Map Quizzes
Our world is presently divided into approximately 190 sovereign states.
Although these states constitute the principal actors in international
relations, most students—indeed, most Americans—are strikingly
unfamiliar with the vast majority of them. Accordingly, this introductory
course in international relations has established as an educational objective
that students should become familiar with the names and geographic
locations of contemporary states. This objective will be implemented
with a series of seven map quizzes at two week intervals during the semester.
Each map quiz will focus on a single geographic region encompassing
about 25 states.
The regions and the states comprising them are identified on a
separate page. Quizzes follow an
established schedule
so you will know in advance exactly what regions to study.
Each quiz will employ a map with numbers identifying the relevant states.
A series of
study maps
are also available on a separate page.
Students will be asked to write the name of the states corresponding to a list
of
seven numbers appearing on the map. The spelling of names need not be
exact but must be close enough to permit identification of the correct answer
as determined by your instructor. Each quiz will have a maximum of seven
points regardless of the number of states in the region.
In addition, each quiz will offer the opportunity for one bonus point
earned by identifying the capital cities of
two states in
the region. Both cities must be identified correctly to earn one bonus point;
no partial credit will be given. Bonus points count only toward the summary
map quiz grade and may not be used to supplement examination scores.
Summing together the seven quiz scores yields a maximum of 49 points
(7 questions on 7 quizzes).
This total is adjusted upward by awarding every student one
extra point. This adjustment yields a maximum of 50 points and
automatically weights the map quizzes at 20% of the point total used for the
final course grade. Bonus points will count only up to the 50 point maximum.
(For example, correct identification of seven states on seven quizzes earns the
50 point maximum; any additional bonus points would not increase this total.)
A missed quiz due to absence from class will automatically count as 0 points
in the semester total. However, students will have an opportunity to make up
one or two missed map quizzes under the general re-take policy specified below.
All students will have an opportunity to take one or two additional map quizzes
duringthe time scheduled for the last quiz. Students may use this opportunity to
make-up missed quizzes or to re-take quizzes with unsatisfactory scores. To be
eligible for this opportunity students must specify in writing their intention
to take an additional quiz at least one week prior to the scheduled date of the
last map quiz. Keep in mind that no more than two additional quizzes can be taken
under this policy and any quizzes that are re-taken will replace prior quizzes in
the point total.