Spring 2016  GEOG101
PEOPLE AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT
GEOG 101.00 Section 003

Tuesday and Friday 11:10-12-25 HN 1036

Back to MP home page

Geography resources
GIS links and resources 
Other classes taught

MariSig4

Welcome to Geography 101 People and Their Environment Home page. See BB for up to date information about the course.


Instructor:

Dr. Marianna Pavlovskaya

Office location:

HN 1003F. Voice 212-772-5320 (email is a recommended way to contact the instructor)

Office hours:

Tuesday 12:30-14:30 and by appointment

Email:

mpavlovAThunter.cuny.edu (See Email rules)

BlackBoard login page:

http://bb.hunter.cuny.edu

Course webpage:

http://www.geo.hunter.cuny.edu/~mpavlov/Courses/G101/G101S01syl.htm



Course description

Student evaluation

Writing and reading assistance

Course objectives

Email rules

Academic calendar and lecture topics

Textbooks

Classroom rules

Using Atlas

Free geography tutoring

Hunter College statement on Academic Integrity

Links of interest

BlackBoard (BB) logins

Course description

How do geographers represent, analyze, and understand the world, people, and places they live in? This course introduces students to environmental and human geography and its unique language - maps.

Objectives

The course is a prerequisite to many geography major courses. It covers a broad range of topics, from plate tectonics and climate change to food security, urbanization, and international economy, all needed for understanding the complex processes shaping our present and future. It fulfills Stage 2 (Broad Exposure) Group B: Social Science but does NOT fulfill the "W" requirement.

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this course students will (1) identify global patterns of natural resources, population, economy, and culture, as well as contemporary political, urban, and social processes; (2) learn how to read and interpret maps (3) become familiar with the role of geospatial technologies in shaping contemporary geographic knowledge;  (4) will compare different explanations for today’s world problems, inequalities, and power relations; (5) will learn about geography as an academic discipline and an applied field that provides students with important analytical and professional skills.

Texbooks

1)     Introduction to Geography: People, Places & Environment, 6/E. Dahlman and Renwick, ISBN-10: 0321843339  ISBN-13: 9780321843333, 2013. Prentice Hall, Paper, 568 pp. No MasteringGeography website access is required.  

 

$140-$160 at major retailers like Barnes and Noble.

At www.mypearsonstore.com:

$189.60 Introduction to Geography: People, Places & Environment, 6th Edition|  ISBN-13: 978-0-321-84333-3

$128.93 Introduction to Geography: People, Places & Environment, Books a la Carte Edition (loose leaf), 6th Edition|  ISBN-13: 978-0-321-93499-4

$77.99 e-textbook Introduction to Geography: People, Places & Environment (Subscription), 6th Edition |  ISBN-13: 978-0-321-93510-6

 

In addition, less expensive a la carte (loose leaf), digital version ($60-80), and on-line access ($38) are available from this website. Paperback version is $54.

See BB for more information.

 

2)     Atlas: An up to date atlas or internet access is needed to prepare for map quizzes.

Additional texts will be assigned in class.

Instructional Technologies

BlackBoard is a major instructional technology for this class. All communication regarding the course including the assignments, grades, and due dates for all assignments and quizzes as well as group emails will be via BlackBoard. In order to log in on BB you must have a CUNY portal account. All students enrolled in Hunter courses can establish this account by following the instructions on BB page (bb.hunter.cuny.edu). If you cannot see this class in your BB account, contact BB help (see its webpage).

Evaluation

See Black Board for your current grades.

Quizzes, map quizzes and assignments

40%

Midterm Exam 1

20%

Midterm Exam 2

20%

Final exam

20%

Exams

Map quizzes

Chapter quizzes

With on-line access, students will take quizzes in the end of most chapters. This is the great way to prepare for the exams too.

Map assignments and other exercises

There will be a total of 4 map-based, internet-based and textbook-based assignments, 5% each. Map-based assignments will help you to learn how to use maps. All maps will be from the edition of the textbook indicated above. Assignments are due before class. Most assignments should be submitted digitally via blackboard but in some cases you will need to submit paper printouts. Late assignments will be marked down; after the results are handed out, they will not be accepted and result in zero points. All submitted assignments must be written in standard English. Hand written essays will not be accepted. The assignments will be distributed throughout the semester.

Extra-credit policy

Some assignments include extra-credit questions. A limited number of extra-credit assignments will be available.

Credit/No credit requirements

The requirements for CR/NC for a final grade are as follows. A student who requests CR/NC must have completed all of the requirements for the course, including taking the final exam. That includes all writing assignments, all quizzes, exams, lab work, assignments, etc., prior to the end of the semester. The student must present the CR/NC form BEFORE the final exam begins, not during, not after. Both the student and the instructor sign the form and each keeps their copy. Forms are available at OASIS. Students on probation are not eligible for CR/NC. Students are allowed only four (4) CR/NC for their entire Hunter career.

Email rules

Email is a major way to get in touch outside my office hours. The rules for contacting me via email are as follows: (1) please include Geog101 in the subject line; (2) please sign your full name, I will not answer unsigned email messages; (3) I usually answer within one or two days except for the weekends.

Classroom rules

Hunter College statement on Academic Integrity

Hunter College regards acts of academic dishonesty (e.g., plagiarism, cheating on examinations, obtaining unfair advantage, and falsification of records and official documents) as serious offenses against the values of intellectual honesty. The College is committed to enforcing CUNY Policy on Academic Integrity and will pursue cases of academic dishonesty according to the Hunter College Academic Integrity Procedures. Plagiarism, dishonesty, or cheating in any portion of the work required for this course will be punished to the full extent allowed according to Hunter College regulations.

Writing and reading assistance

The Hunter College Reading and Writing Center provides students with tutoring and help services across the disciplines and at all academic levels. Students who need assistance can be directed to http://rwc.hunter.cuny.edu or sent to Room 416 Thomas Hunter Hall, telephone 212-772-4212. These services are free to registered students.

ADA Policy (from Office of AccessABILITY)

In compliance with the American Disability Act of 1990 (ADA) and with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Hunter College is committed to ensuring educational parity and accommodations for all students with documented disabilities and/or medical conditions. It is recommended that all students with documented disabilities (Emotional, Medical, Physical, and/or Learning) consult the Office of AccessABILITY, located in Room E1214B, to secure necessary academic accommodations. For further information and assistance, please call: (212) 772- 4857 or (212) 650-3230.

Calendar for Spring 2016

F, Jan 29

F Feb 12

W Mar 23

F Mar 25

Apr 22, 26, 29

T May 17

First class

No class

Class, Friday schedule

No class

No classes, Spring recess

Last class

Syllabus Change Policy

Except for changes that substantially affect implementation of the evaluation (grading) statement, this syllabus is a guide for the course and is subject to change with advance notice. These changes will be announced in class and via Blackboard.

Course outline (Order subject to change. See BB for a weekly schedule)

Week

Lecture topics:

Week 1

Introduction, Ch 1.

Week 2

Maps and GIS Ch.1

Week 3

Landforms Ch.2

Week 4

Weather and climate. Global climate change. Ch.3

Biochemical cycles and the biosphere Ch. 4

Week 5

Exam 1

Week 6

Earth resources and environmental protection Ch 5

Week 7

Population and migration Ch 6

Week 8

Cultural geography Ch 7

Week 9

Languages and religion Ch 8

Week 10

Exam 2

Week 11

Food and agriculture Ch 9

Week 12

Cities and urbanization Ch 10

Week 13

Economy and development Ch 12

Week 14

A world of states. Political geography Ch 11

Final exam

TBA

Using atlas to find geographic objects

There are at least two ways to find place names in an atlas when preparing for map quizzes:

1. If you know that the Appalachian Mountains are in North America but are not sure about their precise location.

Go to the table of contents, find the page number for the regional map of North America, and look for the Appalachians on this map. To find a smaller mountain range such as Green Mountains in the state of Vermont, you need a more detailed regional map of the North-Eastern United States.

2. If you do not know at all where the Appalachians are or when you are short on time.

Go to the Index section of the Atlas. In this section, all placenames are listed alphabetically with an indication of a page number of the map that best depicts this place. Find the Appalachians in the index, go to the indicated page, and look for this mountain range on this map.

3. You can use on-line atlases and maps, of course. But remember they are not as comprehensive as printed maps. Also, do not forget to zoom out to get a bigger view of where on Earth :) different geographic objects (rivers, states, cities, mountains) are.


Top of page

LINKS OF INTEREST

World flags    

Measurement systems (US custom to metric conversion).

Geologic time table

Link to Chernobyl photo trip http://www.angelfire.com/extreme4/kiddofspeed/

The story of stuff by Annie Leonard http://www.storyofstuff.com/