Grading/ Course Evaluation (points):

• Three papers on approved topics, including adopted country*            300
• Quizzes (10 x 30 points each)                                                                300
• Class attendance and participation                                                         50
• Final exam                                                                                          _350

               Total                                                                                                 1000

*Each student will adopt a country at the beginning of the course and track that country during the course, following text topics chapter by chapter.  At the beginning of the course, the student will prepare a 3-4-page paper on his/her adopted country.  Midway through the course you will submit a 3-4-page paper on a special topic.  Before the end, he/she will prepare a 3-4-paper book review on a book approved in advance by the Professor. 

Details and due dates for these papers are provided in the Adopt-a-Country section below.

Course Policies: 

• Attendance:  Academic performance correlates closely with attendance.  Attendance will affect your grade.  All students are expected to attend all classes on time.  Quizzes missed may be made up the following week but no later.  If you expect to be late or absent, as a courtesy to your Professor contact him in advance by phone or email to determine when and what assignments you will make up.

• Class Participation:  All students are expected to participate in class discussions and ask questions; this will improve your grade.  When you come to each class, be prepared; read your text, study your class notes, resource information on the Internet, and make constructive input to class discussions.  Class participation is worth 20 points.
• If you decide to withdraw from this course, please contact your professor first.  Be aware that during the 2007 session of the Texas Legislature a bill was passed that limits incoming freshmen to six course withdrawals over their undergraduate years at state colleges, including courses taken at ACC.  You are free to withdraw, but your professor would appreciate a chance to briefly discuss your reasons and circumstances.   If you do not withdraw and have not attended at least two classes within the first thirty days after the course begins, the professor will take action to withdraw you from the course. 
• Incomplete Policy:  If you do not successfully complete all class requirements, you will fail the course.  No “Incompletes” will be possible.
• Student Discipline:  Students are expected to respect the rights and needs of other students, the instructor and visitors to class.  No food is allowed in the classroom. 
• Honesty and Dishonesty:  ACC sets the following standard:  “Acts prohibited by the college for which discipline may be administered include scholastic dishonesty, including but limited to cheating on a quiz or exam, plagiarizing, and unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing outside work.  Academic work submitted by the student shall be the result of his/her thoughts, research, or self-expression.   Academic work is defined as but not limited to tests, quizzes, whether taken electronically or on paper; projects either individual or group; and classroom presentations and homework.”   Always do your own original work.  Dishonesty may result in student dismissal by action of the instructor.  You are expected to do honest work for this class.  You must demonstrate that you work independently, present original thoughts and / or make attribution of sources of non-original material. 
• Disabilities:  ACC sets the following standard:  “Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented physical or psychological disabilities.  Students with disabilities must request reasonable accommodations through the office for Students with Disabilities on the campus where they expect to take themajority of their classes.  Students are encouraged to do this three weeks before the start of the semester.”
• Academic Freedom:  ACC sets the following standard:  “Students are strongly encouraged to participate in class discussion.  Students may express viewpoints that differ from those of other students or the instructor.  Indeed, challenging the facts or opinions of others generate good discussion and can promote a healthy learning environment.  However, differences should be expressed with respect for the views of others.”

Adopt-a-Country Guidelines for Short Reports:

• By September 11^th,adopt a country for this course.  You may select any country, except the United States, or one adopted by a fellow class member.  Alternatively, you may choose state-less peoples such as the Palestinians, Kurds or Roma. 
• Select a country that you would like to know more about, perhaps one you or a friend or relative have lived in, visited or would like to visit someday.  Check the Internet or with the instructor for help in selecting a country. 
• Your country adoption requires the professor’s approval.  Selection of some countries will earn you extra credit, Russia, China, Iraq, Iran, Bangladesh, etc.
• 15 Points Extra Credit:  China, Korea, Russia, Iraq,Iran, Afghanistan, Bangladesh or a state-less people.
• 10 Points Extra Credit:  India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, any Persian Gulf states, Egypt, Argentina, Brazil, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, Botswana or other African country.
• 5 Points Extra Credit:  Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Israel, South Africa, Botswana, Thailand, the Philippines or Malaysia, Poland, or Czech Republic.

Check with me if you wish to select any other country for possible extra credit points. 

    There are two local activities that could fulfill this project this term:

• Attend and report on the Renewal Energy Roundup and Green Living Fair at Markt Platz, in September.  See http://www.theroundup.org/.
• Interview sellers and buyers at the Fredericksburg Farmers Market at Marktplatz, Thursdays 4-7 pm, at Kinderhalle, through September 29^th.  See http://www.fbgfarmersmarket.com/FBG_Farmers_Market/home.html.
• By November 29^th, prepare and hand in a short written review (about 1000 words) of a book related to an aspect of the world geography, either on your adopted country or on any broader topic.   See the separate book list for possible choices that are pre-approved.  For other choices, obtain prior approval. 

 Course Calendar: 

• August 28 – Introduction to Cultural Geography
• September 4 – Chapters 1 Introduction and 14 Resource Issues
• September 11 – 9/11 Remembrance
• September 18 – Chapter 2 Population and Paper 1 due
• September 25 – Chapter 3 Migration
• October 2 - Chapter 4 Folk and Popular Culture
• October 9 – Chapter 5 Language
• October 16 – Chapter 6 Religion
• October 23 – Chapter 7 Ethnicity and Paper / Project 2 due
• October 30 – Chapter 8 Political Geography
• November 6 – Chapter 9 Development
• November 13 – Chapter 10 Agriculture, Chapter 11 Industry and Chapter 12 Services
• November 20 – No class – Thanksgiving wee
• November 27 – Chapter 13 Urban Patterns and Paper 3 due
• December 4 – Review course for Final Exam
• December 11 – Final Exam