Universityofflorida, Departmentofgeography

INTRODUCTIONTOHUMANGEOGRAPHY

UniversityofFlorida, DepartmentofGeography

GEO 2420, Section 1E70

Fall 2017, 3 Credits

OnlineClass

Professor:HeidiLannon, Ph. D.

ClassTime:ONLINECLASS

Office: Turlington 3203

Phone: (352) 392-0494

E-Mail:

OfficeHours:Thursday - 10:45 to 12:45, Additionalofficehoursbyappointment.

E-mailwillberespondedtowithin 24 hoursonweekdaysonly

GraduateTeachingAssistant:AkhilKshirsager, M. D., MPH

TeachingAssistantOfficeHours:TBD, Turlington3126B

DepartmentofGeography’sMainOfficeLocation: TUR 3141

ForquestionsortoinquireaboutmajoringinGeography, pleasecontacttheUndergraduateCoordinator: Dr. LiangMao, Ph.D., AssociateProfessorEmail: Telephone: (352) 294-7502

Websiteinformation:

GeographicCoordinates: 82.34312 WestLongitude, 29.64990 NorthLatitude

Description

This class will introduce the student to the geographic characteristicsthathaveinfluenced contemporary societies. Societal norms and paradigms will be investigated within a spatial context. Similarities and differences in various cultures will be investigated, including race, ethnicity, religious affiliation, linguistic; demographic; organizational characteristics, and spatial distributions.

UniversityCatalogDescription: Introducesculturalgeographywithanemphasisuponthedevelopmentandspatialarrangementofthemajorsocietiesofthemodernworld. (Source:

NOTE: ThiscoursefulfillstheGeneralEducationRequirementforInternational (N) andSocialandBehavioralSciences (S).

ClassObjectives

Students should anticipate developing an understanding of the approaches used by human geographers to identify and analyze literature, traditions, and theories dealing with human-environment relationships. Cultural variables of humans and their impacts on the environment will be the theme of the course. Variables such as population, languages, economic activities, settlement patterns, agriculture, urban configuration, and human impacts on the natural environmentwillbeinvestigated. Students should be able to develop an awareness of how human andculturalgeographic concepts apply to, and have influenced their own lives.

ThisclasswillNOTbeaboutmapsandcapitalcities. Mygoalistoinstillanabilitytothinkgeographically, ratherthantherequirementtomemorizeinformation. Whilethiscourseisbyitsnature factbased, the assignmentsare been designed to develop the following importantskills: (1) critical thinking; (2) written and verbal communication; (3) evaluation and criticism; and (4) applicationofknowledge. Eachassignmentandexaminationwillprovideanopportunityforastudenttodemonstratecreativityinappliedgeography. Theexaminationduringthesemesterwillrequiregeographicinterpretation, notmapannotation. Thequizzesandthefinalexaminationwillbeinmultiple-choiceformat.

CLASSEXPECTATIONS

ThisinanOnlineClass. IfyouarereadingthisyouhavealreadymasteredtheessentialsoftheLearningManagementSystem (Canvas). IexpectyoutochecktheLearningManagementSystem (Canvas)formessagesandcontentatleast 3 timesaweek. Isuggestyouconductyourselfonlineasyouwouldinperson. Tothatend, itmayhelpifyouassignyourselfregulartimeseachweektoreviewthelectures, takequizzesandpostdiscussionitems. Thisisa 3_creditclasstobecompletedwithina 6 weeksemester. Youshouldanticipateittoberigorousandspendconsiderabletimeperweekreviewinglectures, takingnotes, readingthetextandtakingquizzes. Inaddition,youshouldanticipatetimeneededtobespentonhomework, includingthejournalreviewanddiscussion, discussionpoststotheclass, quizreview, andpreparationfortheexamandthefinal. Oneoftheadvantagesoftakinganonlineclassisthatyoudonotneedtoarriveontimeorworryaboutturningoffyourcellphone. HOWEVER, Isuggestthatwhenyouarereviewingthelecturesyouremoveallotherdistractions, suchascellphones, socialmedia,thetelevision, etc. IencouragetalkinginclassesthatIteachinperson, andyoushouldusethediscussionformatto “talk” toyouclasspeers. Iwillmonitorthediscussions, butifyouneedtocontactme, pleasedonotusethediscussionboard. Yourdecisiontosignupforthisclassisvoluntary, soIanticipateyouarewillingtodoasubstantialamountofselfdirectedwork. YoumaycontactmethroughtheLearningManagementSystem (Canvas) (preferred) orbye-mail.Telephonemessagesmaynotbereceivedpromptly. IwillendeavortorespondtotheLearningManagementSystem (Canvas) within 24 hoursonweekdays. Toexcelinthisclassyoushouldmakeaconsciousdecisiontocompletethelevelofparticipationoutlinedabove. Pleasebeawarethatrespectforyourpeersonline, asitwouldbeinperson, isrequired. This syllabus is a contract between you and your faculty member.

COURSEOUTCOMES

Atthecompletionofthiscourse, studentsshouldbeableto: 1) understandandcommunicatethegeographiclanguageofspatialrelationshipsandspatialorganizationinthecontextofhumanactivities; 2) relatetheoreticalspatialapplicationstoreal-lifesituations; 3) gainawarenessofhuman-environmentinteractions; and 4) enhancecriticallythinkingaboutcurrentissuesofgeographicalrelevance.

Required

• GoodAttitudeandwillingnesstoworkindependently.
• ReliableInternetaccess. YoushouldnotuseInternetissuesasareasonforincompleteassignments. AccesstotheInternetatappropriatetimesisessentialinanonlineclass. Allassignmentsareopenformorethan 24 hours. Donotwaituntilthelastminute.
• ThetextforthisclassisFellmann, J. D., Getis, A., Getis, J., (2010) “HumanGeography, LandscapesofHumanActivities,” EleventhorTwelfthEdition, McGraw-HillCompaniesInc. NY, NY, 514 pp. IsuggestthattheonlineaspectofthisclassmakessecuringANDREADINGthetextessentialassoonasthesemesterbegins. ItisavailableattheBookstore, butyoumaypurchaseitfromanysource. Oldereditionsarealsoacceptable. TherewillbeacopyintheMarstenScienceLibraryCampusonreserve.

STUDENT EVALUATION

AssignmentDetails

DONOTPOSTASSIGNMENTSUSINGTHECANVASAPONYOURPHONE

Assignment 1a – SyllabusReview (3% ofyourgrade). UnderModulesforthefirstweekofclass. ThisSyllabusReviewisintheformofamultiple-choicequiz. YouwillneedtoreviewthesyllabusandIntroductionslidespriortoattemptingthisassignment. ThisAssignmentisdueby 5 pmonFriday, attheendofthefirstweekofclass, asshownonthecoursecalendarintheLearningManagementSystem (Canvas).

Assignment 1b - Introduction (3% ofyourgrade). Pleasefindthedetailsattheendofthissyllabus, andalsoinAssignments, underModules. Thisassignmentisyourintroductionofyourself, yourexpectationsandyourexperiences, tome. ThisAssignmentisdueby 5 pmonFriday, attheendofthesecondweekofclass, asshownonthecoursecalendarintheLearningManagementSystem (Canvas). YoumustpostthisinCanvas. PleasemakesureyouattachtheAssignmentandthephoto.

Assignment 2 - JournalArticleReview (15% ofyourgrade, submissionofarticles 3%, writtenwork12% ofyourgrade). YoushouldfindatopicinculturalGeographythatinterestsyouandselect3articlesfromdifferentScholarlyjournals. Thesearejournalsinwhichmaterialsubmittedispeerreviewedpriortopublication. AlistofsuggestedsuitablejournalsisintheAssignment 2 folder. PleaseusetheresourcesoftheUniversityofFloridaLibraries, particularlytheElectronicDatabases. Ifyouareunsurehowtousethese, pleasecontacttheReferenceDeskattheNorthwestCampusLibrary. Youshouldsendmea .pdfofthearticles, ortheAPAreferencesandgetmyapprovalpriortostartingtheproject. Pleasesubmityourarticles (in .pdfformatortheAPAreferences) forapproval. DoNOTsendalinktoyourlibrarysearch. EachElectronicdatabasesearchisindividual, andcannotbeaccessed, ifyousendalinktoit. Thedeadlinetopostthecompletedreviewisshownonthesyllabusbelow. YoushouldwritethearticleTitleandAPAreferenceatthetopofyouranalysis.

Inyourreview,youshouldanswerthefollowingquestions:

• Whydidyoupickthistopicandhowdothearticleslinktogether?
• Whyaspectsofculturalgeographydothearticlesaddress? (Language, ethnicity, spatialdistribution, humanimpactontheenvironment, etc.)
• Outlinethemethodologyineacharticle (3 paragraphs)
• Whatwasthemainfinding (theabstractusuallyoutlinesthis)?
• Listatermorconceptthatyoudidnotpreviouslyknow.
• Whatpracticalapplicationsdoes the researchineacharticlehaveinthe “real” world?
• Whatwouldyouhavedonedifferently?
• Whatpotentialforfurtherresearchisthere (thisisoftensummarizedattheendofthearticle)
• Whatparticularquestiondoesthisresearchraiseinyourmind? Pleasebeprovocative, butappropriate. Thisquestionwillprovideapromptforyourpeersintheirdiscussionposts.

Youmustsubmitproposedarticlesforapprovalbythedateshownonthecoursecalendar. PleaseturnthisassignmentintotheLearningManagementSystem (Canvas). Theassignmentshouldbeinacademicstyleandnotjustaddressthebulletsaboveasalistandshouldbecomprehensive. Thereisnowordlengthforthisassignment, butthewrittenworkshouldbecomprehensiveasthearticleselection, draftandwrittenworkareworth 15% ofyourgrade.

Assignment 3 - MappingAnalysisAssignments (24% ofyourgrade, 12 % each).WewillbeusingQGISonlinetoanalyzeHumanGeographytopics. Youshouldanticipatepreparing2assignmentsusingthetoolsandinstructionsprovided. Instructionsarecomprehensiveanddatasourcesareprovided. Theobjectiveistodemonstratespatialanalysistechniques.

Quizzes(25% ofyourgrade, 5 % each). Therewillbeashort, multiplechoicequizzesof 10 questionsafterevery 2 or 3 Chapters. Youwillhave 30 minutestocompleteeachquiz. ThequizwillbeopenfromWednesdayat 8 amoftheweekshownbelowuntilFridayat 5 pm. Youmaytakeitatanypointbetweenthosetimesandyouwillhave 1 attempt.

MidTermExamination (10% ofyourgrade). Theexaminationwillbeshortanswer, mapdescriptionandinterpretation. TheExaminationwillbegiventhroughtheLearningManagementSystem (Canvas) onthedateshownbelow. Itwillbeavailablefor 3 days, andyouwillhave 1 attempt. Theexamistimed.

FinalExamination (10% ofyourgrade). Thefinalexaminationwillbecomprehensive. Theexaminationwillbeinmultiple-choiceformat, andwillcontain 45 - 50 questions. TheFinalExaminationwillbegiventhroughtheLearningManagementSystem (Canvas). Itwillbeavailableonthedatesshownbelowandyouwillhave 1 attempt. Youwillhave 2 hourstocompletetheexamandsubmitit.

TheExaminationandFinalwillbegiventhroughtheLearningManagementSystem (Canvas). Theywillbeavailablefortheamountoftimeshownonthecoursecalendarandyouwillhave 1 attempt. Pleasemakeappropriatearrangementstoprepareforthis. The examinations do not need to be proctored. Ifyouhaveanyproblems, pleaseletmeknow. Itispossible (andhashappened!) thatImakeanerrorsettinguptheexam. TherewillbeNOmake-upexamsgivenexceptunderoutstandinganddocumentedcircumstances. Youmustprovideformaldocumentationthatdetailsyourinabilitytocompletetheexam. Afterreviewingthecircumstances,itwillbeuptothefacultymember’sdiscretiontodecideifanycreditcanbegainedforthemissedexam. Anymake-upworkwillbeintheformofa 6 page, singlespacedwritingassignment.

ClassParticipation (10% ofyourgrade). Classparticipationwillbeevaluatedbasedonyourdiscussionpostings. Youshouldmakeatleast 5postingstothediscussionboard. Yourfirstpostingshouldbeabriefintroductionofyourselftoyourpeers. Itshouldbeinsomethinglikethis: “MynameisHeidiLannon. IamafacultymemberattheUniversityofFloridaandhavebeenenrolledforthelast 3 semesters. Iammajoringingeographyandplantobeaveterinarian, orprofessionalbeachvolleyballplayer. Iamtakingthisclassbecauseitisrequired, Ireallylikegeographybetterthanhistoryandmyroommatetoldmethatitwasafunclass.” SubsequentpostingsshouldbeabouttheJournalArticlesthatyourpeerswillbereviewingorthecontentofthelectures. Youcouldrespondtoanotherstudent’squestion, orpostone. Forexample, youcouldaskme, andyourpeers, “IsRaceorEthnicityisaskedfirstinthedecennialCensus?” (TheanswerisEthnicity, andeveryonecountedisrecordedaseitherHispanic, orNon-Hispanic. WewilldiscussthiswhenweconsiderChapter 6.) Iexpectyourpostingstobesubstantialincontent - notjust “Yeah, Iagree.” Iwouldlikeyoutoplantorespondtoquestionsandcommentsaboutthearticlereviewsthatyoucomplete, andthiswillalsocountasaposting. Youwillposttothediscussionboardonthedatesshownonthesyllabus. Ifyouonlymake 5 postsorallpostsinthelastweekyouwillnotgetfullcredit. Pleasedonotexpectmetorespondtoallposts. Ifyouhaveaquestionforme, donotpostitontheDiscussionBoard.

Discussion Techniques

1. Listen to each other and learn a variety of perspectives upon which you can build your opinions in favor or against an issue.
2. Discussions should be focused. The Moseley text provides issues upon which we will base class discussion.
3. Connections between the various subdiscplines of Geography will enhance your ability to evaluate issues.
4. Insight from readings, supplemented by awareness of current events and connections to your personal interests or other classes will enhance your discussion skills.

Meetingdeadlinesmatters! Allassignmentsaredueontheduedateindicatedontheassignmentsheet. Lateassignmentswillbemarkeddownagradeforeachdaytheyarelate (i.e., fromanAtoaBforbeingadaylate). Adayisdefinedas 24 hoursandbeginsonthedayandtimethattheassignmentisdue.

Canvase-LearningSystem

Thisclasswillbeconductedusingthee-LearningSystem, Canvas. Thesyllabus, coursecalendar, readingmaterialsandresourceswillbeavailablethroughCanvas. AllassignmentsmustbepostedthroughCanvasunlessotherwiseinstructed. GradeswillbepostedinCanvas. ThebestmethodofcontactforDr. LannonisthroughCanvasemail. Pleaseconsult

Ifyouexperienceproblemswiththee-Learningsystem, suchaslog-inissues, pleasecontacttheUFComputingHelpDeskattheHub, 392-HELPforassistance.DoNOTwaituntilthelastminutetotakeanythingontheInternet. Thisisanonlineclass. AccesstotheInternetisrequired. Startanyassignmentwellinadvance. Ifthedeadlineis 5 pm, thequizorexamwillbeautomaticallysubmittedat 5 pm, regardlessofwhenyoustartedorhowfaryouhavemadeitthroughtheassignment.

Reading, WritingandLiteratureCitation

Lecturesandclassinformationwillbetakenfromthetextbookandothersources. Youareexpectedtokeepupwithyourreviewofthebook. Diagramsforthelecturesaretakenfromthetext, Fellmann, J. D., Getis, A., Getis, J., (2008) “HumanGeography, LandscapesofHumanActivities,” TenthorEleventhEdition, McGraw-HillCompaniesInc. NY, NY, 514 pp. Othersourceswillbereferencedastheyareused.

Inyourwork, Iexpectyoutociteanysourcesthatyouuse. Itissufficientunderanimageorafterworkattributedtoanauthor, touseLastNameandDate (Lannon, 2008). AfteradirectquotationyoushoulduseName, Date, PageNumber (Lannon, 2008, page 23). AttheendofyourJournalArticleReviewpleaseincludeaslidewiththecompletereferences. Anywrittenworkshouldcontainyoursourcesattheend. YoushoulduseAPAstandards. Ifyouareconsistent, andincludealltherelevantinformation (AuthorName, PublicationDate, ArticleorBookTitle, PublisherandLocation, NumberofPages, ifapplicable), Iwillbesatisfied.

If youhaveproblemswithgrammarandwritingstyle, or I suggest you may need help, IencourageyoutotakeyourdraftstotheWritingStudioandworkwiththeconsultantstoget helpinimprovingyourwork. All students areeligibletoutilizetheservices, whichareFREEofcharge. EvenstudentswhoearnAandBgradesarewelcomemakeanappointmentattheWritingStudio. One-on-oneassistanceandconsultationisavailable. ContactInformation: TheWritingStudio (withintheUniversityWritingProgram) 302 TigertHall (352) 846-1138

AcademicHonesty, RegulationsandtheHonorCode

Theverynatureofhighereducationrequiresthatstudentsadheretoacceptedstandardsofacademicintegrity. Detailsonstudentresponsibilitiesandregulationscanbeviewedat

Academicdishonesty (cheating) isnotacceptedinanyclassattheUniversityofFlorida. Thepracticeofanytypeofacademicdishonestywillresultinafailinggradefortheentireclass. Youwillfindmetobeaflexiblefacultymemberisallaspectsexceptacademichonesty.

AccommodationsforStudentswithDisabilities

IncompliancewithUniversityofFloridapolicyandequalaccesslaws, Iamavailabletodiscussappropriateacademicaccommodationsthatyoumayrequireasastudentwithadisability. YoumustberegisteredwithDisabilitiesResourceCenter (DRC) inReidHallfordisabilityverificationanddeterminationofreasonableacademicaccommodations. Requestsforacademicaccommodationsneedtobemadeduringthefirstweekofthesemester (exceptforunusualcircumstances) soarrangementscanbemade. Formoreinformation,

Other Services for Students

In some special circumstances (when documentation is not available, for instance), we may ask you to contact the Dean of Students Office: The Dean of Students Office: 202 Peabody Hall, PO Box 114075, Phone: (352) 392-1261. The Dean of Students is a resource, available to all students, when special circumstances arise that disrupts students’ abilities to maintain their academic standing.

Useful Links:

Student Right and Responsibilities:

Academic, Personal or Social Issues - University Counseling & Wellness Center: (352) 392-1575 (

Student Health Care Center - (352) 392-1161

University Police Department - (352) 392-1111 or dial 911 for emergencies.

Your well-being is important to the University of Florida. The U Matter, We Care initiative is committed to creating a culture of care on our campus by encouraging members of our community to look out for one another and to reach out for help. If you or a friend is in distress, please contact The U Matter, We Care Team can help connect students to the many other resources available including, but not limited to, Victim Advocates, Housing staff, and the Counseling and Wellness center. Please remember that asking for help is a sign of strength.

CourseEvaluation

YourTeachingAssistantandIwouldbegratefultoreceivefeedbackonthisclass. TheUniversityofFloridaprovidesyouwith 10 criteriawithwhichtoevaluatethequalityofinstruction. Feedbackcanbeprovidedonlineat 2 weeksofthesemester. Iamsincerelycommittedtoimprovingtheclassexperienceforyouandalwayslearnsomethingfromstudentfeedback.

THEINSTRUCTORRESERVESTHERIGHTTOALTERORMODIFYTHECONTENTCOVEREDANDTHESCHEDULEFORDUEDATESATANYTIMEDURINGTHESEMESTER.

GradingScale

NotetheGradingscaleisto 2 decimalplaces. AttheendofthesemesterdoNOTaskforextracredittomakeyourgradehigher. Thereareplentyofopportunitiesthroughoutthesemester.

Gradesareusedasatooltomeasureperformance. Toperformwellinthisclassthefollowingwillhelpyou: (1) attendclassregularly (2) takelecturenotesandsetasidetimetoreadthepertinentpartsofthetext (3) participateinallclassexercisesandassignments. Ifyouarenotdoingwellandhavestudied, read, andparticipatedinassignment, pleasee-mailmeorcomeandseeme – donotwaituntiltheendofthesemester.

ExtraCredit

ContainedwithincertainlecturesIwillbeprovidingextracreditforthefinalexam. Youshouldlookforthelimegreenboxes. IwillprovidecluestoaspecifictermorconceptonsuccessivePowerPointslides. Eachstudentwillhavetheopportunitytoidentifythetermandadd 5points(outof 100) extracredittothefinal. Youmayparticipateinthisopportunityasoftenasyoulike, butyoumakeonlygetcreditonce. OnceyouhavesuccessfullyidentifiedatermorconceptfromthecluesinthelecturepleasesendmeyouranswerinamessageontheLearningManagementSystem (Canvas) (Notthediscussionposts). Iwillkeeptrackofthosethatparticipateandtheextracredit.

TOPTENWAYSTODOWELLINTHISCLASS

1. Takenotesforeverylecture
2. Studythematerialfortheexaminations
3. Askquestionsifyoudonotunderstand - Nooneeverfailedbyaskingtoomanyquestions
4. Reviewyournotes
5. Makeanattemptoneveryquestionontheexaminations
6. MakepostingstotheDiscussionBoard
7. Completetheclassassignments
8. TurninassignmentstotheLearningManagementSystem (Canvas)
9. Participateandshareyourownexperiences
10. LearntoenjoyGeography - Itisuseful, fun, andcountstowardsyourGPA

CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY

GEO 2420

Course Outline

This schedule is subject to change and updates

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