World Geography Course Syllabus

 Instructor:  Joshua Petty

joshua_petty@hotmail.com

439-4333 (11:30-12:30 a.m.)

2005-2006

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did.  So throw off the bowlines.  Sail away from the safe harbor.  Catch the trade winds in your sail.  Explore. Dream. Discover.”

                                                                                                -Mark Twain

Course objectives: 1) to clear-up the many misconceptions individuals have with regards to the world; 2) to instill in students a love for studying about different cultures, physical environments, places, etc.; 3)  to help students realize that geography is a vast discipline which involves more than just the memorization of states and capitals; and 4) to make geography your favorite discipline of study

Classroom expectations:

1)      Students are counted upon to be prepared for class.  This includes the following: writing utensil, paper, books, homework, journal notebook, and any assigned items. Students will not be permitted to leave the classroom to obtain any items after the tardy bell has rung. 

2)      Students will make up time for unexcused tardies after his or her second tardy.

3)      Be respectful to everyone in class

Materials:

1)      Assigned textbook ( Glencoe, World Geography, Boehm)

2)      Journal notebook

3)      An atlas (goodes)

4)      Access to current news media

5)      Paper, pen, pencils

6)      Three-ring notebook

Assignments:

Homework: (30%)  To insure that your learning doesn’t end at the door of my room,  I will, at times, require work to be done out of class.  If  you do not turn in your work when it is due,  you will receive a zero.  However, you may turn it in one day late to receive 70% of the grade. (No work will be accepted after that time!!)  This does not  apply to work missed due to an excused absence.  Those students will have additional time for completion of their work. 

Pop Quizzes: (10%) These will be given to assure that students are keeping up with their studies. 

Classroom participation: (10%) The success of this coarse will depend on your willingness to partake in discussion.  Each day a student will also be responsible to give an oral report on some “worldly” current event. 

Tests: (30%) All tests will come from either my notes or the text.  The student will know what is expected before taken the examinations.

Individual/group projects: (20%) this is a vital part in the study of geographic concepts.  The student will take items studied in class and further research those items and thus gain a deeper knowledge with regards to the world. 

Areas of study:

1)      The main focus of this coarse will be the entire world outside of North America.  However, many comparisons will be made with regards to the United States. 

2)      We will integrate several disciplines that tie closely into geography.  Some of the areas are as follows: geology, history, anthropology, etc…

I look forward to educate this group of students.  If have any questions or concerns, please call or e-mail me.  This will be a fun and extremely successful term.