ZOLTÁN GROSSMAN Faculty member in Geography and Native American Studies, The Evergreen State College Lab 1, Room 3012, 2700 Evergreen Pkwy. NW, Olympia, WA 98505 USA grossmaz@evergreen.edu Tel. (360) 867-6153

Faculty home page   Writings   Presentations   Maps   Community service   Favorite stuff

 

 

GEOGRAPHY 111

HUMAN GEOGRAPHY

Dr. Zoltan Grossman, Assistant Professor of Geography, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (2002-05)

SPRING 2005

 

Class t-shirt 2002

 

Hours and Rooms	Attendance slips
Course Goals	Exams
Books and Reading	Exercises
Grading	COURSE SCHEDULE
Attendance	Baccalaureate degree

 

HOURS AND ROOMS

 

SECTION 001: Hibbard 102, 8:00-8:50 am MWF

 

Office in 258 Phillips Hall

Office hours 10:00-10:50 MWF

 

COURSE GOALS

 

In the 21st century, globalization is having dramatic effects on places and interactions

between peoples. Our world is growing both larger and smaller at the same time.

New communications and trade/financial networks are integrating places

with every other place, and a conflict in one part of the world may quickly affect

another part of the world (even within the boundaries of the United States). Yet at the

same time, local cultural and ethnic identities are becoming stronger , and some countries

are even breaking up into smaller units. "Globalization-from-above" is not simply homogenizing

places to make them all alike, but is also making new connections between the "local" and

the "global" scales. "Globalization-from-below" is at the same time emphasizing our

geographic "sense of place."

 

What is going on? Geography is critical to begin exploring these processes at

this very important time. Geography is the "study of place," asking where things are,

why they are there, how places are linked to other places, and how places

can be grouped. This course will use a number of geographic "lenses"--

including economic geography, cultural geography, population geography,

urban geography, and political geography to examine current global patterns and

processes and how they are geographically varied. The course readings,

lectures and exercises will focus mainly on the global scale, but attempt to show how it

affects, and is affected by, the local and national scale. You are encouraged to use

critical thinking skills in interpreting the readings. The course exercises will stress

the development of basic geographic skills, such as map use, map production, interpretation

of demographic and other statistical data, and an openness to exploring the "geography of

everyday life."

 

BOOKS AND OUTSIDE READING

 

Knox/Marston: Knox, Paul & Sallie Marston. Human Geography:

Places and Regions in Global Context . 3rd edition. (2004).

You can purchase the Knox/Marston textbook from the University Bookstore.

 

Goode's Atlas: Espenshade, Edward. Goode's World Atlas. 20th edition (2000).

A used atlas can easily become outdated or ratty, so you may prefer to purchase a new atlas.

 

The New York Times. Check out the New York Times website everyday to

keep up with world news. The registration is free! In order to better follow the news,

check the boxes "Today's Headlines" get daily news briefs e-mailed to you,

and the box for "Breaking News Alerts." We will have questions on the

exams about the major globalization stories in the semester.

 

You are responsible for completing all the readings.

The best way to read is to take notes in your own handwriting.

If any extra readings are added, the class will be notified via the class e-mail list.

Print out this syllabus for your use, but also please bookmark this syllabus page to

consult it for any changes. Before asking questions about the course, please look

at the syllabus first.

 

GRADING

Exercise # 1: Using Your Atlas (due Feb. 14)	50 points
Middle East Map Quiz (Feb. 18)	50 points
Exercise #2: Geography of Your Possessions (due Mar. 2)	100 points
Midterm I Exam (Mar. 11)	200 points
Exercise #3: Ethnic/racial demographics (due Apr. 4)	100 points
Midterm II Exam (Apr. 15)	200 points
Exercise #4: Making a Map (due May 4)	100 points
Final Exam (May 18)	200 points
Total	1000 points

 

ATTENDANCE

You will be more successful in this class only if you cover the full range of

expectations: lectures, videos, readings, and exercises. Doing only the readings and exercises

outside class are not a substitute for attending the lectures or videos, which will very often

present different information. Similarly, only attending the lectures will not substitute for

readings and exercises outside the class. If it is impossible for you to attend a lecture (because

an asteroid has hit Water Street, for example), you must get notes from another student--not

from me-- and also talk with the fellow student about the lecture.

 

Some, but not all, of the lecture information may be on the on-line syllabus (click on the theme

and the PowerPoint will download). Lectures, exercises, and exam study guides will also be in

the class folder (geog/Grossman/111) on the W Drive, which can be accessed on any campus

computer (call CNS about accessing from home). You should never rely on the PowerPoint alone;

geography is a very visual subject, and many lectures will show maps and graphics with no e

xplanation other than from the verbal, in-class lecture !!! If you have special needs, please inform

me when starting the course. I am good at answering e-mails, though I will not reply if your

question is answered by glancing at this syllabus.

 

Outside lectures/events. You will greatly benefit from attending the talks of visiting

lecturers. I will announce (in e-mails) geographically related lectures and films that you can

attend for up to 10 points extra credit each. I would expect a 2-page double-spaced report on the

geographic aspects of the event (including questions that were asked after the talk) handed in

(or e-mailed only if you will not be able to attend) by your next Geography 111 class period, even if

it is the next morning. Here are some upcoming events (e-mail to suggest other upcoming events):

Feb. 7 (Mon.) Angela Davis on Punishment/Prisons and Democracy (Zorn Arena, 7:30 pm).

Mar. 14 (Mon.) Judi Cobb, National Geographic photographer (Zorn Arena, 7:30 pm).

Apr. 7-10 (Thurs.-Sun.) The Letter--film on Somalis in Maine (Davies Theatre 6:00 & 8:30 pm).

Apr. 23 (Sat.) Honoring Education Powwow (Zorn Arena, Grand Entries 1 pm and 7 pm).

 

You can also visit a Hmong or Mexican grocery store in the area (one of each), and write up your geographical /

globalization impressions (please also buy something!). The new Mexican store Supermercado Sandoval

is in Hamilton Square (at 2813 East Hamilton & Mall Drive). Hmong or other Asian grocery stores are:

Lee Family Market (1607 Bellinger, at 5th & Madison), Luers Grocery (2098 Hwy 85), and

Ameriental Foods Store (416 Putnam). Deadline for Extra Credit is the last day of class,

but don't wait until the last minute; we don't want many students visiting the stores in the same week!

 

 

ATTENDANCE SLIPS

All students will turn in a slip of their paper at the end of each class, to demonstrate attendance,

and to give your feedback on the class. The slip of paper will give your printed name, the printed date,

and at least one sentence about what sticks in your mind about the class. The sentence(s) could be something

interesting you learned in the class, an opinion about what was covered, a question about the lecture or video,

or a suggestion. Because this is a large course, not everyone will be able to verbally offer their thoughts in

all classes, but handing in the slip of paper can give you a voice and help me focus on your learning.

 

EXAMS

You will have three exams (200 points each) and a map quiz (50 points). The exams will use multiple

choice, matching, true/false, etc. , covering the readings, lectures, exercises, and videos. Exam study

guides will be posted on the on-line syllabus and in the W Drive class folder (Geog/Grossman/111).

The final is not cumulative. You can make up an exam only under extenuating and verifiable

circumstances that I recognize, and only if you notify me before the scheduled exam at

grossmzc@uwec.edu or 836-4471 (or the departmental secretary at 836-3244.).

Unauthorized absences will result in a zero on the exam--no exceptions.

 

EXERCISES

You will have four exercises, which you will do on your own, NOT with any other student.

They will help you develop skills that you can use long after you have taken this course.

They are due at the start of class on the due date. The first of four exercises is worth 50 points;

and the other three exercises are worth 100 points each. You will have two weeks to complete each

of them. Start working on these exercises as soon as you receive them! Exercises will also be

available via links from the on-line syllabus (right-click on the exercise below to download).

Don't wait until the last minute to do these exercises, because you may not be able to overcome

unforeseen difficulties. No excuses will be accepted for problems that could have been solved

by starting the exercise earlier (such as a computer crash). For this reason, exercises handed in

late will automatically be knocked down 10 points in the maximum grade for

every class day they are overdue. No exceptions. Yet always hand in an assignment,

because they will be counted for some points.

 

If you have any technical computer questions, contact the CNS Help Desk at 836-5711

or helpdesk@uwec.edu The Help Desk is very experienced at answering technical

questions; contact them before you contact me!

 

 

TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE

If changes are made to the syllabus, the class will be informed via the class e-mail list.

Week	Class dates	General theme	Knox/Marston pages	New York Times	Exercises and Exams	Guest lecture/video (if any)
Week 1	Jan. 26, 28	INTRODUCTION	Start reading ahead		Mental maps (in class)	Tsunami powerpoint
Week 2	Jan. 31, Feb. 2, 4	HUMAN GEOGRAPHIC PRINCIPLES	CH. 1 (pp. 1-41)		Exercise #1 begins Mon. Jan. 31	Geographies of September 11 powerpoint
Week 3	Feb. 7, 9, 11	MAPPING AND WORLD SYSTEMS	CH. 2 (pp. 43-83); Appendix 1 (pp. 497-504)		Work on Exercise #1, using Goode's Atlas	Orientalism & Calif. dairy video Optional : Chie Abad on sweatshops (listen on campus PC)
Week 4	Feb. 14, 16, 18	ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY	CH. 7 (pp. 248-294)	The Free Trade Fix	Exercise #1 DUE Mon., Feb. 14 Exercise #2 begins Wed., Feb. 16: Worksheet and Spreadsheet Middle East Map Quiz, Fri., Feb. 18 STUDY GUIDE	Global Assembly Line video Life and Debt video. The Big One video.
Week 5	Feb. 21, 23, 25	POPULATION I (DEMOGRAPHICS)	CH. 3 part 1 (pp. 84-108)
Week 6	Feb. 28, Mar. 2, 4	POPULATION II (MIGRATION)	CH. 3 part 2 (pp. 109-129)		Exercise #2 DUE Wed., Mar. 2	Taking Root video on California, Texas, Iowa immigrants Somali immigrants in Barron Wisconsin
Week 7	Mar. 7, 9, 11	CULTURAL IDENTITY	CH. 5 (pp. 174-211)		MIDTERM I Friday, Mar. 11 STUDY GUIDE	Review in class, Wed. Mar. 9
Week 8	Mar. 14, 16, 18	ETHNIC CONFLICT	CH. 9 part 1 (pp. 339-351)	When a bridge is not a bridge	Exercise #3 begins Mon., Mar. 14
Week 9	Mar. 30, Apr. 1	GEOPOLITICS	CH. 9 part 2 (pp. 351-374)	Drowning Freedom in Oil	Work on Exercise #3	Iraq Wars powerpoint (Mon., Apr. 1)
Week 10	Apr. 4, 6, 8	POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY	CH. 9 part 3 (pp. 374-385)		Exercise #3 DUE Mon., Apr. 4	Print off powerpoints for Yugoslavia video (Wed., Apr. 6) & Al Gedicks on Colombia (Fri., Apr. 8).
Week 11	Apr. 11, 13, 15	ENVIRONMENT & SENSE OF PLACE (no powerpoint)	CH. 4 part 2 (pp. 154-171); CH. 6 part 1 (pp. 213-238)
Week 12	Apr. 18, 20, 22	AGRICULTURE AND FOOD	CH. 8 part 1 (299-315)	Running Dry	MIDTERM II, Wed., Apr. 20 STUDY GUIDE Exercise #4 begins Wed., Apr. 20: Map, Worksheet, & Data	Review Mon., Apr. 18 Java Jive video on coffee industry
Week 13	Apr. 25, 27, 29	AGRICULTURE II (same powerpoint)	CH. 8 part 2 (pp. 315-336)	Corn surplus & obesity	Work on Exercise #4	Strong Roots, Fragile Farms video Water Wars powerpoint
Week 14	May 2, 4, 6	URBAN HISTORY	CH. 10 (pp. 386-421)		Exercise #4 DUE Wed., May 4	Understanding Urban Sprawl video
Week 15	May 9, 11, 13	URBAN CHANGE	CH. 11 (pp. 423-467)		Review for Final Exam FINAL STUDY GUIDE	PBS Wal-Mart videos: Store Wars & Frontline Final review, Fri., May 13
Week 16		FINAL EXAM			Section 001: Wednesday, May 18, 8:00-9:50 am, in the classroom	Final cannot be rescheduled by Professor (only by your Dean)

 

THE BACCALAUREATE DEGREE

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire baccalaureate degrees have eleven (11) goals. Each student is supposed to keep a portfolio of class assignments, projects, and other materials that demonstrate how they have met these goals through your courses.  The goals are listed below along with references to particular assignments that you could save to demonstrate work toward that particular goal. Geography 111 is GE IIIC (Social Sciences-Geography); meets Foreign Culture requirement; one Diversity credit.

Goals	Projects
1. Understanding of a liberal education.
2. Appreciation of the University as a learning community.
3. Ability to inquire, think, and analyze.	All exercises
4. Ability to write, read, speak, listen.	Lectures and readings
5. Understanding of numerical data.	Exercises 2, 3 and 4
6. Historical consciousness.	Exercise 4
7. International and intercultural experience.	Entire course
8. Understanding of science and the scientific methods.
9. Appreciation of the arts.
10. Understanding of values.
11. Understanding of human behavior and human institutions.