Department of Geography and Geology

Global Issues will take us around the world as we examine real world issues affecting global populations. This is a dynamic field and one that is highly debatable, lending itself to many interpretations. It is important that we examine differing viewpoints presented on an international level in order to understand the various facets of each global issue. Accordingly, we will be challenged to appraise differing perceptions of issues on a global scale. The objective is to be sufficiently extended and stimulated to internalize and examine our own values and beliefs.

The text is structured along five basic global issues:

· Unit 1 examines the forces at work in the world of the twenty first century
· Unit 2 describes the forces affecting global population growth
· Unit 3 discusses natural resources and their effects on the world community
· Units 4, 5, and 6 focuses on different aspects of the world's social structures
· Unit 7 concentrates on a number of meta (qualities that make human beings more than mere animals) forces.

 

The objectives of this course include:

· developing a basic understanding of global issues by examining population trends and issues

· encouraging students to examine global implications brought about by the scarcity of natural resources

· training students to identify similarities and differences in the people-nature relationship since this is critical to understanding many of today's most important global issues

· exposing students to various peoples and cultures of the world and examining the human impact on global development

· creating an awareness among students to the relationship between social structure and nature which represents an important element in the study of global issues

· cultivating geographic skills through understanding, analyzing and interpreting global statistics, maps, figures, and graphs

· encouraging students to express ideas clearly and concisely through research preparation and presentation

· developing the student's powers of critical thinking through reviews of articles in Global Issues.
 

According to the recent federal government mandate, schools are required to record the last date of attendance for students who have ceased attending class.  It is your responsibility to ensure that you indicate your presence on the roll sheet every mandatory class period. Please let me know if you stop attending my class permanently so that I can inform the Records Office.

You are expected to interact online with students and access course components a minimum of twice per week. Statistics will be retrieved from the course site to verify your access and input. In order for statistics to be generated for you individually, you must sign in under your sign on information and password. Any sign ons as a guest will not be utilized to verify your interactions.

Please note that the first Tuesday and Thursday of class is mandatory.  You will be notified of other mandatory dates whenever needed during the course of the semester.  You will be given at least 2 weeks notice regarding mandatory meeting times.  Class will meet at times and location specified in the schedule book.
 

Course Information
Initial class meeting dates: First Tuesday and Thursday at 12:30PM in KOM 324. Important class information will be discussed and initial plans made to facilitate a successful semester (e.g., presentation information and an orientation to the computer component of this course). This information will not be repeated during any other course sessions. If you are unable to attend these classes you may want to consider selecting another course for this component of your educational experience.

Communications: It is imperative that you maintain contact with the instructor regarding course components. This is your responsibility. Once you have registered for the class, please E-MAIL: garbharr@mtsu.edu , additional information will be e-mailed to you on a regular basis. Telephone and Voice Mail (615) 898-5977.

Class Participation: You are required to interact on the discussion board in order to get participation points.  At periodic intervals during the semester the instructor will post questions concerning a specific topic on this board and students will be expected to respond to them or other student's responses to these questions.  Class participation accounts for 30 percent of your grade.  For every instance that a student does not respond to the question concerning a certain topic, participate in the resulting discussion, or does not provide a reasonably intelligent response or comment (as determined by the instructor), the student will have 5 percentage points deducted from his/her total participation points.

 

1. Assessment of each unit will comprise 35 percent of your grade. There are a total of 7 units in your text. For each written assessment students will answer in an essay questions outlined below: 1.1. What is the ONE major theme of this unit? Do not give the unit heading (e.g., Unit One heading reads "Global Issues in the 21st century: an overview) as your one major theme-- make sure you come up with your theme based on your entire reading of the articles in the unit.

1.2. List 5 FACTS the author’s use to support their main ideas and, therefore, contribute to the one major theme of this unit.

1.3. Choose 3 articles from the unit to answer questions 1.3.1-1.3.5. Do you agree or disagree with this article? State why you agree or disagree. Support your argument with outside sources. Cite your internet, library, TV, newspaper, journal, or magazine references:

1.3.1. Choose any article from this unit and answer question 1.3.

1.3.2. Choose your second article from this unit and answer question 1.3.

1.3.3. Choose your third article from this unit and answer question 1.3.

Each assessment must be a minimum of 300 words in length. These essays will be evaluated according to the same criteria as essays in exams. In addition one half point will be deducted from the total score of each assignment for every egregious error in spelling, punctuation, and grammar. Students must forward their assessments through pipeline so that grades can be recorded on WebCT. The instructor will not accept late papers unless the student can show good cause (as determined by the instructor) for missing the due date. Students who miss such a deadline must contact the instructor before or at the time of the due date to explain the cause of the delay.

Due Dates:
Unit 1—January 21, 2003 no later than 11:59PM
Unit 2—February 6, 2003 no later than 11:59PM
Unit 3—February 20, 2003 no later than 11:59PM
Unit 4—March 6, 2003 no later than 11:59PM
Unit 5—March 20, 2003 no later than 11:59PM
Unit 6—April 3, 2003 no later than 11:59PM
Unit 7—April 13, 2003 no later than 11:59PM

2. Illustrated Research power point paper presentations due April 22 no later than 11:59PM will constitute 35 percent of your grade. Global issue topics for this paper will be confirmed with students on the first mandatory Thursday meeting of class. Discussion of format and presentation will also be discussed in class.

3. Class Participation comprises 30 percent of your final grade
 

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).

 

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.