GEOG 305-501
Dr. Erik Prout
Evaluations:
(these exam dates /
due dates cannot be missed unexcusedly)
|
Evaluation |
Possible Points |
Mean Points |
Your Points |
|
Atlas Exercise (2/7) |
50 |
43.09 |
|
|
Midterm One (2/19) |
250 |
173.68 |
|
|
Midterm Two (3/25) |
250 |
179.68 |
|
|
Landscape Projects (4/10) |
150 |
145.41 |
|
|
Final Exam (5/2) |
300 |
240.37 |
|
|
TOTAL |
=1000 |
781.85 |
|
GRADE BREAK-LINES: A - 860 - B - 775 - C - 665 - D - 550 -
F
GRADE DISTRIBUTION: 43 As / 83 Bs / 82 Cs / 15 Ds
/ 17 F/W/Qs
QUICK LINKS:
Learning Resources (Maps and Readings)
SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
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
305/501
Lecture format for three credits
Class meets every T/R between 1110 and 1225
Class meets in the HECC 108
Website: http://geog.tamu.edu/~prout
Statement:
Geography 305 is an introductory
course in regional geography that examines the cultural and physical geography
of
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 frequent need to use atlases and maps; be prepared for
memorization of geographical features (both human and physical such as cities
and rivers) and their locations on different maps of
RESOURCES & ATTENDANCE: The readings for Geography of Texas are numerous and diverse so a multitude of perspectives and ideas can be engaged. My intent is for students to read from different authors and types of writing. The primary reading for this course will be from a new textbook, and additional readings will come from a variety of sources. It is imperative that you keep up with the readings. You will need to have regular internet access for communication and out-of-class learning: NEO, E-Learning (WebCT), E-Reserve, and MediaMatrix. Attendance is always a key factor in academic performance and becomes a crucial component of doing well and earning the grade you desire. In summary, most test related material will be mentioned in class! Miss class at your own peril, and if you should, contact your fellow students for notes, handouts, and general impressions. Use your time wisely and take special note of the days listed below as evaluation dates.
The following resources will be
REQUIRED to successfully pass this course.
1. Geography of
2. Texas Almanac, 2008-09 edition. DMN/TAMU Press, 2007. {ISBN# 978-0-914511-41-0}.
3.
Access
to internet/web:
Electronic
Reserve. (Evans Library website or in person on 2nd floor)
NEO & WebCT (for official email and evaluation results)
Mediamatrix (video clips with Real Player from EdMS in Evans Annex)
4. Four large gray scantrons & soft lead pencil.
5. 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 are worth 250 points each and the final exam is 300 points. The remaining 200 points consists of an atlas exercise and a landscape project.
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.
All Evaluation &
Due Dates: (chronological)
Atlas Exercise
Part One & Maps
Tuesday, February 19
MIDTERM ONE
Part Two: Culture-Historical
Tuesday, March 25
MIDTERM TWO
Part Three: Physical
Thursday, April 10
Landscape Projects
Follow directions carefully
Friday, May 2 (1500-1700)
FINAL EXAM
Parts Four: Modern Human & Future/Conclusion
PURPOSE & PHILOSOPHY: The readings for Geography of Texas are numerous and
diverse so a multitude of perspectives and ideas can be engaged. My intent is
for students to read from different authors and types of writing. Numerous readings
are placed at the reserve desk in the library annex. This allows for electronic
reserve for many articles and chapters, but some others had to be in the form
of photocopies.
READING
SCHEDULE: The reading schedule (below) is only a guideline for you. The
readings are listed in their approximate order and close to the lecture topics.
Some students learn better by reading before/after the related lecture,
therefore, plan accordingly to your time schedule and personal learning
strategy.
READING LOCATIONS: Where to find the
TEXTBOOK =
Prout—Geography of
E-Reserve =
online access via library website (Evans Library 2nd floor)
Reserve =
Evans Library (actual book or photocopy)
WebCT =
online documents via university’s e-learning website.
HO = handout
during class.
Mediamatrix =
streaming video (via university’s server)
Packet =
Copy Corner photocopy
SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY: A starter kit for
geography of
Terry G. Jordan. (with J. Bean & W. Holmes). 1984.
Donald W. Meinig. 1969. Imperial
Eric R. Swanson. 1995. Geo-Texas: A Guide to the
Earth Sciences.
John Brinckerhoff Jackson. 1980. The Southern
Landscape Tradition in
Pete Gunter and Max Oelschlaeger. 1997.
Richard Francaviglia. 1995. The Shape of
Daniel D. Arreola. 2002. Tejano South Texas: A
Mexican American Cultural Province.
Terry G. Jordan. 1982.
Robert E. Veselka. 2000. The
School Atlas of
Historical Atlas of
“
Part One (Introduction to the Geography of
* Course evaluation: All Examinations and
Atlas Exercise *
Location:
REQUIRED
Erik Prout TEXTBOOK
& WebCT
Outline;
Introduction to Part One
Erik Prout TEXTBOOK
Chapter 1
(Defining
Erik Prout TEXTBOOK
Chapter 2
(Regional Geography)
“Profile”
(pp 8-16)
“Environmental
Facts Intro-- physical state” (p. 80)
“Texas
Times” map (p.150)
Richard
Francaviglia E—Reserve
Introduction
to The Shape of
Maps to Know:
OPTIONAL / OTHER
Historical Atlas: maps 1-2 Optional Book
School Atlas: pages 1-3 Optional Book
Video clips:
Giant (trailer) Mediamatrix
“
Part Two (Cultural-Historical Geography of
* Course evaluation: Midterm Exam One *
Location:
REQUIRED
Erik Prout TEXTBOOK
Introduction
to Part Two
Erik Prout TEXTBOOK
Chapter 3
(Past
Erik Prout TEXTBOOK
Chapter 4
(Culture
Erik Prout TEXTBOOK
Chapter 5
(
Fred B. Kniffen E—Reserve
“To
Know the Land and its People” (E&C)
J. B. Jackson E—Reserve
“Virginia
Heritage” (Southern Landscape Tradition)
Terry Jordan J-STOR
“Origin of Anglo-American
Cattle Ranching in
“Features”
pp 24-47 (stage coach, CCC, Woodlake)
“Cajuns”
(pp 542-547); Languages (p. 548); “Religion” (pp 566-569)
Video clips:
1492;
Maps to Know:
Borders & Neighbors
Historical
Ethno-Cultural regions
Settlement and Landscape (log cabins & ranching)
OPTIONAL / OTHER
Historical Atlas: maps 7-43 Optional Book
School Atlas: pages 18-24 Optional Book
Terry Jordan E—Reserve
“The Truth
about Cemeteries” (
“
Part Three (Physical Geography of
* Course evaluation: Midterm Exam Two *
Location:
REQUIRED
Erik Prout TEXTBOOK
Introduction
to Part Three
Erik Prout TEXTBOOK
Chapter 6
(Physical Processes)
Erik Prout TEXTBOOK
Chapter 7
(Physiographic Regions)
Erik Prout TEXTBOOK
Chapter 8
(Human-Environment)
“Environment”
(pp 80-147)
“Wind”
(p. 619)
“Oil:
intro/background” (pp 633-652)
“Agriculture”
(pp 674-689)
R. J. Russell J-STOR
“Climates
of
Maps to Know:
Physiographic maps of
(list of regions) HO
Climatic maps (patterns) of
OPTIONAL / OTHER
Historical Atlas: maps 3-6, 44, 45, 49, 53-55 Optional Book
School Atlas: pages 4-17 Optional Book
Terry Jordan E—Reserve
Chapter 2
(“Physical Environment,” TG)
Eric Swanson
Geo-
Chapters 2, 3 and 10 are most relevant.
“
Part Four: Modern Human Geographies of
* Course evaluation: Final Exam *
Location:
REQUIRED
Erik Prout TEXTBOOK
Introduction
to Part Four
Erik Prout TEXTBOOK
Chapter 9
(23 Million Texans)
Erik Prout TEXTBOOK
Chapter 10
(Political-Economy of
Erik Prout TEXTBOOK
Chapter 11
(Regions of
2000 U.S. Census
reports/data INTERNET
“Population
Change” link
from e-reserve
2000 U.S. Census
reports/data INTERNET
“Congressional
Apportionment” link
from e-reserve
Char Miller E—Reserve
“The
Rise of Urban Texas” (Urban
Daniel Arreola J-STOR
“The Mexican American Cultural Capital,” (Geog. Review) link from e-reserve
Terry Jordan J-STOR
“Perceptual
Regions of Texas” (Geog. Review) link
from e-reserve
“Population / Population History” (pp 410-442)
focus on “Cities & Towns” MSA map p. 413
{“
“Economy”
(pp 595-652)
“Transport”
(pp 653-662-673)
“Elections”
(pp 443-460); Govt. Intro p. 461; CoG map p. 507
“Recreation”
(pp 157-179)
OPTIONAL / OTHER
Historical Atlas: maps 45-48, 50-64 Optional Book
School Atlas: pages 25-33, 42, 43 Optional Book
Classroom Policies:
I have high expectations of my students. Because we are in a learning environment, we should set high goals and standards. In return, I commit myself to equally reasonable 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, but I rarely respond instantaneously. I do my best to keep office hours and will post any last-minute changes on my door. 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).
Observations
and Advice
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 over ten hours
a week. This is why 12-15 units are traditionally called full time because it
occupies one’s work week. Obviously, certain weeks require more time than
others, but you should be spending a minimum of 1-2 hours reviewing notes and
maps each week. Then of course, you need to plan for much more time when tests
and due dates come around.
• Many students
claim to study a lot, but do they? You probably shouldn’t claim you study
enough if you aren’t committing 5 hours, and don’t claim you study
hard if you’re not putting in over 10 hours a week. The real question is
what sort of learning strategy works for you/ Therefore, only you can determine
what is enough study time for you to have effective results.
• 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. Yet, at the end of the semester, I do
not judge your spirit; I evaluate your academics (in my class not holistic).
• Time Management:
make schedules, set priorities, and take responsibility.
2. The essence of an
educated person is LITERACY. University studies require a high level of reading and writing.
Unfortunately, we cannot read just for pleasure, we need to read difficult
things with complicated ideas and technical nuances. 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 or read effectively the textbook. There
is no excuse for not reading at a university.
• 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. You are already here, so succeed!
3.
Student—Faculty & Student INTERACTIONS. The atmosphere on our campus is
generally very good: friendly, safe, and pleasant. Nevertheless, students
should be aware of how academic rank and distinguished titles work when they
interact with faculty. Also a word on student—student relations as they
apply in class.
• Titles:
“Doctor” is appropriate for anyone with a Ph.D. as well as M.D. (it
is a distinguished title that comes with the highest educational degree). Not
all instructors have PhD’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). Some prefer professor over doctor. Know who
you are addressing and don’t mistakenly insult them.
• Competition:
even though students are evaluated against each other, there is no need to work
against one another. By the same token, working together is strongly encouraged
as long as it doesn’t cross the line. Two situations concern me. The
first situation is when only one student really does the work and the others
claim it as their own (falls under TAMU plagiarism). The second is taking
advantage of another student for course notes and assistance (borderline
harassment). Never loan your notes, instead offer to let them photocopy after
class, etc.
• Communication:
contacting professors about class should be face-to-face unless he/she
announces otherwise. In my opinion, phone and email are good for leaving
messages, but they are no substitute or excuse for attendance and office hours.
Moreover, I cannot discuss grades over the phone or via e-mail.
• Salutations:
“Howdy” is a common and friendly greeting in Aggieland. Not all
professors are howdy people, but I personally like it and use it sometimes.
When emailing or calling me, Howdy Dr. Prout is a perfectly ok salutation.
Standard Disclaimer & Online Ethics:
* I
accept (& welcome) criticism of my facts and ideas;
if you disagree, communicate your own views.
* Please
ask before citing me in publications;
double check accuracy of everything before using sources for yourself.
* Please
don’t mess with my files or prevent others from accessing.