^{Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2005. If you have taken, are taking, or intend soon to take Human Geography (GEOG 107) with Dr. Reynolds, this is the same text; we will be using different chapters.}

^{THE COURSE: Is half of an explorations sequence in Social Science. It provides a systematic geographic survey of human economic systems, regions and activities. Provides a basis for a systematic understanding of resources as environmental and cultural elements. Introduces frameworks for understanding the location of extraction, manufacturing and service industries. Explores the nature and cultural contexts of legal and market systems of economic control in regulated market economies. Provides fundamental insights into the growth and economic functions of cities. The book and lectures will introduce you to the basic patterns of livelihood (Means of work, patterns of wealth and poverty, stability and change) world wide, and to some of the theories that have been developed to explain these patterns. The assignments are designed to help you make the subject relevant to your own life.}

^{THE SUBJECT: Economic activity refers to the production, distribution and consumption of goods. By reading the text, completing the class activities, discussing and writing about the material, you should learn a new way of looking at your geographic environment. I hope you will find ways to act constructively in your environment to better understand the social importance of economic activities, and how location affects the livelihood and power of people and countries. Ideas such as economic regions and interactions might help you. I hope you will begin to think systematically about the world as a set of interactions between people, places, values, and economic activities and consider your power to respond to that environment. While concepts have definitions, and models have exact structures, the more important value and policy questions (Like how much should we pay in taxes in order to help Africans fight AIDS?) rarely have a single correct answer; we will address the resulting conflicts and means to resolving them in class activities and writing assignments.}

^{MY EXPECTATIONS AND ASSESSMENT OF STUDENTS: I want you to commit to mastering the basics of the discipline and applying them to examining your personal value structure and decisions. There will be three minor and one major project, a midterm exam, and a cumulative final exam. The minor projects require you to practice some math skills, and help you find the meanings in the numbers. The major project asks you to study a business, charitable organization, government or international agency, or NGO, and report to the class about}

^{its purpose(es) functions, history, organization, strengths, weaknesses, successes and failures. Learning objectives and grading criteria for each project will be explained in the individual project descriptions.}

^{GRADES: will be assigned on the basis of the percentage of total possible points earned. Assignments are weighted as follows:}

^{Short Projects (3 @ 100 points each) 300 points Midterm exam 200 points Term project 250 points Project Presentation 50 points Cumulative Final 200 points Total 1000 points}

^{All scores will be presented as percentage values of course grades; course grades will be assigned the following percentage values: 96-100% = "A," 90--95.9 = "A-" 87--89.9% = "B+," 84--86.9% = "B," 80--83.9% = "B-," 77--79.9% = "C+" etc. See following pages for schedule. Please note  that I revise the dates on the schedule in this syllabus each term, but it is more difficult to ensure that all dates are accurate on the assignment descriptions.  Should you find a discrepancy between the due date on the syllabus and the due date on the assignment, the syllabus date trumps, unless you are told otherwise in class.}

GENERAL NOTES:

1. Discrimination or Harassment: Southern Oregon University prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status or disability. Neither will the University tolerate sexual misconduct or sexual harassment by students, faculty or staff. For more information or assistance, contact me, the department Chair (Dr. Susan Reynolds 2-6279), the Dean (Dr. Josie Wilson 2-6946), Dean of Students in the SU (2-6221), Associate Provost’s office in Churchill Hall (2-6114), or Disability Services in the ACCESS Center (2-6213).

2. Schedule and attendance: The quarter is only nine weeks long. Do not put things off. Particularly, do not delay coming to see me with questions, criticisms, or for advice; I take the advising part of my job seriously. Attendance is your problem: failure to appear will prepare you poorly to learn.

3. Study time and schedule conflicts: The normal expectation is that you will spend 2-3 hours outside of the classroom for each hour in the classroom (8-12 hrs per week!). If you have trouble completing assignments in that amount of time, or have trouble finding that much time to spend on the work from this class I should hear from you. I may be able to help you study more efficiently, manage your time, or organize your priorities.

4. Academic Honesty: Don’t cheat. See the Student Handbook on plagiarism. If you suspect another student of cheating, take it up with the student or with me; I will attempt a quiet resolution. The College also has procedures for protection and punishment of students in such cases. I consider honesty the most valuable personal characteristic and assume you do, too; sometimes it has to be nurtured.

5. Drugs or Alcohol: Help is available without recrimination and in complete confidence. See me or the office of student affairs.

6. SOU Academic  Support Statement: if you are in need of academic support because of a documented disability (whether it is phychiatric, learning, mobility, health related, or sensory), you may be eligible for academic accomodations through disability services for students. Contact Disability Services for Students, Teresa Lowrie, Director, at (541) 552-6213, lowriet@sou.edu; or schedule an appointment in person at the ACCESS Center, Stevenson Union, Lower Level.