GR100 Introduction to Geography


Class: TR 09:30 - 10:45 Plant Sciences C101 (Not Clark A103)
Credits: 3
Instructor: Dr. Steven Fassnacht NR335
Office Hours: TR 11:00 - 12:30 NR335

Geography is a linkage between the physical and social sciences to study the planet’s surface, the processes that shape it, how this affects us, how we affect it, and how human life creates distinctive landscapes and regions of the world. In this course, the student will be introduced to aspects to physical, human and regional geography and will begin to understand how and why there are differences in the earth and its peoples.

Topics
1. Introduction
2. North America
3. Middle and South America
4. Europe
5. Russia and the Newly Independent States
6. Northern Africa and Southwest Asia
7. East Asia
8. Conclusions

Text
Pulsipher, L.M., and A. Pulsipher, 2002. World Regional Geography: Global Patterns, Local Lives, 2nd edition. W.H. Freeman and Company, New York, 601pp.

Proposed Marking
Assignment #1              10
Assignment #2              20
Exam #1                       15
Exam #2                       15
Final Exam                   40
                                   100%

Assignment #1: Newspaper Article Review
-            how has geography influenced a particular news story
             -            1 page maximum, due November 20th
             -            research it, reference it with at least 2 sources (web references ok)
             -            a non US story

Assignment #2: Music Review
-            compare and contrast two CDs./records/tapes/albums from artists within the same music genre but from different cultures
             -            initial submission (5%) due October 9th, returned October 19th
                         -            artists, albums, genre, cultures
                         -            1 paragraph, ½ page maximum
             -            final submission (15%) due December 9th
                         -            2 pages maximum
                         -            describe the geography of the home countries (5 marks)
                         -            how and why are they different (5 marks)
                         -            how has the culture influenced the music (5 marks)

Exam #1:          October 2nd 09:30 - 10:45 Plant Sciences C101
             -            30 multiple choice questions

Exam #2:          November 13th 09:30 - 10:45 Plant Sciences C101
             -            30 multiple choice questions

Final Exam:      December 18th 09:10 - 10:25 Plant Sciences C101 OR Dec 11 9:30 - 10:45 Plant Sciences C101
             -            20 multiple choice questions (10%)
             -            2-1 page essays from a choice of 5 questions (15% each)