INSTRUCTOR: Julie M Johannes
OFFICE:  Holmstedt  23-D (lower level of building) 
PHONE:  (office) 237-3197; (dept) 237-2444 
MAIL: Dept. of Geography, Geology & Anthropology, Science 159 (the assistant will help you) 
OFFICE HOURS: MW 2:00 - 3:00 or by appointment 
E-MAIL:  gejjohan@scifac.indstate.edu 
If there is a problem with the server, use: juliejohannes@hotmail.com

COURSE DESCRIPTION: World Regional Geography is designed to give you a better understanding of the geography of the world today. Through examining aspects of geography, such as physical, political, economic, cultural, environmental, we will study the distinct features of various regions of the world. Key aspects of interest include globalization, current affairs, development, international security, and human impact on the environment. This course also focuses on the development of geographic skills:  research and processing of geographic data via Internet and other sources, spatial analysis (e.g., analysis of maps, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) products and basic satellite imagery), formulation of ideas and opinions, and theoretical application of knowledge and geographic methods and tools to decision-making situations. 

REQUIRED TEXT:  World Regional Geography: the New Global Order by Michael Bradshaw. Second Edition. This is, unfortunately, an expensive book. Get your money’s worth out of it!

ADDITIONAL READINGS: Occasional additional readings will be provided. These will be handed out in class. They will provide additional insight or an alternate viewpoint to material covered or they may be assigned in lieu of parts of the text. 

IN-CLASS VIDEOS: We will watch several videos during the semester. These will supplement the readings, lectures and class work, and will provide visual insight into the regions studied. 

GROUP WORK: The class will be organized into formal groups of approximately 4-5 students for the duration of the semester. Throughout the semester groups will work on analysis projects and Internet research assignments. At times, students will additionally be asked to do class tasks in other groupings. Group work is intended to help you to meet other students, to provide the right environment for critical discussion of the subject material, and to gain insight from each other. A good way to tell if you understand something or not is to try to explain it to someone else; your work together will allow you that opportunity. This is also the place to kick around ideas, hear different opinions and viewpoints and get positive feedback. 

INTERNET RESEARCH: Group and individual Internet research assignments will be given throughout the semester. These will supplement readings and lecture and will allow you to look deeper into topics or issues that interest you. 

SPATIAL ANALYSIS EXERCISES: There will be several in-class exercises that involve analysis of maps, GIS, satellite imagery and other geographic data. These are designed to develop geographic analysis skills and reinforce understanding of the material. 

TERM PAPER: Students will be required to research and write a 5-page term paper for this course. This paper will be on a geographic subject of interest and will be peer-evaluated and re-edited before submission. 

SHORT INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENTS: Throughout the semester you will be asked to submit short journal entries. These will generally be opinion pieces concerning current affairs. These are intended to give me an idea of how you are progressing individually.

*** If you have questions about an assignment, please contact me and ask for clarification and/or help.  You can also query classmates by asking questions on the GEO330 Discussion List. 

QUIZZES and EXAMS:  There will be periodic quizzes covering the readings, lectures and other related material (videos, presentations, etc.).  There will be four exams.  The final will not be comprehensive but will require knowledge of basic concepts and terminology from earlier in the class. 

COURSE GRADING: 

Exams	60% (4x 15%)
Group Work	25%
Term Paper	8%
Individual Work and Quizzes	7%

 
GRADING SCALE:

A	90% and higher
B+	85 – 89%
B	80 – 84%
C+	75 – 79%
C	70 – 74%
D+	65 – 69%
D	60 – 64%
F	Under 60%

 
ATTENDANCE:  You are responsible for your attendance.  Although there is no formal grade for attendance, this course involves a lot of material crammed into a short period of time (though it may seem interminably long right now).  If you know you will be absent and cannot attend class, please notify a team member, me (phone, email, carrier pigeon) or the geography department (see info above) before class so we can make arrangements to make up the work. If you have to miss a quiz, a presentation you are supposed to give or an exam, you must contact me. If you do not notify me or my department in advance that you cannot attend a quiz, test, special project, etc., I am under no obligation to allow you to make it up. 

LATE WORK:  Due to the pace of the class, it is important to stay current with your readings, assignments and group work.  Points will be deducted from late work at my discretion.  I will maintain deadlines and limit late turn-ins so that students can stay caught up in their work and in order to be fair to others who may have made personal sacrifices to hand in an assignment on time.  However, I want you to contact me if you are having trouble or if there is a conflict. When in doubt, please talk to me.