UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-WHITEWATER

GENED 140 - Global Perspectives
Fall 2011
Section 12, TR 12:30-1:45, Hyland 1301

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Announcements (updated irregularly):   

INSTRUCTOR

Prof. Jeff Heinrich
Hyland 4304C
Phone: 262.472.5583 (UWW)
Office Hours:   tba
e-mail:  heinricj@uww.edu

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course introduces students to key terms, concepts, issues and relationships in economics, geography, and political science. The course investigates how increasing globalization impacts issues such as the authority and competence of the nation-state, population growth and migration, economic development and trade, and patterns of international cooperation and conflict. May not be taken on an S/NC grade basis.

 COURSE OBJECTIVES

This course strives to enhance students’ ability to do the following:

  1. Think critically and analytically, integrate and synthesize knowledge, and draw conclusions from complex material.
  2. Understand and appreciate American and other cultures, both contemporary and historical; appreciate cultural diversity; and live responsibly in an interdependent world.
  3. Acquire a base of knowledge common to educated persons, the capacity to expand that base over their lifetime by understanding the way that knowledge is generated, organized, tested, and modified, while recognizing the past and present limits to understanding.
  4. Develop problem-solving skills using maps, graphs, and tables of descriptive statistics.
  5. Identify countries of the world and basic geographical features and patterns of resource distribution.
  6. Understand the origins of international problems and the changing role of the U.S. in the world.
  7. Understand contemporary population concepts and trends.

Our inquiry will be driven by "Big Questions", with modules divided by the 'big question' it serves.


COURSE MATERIALS

A. Readings indicated on syllabus, on electronic reserve in the library and on the web.  This course will require you to make heavy use of the Internet, where you can also get maps from the University of Texas Perry-Canstañeda Library Map Collection .  Blank outline maps are available online from About.com that you can use for practice on map quizzes; these are precisely the same maps that are used for the quizzes themselves - click < here >.

B. Highly recommended: News sources with significant international coverage.  This includes the international sections of the New York Times , the Washington Post , The Economist magazine (London), and the BBC World News . OnlineNewspapers.com provides links to newspapers from around the world, which are likely to provide perspectives rather different from the U.S.-based news sources you are probably used to.  Links to other sources of news and (generally economic) information can be obtained by visiting Dr. Heinrich's Interesting Sites page. 
 

GRADED ASSIGNMENTS

A. MAP QUIZZES (15% of your grade in total):   There will be 4 map quizzes that will require you to both show the location of a country on a blank map, and also to give the name of a country indicated on a blank map.  The map quizzes are broken down by continent: Americas; Asia; Europe; and Africa.  The map quizzes will be given in the first half of the course.  Click here for a sample map quiz (MSWord format).  Maps can be obtained from the University of Texas Perry-Canstañeda Library Map Collection , and you can get blank maps from About.com to practice with (those outline maps are the exact same ones that will be used on the map quizzes. The tentative schedule for map quizzes is as follows:

Quiz Day Continent(s)
tba Africa
tba North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean
tba Europe
tba Asia (includes the Arabian Peninsula & Middle East)

B. EXAMS (45% of your grade in total, divided evenly):   There will be three or four exams each covering a different part of the course.  There will be no exam make-ups.  You will have a full class period to complete the exams, which will be true/false/explain and some multiple choice.  The exams will each cover 2 or on occasion 3 modules, so the dates of the exams will depend upon how long it takes to get through the modules.  There are not fixed dates for the exams, but you can expect at least week's prior notice.  The last exam will be held during the regularly scheduled final exam period found in the Schedule of Classes, but it will not be cumulative.  There will be no study guides provided for the exams beyond the materials already available.  Exams are open-note.  Students are expected to be available for every class period!  It is the student's burden to be available for whenever the exams are scheduled!

C.  GRADED WRITING ASSIGNMENTS (25% of your grade):  Two short papers and any other graded writing assignments (excludes reading reactions).  Paper #1 will be a reflective paper integrating Plato's cave allegory into your own life experience which is 10%.  The second paper will be students presenting evidence that speaks to their own "big question" about the world and is worth 15%.

D. CITIZENSHIP (15% of your grade):   Citizenship includes such items as attendance, participation, contribution to the learning environment, and general classroom demeanor. There will also be several reading reaction assignments on discussion readings that will count here, as well as any in-class exercises that are graded.   Class attendance is required and recorded.  Students will be organized into in-class discussion groups and this participation will count as well.

E.  Extra Credit  (0%).  No further explanation needed.

GRADING POLICY

This course will use the extended grading scale.  Students should not expect a 'curve', but if there is one in no case will any 'curve' give you a worse grade than what you would get under the following grading scale:  93%-100% = A; 90-92.x = A-, 87-89.x = B+; 83-86.x = B; 80-82.x = B-, 77-79.x = C+; 73-76.x = C; 70-72.x = C-, 67-69.x = D+; 63-66.x = D; 60-62.x = D-; <60% = F.  There will be no rounding.

Attendance and Make-ups:   Your enrollment in this course is taken as a commitment to attend class regularly and complete all tasks in the time allowed.  It is expected that you have arranged or will arrange all other activities in a way consistent with your being able to submit assignments on time and take quizzes and exams when scheduled.   It is the student’s responsibility to obtain any materials or information missed due to absence. I do not allow make-up of missed assignments, but I may excuse you from an assignment if you can offer evidence of significantly debilitating adversity or *prior* notice of participation in a University sanctioned event.   Medical excuses must be validated by Ms. Mary Beth Mackin in the Student Life office.  Late drops will not be authorized.

COBE STUDENT HONOR CODE: 

As members of the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater College of Business & Economics community, we commit ourselves to act honestly, responsibly, and above all, with honor and integrity in all areas of campus life.  We are accountable for all that we say and write.  We are responsible for the academic integrity of our work.  We pledge that we will not misrepresent our work nor give or receive unauthorized aid.  We commit ourselves to behave in a manner that demonstrates concern for the personal dignity, rights and freedoms of all members of the community.  We are respectful of college property and the property of others.  We will not tolerate a lack of respect for these values.

 This code originated at Wheaton College.

Instructor's Note:  Everything you write should be solely in your own words, with the exception of quotes which should be few in number and clearly attributed to the author.  Cutting and pasting from any source with or without proper citation is expressly prohibited.  Academic dishonesty of any sort will be regarded as professional misconduct and met with the harshest available penalties.

UWW POLICY STATEMENT

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is dedicated to a safe, supportive and non-discriminatory learning environment. It is the responsibility of all undergraduate and graduate students to familiarize themselves with University policies regarding Special Accommodations, Misconduct, Religious Beliefs Accommodations, Discrimination and Absence for University-sponsored events. (For details please refer to the Undergraduate and Graduate Timetables; the "Rights and Responsibilities" section of the Undergraduate Bulletin, the Academic Requirements and Policies and the Facilities and Services sections of the Graduate Bulletin; and the "Student Academic Disciplinary Procedures" [UWS Chapter 14]; and the "Student Nonacademic Disciplinary Procedures" [UWS Chapter 17].

TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE

Below is a tentative schedule of topics and assigned readings for this semester. You are responsible for all assigned readings, and I reserve the right to amend this schedule as I deem necessary.  You will be notified of any changes well ahead of time.  

Several selections are in PDF format and require Adobe Acrobat Reader for viewing.     get Acrobat Reader

Accessing Articles in University Library Electronic Databases:  Lexis-Nexis articles available through University Library - Articles and Journals, Magazines, and Newspapers.  The reading entry in the schedule below will provide tabs and keywords that will help you access the article with a low number of hits.  Students should also be mindful of the date of publication during retrieval.  If an article is available through a different database, it will be indicated after the entry though without similar detail.

 

NOTE:  You do not have to print out the readings for me!  How you choose to read and study them is up to you.

 

Module 0 - Introduction to the course, generating a 'perspective consciousness', and contemplation of "general education".  Big Question:  Why are we at University?

SECTION 1 - Geography Focus

Module 1A.  Changing Global Context.  Big Question:  Why did Europeans come to dominate the world system?  Or, Why you have so much cargo?

Module 1B.  Population and International Migration .  Big Question:  How many people is too many?

SECTION 2 - Economic Focus (content forthcoming)

Module 2A.  Poverty and Development Assistance.  Big Question:  Why they have so little cargo, and can we help them have more? 

Module 2B.  Globalization and the Economic Rise of China.  Big Question:  Is China eating the US's lunch?

Module 2C.  Global Climate/Environment.  Big Question:  Is water the new oil?

SECTION 3 - Political Science focus (content forthcoming)

Module 3A.  Role of the US in the World.  Big Question:  Is the US done as a superpower?

Module 3B.  The Changing International Security Environment.  Big Question:  Are we winning the War on Terror?

Module 3C.  International Cooperation - The United Nations and Multilateralism vs. Unilateralism and the Preservation of Sovereignty.  Big question: ???