1. to introduce you to scientific methods for original geographic research
2. to get you ready for the job market
3. to further your writing and critical thinking skills

In short, this is the class where you put together everything you have learned in your undergraduate program. You will begin to make the transition from a consumer of geographic knowledge to a producer of it. This class will also sharpen skills you will need to obtain and excel in your first post-college job.

By the end of this class, you should be able to:

1. prepare a resume
2. do a literature review
3. develop a research question
4. plan a research methodology
5. collect primary and secondary data
6. write a progress report
7. make maps, tables, and charts
8. apply quantitative techniques
9. write a well-organized final report
10. edit your own and other people’s writing
11. give a brief, coherent oral presentation
12. write an evaluation of other people’s research
13. ask for a letter of recommendation

Classroom time will be organized around mini-lectures interspersed with collaborative student-centered activities. Thus, class attendance is extremely important.

Late work will be accepted only if the student has approved it with me in advance. If an emergency develops on the due date and you cannot reach me, you must at the very least leave a message with the Geography Department office before class begins. Regardless, I will require confirmation of your excuse via valid written proof. If you don't tell me until afterwards, you will get a score of zero.

Cheating will be brought to the Dean of Students. We will have a discussion on what constitutes plagiarism, including self-plagiarism. This is not an idle warning. I've prosecuted such cases before, and will do it again if necessary.

The main activity of this class will be an original individual research project. You will have to design it, collect the data, analyze it, write it up, and present it orally. To help you do this step by step, several components of the project will be handed in on an interim basis prior to the final report being due.

Numerical grades will be given for all written work in the course, and averaged according to the following formula:

Letter grades will be assigned to your numerical course averages according to the standard basis:

100. A

9. B

9. C

9. D

I reserve the right to curve the breakpoints downward but not upwards (e.g., I could move the A-B line down to 88 but not up to 92).

Incompletes will only be given in the rarest of circumstances. As per university policy, an incomplete automatically reverts to an E after one year if the agreed-upon work has not been successfully completed. No extra credit papers or assignments will be allowed, so don't ask!

Ronald F. Abler, Melvin G. Marcus, and Judy M. Olson, eds. 1992. Geography's Inner Worlds: Pervasive Themes in Contemporary American Geography. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press.

Martin S. Kenzer, ed. 1989. On Becoming a Professional Geographer. Columbus, OH: Merrill Publishing Company.