INSTRUCTOR:   Cecelia Hudelson

PHONE:                                (209) 575-6104

OFFICE:                                Founders Hall 175

E-MAIL ADDRESS:            hudelsonputnamc@mjc.edu

WEBSITE:                            http://virtual.yosemite.cc.ca.us/chudelson

OFFICE HOURS:                Mondays/Wednesdays: 8:30 am-9:30 am,

                                                Tuesdays/Thursdays: 11 am –12:30 pm
Fridays 11:30 am - Noon, or by appointment.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

Geography is the study of the spatial relationships. Economic Geography examines the environmental factors (such as transport, market demand or business regulation) which determine the location of economic activities.  This course will provide the student with the ability to describe and demonstrate major areas of economic development, examine linkages between such locations, predict future regions of economic growth and evaluate how changes in the global economy may affect cultures, political systems, and social relationships.


 

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY:

I am passionate about my job and my discipline.  I believe that ALL students can become outstanding college students if they apply themselves.  I value what YOU think, and will provide you with strategies that you can utilize throughout your education.  I try to maintain high academic standards that you will find at the university level so that you will be successful when you transfer.  MJC is an institution which can create opportunities beyond your dreams!  Ask me!

REQUIRED TEXTS:

* Stutz/Warf, The World Economy, 4th edition, 2005.
* Smith, The State of the World Atlas, 7th edition, 2003.

(both of the above texts will be used in my courses, Summer 2007)

CLASS POLICIES:

* It is the student's responsibility to drop this course.

* All reading assignments should be completed as scheduled. This will allow you the ability to see
   what I am focusing upon, and lectures will make much more sense.

* Attendance will be taken daily.  Attendance will not affect your course grade, but any student
   who has more than 4 absences will not be able to receive the final grade improvement for the
   course (see grading policy below).

 

*  Make-up exams must be discussed with instructor prior to the scheduled date of exam.   Once  
    an exam is graded  and returned, my options for testing become more limited.  Prior to the exam,
    I have many alternatives for you to fulfill this assignment

EXAMS:

You will complete three essay exams for the course.  Each essay will ask you to define key concepts addressed in the reading, describe processes and theories central to the topic, and utilize graphs and maps in the text and atlas to demonstrate where each process is located. Geography studies global patterns to identify relationships.  An example of this is the correlation between life expectancies and the access to high tech medical care.  Use the statistics and countries on the maps to demonstrate these ideas. 

If you have problems reaching this length, ask yourself these questions;

* did you define all key concepts and processes as you understand them?
* did you include specific examples from the text or lectures and explain how they relate  to
   geographical concepts and processes?
* did you include description of maps which illustrate where these processes occur or why they are
   there?
* did you include your evaluation of these materials as they address geographical
  concepts? do you agree with authors? yes or no?  Why or why not?
* did you relate geographical concepts and theories to current events happening
   in California, the United States, or global situations? Refer to Modesto Bee
  articles which address this issue.

 

GRADING POLICY:

Students must complete a corporate paper and three exams. As noted below, the final is one third of the course grade. Students who improve on the final exam will receive the improved grade for the course (given good attendance). For example, if a student earns B grades on the first two exams, and obtains an A on the final, he/she will receive an A for the course! If a student performs poorly on the final, the course grade will be based on the total points earned in the course.  Students must complete ALL assignments to enjoy this opportunity.  Students who do not complete the corporate paper and exams will earn a course grade based upon the total points obtained during the course.

                ASSIGNMENT                     COURSE GRADE                                YOUR RESULTS

exam one = 100 pts                A =  500-450 pts                  exam one  _________

exam two = 100 pts                B =   449-400 pts                  exam two _________

     corporate paper = 100 pts                   C =  399-350 pts                               corp paper  ________

             final exam = 200 pts                      D =  349-300 pts                               final exam  ________

        -----------------------------      F =  300 pts and below

     Total possible  = 500 pts                                                                               Total score: ___________

 

GEOGRAPHY CRITIQUE:

The following items are the criteria I use to grade your exams.
 If you have any questions, please ask!

 

1. Did I answer the question, all of the question, and all that was implied by the question?

2. Did I present a solid thesis, logical progression of ideas and an appropriate conclusion?

3. Did I allocate my time and presentation appropriately, developing all parts of my exam in balance?

4. Did I include the best examples and illustrations to demonstrate the validity of my ideas?

5. Did I use the most effective presentation techniques, especially graphic and cartographic ones?

6. Did I include specific examples from all of the appropriate reading materials? theories, maps, locational
    (country) examples?

7. Did I include the most significant and appropriate ideas from the class lecture?

8. Did I include my own, original ideas?

9. Are there any factual inaccuracies in my presentation?

10. Could or should my essay be used to teach others?

Plagiarism is not permitted! On the 1st offense, the

student will receive an F on the exam. If a student plagiarizes on the final

exam, he/she will receive an F in the course. 

Plagiarism is defined in the MJC Academic Honor Code as;

"1. incorporating the ideas words, sentences, paragraphs, or parts of another   

      person's writings, without giving appropriate credit, and representing the
      product as your own work

2.  Representing another's artistic/scholarly works as your own

3.  Submitting a paper purchased from a research or term paper service."

It's easy--just trust what YOU are learning.  Tell me what you have learned in your own

words.  I create my own questions to get you think about all chapters in each section.
Explain key terms as you understand them, and try to use maps to validate your ideas and

show connections.