Geography 212
The World in Cultural Perspective Laboratory
Fall 2008



Instructor: Ronald W. Luna
E-mail: ronaldl@umd.edu
Office: 2108 Lefrak Hall
Office Hours: After class, or by appointment
Library web site:
http://www.lib.umd.edu/GOV/212.html
Course web site: http://www.geog.umd.edu/homepage/courses/212

Objective: To expose students to various aspects of human geography through classroom activities, invited speakers, and individual research. Students will gain an appreciation of how to conduct research within the field of human geography by attending lectures and presentations given by the instructor and researchers within the department.  The main focus of the class is to prepare students to conduct and write a research paper in the field of human geography.

Proposed course schedule (subject to change, check website regularly and listen for announcements):

 

Date

Topic

Activity/Assignment

January 28

NO CLASS!!!!! H.W. Print syllabus for next week and think about research topic

February 4

Lecture 1: What is human geography?

 

February 11

Lecture 2: How to identify a research topic?

Discussion: What is your interest in geography?  What is your research topic? 

February 18

Lecture 3: Journal Article Review

Assignment 1: Research Topic due

February 25

Research Topic discussion

Discussion: Research Topic

March 3

Maryland Room Tour 

www.lib.umd.edu/mdrm/

 

March 10

Research Day # 1

Meet @ 6107 Mck Library 

March 17

SPRING BREAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

March 24

Guest Speaker:

Assignment 2: Article Review  due 

March 31

Research Day #2

Meet @ 6107 Mck Library

Assignment 3: Article Review due

April 7

National Archives II Tour

www.archives.gov/dc-metro/college-park/index.html

Career Fair on April 11

BRING YOUR ID

April 14

Government Document Tour

AAG CONFERENCE

Assignment 4: Outline due

April 21

Guest Speaker:

 

April 28

Guest Speaker:

Research Update Research update

 

 

May 5

Presentations

 

May 12

Presentations

Research Paper/Bibliography

Due on May 12, 2007

 


Attendance policy: Attendance is mandatory. If an illness or an emergency causes you to miss class, you must contact your instructor via e-mail with an valid explanation of your absence.  For each unexcused absence 10 points will be deducted from your overall participation and attendance grade.

Turning in assignments: As a rule, points will be deducted from assignments turned in late at a rate of 10 points per day. General guidelines for written assignments will be outlined below, and expectations for each assignment will be clearly stated at the time the assignments are given.

Academic integrity: Academic dishonesty is a serious offence that can result in suspension or expulsion from the University of Maryland. All assignments should be your own work. Since there are several writing assignments, plagiarism would not be tolerated.  Please refer to the following website to determine how the University of Maryland defines plagiarism: http://www.testudo.umd.edu/soc/dishonesty.html.  All assignments must be cited properly, especially when using direct quotations, paraphrasing, or using ideas that are not your own and come from another author.

Students with special needs: If you have a documented physical or learning disability, please contact me as soon as possible so that accommodations can be made.

Evaluation (there will be no exams):

100 points: Class attendance and participation are mandatory. Unexcused absences will affect your grade, as will neglecting to contribute to discussions.
25 points: Research topic

40 points: Two journal article review
25 points: Outline of research paper
25 points: Presentation 

10 points: Bibliography

100 points: Final research paper

Total:  325points

Guidelines for written assignments:

You have several written  assignments for this course (Research topic, article reviews, outline, bibliography, and research paper). Specific expectations and materials for each assignment will be discussed in class. However, these are the guidelines to follow:

  • All assignments must be typed or word-processed, double-spaced, 12 point font, Times New Roman style, number pages, and with one inch margins.
  • Do not use a fancy binder. Simply staple the papers together in the upper left corner.
  • A cover sheet for each assignment should be included which contains your name, date, assignment and title.
  • Follow the guidelines for each assignment’s page/word length.
  • Assignments will be graded on the following criteria: content, presentation, organization, clarity, and grammar.
  • Must include proper APA citation.