GEOGRAPHY 445: SOUTHEAST ASIA

Spring 2001

General Objectives:

This course aims to survey and explore a range of contemporary geographic issues affecting the Southeast Asia region, both within and between countries in the area.  Students should leave this course with a solid grounding in the environmental, political, economic, demographic, and cultural factors operating in the region, and should be able to form critical arguments regarding these issues and their interrelationships.

Specific Aims:

Students who successfully complete this course will have

·      familiarity with major and minor geo-political entities in the region;

·      a grounding in the physical environment and resources of the region;

·      an understanding of the economic underpinnings and interactions in the region;

·      an awareness of issues and problems facing the region.

·      a set of geographic tools and methodologies for tackling geographic issues, including agriculture, industry, urbanization, population, social and cultural change;

Course Requirements:

1.  Map Quizzes

            Starting at the second week, each week will feature a very short map quiz.  The purpose of these exercises is to build familiarity and geographic literacy for the region. 

2.  Content Quizzes

Three “content quizzes” on the readings and discussion materials will be administered during the semester.  This will be short-essay, and may be take-home format.

3.  Regional Presentations:

Each student will, twice in the semester, be responsible for presenting information on a country in the SE Asia region that accords with the thematic topic for that week.  These will be short (5-10 minutes) , in-class presentations that require a modest amount of work outside of class.  A short (1-2 page) summary will be handed in as well.

4.  Class Participation:

            Students are expected to be active learners and “good citizens” of a scholarly community. This means taking seriously the ideas of others and those in the readings, and participating actively in discussions in class.  In a seminar format, active discussion is essential and expected.  This also requires that students have read the assignments prior to class.  Finally, it requires that students actually come to class. 

5.  Attendance:

            Students should notify the instructor, preferably by email, of expected absences and their reasons.  Students are responsible for all work missed due to absences.  Unexcused absences will lower the class-participation grade.

Evaluation:

Textbooks and Readings:

Leinbach & Ulack, 2000  Southeast Asia: Diversity and Development

            New Jersey: Prentice Hall

Other readings as assigned.

COURSE POLICY

General Guidelines: General

a)     Students are expected to master the texts and to attend all classes

b)    Students are expected to participate in in-class group activities

c)     Assignments and quizzes should be attended to at the proper times.

d)     Make-up non-map quizzes will not be given without prior notification of absence according to procedures outlined by the Office of the Dean of the College.

e)     The classroom is not a cafeteria: please arrive at the beginning and do not leave until the end.  There is no coming and going during the class itself.

Map Quizzes:

            Map Quizzes will come at the beginning of the week for the week that region is assigned. Study guides to the map quizzes will be posted at the course website listed on the front of this syllabus. There are no surprises.  You will be given a blank map similar to the one on the website, and asked to identify five items.  It’s over fast.

Late assignment policy:  

While I very much do NOT like to receive late assignments, my policy is “better late than never.”  On all assignments except map quizzes, you will lose 2 points per week for lateness, up to one half the total possible grade.  Make-up map quizzes can be taken by arrangement at any time, with no loss of points for lateness. 

If you realize that your paper will be late, you should notify me.  Make-up map quizzes can be arranged.  Make-up content quizzes, however, can only be given in extreme circumstances and in accordance with the policies set out by the college.  Ordinarily, they will not be given.

Academic dishonesty:

            Academic dishonesty is not accepted in this course.  Cheating on a map quiz will result in a deduction of 10 points from your overall assessment.  Cheating on a test or handing in plagiarized materials will result in your expulsion from the course and an automatic failing grade.

IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM:  

Come see me.  If you are having serious trouble either in the class, or coming to class, or getting the work done, don’t let it slide without letting me know.  We’ll try to salvage what we can for you.

NOTE:   All of the guidelines and grading schemes outlined on the syllabus may be subject to change in order to better suit the talents and needs of the class.

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