The instability dominating some Middle Eastern countries during the past two decades has focused global attention to this oil rich nation. The decade of the nineties saw the assassination of Israel’s former prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, Kuwait-Iraq conflict, Israelis versus the Palestinians, and the US-Iraq air strikes. In the millenium, ongoing peace talks in the Middle East are continuing and the world is facing increased gas prices linked with OPEC countries.. The global studies series text on the Middle East provides a wealth of information on geographic, cultural, economic, political, historic, artistic and religious aspects in the region. During the course of this semester we are going to be exposed to a series of articles ranging from fundamental background information to world press releases on Middle Eastern issues. Our discussions will be very alive since we will take an in-depth look into this region of the world, debate and predict dynamic happenings, and make comparisons between actualities witnessed and our own insights and perceptions.

The text is structured as follows:

• Several regional essays focus on the religious, cultural, social, political, and economic similarities and differences of peoples and countries in the Middle East

 

• Twenty country reports comprising five standard elements including maps, statistics, essays, historical timelines, and graphic indicators

 

• Eighteen world press articles on the current Middle East issues selected from international periodicals and newspapers.

 

The objectives of this course include:

• assuring that students comprehend material provided and integrate it with the basic tenets of geography

 

• encouraging students to use comprehension of that material as a vehicle for critical thinking, reasoning, and effective argument

 

• training students to identify and relate similarities and differences among the peoples of Middle Eastern countries to their level of progress and development

 

• exposing students to various peoples and cultures of the Middle East and examining the human impact on the region as well as on global development

 

• cultivating geographic skills through understanding, analyzing and interpreting statistics, maps, figures, and graphs depicting the Middle East

 

• encouraging students to express ideas clearly and concisely through review of articles and research preparation and presentation

 

According to the recent federal government mandate, schools are required to record the last date of attendance for students who have ceased attending class. In order to comply with the new guidelines, roll will be taken each time we meet. It is your responsibility to ensure that you indicate your presence on the roll sheet every class period. Please let me know if you stop attending my class permanently so that I can inform the Records Office.

Regular attendance during the semester is essential since you will be playing a major role in discussions of Middle Eastern issues in class. Your participation in class discussions and tracking of current issues affecting the Middle Eastern countries (local and global scales) through article reviews and class presentations will enhance your overall performance in this course. Irregular attendance will not allow you to see the "big picture" and will affect your overall performance.

During the course of this semester there will be pop-quizzes, mid-term and final exams covering mapwork, related terminology and abbreviations, and information based on regional essays, country reports, and world press articles documented in the text. Additionally, students will review and present articles, and prepare and present research on a Middle East country. Exams and research papers will be returned for review, then re-collected and filed in my office.

The course grade will be based on cumulative points acquired through the following activities:

• Exam 1........................................................100 points

• Exam 2 (non-comprehensive final)...................100 points

• Research papers, pop quizzes & article reviews.......200 points

•Total.................................................................................400 points

 

Grade Scale:

A = 90-100% (360 and above); 

B = 80-89% (320-359)

                    C = 70-79% (280-319);

                    D = 60-69% (240-279)

                    F = below 60% (below 240).

                    January 8-9: Late registration and drop/add on TRAM (898-2000)

                    January 6-9: Drop/Add on TRAM

                    January 9 by 5 pm: Last day to add a class

                    February 3: Last day to drop without a grade

January 19: 4 p.m., 75% refund deadline. Last day for students to withdraw from the University or drop to part-time and receive a 75% refund

February 5: 4 p.m., 25% refund deadline. Last day for students to withdraw from the University or drop to part-time and receive a 25% refund

March 3: Last day to drop a course by TRAM and receive a "W"

                    Jan. 20: Martin Luther King Holiday;

                    March. 10 - 15: Spring Break

If you have a disability that may require assistance or accommodation, or you have questions related to any accommodation for testing, note takers, readers, etc., please speak with me as soon as possible. Students may also contact the Office of Disabled Students Services (898-2783) with questions about such services.

The "land between the Tigris and Euphrates" in the Middle East has been referred to as the cradle of western civilization. Events in the Middle East have always triggered world attention. It is going to be quite a learning experience for us this semester as we focus in on background information and issues affecting the Middle East. This knowledge is vital as we get ready to respond to the realities of our global age in the twenty-first century. Hope you have an exciting Fall 2000!