Assignments

If you are enrolled in GEOG 480 (CRN: 20192), your grade will be based on the following:

1. Thematic Essays: There are three (3) essay assignments following the conclusion of different "themes" for the term: the wide angle view of federal land management (assigned week 3), opposition to federal land management (assigned week 7), and Malheur to the present (assigned week 9). You will write on your choice of two (2) of these essays. These assignments are opportunities to demonstrate achievement of course learning goals and related outcomes. Details in individual assignment instructions on Moodle. Each essay is worth ten (10) points, for a total of twenty (20).
2. Summative Essay: Everyone will write on a final essay, assigned in week 10. The Summative Essay asks you to critically reflect on and synthesize material from the whole term and across themes. Like the Thematic Essays, the Summative Essay is an opportunity to demonstrate course learning goals and related outcomes, but, in particular, the final essay is an opportunity to demonstrate integrative learning in the synthesis of material from the whole term. Details on Moodle. The Final Essay is worth fifteen (15) points.
3. Reading Responses: For regular assigned reading, you will be asked to submit a response to a specific set of questions or tasks for that week's chapters. The Reading Responses are opportunities to practice key features of Inquiry & Analysis, as well as to show learning related to course goals and outcomes in geography. Details on individual assignments on Moodle. This assignment is worth thirty (30) points towards your grade. Each week's Response is three (3) points.
4. In-class Writing: This takes the form of Learning Assessments and Freewriting. Freewriting entails writing about anything related to the course within a specified period of time, usually a few minutes. Learning Assessments are short tasks or questions intended to give me an idea of what students are getting out of each week's material. Learning Assessments will typically be administered at the end of the class period, while Freewriting can happen at any point during a meeting. Each week's In-Class Writing is worth one and a half (1.5) points for a total of fifteen (15). The In-Class Writing is an opportunity for you to practice and demonstrate reflection and self-assessment, which is a primary feature of Integrative Learning.

   If you miss one of the Monday class meetings, you will be able to make up half of a point (0.5) of that week's In-Class Writing credit by participating in an online forum designated for that purpose. The forum will open by 5:00 pm on Mondays and will close by 11:55 pm on Thursdays. Note: for week 2, In-Class Writing will be for full credit online due to the Martin Luther King Day holiday, and will open at 8:00 am on T 1/17.

5. Online Discussion: Each week will include an online discussion to complement our Monday classroom discussion. Online discussions may include supplemental reading and material such as videos and podcasts. Online discussions will open at 4:00 pm on Mondays and close at 11:55 pm on Thursdays (in week 2, Online Discussion will open on T 1/17 in recognition of the Martin Luther King Day holiday). You are required to make at least two (2) forum contributions each week. Meeting that requirement is worth two (2) two points per week and twenty (20) total. Your participation in Online Dicussion may also raise your final grade following my policy on Attendance & Participation. Online Discussions will offer opportunities to show what you are learning across the primary goals and outcomes for the course.

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).

If you are enrolled in GEOG 580 (CRN: 20193), your grade in this class will be based on the above assignments and an additional project to be worked out in consultation with me. That project will be worth twenty (20) points, and final grades will be assessed on an 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.