Fall 2008
Dr. Michael D. Sublett Felmley Hall
of Science 104 309-438-5808
Office Hours: 8:00-9:30 a.m. MW
I am also available at other times on MWF, as well as on TR. Check to make
sure please.
Email: mdsuble@ilstu.edu Homepage: http://lilt.ilstu.edu/mdsuble
Course Goals: (1) to provide you with a common foundation and vocabulary for advanced courses in Geography; (2) to help you become more conversant with computers as tools for communication, writing, data analysis, and data illustration; (3) to emphasize the spatial nature of Geography and assist you in developing your spatial perspective; (4) to develop in you a sense of the appropriate types of questions for geographers to ask about the world around them; (5) to give ample opportunity for you to enhance your research, writing, speaking, and illustrating skills; and (6) to deepen your appreciation for the discipline of Geography and its place in academic and professional settings.
Texts: (1) Easy Writer: A Pocket Guide. (2) Spell Check.
Supplies: (1) ruler/straightedge of at least 300 mm (12 inches); (2) package of 4" x 6" cards (white, lined on one side); (3) three-ring binder with rings of at least 1.5" inch diameter; 1" is too small; (4) paper for binder (at least 50 sheets); (5) tabbed dividers for binder (A set of 8 should suffice. Be sure to get tabs on which you can write labels.); (6) set of colored pencils (package of 12 is okay, but 24 is better); (7) two disposable technical drawing pens (black ink), including one fine at .2 mm or .4 mm and one broader at perhaps .8 mm or 1.0 mm; and (8) a camera capable of taking good color prints or digital images. Every student will need his/her own supplies, but borrowing a camera to use in GEO 204 is acceptable. Alamo II carries technical pens, in the Supplies Department, each selling for between $2 and $3; but similar pens are available elsewhere, perhaps in the scrapbook section of craft stores.
Food/Drink/Cell Phones/Attire: Do not consume food or drink (soda, coffee, hot chocolate, etc.) in the 204 classroom. Consuming water is fine, but keep containers off the tables. Turn off cell phones before class; do not use cell phones during class. Appropriate footgear for the days that GEO 204 is in the field includes shoes with closed toes and heels (no sandals please). Prepare to be outside during challenging weather.
Grades: Expect 500 points in the course. I use a scale of 90/80/70/60 percent for grades.
120 from newspaper assignments (10 written assignments at 12 each)
100 from daily class activities (20 cards at 5 each)
100 from Doing Geography Problem (DGP) essay
90 from short essays
50 from class attendance, promptness, attitude,
participation
40 from response to text on the DGP of a
classmate
Essays: Writing is a key skill for the successful college graduate. I take writing seriously, and so should you. To assist students with various writing issues, I have prepared a model essay entitled "An Essay on Short Essays" and published it on my Website. Keep the model essay handy as you write for me and at times when you are composing similar papers.
Newspaper Assignments: On many Mondays during the semester, each GEO 204 student will receive a copy of that day's Pantagraph to keep and from it will extract information to prepare a graded assignment. A key aspect of these assignments is practice in the proper documentation of sources, using the MLA system.
Daily Class Activities: I will challenge you nearly every class period to think and react on a card. We will do brief writing exercises, field sketching and data collection, one-on-one discussions with classmates, quick quizzes, and other activities at various times during our class meetings. Many activities will involve the day's topic, and each activity is worth up to five points. I plan on 20 scored daily activities, for a total of 100 points. In order to receive the five points, you must (1) be in class when we begin activity, (2) have your own 4" x 6" card to use, (3) perform the class activity to my satisfaction, and (4) turn in at that time a properly completed card. I accept no substitutes for the white, lined card; you may not borrow a card from your neighbor; and I will not accept cards before an activity or at a later time. For daily activities there will be no excused absences, but each student will receive an automatic activity bonus of 5 points. In other words, I am giving you a personal day during the semester and do not need to know when you will be absent or why you were absent. In case of a catastrophic event in your life, I will, of course, modify the policy. If you arrive during a class card activity, I will ask you to wait in the hallway until we are through. If you leave class during or before a card activity, you receive no credit.
Doing Geography Problem: Instead of sitting for examinations in this class, each of you will conduct original research in an assigned area of the Twin Cities and submit the written, illustrated, and documented results of that research near the end of the semester as one of the graded activities in this class. In part, the DGP, at the suggestion of faculty colleagues, is a way to prepare Geography majors better for the Senior Field Problem, which caps the Seminar in Geography, GEO 315, course and allows faculty to assess the level of learning among graduating seniors.
Attendance/Promptness: I expect you to be with the class whenever and wherever we meet, and I will take attendance regularly. Classes begin promptly, so please be at the appointed place ready to do business. If you are late to class, I will ask you to explain for the class why you are late and expect a truthful answer. Turn in written work the day it is due. Late work will incur a penalty, as will tardiness.
Attitude/Participation: Attending class and arriving for class at the appointed time are necessary but not sufficient for being an outstanding student citizen. Get with the program and be ready to participate voluntarily in the discussions that address the topics we pursue.
Portfolio: In your three-ring binder you will create your personal GEO 204 portfolio. Bring your portfolio to each class so that you can keep it up to date and to allow me to check up on it. Organize your portfolio with tabbed dividers, labeled as follows and in this order: NOTES, HANDOUTS, NEWSPAPERS, ESSAYS, VITAE, and OTHER. Behind (under) NOTES you will file the notes you take in class and your research notes for essays, etc. HANDOUTS will include everything (except my vita) that I give you (the syllabus for course, essay assignments, readings, etc.). All your scored newspaper items go behind NEWSPAPERS. ESSAYS will contain only the scored essays that I have returned to you. VITAE (the plural of vita) will include my vita (singular) and those of all the guests who bring theirs to share during class visits. Everything else goes behind OTHER. Words on the tabs read from top to bottom. Place your name on the front cover or just inside the cover.
Response to Text: Classmates will be serving as responders before I score your Doing Geography Problem essay. To assist responders, I have prepared a set of guidelines entitled "Instructions for Responding to Text" and published the set on my Website. You will receive class credit for the response and also help yourself become a better writer.
Academic Dishonesty: This department will not tolerate academic dishonesty. I expect you to do your own work in my course, except when I specifically call for a group effort. Do not share the details of what we do in your section of GEO 204 with students in the other section, and do not ask students in the other section what we did in their class. If you witness or suspect academic dishonesty, inform me immediately.
Special Accommodation: If you need a special accommodation to participate fully in this class, please contact Disability Concerns at 438-5853 (voice), 438-8620 (TDD).
Final Class Meeting: Attendance is mandatory.
Morning class: Wednesday, 10 December, 8:00 a.m.
Afternoon class: Tuesday, 9 December, 1:00 p.m.
Contact me via email at mdsuble@ilstu.edu
Go to Geography 204 Welcome Page
Go to Geography 204 Topics Page
Learn more about me at my homepage.
Created 20 July 2005. Last revision occurred 5 August 2008.