TIME: 10:00 AM

Monday-Wednesday-Friday

LOCATION: Room 203

INSTRUCTOR: Dean Sinclair

OFFICE: Room 201

PHONE: #357-5492

E-MAIL: sinclaird@nsula.edu

WEBSITE: http://users.nsula.edu/sinclaird

This course is part of a two-part world regional geography series. The focus of this class is on the developed world and the major geographical concepts and issues pertaining to it. The class will primarily be a lecture class with class participation encouraged. In addition to lectures, we will be using Virtual Field Trips (accessed from my website) to enrich the class. The regions of the world that we will be studying include Europe, Russia and the territories of the former Soviet Union, North America, and East Asia. The primary goal of the course is to give the student a framework in which to understand our rapidly changing world.

1. To gain a better understanding of the complex geographic forces shaping the modern world.
2. To gain an understanding at the various cultural and economic systems found in the regions of the developed world.
3. To gain a broad understanding of the physical characteristics of the regions of the developed world.
4. To gain an understanding of the dynamic geographic processes associated with migration, agricultural systems, industrial activities, and political systems in the developed world.
5. To develop a basic knowledge of the location of key states, cities, and physical features in the developed world.

Attendance: Attendance policies of this course are in compliance with University regulations as stated in the current General Catalog. Students are expected to attend class. Students will be dropped for excessive absences.

Academic Honesty: Policies concerning academic honesty are in compliance with University regulations as stated in the current General Catalog. Consult official University Academic Honor Code statement included in this syllabus

Four exams will be given over material presented in the lectures and assigned readings. Tests will consist of Multiple Choice questions and True/False questions. There will be some lecture material on the test that is NOT covered in the book, and some material from the book on the test that is NOT covered in the lecture. Questions from the Virtual Field Trips will also be included on the tests. The student will be responsible for securing Scantron 19641 (Answer Sheet B) for the exam. Make up exams will be scheduled with a valid excuse on the day of the final examination. It is the responsibility of the student to make sure that the examination is made up. In addition to the four exams, there will be four map quizzes. A key is available for each map quiz on my website. Students will be expected to secure a copy of a blank map for practice. Blank maps can be secured on my website or at other sites on the internet. With a valid excuse, map quizzes can be made up before the next class meeting OR on the day of the final examination. Grades for tests will be posted on Blackboard.

Exam 1 20%

Exam 2 20%

Exam 3 20%

Exam 4 20%

Map Quizzes 20% (5% each)

Total 100%

90-100 A

80-89 B

70-79 C

60-69 D

Less than 60 F

It is the policy of NSU to accommodate students with disabilities, pursuant to federal law, state law, and the University’s commitment to equal educational opportunities. Any student with a disability who needs accommodations, for example in seating placement or in arrangements for examinations, should inform the instructor at the beginning of the course. Students with disabilities are encouraged to contact the Office of Disability Support, which is located in Kyser Hall, Room 239, telephone (318)357-4460 or TTD (318)357-4393.

Classroom Civility Statement:

Each Northwestern State University student is encouraged to help create an environment that promotes learning, dignity, and mutual respect for everyone in the learning environment. Students who speak at inappropriate times, take frequent breaks, interrupt the class by coming to class late or leaving early, engage in loud or distracting behaviors, use cell phones or pagers (other noise-making devices like watches with alarms), listen to headphones/CDs, play with computers or hand held games, use inappropriate language, are verbally abusive, display defiance or disrespect to others, or behave aggressively toward others during the class period may be asked to leave the class and subjected to disciplinary action under the Northwestern State University Student Code of Conduct and Sanctions (Article VII Sanctions). The instructor of a course may deem additional behaviors or actions inappropriate; these action or behaviors will be outlined in the course syllabus. Copies of the infractions and sanctions are available on the NSU web sits at http://www.nsula.edu/studenhandbook/page100.htm.

Academic dishonesty is defined as the following: 1) acquiring or using a published test bank, 2) copying from another student’s test, paper or computer file, 3) using unauthorized materials during a test, 4) collaborating during a test with any other person by giving or receiving information without authority, 5) stealing, buying, or otherwise obtaining non-administered or unauthorized tests, 6) selling or giving away non-administered or unauthorized tests, 7) bribing anyone to obtain information about a test, 8) substituting for another student or permitting another person to substitute for oneself to take a test, 9) submitting as your own, in fulfillment of academic requirements, any work prepared totally or in part by another, 10) supplying to another student any theme, report, or other work for use in fulfilling academic requirements, and 11) plagiarism, defined as the use of another person’s work and the unacknowledged incorporations of that work in one’s own work that is offered for credit.

Academic dishonesty will result in one of the following disciplinary measures to be decided by the course instructor: I) verbal/written warning, 2) conference with department chair or dean, 3) reduction of test/course grade to an "F". A student may subsequently be placed on probation or suspended or expelled and forced to withdraw from Northwestern as a result of academic dishonesty.

Refer to the section in the Student Handbook concerning Academic Infractions and Sanctions for Academic Misconduct.