Graded Assignments

For students enrolled in GEOG 420D (CRN: 21414), your grade will be based on:

1. Essays. I will post essay topics and questions to my faculty website. There will be four preliminary exams and a final. The preliminary exams will feature questions related to weeks 1 and 2, 4 and 5, 6 and 7, 8 and 9. You may choose up to two of these four exams to write on. I will count your highest score toward your final grade. Everyone will write on the same final exam, which will be posted on week 10 and due during finals week. The preliminary exams are worth twenty-five (25) points, and the final exam is worth thirty (30) points.
2. Reading preparation. For each class session with reading attached, you will be assigned a reading or readings for which you will be required to complete the following sentences:
   • "The most important point in this reading was ..."
   • "The most confusing point in this reading was ..."
   • "The most interesting thing I learned from this reading was ..."
   • "One question I have for discussion is ..."

   You should neatly handwrite, type, or wordprocess your responses. Note that you will still be responsible for all of the reading on exams and other assignments. Each week's reading preparation is worth two (2) points. The assignment is worth twenty (20) points toward your final grade.

   If you are not in class to turn in your reading preparation assignment, you may get those to me by the end of class on the day in question. You may do this in person or via e-mail (hustons@wou.edu). If you miss that deadline, you will have until Friday at 4:00 pm each week to arrange for an extension.

   Special arrangements will be made to cover week 1 and week 3 (MLK Day holiday).

3. Materials analysis. In weeks 2, 6, and 8, I will select "materials" - newspaper articles, photographs, websites, etc. - for you to interpret within the context of the course. Initial details provided on week 2. This assignment is worth fifteen (15) points towards your grade in the class.
4. Learning assessments. These are short tasks or questions that I will generally present at the end of each week. Their purpose is to help me gauge what you're learning. This assignment is worth ten (10) points, one (1) point per assessment. In a week when there is no assessment, I will "comp" everyone the point. Generally, learning assessments cannot be made up. However, if circumstances require you to miss more than two (2) in a row, I recommend that you come to talk to me about the impact that missing these assignments will have on your grade for the term.

Final grades will be assessed on a standard 100 point scale (93+ is an A; 90-92 is an A-; 87-89 is a B+; 83-86 is a B; 80-82 is a B-; 77-79 is a C+; 73-76 is a C; 70-72 is a C-; 67-69 is a D+; 63-66 is a D; 60-62 is a D-. Lower than 60 is an F).

For students enrolled in GEOG 520 (CRN: 21415), grades will be based on the assignments outlined above and an additional 20 point project to be worked out in consultation with the instructor.

Graduate student grades will be assessed on a 120 point scale: 111+ is an A; 108-110 is an A-; 104-107 is a B+; 99-103 is a B; 96-98 is a B-; 92-95 is a C+; 87-91 is a C; 84-86 is a C-; 80-83 is a D+; 75-79 is a D; 72-74 is a D-. Lower than 72 is an F.