World+Geography+Honors+Syllabus

**Course Title: World Geography Honors Term: Spring 2010**

 * Faculty Information: Name: William Brian Brown**
 * E-Mail Address:** bbrown@mssd14.org
 * Room: 11** **Phone #: 685-2042**
 * Office Hours: 7:20-3:00**
 * Please call during my prep from 9:30-11:00 or e-mail anytime.


 * Course Description:** World Geography Honors is a human geography based course that focuses on the distribution, processes, and effects of human populations on the planet. Units of study include population, migration, culture, language, religion, ethnicity, political geography, economic development, industry, agriculture, and urban geography. Emphasis is placed on geographic models and the applications. Field notes from around the world are compared to the situation in both the United States and locally in our state. Advanced technology will be used to explore and enhance certain topics.


 * Prerequisites:** Need to inform office of your intent to join the class.

H.J. de Blij, Erin H. Fouberg, and Alexander B. Murphy, __Human Geography: People,__ __Place, and Culture,__ 9th edition
 * Text and Study Materials:**

James Rubenstein, //__The Cultural Landscape: An Introduction to Human Geography__//, 7th edition

Daniel D. Arreola, Marci Smith Deal, James F. Peterson, and Rickie Sanders, //__World__ __Geography__//

Michael Kuby, John Harner, and Patricia Gober, __Human Geography in Action__

Becker and Becker, //__Human Geography: Culture, Society and Space__//, 7th edition

Russell Ash, __The Top 10 of Everything__

Herff Jones Education Division, __The Nystrom Desk Atlas__

1) Students will explain the basic concepts of geography and demonstrate how they are applied. 2) Students will organize the positional patterns of population distribution and what factors contributed to this phenomenon. 3) Students will recognize the different cultural groups and how they are distributed throughout the world. 4) Students will compare how people earn a living in different parts of the world and what components impact their decision-making. 5) Students will identify today’s issues that result from using Earth’s resources
 * Essential Learnings:**

90-100 A 77-80 B- 64-66 D+ 87-89 A- 74-76 C+ 61-63 D 84-86 B+ 71-73 C 57-60 D- 81-83 B 67-70 C- 0-56 F
 * Grading Scale:**


 * Academic Integrity:** All work must be the original product of the student, and all information gathered from other sources must be properly cited. Any violation will be considered cheating or plagiarism, which occurs whenever students claim that someone else’s words or ideas are their own. This happens whether students “borrow” someone else’s paper, have someone else write a paper, buy a paper from a company or copy it off the Internet or from a print source (including sections of material). Plagiarism is not accepted in this class. Plagiarism results in failure of the assignment and a mandatory conference with the teacher. All sources used in class assignments must be cited in MLA format (refer to MLA Style Guide available in the media center or on the MSHS website).

__Analyze__ the evolution of different religions, languages, and cultures __Study__ economic, social and political structures of man within his geographic boundaries __Recognize and explain__ the roles of industry and agriculture as they relate to the growth of cultures throughout the world __Trace__ the growth of cities and their impact on geographic institutions
 * Course Guidelines:** This course is designed to examine how man interacts with and impacts Earth. To accomplish this we will:


 * Grading Determination:** Grades are based on the accumulated points earned by the student and divided by the total points possible to determine the percentage. Points are accumulated through projects, activities, presentations, quizzes, writing assignments, notebooks, and tests done throughout the quarter/semester.


 * Classroom Guidelines and Student Conduct:**


 * Be in class on time and ready to learn.**
 * DON”T be late because of “your” decision.
 * School policy for absences and tardies will be followed, this includes suspensions.
 * If you miss a test, you have to make arrangements with me to make up the test within the allotted time. Please note that the make-up test will be a different version of the one taken in class.
 * For any absence you need to come to me for the material missed. Material to be turned in or assigned during a school absence needs to be taken care of prior to your departure from campus.


 * No late work is accepted for a grade.** Assignments will be given in advance so that the student will have adequate time to complete the work.


 * Bring materials each and every day.** Materials include but are not limited to; textbook, notebook, usable pen (blue or black ink) or pencil and a willingness to try.


 * Each student has 2 passes per nine weeks to use for the purpose of getting a drink, going to your locker or bathroom, etc.**


 * Please turn off or silence all cell phones, pagers,** and other electronic devices. The policy is if the device is seen or heard it will be sent to the office.


 * Use of profane language, either in context, slang, or implied will NOT be tolerated.**


 * Eating and drinking is acceptable as long as it does not interfere with the educational process or is left behind for others to clean up.** This privilege can be removed at any time.


 * Head garments may be worn but the use of any attire for drawing attention in unacceptable.**


 * Lost or damaged textbooks:** most textbooks average $75 to replace. Students are responsible for their assigned textbooks and other materials (including desks).


 * In case of a substitute teacher, they will be shown the utmost respect and the directions left for them to administer followed.**


 * Students are expected to follow any and all guidelines as established by the Board of Education and stated in the MSSD #14 and MSHS policy handbooks.**


 * Respect is earned and given; make the right decisions.** If you feel you deserve respect then you will need to show it to your fellow classmates and teacher.


 * __REMEMBER: This is an HONORS class and the work required will be above that of a regular class; your work is expected to reflect this level of ability and will be graded accordingly. The course also requires that you read outside of class and beyond the assigned text. Writing will be an emphasis throughout the semester.__**

=**PROPOSED SCHEDULE:**= (Class Schedule: Schedule Subject to Change – check often with your teacher.)

September 1-7 Chapter 1 Intro to Human Geography Field Note: Awakening to World Hunger
 * TEST CHAPTER 1**

September 8-14 Chapter 2 Population Field Note: Where Are the Children?
 * TEST CHAPTER 2**

September 15-21 Chapter 3 Migration Field Note: Jerusalem, Israel
 * TEST CHAPTER 3**

September 22-29 Chapter 4 Culture Field Note: Preserving Culture
 * TEST CHAPTER 4**

September 30-8 Chapter 5 Identity Field Note: Building Walls Identity Project //Movie: Hotel Rwanda//
 * TEST CHAPTER 5**

October 12-15 Chapter 6 Language Field Note: What Should I Say?
 * TEST CHAPTER 6**

October 18-22 Chapter 7 Religion Field Note: Dying and Resurrecting Religion Project
 * MID TERM EXAM (Oct 22nd)**

October 25-29 Chapter 8 Political Geography Field Note: Independence Is Better Than Servitude
 * TEST CHAPTER 8**

November 1-5 Chapter 9 Urban Geography Field Note: Straddling the Wall
 * TEST CHAPTER 9**

November 8-12 Chapter 10 Development Field Note: Buenos Aries, Argentina
 * TEST CHAPTER 10**

November 15-19 Chapter 11 Agriculture Field Note: Changing Greens
 * TEST CHAPTER 11**

November 29-3 Chapter 12 Industry & Services Field Note: Branding the Backboard
 * TEST CHAPTER 12**

//Begin Country Presentations// December 6-10 Chapter 13 Human Environment Field Note: Disaster Along Indian Ocean Shores
 * TEST CHAPTER 13**

//Continue Country Presentations// December 13-17 Chapter 14 Globalization Field Note: Global Consumption


 * FINAL EXAM (December 21st)**

All or portions of movies or Internet clips may be shown during the class to reinforce a theme we are discussing at the time. These items may contain graphic material that could be of an R rating in the movie industry and therefore you need to be aware of this. Parents may opt to not have their child view these clips or movies. An alternative assignment will be given for those students who are unable or miss the viewing of movies/clips.


 * Please read, sign and return the lower portion.**


 * I/we have read the above classroom guidelines and understand what is expected during the semester for this course.**


 * Student _ __Date__**

__**Parent/Guardian**__ **_ Date**