Geography 1982
World Regional Geography - Maymester 2009
Monday-Friday 9:00-12:15 in Econ 117
Course Instructor: Ted Holland
Teaching Assistant: Adam Williams
E-mail: hollande@colorado.edu E-mail: adam.williams@colorado.edu
Office Hours: Mon-Fri 12:45-1:30 and by appointment
Office: Guggenheim 314 (3rd floor of Guggenheim)
Mailbox: 1st floor of
Guggenheim
Course Website: http://www.colorado.edu/geography/class_homepages/geog_1982_001_sum09
In fourteen class days, we will discuss eleven regions of the world. In addition, we will cover several themes in Geography. The goal of the course is to become geographically literate, to gain a familiarity with the history, landforms, and social dynamics of world regions using geographic themes such as space, place, scale, culture, political economy, migration, borders, and flows. In-class time will consist primarily of lecture, videos, and group discussion and activities.
To do well in this course, you are expected
to be in class and do the reading. Exam questions will be taken from lectures,
guest lectures, films, and the textbook reading assignments. Assigned readings
are to be completed before coming to the class for which they are
assigned.
Course Readings and
Materials:
There
is no textbook for this class. Instead, book chapters that cover the
relevant regions and related topics have been assigned. The reading load is
between 25 and 45 pages per day, with the average reading length 35 pp. These
chapters are supplemented by readings from The
Economist and The
New York Times. PDFs
of all readings are available here.
To supplement the readings, I have prepared worksheets that highlight the key
concepts for that day's reading. It is expected that these worksheet will be
filled out in full prior
to the start of lecture. These worksheet will be the basis of the discussion
periods that are included on the course syllabus.
Access to the course materials is through username and password. The username
for all course materials is geog1982. Due to copyright protections, the
password cannot be disseminated on the internet; it is available on the hard
copy of the syllabus or, alternatively, by emailing the instructor.
Course Grading Rubric:
Course Grading Scale:
100-93%
= A
92-90% = A-
89-88% = B+
87-83% = B
82-80% = B-
79-78% = C+
77-73% = C
72-70% = C-
69-60% = D
Below 59% = F
Course Expectations:
Assignments can be found on
the course website and will be handed out and discussed in class. Assignments
will be graded on content and completion. Full sentences, correct grammar, and
good spelling are required. Assignments must be typed and turned in
at the beginning of class to receive full credit.
Punctuality to class is
expected. If you are habitually late, I
will deduct participation points from your grade. Sleeping in class is not
acceptable and will be counted as an absence. The use of computers is not
allowed during class time. Please turn off cell phones and refrain from texting
during class.
Plagiarism/cheating will not be tolerated.
I reserve the right to request digital copies of assignments in order to
check for plagiarism. There will be no warning, but a direct report to the
honor council at CU (they also have a no tolerance policy) and a failing grade
for the semester. Plagiarism is defined
as the act of taking ideas, writings, etc from another and passing them off as
one’s own. Copying information from
the internet or your textbook without proper citation is a form of plagiarism. Discussion with peers is encouraged, but assignments
must be completed individually.
Class Schedule:
This schedule of lectures
and readings is subject to modification during the semester. Modifications will
be posted on the course website and/or announced in class.
1. Introductions, Course Orientation
2. Map Pre-Test
3. Lecture: What is geography? Why world regional geography? What is globalization?
READ: An Empire Wilderness; Canada's Clashes; A Vision of a Nation
PREPARE: Worksheet 1
___________________________________________________________________________
1. Short Video - The Story of Stuff
2.
Lecture:
3. Video: Why We Fight (available from library), Worksheet on Why We Fight
READ: The Weakest Link; Free Trade on Trial, The Story of Stuff
PREPARE: Worksheet 2
___________________________________________________________________________
READ: Blood and Belonging; A Balkan State in Balk
PREPARE: Worksheet 3
__________________________________________________________________________
Thursday May 14 Population and
1. Lecture:
Middle & South America; Neoliberalism, Debt Crisis, Free Trade, Fair Trade,
continued
2. Discussion – Why We Fight Worksheet and
Worksheet 2
3. Video – The Men Who Got Away
4. Lecture:
Population,
READ: The Black Earth; The Wild South
PREPARE: Worksheet 4
DUE IN CLASS, 5/15: Assignment 2: NAFTA
__________________________________________________________________________
1. Lecture: Population, Europe, continued
2. Discussion - introduction to Srebrenica and Worksheet 3
3. Videos - Rich in Russia, Revival of Brutality in Chechya, Religion Returns to Chechnya
4. Lecture: Russia and the Newly Independent States, Political Economy
READ: From Beirut to Jerusalem (skim timeline and pp. 1-10; read closely pp. 11-18); Where will it end?; How Respectable is Hizbullah? (optional)
PREPARE: Worksheet 5
DUE IN CLASS, 5/18 (CHANGED; NOW DUE TUESDAY,
5/19): Assignment
3: The Arab-Israeli Conflict
___________________________________________________________________________
Monday May 18
1. Lecture: Russia and the Newly Independent States, Political Economy, continued
2. Discussion - Worksheet 4
3. Video - Extreme Oil (NOVA portal; video not available on-line)
4. Lecture: Introduction to the Middle East: Israel, Palestine, and Oil
READ: The Cooling Hell, West Africa's Wars, Justice At Last
PREPARE: Worksheet 6 (if possible; will not discuss until after Midterm)
PREPARE: Bring questions for midterm exam; The midterm review sheet for lecture concepts is available here; sample questions, here
DUE IN CLASS, 5/19: Assignment 3: The Arab-Israeli Conflict
PLEASE NOTE: MATERIAL STARTED ON 5/18 (INCLUDING THE MIDDLE EAST LECTURE) WILL BE THE LAST NEW MATERIAL COVERED ON THE MIDTERM
___________________________________________________________________________
Tuesday May 19 Continue Southwest Asia,
1. Lecture: Introduction to the Middle East: Israel, Palestine, and Oil, continued
2. Discussion - Worksheet 5
3. Guest Lecture: Turkey, courtesy of Adam Levy
4. Review for Midterm Exam (optional)
READ:
Prepare for Midterm Exam
___________________________________________________________________________
1. MIDTERM; Lecture Concepts and Sample Questions available now
READ:
We
Wish to Inform You; The
Road Out of Hell; finish off readings on West Africa from 5/18;
PREPARE: Worksheet 7 (supplement to Worksheet 6)
___________________________________________________________________________
Thursday May 21 Sub-Saharan
1.
Lecture:
West Africa, Colonialism, Development
2.
Videos: The spread of conflict in Central Africa ; The Ghosts
of Rwanda (excerpts 3 and 4)
3.
Discussion
- Worksheet 6
4.
Lecture: Sub-Saharan Africa , Colonialism, Genocide
5.
6. READ: The Forever War; Living with the Taliban; Reflecting on the Taliban
7. PREPARE: Worksheet 8
8.
9. DUE IN CLASS, 5/22: Assignment 4: Sub-Saharan Africa
___________________________________________________________________________
Friday May
22
1.
Lecture:
South Asia: Partition of
2.
Videos:
READ: Factory Girls, The New Uprooted
PREPARE: Worksheet 9
___________________________________________________________________________
Monday May 25 NO CLASS - MEMORIAL DAY
___________________________________________________________________________
Tuesday
May 26
1.
Lecture:
2.
Guest Lecture: A. Williams - Population Movement in China
3.
Video:
READ: Planet of Slums, How Sorry?, The Strange Allure of Slums
PREPARE: Worksheet 10
DUE
IN CLASS, 5/27: Assignment
5: Olympics in China
___________________________________________________________________________
2.
Lecture:
3.
Videos: Cambodia: Pol Pot’s Shadow, A Dirty Job
READ:Wanted: A New Home
PREPARE: Worksheet 11
___________________________________________________________________________
2. Video: Rising Waters
3. Map post-test (pre-test available here)
4.
Review for Exam
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Other University Information:
In general no make-up exams will be given. Therefore,
please note the date/time of the mid-term and final, and make your travel plans
around it, not the other way around.
The only
exceptions to the make-up exam policy are as follows:
(1)
Students with serious religious
observance conflicts must notify the TA or professor by May 9. This scheduling
will be resolved according to the University’s Religious observances policy
(see below).
(2)
In cases of serious illness with medical
documentation, students may be permitted to reschedule after discussion with
the professor.
Missing an exam for any other reason will result in a
grade of 0 for that exam.
If you qualify for
accommodations because of a disability, please submit a letter from Disability Services
in a timely manner so that your needs may be addressed. Disability
Services determines accommodations based on documented disabilities.
Contact: 303-492-8671, Willard
322, and www.Colorado.EDU/disabilityservices
Campus policy regarding
religious observances requires that faculty make every effort to deal
reasonably and fairly with all students who, because of religious obligations,
have conflicts with scheduled exams, assignments or required attendance. See
full details at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/fac_relig.html
Students and faculty each have
responsibility for maintaining an appropriate learning environment. Students
who fail to adhere to behavioral standards may be subject to discipline. Faculty have the professional responsibility to treat students
with understanding, dignity and respect, to guide classroom discussion and to
set reasonable limits on the manner in which students express opinions. See
policies at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/classbehavior.html
http://www.colorado.edu/studentaffairs/judicialaffairs/code.html#student_code
CU Office of Victim
Assistance: 303-492-8855 - Victim
Assistance is an advocacy and support office serving those who are impacted by
disruptive/disturbing life events, including violent crime, sexual harassment,
death, and debilitating accidents. Staff members will advise you of your rights
and the services available to you. They can also intervene on your behalf with
professors, housing, academic departments, business offices, and employers to
ease the burden of dealing with an accident or assault.
CU Counseling Services:
303-492-6766, Willard room 134. http://www.colorado.edu/sacs/counseling/