Our approach, and how to succeed, and first assignments for Cultural Geography
81323 Fall 2009, David Unterman
Some of our topics are in the news and on people’s minds. You will get the knowledge base so you can discuss--at college level--questions like:
1. Will Moslems and Christians always be in conflict? Will Moslems ever have democracies?
2. How did our neighborhoods, cities, and suburbs get built the way they are? What are the strengths and weaknesses, and the costs of our residential styles? How will these costs, and our housing choices, change?
3. Are the living conditions of poor people getting better or worse?
Are differences between rich and poor getting more or less extreme, and how will these conditions and differences affect us here in the USA?
4. Why do some business leaders say it helps the US to take in more immigrants? What are the costs and the benefits for the host country receiving migrants? How do other modern countries handle this issue?
5. The USA is more and more dependent on international trade for many items, such as oil, clothing, and electronics. Who wins and who loses from these deals? How do they affect Americans--our job prospects, our prices?
None of these can be answered briefly. You will see them addressed in other college courses, in the media, and by our elected leaders. And you will come up with more good questions of your own. To succeed:
*The textbook readings are short, but not simple. Some may take a couple of readings and looking up vocabulary. When pages are listed alongside a date, that means you should arrive in class with some understanding of what you read. It’s fine if you have specific questions to clear up. If there’s a section that you find annoying, don’t give up totally–things usually improve.
*If there’s something you’re not getting, it helps everybody if you raise your hand. I can probably explain it another way. Any time--during lectures or films, looking at charts and maps, group activities, lab work--there’s usually time to explain and find local examples for the global topics.
*When we discuss something, let’s stay at a high level and back our opinions up with facts from a reputable source. The textbook is a good start.
*The textbook has “lab” activities, some featuring a computer. You don’t need computer skills. But we do have to think mathematically, at about eighth grade level or more. Each lab has questions that push you to “put it all together”. I will usually point out these key items. Even if you’re getting tired of the questions, slow down and reflect. To get top grades, do morethan just crunching numbers. Integrate ideas from our readings, lectures and movies, and use new vocabulary correctly.
*Be on time for tests. Makeups are NOT usually possible. Read the schedule carefully. Topical quizzes happen during class time. The map quizzes are done on your own time at the library, each in a 1-week window.
*Read all handouts as soon as possible. They may contain an assignment.
*One or 2 of the tests, but NOT ALL, will allow some open notes. So take plenty of notes–2 to 4 handwritten pages per class, when we are lecturing and watching video. Start by assuming everything I write on the board is important, then add more. Note taking--figuring what’s important and remembering-- are key parts of college. For a few harder topics I’ll provide an outline or summary, but in most of life, you don’t get powerpoint notes.
*Quizzes will include short essays where you explain WHY things happen.
7 quizzes, that’s about one every 4th meeting. After a 20 to 30 minute quiz, we start the next topic, so you have to read ahead. If you have one test score much lower than the others, I will drop it. The final quiz will include some “big ideas” from earlier in the semester.
*Everything is graded--labs, writing, in-class activities, discussion. Keep all returned homework, old handouts, whatever. You will also learn locations of over 200 countries and geographic features--straight visual memorizing.
We add it all up--90 to 100 percent is A, 80 to 89 is a B, 70 to 79 is a C, etc.
*Allow 2 to 6 hours per week outside of class for reading, studying, and short, structured writeups. Directions on the first will come within 2 weeks.
*Written assignments are due at the start of class on their due day.
Then we discuss the material. Being absent on the due day does NOT give you more time for the assignment, so if you haven’t done the writing, come to class anyway, hand it in later for a lower grade. If you can’t come in–email dunterman@sierracollege.edu or fax 272-5124 or hand your assignment to the registration window addressed to me.
If you are absent, get notes and assignments right away so you’ll be ready for the next class. During the first few days, please exchange phone numbers with 1 or more people. For major problems, call me at 272-4650. This includes problems bigger than having trouble with 1 or 2 questions, or missing one class. Most handouts and assignments will be posted online, though they may be less clear there. Details soon.
If you want to tell me something about your learning, test-taking, or other abilities, do it as soon as possible.
Phones, pagers, etc. should be both off and silent during class. If you need to get messages on a particular day, tell me ahead of time.
TEXT is “Human Geography in Action” by Kuby, Harner, and Gober, 4th edition 2007. If you are delayed getting the book, there is a 3rd edition on reserve at the Library under my name. Page numbers will not match exactly, but chapter numbers do match. If you go to read at the library right before class starts, that is probably not enough effort.
I have extra discs for those who get used books with no CD. If you hope to re-sell, don’t tear out pages. The CD lets you print those answer pages, or you can hand-write the answers.
A good ATLAS is recommended. Goode’s World Atlas, about 370 pages, is an excellent resource that you’ll use for years. Any edition 1998 or later is OK. If money is tight, allow extra time to use good atlases available in any school or public library. I provide blank maps for studying.
Another textbook is also at the library, “Introduction to Human Geography” by Rubenstein. It’s good, but longer. Spend time with it if you want more thorough explanations, or more graphics, or plan to major in geography or a related field.
First homework: email and tell your instructor:
*how to reach you by phone in case of snow or other disasters
*your college or career plans–please be more specific than “get a degree”.
*roughly how many college credits so far?
*have you visited any foreign countries yet? Doing what? How long?
*same questions, other parts of the USA?
*any particular concerns or needs?
This semester is the ideal time to get more aware of other parts of the US and the world. Ever have time to listen to the radio? 90.9 FM, 2 to 3 pm is excellent. 1 to 2 pm is also good, same station.
Do you spend any time online? To get better world understanding, here are places to start. We can share more ideas as we go along.
google news “world” section, or enter topics or countries that interest you
nytimes.com, “world” and “week in review” sections, also business
newsweek.com is good for international topics, especially economic.
ipsnews.net is very good on topics for this class.
allafrica.com [Africa and world news by Africans]
english.aljazeera.net [Mideast and world news by business oriented Arabs]
oneworld .net [nonprofits and NGOs. Check “read all of today’s headlines”]
Also: bbc .com afp .com csmonitor .com [a Boston newspaper]
Want to read ahead? Here’s the order we will follow
Unit 1: Making a living Kuby 9, 8, [6 lightly], 7 Rubenstein 11, 12, 10, 9
Unit 2: Places to live: Kuby 10, 11 Rub. 12, 13
Unit 3: How many of us and where? Kuby 5, 4, [3 lightly] Rub. 2, 3
Unit 4: How we’re linked and divided–ethnicity & culture Kuby 1 12 13
Rub. 4, 5, 6, 7 [good chapters], 8
Unit 5: Human impacts: Chap. 14 in both.
Chapters 4-7 in Rubenstein are especially useful for those going on in Geography or a social science or international field.
