENT DUE DATES: 

1. E-mail Assignment; submit "student information" via e-mail (see course webpage for details); Wednesday, May 14, by 5 p.m.
 
2. Map Quiz #1; map quiz over the first locations list (see WWW); Friday, May 16 (first 30 minutes).
 
3. Exam 1; covers lectures/discussions, handouts, WWW and CD-ROM material, and chapters 1 through 4; Tuesday, May 20 (first hour of class).


4. Map Quiz #2; map quiz over the second locations list (see WWW); Friday, May 23 (first 30 minutes).
 
5. Memorial Day Break; no class; Monday, May 26.
 
6. Exam 2; covers lectures/discussions, handouts, and WWW and CD-ROM material since Exam 1, and chapters 5 through 9; Thursday, May 29.
 
7. Map Quiz #3; map quiz over the third locations list (see WWW); Tuesday, June 3 (first 30 minutes).
   
   
8. Country Report; written report over your selected country (see course webpage for details);  Thursday, June 5, 8:30 a.m.
   
   
9. Exam 3 (final exam); covers lectures/discussions, handouts, and WWW and CD-ROM material since Exam 2, and chapters 10 through 14; Friday, June 6, 8:30 a.m.
   
   
10. Make-up exams and quizzes; (see note below* for details); Friday, June 6, 9:45 a.m. (following Exam 3)

STUDENT EVALUATION:

Evaluation Instruments: There will be three exams (including the final which is NOT comprehensive), three location quizzes, an e-mail assignment, and one written country report. Exams tend to emphasize the material covered in class lectures/discussions to a greater extent (about 60%) than material covered only in the text (about 40%). The exams will have 50 multiple-choice questions (1.7 points each; 85 points combined) and one current event essay question (15 points).  The current event essay questions will come from the current events that are discussed in class. You will need to supply your own machine-readable answer sheet (SCANTRON Form 882) for each exam, and the three map (locations) quizzes.  Following instructions carefully on each evaluation instrument is very important; points will be deducted for not following instructions. Exams, quizzes, and country report must be completed at the scheduled times unless you have an excusable absence. If you miss an assignment you MUST provide me with a note via E-MAIL explaining your absence. You must send me the note within two days of your absence; otherwise you will NOT be permitted to make-up the assignment. ALL MAKE-UP EXAMS AND MAP QUIZZES MUST BE TAKEN ON THE MAKE-UP DATE (JUNE 6 AT 9:45 A.M.).ALL make-up exams will be completely essay-type; map quiz make-ups will be similar in form to the original map quizzes.

Grades: The three exams are worth 100 points each. The three location (map) quizzes are worth 25 points each. The country report is worth 50 points each. Completing a student information form via electronic mail (the e-mail assignment) is worth 15 points. This gives a total of 440 points possible. Your grade on the three exams will be "scaled or curved" according to the highest score on each exam (but in no case will the scale be based on a score lower than 85). For example, if you scored 72 on an exam and the highest score was 90, then 72/90 = 80 would be your grade on that exam. There is no "curve" on the map quizzes or the country report or the make-ups. No grades will be given out by phone or e-mail.  Plagiarism is dishonest, unprofessional, and unacceptable.  Plagiarism on any assignment will result in a zero grade for that assignment; see <http://ollie.dcccd.edu/library/Module4/M4-VII/plagar.htm> for tips on avoiding plagiarism.

Grading Scale: 90-100% = A, 80-89.99% = B, 70-79.99% = C, 60-69.99% = D, 0-59.99% = F.  Given that the exams are curved and that 15 points are obtained by simply completing an information form, no adjustments will be made to anyone's grade after the final exam has been taken (and any make-up exams or quizzes). The grading scale is rigid and will be used for everyone. You must meet these standards.  I strongly suggest that you read and follow the suggestions given in Academic Success Strategies on the class web page.
 

ADA COMPLIANCE:

If any member of the class feels that he/she has a disability and needs special accommodations, please advise the instructor of such disability at the first class attended.
 

INCLEMENT WEATHER / DISASTER POLICY:

The following are basic premises for the inclement weather policy at NSU:

1. Classes are expected to be held if at all possible.
2. It is the student's responsibility to receive the information when weather is questionable.
3. Neither students nor faculty are expected to risk life or limb.
4. Faculty members are obligated to hold classes if the University is not closed, unless the faculty member is unable to get to campus.

The following media will be notified regarding closing of the campus:
 

The automated attendant message on 918-456-5511 will be modified to include information concerning campus operations during inclement weather.