GEOG 305-502
Dr. Erik Prout, Visiting Assistant Professor
Texas A&M University, Spring 2007
(these exam dates / due dates cannot
be missed unexcusedly)
|
Evaluation |
Possible Points |
Mean Points |
Your Points |
| First Exam (2/5) (download test portion from e-learning) |
100 |
88 |
|
|
250 |
177 |
|
|
|
250 |
184 |
||
| Hometown Projects (4/16) | 100 |
95 |
|
| Attendance Quizzes |
50 |
50 |
|
|
250 |
189 |
|
|
|
TOTAL |
=1000 |
791 |
|
Learning Resources (Maps and Readings)
SYLLABUS
Dr. Erik Prout
Visiting Assistant Professor
Office Hours:
Monday 1500-1700
Thursday 1500-1700
Office: CSA 301-C (Teague Annex)
Office Phone # 458-3379 (Department office and emergency messages 845-7141)
COURSE:
Geog 305/502
Lecture format for three credits
Class meets every M between 1800 and 2100
Class meets in the HECC 207
Website: http://geog.tamu.edu/~prout
Statement:
The successful outcome of
this course, which is my goal, is to (1) facilitate your understanding of the
various cultural and ecological contexts found in Texas, (2) increase your
knowledge and proficiency in Texan place-names and regions including their relative
locations, (3) develop a dialogue of Texas in regards to landscape &
representation, and (4) convey the importance of intellectual pursuits that
construct geographical places, regions, and ideas.
Requirements:
There are no prerequisites
for this course, so there is no presumption of prior geographical study. However,
it is an upper-level course that assumes a sophisticated level of reading
comprehension, note-taking, and study habits on your part. I assume all
university students are capable and willing to learn, and I will help you
become a better student if you ask. You must take responsibility for your
learning by attending lectures, completing assignments, reading textbooks, and
above all else evaluating your own learning and trying to improve. I highly
recommend you form a small study group as soon as possible. One feature of a
geography course that differs from other university courses is the need to use
atlases and maps; be prepared for memorization of geographical features (both
human and physical such as cities, landforms, and culture regions) and their
locations on different maps of
RESOURCES
& ATTENDANCE: You will need to have regular internet access for
communication and out-of-class learning: NEO, E-Learning (WebCT), E-Reserve,
and MediaMatrix. The
The following resources will be REQUIRED to
successfully pass this course.
1. Access
to internet/web:
Electronic
Reserve. (Evans Library website or in person on 2nd floor)
Contains chapters and
articles by various geographers.
NEO & WebCT
(for official email and evaluation results)
Mediamatrix
(video clips with Real Player from EdMS in Evans Annex)
2. Texas Almanac, 2006-07 edition. DMN & TAMU Press, 2005. {ISBN# 0-914511-38-6}.
3. Historical Atlas of
4. Geo-Texas: A Guide to the Earth Sciences. Eric R. Swanson. TAMU Press, 1995. {ISBN#
0-89096-682-6}.
5. Fourteen large
gray scantrons & soft lead pencil.
6. Maps
of
Evaluation
/ Grading:
I use a total point scheme for grading. Every examination and exercise has a set value of points, and the final grade is determined from the total number of points accumulated. The primary sources of points are the exams: the two midterm exams and final exam are worth 250 points each. The First Exam is a take-home evaluation that includes both an atlas exercise and a test of introductory topics (100 points). The “Hometown Project” is worth 100 points and students complete a survey and choose between different themes to elaborate. To reinforce good learning habits, weekly quizzes are used to monitor attendance and encourage studying ahead.
The exams will be electronically graded; therefore you will need to bring the appropriate scantron on examination day (large gray type). A note on electronically scanned grading: you are responsible for providing a scantron that is free of folds, rips, or any deformity that prevents it from running through the machine.
The
final grade is based on the total points and ranking of your points, not the
percentage of points. There is no rounding up of points. For a large class
section, 900/800/700/600 of the possible 1000 points can be used as an
approximate guide for A/B/C/D thresholds. I reserve the right to modify the
thresholds after evaluating the entire class and the point distribution.
Excused
absences are by university policy! Any examination date or due-date missed is a
tentative zero (see schedule). Exam day emergencies require immediate
notification (a phone call to me, the Department of Geography, or an
appropriate university official) and written verification of emergency
promptly to my office. Alternative evaluations may be essay oriented at my
discretion.
Classroom Policies:
I
have high expectations of my students because we are in a learning environment and
we should set high goals and standards. I commit myself to enforcing high
expectations; here are a few key points.
Conducive learning environment is foremost: You must minimize the distractions especially
unnecessary noise because it interferes with others ability to hear me.
Discretely let me know if the screen is out of focus or if my voice is too low.
I will try to project my voice and I will pester those who waste our class
time.
--- Late arrivals and early departures should be
extreme situations; disruptive behavior of any sort is wrong. Let me know if
you have a circumstance that necessitates frequent disruptions; take
responsibility to sit in the least disruptive seat (exit the rear door).
--- Food & drink are okay with me, but smells,
crunches, and wrappers are not; the university policy is to not allow food and
tobacco in all lecture halls. Pack your trash out of the room including
newspapers; this room is used the rest of the day by other students so leave it
clean.
--- Turn off your cell phone (or at least the audible
ringer) before you enter the lecture hall. Do not answer your phone inside a
lecture hall or any other classroom.
• Academic Integrity Statement:
I will not tolerate any form of dishonesty (personal and academic). The Aggie Honor Code is:
"An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal or tolerate those who do."
the Aggie Honor Code and Honor Council Rules and Procedures on the web at http://www.tamu.edu/aggiehonor . As commonly defined, plagiarism consists of passing off as one's own the ideas, words, writings, etc., which belong to another. In accordance with this definition, you are committing plagiarism if you copy the work of another person and turn it in as your own, even if you should have the permission of that person. Plagiarism is one of the worst academic sins, for the plagiarist destroys the trust among colleagues without which research cannot be safely communicated.
Simply put, do not do it! On evaluation days, bring ID card and only what is necessary. Instead of devising ways to cheat or plagiarize, devote that time to studying. If you have questions concerning integrity, honesty, and plagiarism, ask me—ask someone.
• Questions:
YES, ask questions. Be inquisitive. The best questions start with why, where,
or who. If you are curious or unsure, probably others in class are thinking the
same thing. I will respond. Please communicate with me; I realize this is a
very large lecture section so if you are hesitant to ask questions in front of
everyone, at least ask after class or during office hours.
• Communication/Office Hours: I try to return phone calls and emails in a timely
manner and I do my best to keep office hours. When emailing me, please write
out your name and exact course inside the message as well as filling in the
subject line. Remember, serious communication should be in person.
• FERPA/grade disclosure: All personal information concerning your
performance/grade in this course is covered by federal privacy legislation. No
grades or status questions will be addressed over the telephone or by email.
•
• Copyrights: All course material is copyrighted.
Taping and reproducing of course material for other than personal use will be
regarded as copyright infringement and referred to the University lawyers for
action. Before tape recording, ask me first. Professional note-takers must be
enrolled in this course (university policy) and receive my permission prior to
any commercial transaction involving course notes (state law).
• Night Course:
The nature of the course is different and you cannot succeed if you cannot make
every class. You enrolled for this night course; take responsibility for being
successful.
Some advice, suggestions, and observations
of common misconceptions I’ve noticed at TAMU.
1. Rule of thumb on TIME: for every hour of lecture, you
should anticipate 2-3 hours of study time outside of class. Therefore, a three
unit lecture implies an average commitment of ten hours a week. That is why 12
units is called full time. Obviously, certain weeks require more time than
others, but you should be spending a minimum of 1-2 hours reviewing each week.
Then of course, you need to plan for much more time when tests and due dates
come around.
• Don’t claim you study enough if
you’re not putting in over 5 hours a week. Likewise, don’t claim you study hard
if you’re not putting in over 10 hours a week. Many students claim to study “a
lot” but do they study enough? More importantly, are students studying effectively?
• Study hard but balance your time
with those things that make you happy, healthy, and/or proud to be an Aggie. There
are numerous activities to occupy your time (both university excused and pure distraction),
but in the end, I evaluate your academics, not your spirit.
2. The essence of an educated person
is LITERACY.
University studies require a high level of reading and writing. Reading a
textbook is a rite of passage—yes they are boring and fact laden—deal with it.
• Read, read, and read. Not all
material can be covered and elaborated on during lecture; textbooks and
readings are an essential component of higher education. On occasion, students
ask me about how to do better on the next test, and when asked, they confess
they did not read the textbook. There is no excuse for not reading.
• Texas A&M is a top-notch
university! A colleague of mine likes to say, A&M is the big leagues. The
value of a university degree is related to how difficult it is to obtain; TAMU
is a special place with high standards. Not everyone can get here nor can every
person succeed here.
3. Student—faculty interactions. The atmosphere on our campus is
generally very good, but students should be aware of how academic rank and
distinguished titles work.
• Titles: “Doctor” is appropriate
for anyone with a Ph.D. as well as M.D. (it is an honorary title that comes
with the highest educational degree). Not all instructors have Ph.D’s but most
everyone at TAMU does, so error on the side of using Dr. instead of
Mr./Mrs./Ms. etc. “Professor” is a title associated with an appointed position
(at a University and usually exclusive to having a doctorate).
• Salutations: “Howdy” is a common
and friendly greeting in Aggieland. Not all professors are howdy people, but I
personally like it and use it. Know who you are addressing and don’t mistakenly
insult them. When emailing or calling me, Howdy Dr. Prout is a perfect
salutation.