Geography 222 The Power of Maps and GIS
...to Geog 222 Main Page and Course Description
Syllabus, Fall 2008
...to Geog 222 Course Schedule and Lecture Outlines
...to Geog 222 Exercises
Lectures: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 11:00-11:50: Science Center 207
Instructor: Dr. John Krygier
- Office: Science Center 206
- Office phone: 740-368-3622
- Office hours: MW 12-2 pm and by appointment or chance
- E-mail: jbkrygier@owu.edu
- Office phone: 740-368-3622
Text and Readings
There are two utterly fascinating texts for this course: Mark Monmonier How to Lie with Maps (2nd ed., 1996) and John Krygier and Denis Wood Making Maps (2005). There is a brilliant blog for the book that has some supplemental material related to the topics in the book, links to other curious mapping sites on the internets, and a list of terrible music I listen to. I wrote he Making Maps book because no other text met my needs for the mapping courses at OWU. I make 3$ for each new copy of Making Maps sold, nothing on used copies. So much for an early retirement. We will read most of the Monmonier book, and about 2/3 of the Krygier & Wood book, the rest of which is covered in Geography 353. A few other readings are downloadable PDFs on the course schedule.
Consider the extensive WWW materials here to be a primary text for this course. Exams and exercises are based on lecture material and assigned readings. Lectures do not slavishly follow the readings, and there is a substantial amount of material presented in the lectures that is not in the readings ... thus, it is important to attend lectures. Students will be required to purchase a map for the course (instructions provided in class) which should cost a whopping $6. Start saving now. Required readings are noted on the course schedule.
Exercises
Seven exercises will be assigned. All but one of these exercises will use the internets. Completed exercises must be turned in on time (no late exercises accepted). Whining won't get you an extension, but a fabulous explanation might. Exercises are linked to the course schedule and exercises pages. At least one additional in-class exercise will be assigned.
Computer Access and Skills
Students in Geography 222 will be expected to locate and use a computer with internets access. If you can point and click on the internets, you can complete the work in this course. You may use the Department of Geology and Geography GIS and Computer Mapping Lab (Science Center 207) for course exercises.
Evaluation
- 2 midterm exams @ 100 pts. each = 200 pts.
- Final take home exam = 100 pts.
- Exercises = 350 pts.
- Participation and effort will be rewarded, as will improvement and fancy haircuts.
- Three unexcused absences allowed; after that, your final total grade will be reduced by 3.14159265% for each absence.
Other Rules and Regulations
- Late Assignments: deduct 15% each day (including weekends) late.
- No make-up exams will be given.
- No pinching, tickling, or poking fellow students during lecture
- Plagiarism will be severely punished.
- Let me know if you have a valid excuse for missing a lecture.
- Students who get a D or F on an exam must schedule a meeting with me.
Writing Option
- I do not normally offer a writing option for Geography 222 but may
be persuaded to do so. A bottle of fine Kentucky Bourbon (Woodford Reserve
preferred) or a $30 eBay gift certificate may be left in my mailbox in the
Science Center. Please talk to me by the end of the 1st week of classes if
you really want to do a Writing Option. If I agree to supervise a writing
option for the class, a written 1 page proposal for a writing project is due
by the end of the third week of classes. A draft of your writing
option work is due by the end of the eighth week of classes. The
final draft of your writing option work is due by the end of the
fourteenth week of classes.
- There is no 2nd point.
E-mail: jbkrygier@owu.edu