GEOG 470 Urban Geography

Required texts

Grading scale

Weighting

Grade disputes

You may dispute your grade on any individual item for up to two weeks after it has been graded. After this, the grade is final. There is no extra credit in the class, so if you are not getting the grade that you want, you must come talk to me as soon as possible to discuss strategies for improving future grades.

Questions and counterpoints

A key component of reflections is the generation of questions and counterpoints. A good question is not something that you could simply ‘Google’, but on the other hand, it should not be so open-ended that it would take volumes to answer either. In addition to writing a question, you should also posit potential answers on your own and/or provide a rationale for why you brought up the question in the first place. These questions/counterpoints will be used for in-class discussions.

The following are examples of bad questions with short explanations as to why they are poor:

• Question: “What is the GDP of Bangladesh?”
  • Rationale for why this question is poor: A quick Google search returns the answer immediately.
• Question: “I wonder what the state of public transportation is like in Seattle today.”
  • This is a statement (not really a question), and it’s far too broad. An entire course could be taught on public transportation in Seattle. The question needs to be more specific and dig a bit deeper.

These questions could be framed better if they read something like this:

• Question: “According to figures produced by the World Bank, Bangladesh appears to be about middle of the road in terms of GDP per capita for the region. How do the histories of colonization of Bangladesh and surrounding countries differ? Were other imperial powers as present in Bangladesh as the British were in India, for instance?”

• Question: “I’ve been to both Seattle and Portland, and based on my experience, Seattle was easier to navigate through multi-modal transportation. Do you suspect this is the result of my limited time in the two cities or is it truly characteristic of accessibility in each? According to Walkscore, Seattle has a higher Transit score, but Portland has a higher Cycling score. (sidenote: is Walkscore a legitimate source for gauging a city’s accessibility?)”

Reflections are all graded out of 12 points, with the questions/counterpoints making up 6 points (i.e. 3 points each) and the other questions, the number of which will vary week to week, making up the remaining 14 points. The following rubric is used for the grading of reflection questions/counterpoints:

• 0 points: the student did not complete the question/counterpoint or used only a few words which did not pertain to the reflection at hand.

• 1 point: the student used a very short response (a sentence or less) and did little to no supplementing of their answer with background research.

• 2 points: the student used a sentence or more in their answer but asked a question so broad that it would not lead to conducive discussion (e.g., “what does the future hold on [topic here]?”), did not provide their own reasoning, did not do any background research, or asked a lengthy, but Google-able, question.

• 3 points: the student clearly put thought into the response and used at the very least two thorough sentences on their question/counterpoint. They provided their own reasoning, put forth a potential explanation, and/or did some background research into the topic.

How to successfully complete a reflection

Each reflection should have two sections: (1) Summary and (2) Questions and counterpoints. Your summary should have 10-15 bullet points (with additional direct quotes as you see fit). Your questions and counterpoints should be well thought out and suitable for class discussion.

Attendance

Each day you will complete a short survey on Canvas at the end of class which will function as your attendance record. Keeping an appropriate attendance record is required by the university, and it can play an important role in the administration of financial aid, especially in the case of unexpected withdrawal from classes. Though no points will be deducted if you miss class, attendance and participation are vital to succeeding in the course.

You are responsible for the material discussed in class if you are not in attendance, even if you are participating in an official university activity. Presentation slides will be posted to the course website, but lectures will not be recorded. These are not designed to be a replacement for attending class in person.

Absences

In order to receive points for in-class items (quizzes, exams, and participation related to discussion) you must be in attendance to receive points. If you are participating in an official university activity or too sick to come to class, then you must email me before the class period to let me know. No absence is excused unless an excuse is granted ahead of time.

Communication

• In email communication, always use GEOG-470 as the subject heading.
• If you have a question about course policies, please check the syllabus before emailing me. Ctrl-f is your friend.
• Check your email multiple times a day, everyday.

Late work

All items are due on the date specified on the schedule (usually Fridays) at 5:00 PM. Late work is not accepted in this course. However, there is a 48 hour extension period in which assignments may be turned in without penalty. After this extension period, the Canvas drop box will close and will not be reopened. Don’t get into the habit of abusing the extension time! There will not be consideration of any additional extension time over the weekend for technical issues, travel, having to take a roommate to urgent care, or any other reason. There is no mulligan option in this class since what we do in class depends heavily on your work outside of class the previous week. However, each student will be able to drop their lowest quiz grade.

Classroom etiquette

The following rules apply to all class periods:

• Come to class prepared having read the assigned readings and watched the assigned videos.
• I ask that you do not pack up your materials until class is dismissed for the day. If we reach the end of class and I have not stopped lecturing, kindly let me know by raising your hand.
• I encourage you to challenge my ideas as long as you do so respectfully.
• I do not make presentation files available digitally, so during lectures it is expected that you will rigorously take notes on the presentation content, demonstrations, and anything written on the drawing pad.
• Do not talk with fellow classmates during lectures.
• No photographs may be taken in class.
• Disruptive behavior will result in being dismissed from class for the day.
• Do not use cell phones during lecture.

These policies are in place for a number of reasons:

• Research indicates that writing notes by hand results in improved processing of information, greater classroom performance,¹ and fewer distractions.² Conversely, students who use laptops in class are less satisfied with their education³ and perform worse.^{4 5}
• My experience has shown that attendance rates are higher when notes are not made available online.
• I frequently make adjustments to my slides up until just before the lecture starts, which results in students in not having the same lecture material as what I have in my slides if I provide them for students to print off.
• I attempt to structure my slides in a way such that they are not sufficient on their own; they complement my lectures. In my view, making slides available encourages students to merely fill-in-the-blanks. Students should be taking notes throughout the lecture on information that is spoken, written on the drawing pad, and embedded on the slides.
• Taking notes on a keyboard may be efficient for recording text, but in this course we will regularly draw charts, diagrams, and maps which lend themselves much better to freehand note taking.
• Laptop use is highly distracting to me as an instructor. If I see that someone has their eyes glued their laptop than my lectures, I usually assume that they are playing World of Warcraft, which makes me want to play World of Warcraft, which in turn greatly impairs my ability to lecture.
• Cell phone use is similarly distracting. If I see a student on their phone, I assume the lecture lacks entertainment value, which impairs my ability to lecture effectively.
• Taking a break from your cell phone is a healthy practice that most people could use much more of. Our brains were not designed for the continual dopamine rush that cellar notifications and social media provide. Take a break from your phone for an hour while in this class!

Stress management and well-being

Stress Management & Well-being: College can be hard. Everyone can benefit from placing their personal well-being as a top priority throughout the semester. Should you want some emotional support for any reason, you can access FREE counseling services (even one short session to problem-solve solutions) from the UWEC Counseling Services on campus. They are providing a variety of online and in-person services, including some virtual wellness workshops. Call them at 836-5521, stop by Vicki Lord Larson Hall room 2122, or check out the website to make an appointment: https://www.uwec.edu/counseling-services/.

Students also have FREE access to UW System Mental Health Support through Mantra health – a telehealth service available 24/7 days a week (call or text: 888-531-2142 or go online at: app.mantrahealth.com; sign up using your UWEC email address). You can also reach out to the WI-branch of the national crisis/emotional support text line by texting ‘HOPELINE’ to 741 741 or use the national suicide prevention lifeline: 988 Please use these resources to support your mental well-being and success as a Blugold!

COVID-19 precautions

This class will adhere to UWEC COVID-19 policies and guidelines as found here https://www.uwec.edu/coronavirus-updates/.

Students with disabilities

Any student who has a disability and is in need of classroom accommodations should contact the instructor and the Services for Students with Disabilities Office in Centennial Hall 2106 at the beginning of the semester. I will work you to find appropriate accommodations.

Non-native speakers of English

Students who are non-native speakers of English may request extended test-taking time (time and a half). To determine eligibility, English proficiency is evaluated by the Academic Skills Center (for U. S. permanent residents/citizens) or by the Department of Languages (for international students). Students approved for the accommodation are given a verification form to present to their course instructors. Students must provide verification during each semester at least one week before the test for which accommodation is needed. Verification is valid for one semester.

FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) indicates that students have a right to see their records and that you cannot release any information about them to a third party without written permission from the student that clearly spells out what type of information may be released. In other words, if your parents email me and ask me about your grades, I’m not going to tell them anything! For more information, see here.

Dropping or withdrawing from class

The last day to drop full semester fall courses with no record is September 19. Instructions for doing so are available here.

The last day to file withdrawal from full semester fall courses with a “W” on your record is November 14. Instructions for doing so are available here.

For a full list of relevant dates, see here.

Academic integrity

As described in the Blugold Student Conduct Code under student academic misconduct, ‘Students are responsible for the honest completion and representation of their work, for the appropriate citation of sources, and for the respect of others’ academic endeavors. These student responsibilities are important, and deviations from these responsibilities have consequences. The disciplinary procedures and penalties for academic misconduct are described on the UW-Eau Claire Dean of Students web site: https://www.uwec.edu/kb/article/blugold-student-conduct-code/. Additionally, requesting to a receive a grade that was not earned is considered an academic integrity violation.

Distribution of class notes

I do not consent to having notes from my class uploaded to the internet, including commercial note-selling websites such as StudySoup. Some companies target students and solicit course material acting as if they are working in coordination with colleges and universities, but that is not true for this class. This means that you do not have the right to provide your notes to anyone else or to make any commercial use of them without express prior permission from me. Unless you are a qualified disabled student, you do not have the right to record my lectures. Inappropriate use of notes may be in violation of the Blugold Conduct Code and sanctions will be pursued accordingly.

GG WP