Graded assignments

1. Issue roundtables. It is worth twenty (20) points toward your grade in the class.
2. Post-class questions. The final five to ten minutes of each W class will be devoted to writing down lingering questions and issues. What did we talk about that day that continues to interest or puzzle you? This assignment begins with week 1. Each set of questions is worth 2 points toward your grade. Your five (5) highest scores will count toward your grade for a total of 10 points.
3. Response essays. This assignment asks you to respond to selected arguments from the texts. A handout identifying an argument (or arguments) will precede each essay. Your paper should agree with, refute or provide critical comment on the selected argument. Response essays will be posted after each major chapter in Wilkinson devoted to a specific resource area. You are required to write on three (3) out of these five (5) areas. Everyone will write either essay 1 (mining) or essay 2 (ranching) - but not both - and then choose 2 out of the remaining 3 to finish the assignment. Deadlines are given on the course calendar and additional details will be provided on individual handouts. The first essay is worth 20 (twenty) points toward your grade and the remaining two are worth 25 (twenty-five) each for a total of 70.

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 580 (CRN: 10504), grades will be based on the assignments outlined above and an additional 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).