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First, let us take care of something that most students
want to know at the earliest: the grading structure. What you earn
is what you earn--no grade curving.
Click here
to know more about the assignments that you have to complete in order to
earn the grade.
| 93 percent or above: A |
88-92: A- |
84-87: B+ |
80-83: B |
| 77-79: B- |
74-76: C+ |
70-73: C |
67-69: C- |
| 64-66: D+ |
60-63: D |
55-59: D- |
Below 55: F |
Required text for the course:
The text we will use is titled Urban
Geography, which is authored by
David Kaplan, James Wheeler, Steven
Holloway, and Thomas Hodler. John Wiley
is the publisher.
Because of the online nature of the
class, you need to make sure you have
the text right from the first week of
classes.
-
You may use the first edition, or
the latest—second—edition. In
either case, you will have to
purchase it online, because the text
will not be available in the
bookstore. Note that the new
edition might be a tad expensive.
The
publisher’s site will have only
new copies. You might be able to
locate used texts, which will be
less expensive, at other sites,
including
Amazon.com or
-
If you are comfortable with
electronic versions of the textbook,
you will be able to purchase it from
the publisher's
CourseSmart site. While you
will pay only half the price of a
new textbook for this electronic
version, I don’t think you can
“return” it when the term is over.
The schedule below lists the additional readings for this
class.
Note that the
two
articles whose titles I have highlighted in
yellow are from Dissent,
Summer 2009, Vol.
56 Issue 3. The library has a physical
copy in the browsing area. It is also
available online through the library's
articles database. Check with me or
the librarians if you need help accessing
it. Slacking off in the online
environment is very easy to do. But,
that can seriously affect your goal to
graduate with a decent grade. Unless the circumstances are exceptional, you WILL NOT be allowed to make up for
work you missed. Also, please behave in a civil and courteous manner
in our interactions, even when you disagree with the instructor or fellow students. Students who feel that they may need
additional help for any type of disability should make an appointment to see me and should also contact the Office of Disability Services (838-8250).
Tentative Schedule:
| Week # |
Chapters from the text, and
articles to read |
Tasks due? |
| Week 1 |
What is an American City?
Chapters 1 and 2 (Introduction,
and Origins and development of
cities) |
Intros |
| Week 2 |
Chapters 1 and 2 (Introduction,
and Origins and development of
cities)
yes, we will be discussing these
over two weeks |
DQ 1 |
| Week 3 |
Chapter 3 (American urban
system),
"City
Views", "Sex
and the city, Pregnancy and the
suburb?" |
DQ 2 |
| Week 4 |
Chapter 14 (Cities in the
developed world), Chapter 15 (Cities
in the less developed world) |
Essay 1 |
| Week 5 |
Chapter 6 (Urban
land use) and Chapter 7 (Landscapes
of production) |
DQ 3 |
| Week 6 |
Chapter 5 (Telecommunications),
"The
city that never sleeps", "Will
there be cities in a virtual world?" |
DQ 4 |
| Week 7 |
Chapter 8 (Slicing the urban
pie) |
DQ 5 |
| Week 8 |
Chapter 9 (Urban housing
markets),
"A
tale of two town houses", "Our
own Private Idahos", |
Essay 2 |
| Week 9 |
Chapter 10 (Segregation, race,
and urban poverty), "Broken
Windows",
Homicide in the Hood |
|
| Week 10 |
"When
a McMansion isn't enough",
"The
next slum?",
"On
borrowed time", and
course-wrap-up :-) |
|
| Finals Week |
Final paper due
before 9:00 am on Monday |
Click
here
to email me.
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