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

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GEOGRAPHY 308

GEOGRAPHY OF RUSSIA AND EASTERN EUROPE

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

SPRING 2005

Chart of countries and links

 

Hours and Room	Discussions
Course Goals	Exams
Books and Reading	Projects
Grading	COURSE SCHEDULE
Attendance	Baccalaureate degree

 

HOURS AND ROOMS

 

CLASS: Phillips 106, 9:00-9:50 MWF

 

Office hours: 10:00-10:50 MWF

258 Phillips Hall, 836-4471

 

COURSE GOALS

In the past 15 years, no part of the world map has changed more than the region of

Eurasia formerly covered by the Soviet Union and its allies. The course will offer

an overview of geographical, or "place-based," studies of the former "Socialist"

Bloc (once dominated by the USSR), including natural and human resources,

historical geography, ethnic and religious divisions, environmental questions,

and economic and political organization. The course will not simply cover

present-day Russia and Eastern Europe (or more properly, East-Central Europe).

The course will cover the 15 former republics of the Soviet Union,

the former members of the Warsaw Pact and the former Yugoslav Federation

(see list below). Each student will closely examine one of these countries

(or internal regions) as a "Country Case Study" for in-depth geographical analysis,

culminating in a PowerPoint class presentation.

 

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.

The course will involve lectures offering thematic angles that transcend the

countries and regions, using historical, population, cultural, economic, and

environmental modes of geographical analysis. We will also have guest

lectures from UWEC students, faculty and visitors from these countries,

to offer a regional geographic focus. There will also be class discussions and

presentations to compare and contrast our different case studies. You are

encouraged to use critical thinking skills in interpreting the readings, videos,

and lectures.

 

 

BOOKS AND OUTSIDE READING

 

Shaw: Shaw, Denis. Russia in the Modern World: A New Geography

(Blackwell, 1999; reprinted 2001).

 

Goldman: Goldman, Minton. Russia, the Eurasian Republics, and

Central/Eastern Europe. 9th edition (McGraw Hill/Dushkin Global Studies Series, 2003).

 

Turnock: Turnock, David, ed. East Central Europe and the Former Soviet Union:

Environment and Society. (Oxford University Press, 2001).

 

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 Russia/Eastern Europe 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 readings are changed, 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.

 

GRADING

Class discussion /participation	25 points
Country analysis (in three parts)	225 points
Midterm I Exam	150 points
Midterm II Exam	200 points
Country PowerPoint	200 points
Final Exam	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,

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 in the W drive

class folder (Geog/Grossman/308) and the on-line syllabus (click on the theme and the PowerPoint

will download). You should NEVER rely on the PowerPoint alone; geography is a very visual subject,

and many lectures will show maps and graphics with no explanation other than from the verbal,

in-class lecture !!! If you have special needs, please inform me when starting the course.

 

CLASS DISCUSSION

Class discussion is part of your grade. If you are normally reticent about speaking in class,

take notes ahead of time about what you might say. Don't be intimidated by others; I encourage

shy people to speak up and express their opinions--please raise your hand to get a word in.

We will normally divide into these regional groupings for discussions, and

"represent" our own region. In class discussions, we will be conducting comparative

analysis of our different countries and regions.

Background on a Chart on the countries' capitals, former political status,

and majority language and religion. The Chart includes links to country maps.

NORTHEASTERN EUROPE

(Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia)

SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE (OR "BALKANS")

(Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia & Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania)

RUSSIAN/EX-SOVIET HEARTLAND

(Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, European Russia, Southern Russia/Chechnya, Siberia, Mongolia)

CAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA

(Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan)

 

 

EXAMS

You will have two midterm exams (150 and 200 points) and a final exam (200 points). The exams will use

multiple choice, matching, map identifcation, true/false, essays, etc. , covering the readings, lectures, exercises,

and videos. Exam study guides will be on the syllabus and in the W Drive class folder (Geog/Grossman/308).

The final emphasizes the third regional part of the course, but draws on the insights from the other

parts of the course. 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.

 

CLASS PROJECTS

The four main assignments are interrelated, and stem from your individual Country Case Study.

The first three assignments will be together form your Country Analysis (225 points, at

75 points apiece):

 

COUNTRY CASE STUDY ANALYSIS

Part 1: NATURE / ENVIRONMENT

(Physical Geography / Natural Resources / Environmental Issues)

Part 2: PEOPLE / CULTURE

(Current Ethnic groups, Religious groups, Demographics, Pre-1914 History)

Part 3: POLITICS / ECONOMICS

(Recent political changes, Economics and Industries, History since 1914)

Each exercise will be posted on the syllabus and in the W Drive class folder.

 

COUNTRY POWERPOINT CLASS PRESENTATION

The Country Analysis may help you get ideas for producing your Country PowerPoint that you

will submit and show to the class, and then revise for a final grade (200 points). The PowerPoint

should explore interesting geographic angles, and be presentable at a geography conference.

It is NOT an overview of your country like in your Country Analysis, but a narrower place-based

topic. (The topic should preferably be contemporary, but it can be historical, or have elements of both.)

It will not just include dry statistics and descriptions, but a dynamic view of geographic controversies

and trends in politics, culture, or environment, etc. Make the country "come alive" not only to

impress the instructor, but to interest your fellow students in the place. You will submit the

PowerPoint in your W Drive project on the due date, then print out a copy to give to me the day of

your class presentation. I will make corrections so you can revise the powerpoint for a final grade.

 

Do not wait until the last minute to do these projects, 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 20 points in the maximum grade for every class

day they are overdue. No exceptions. Help with writing can be easily gained by visiting the

Writing Center . Review some common grammatical errors. Never rely only on your spell checker !

If you have any technical computer questions, contact the CNS Help Desk at 836-5711 or helpdesk@uwec.edu

 

If you need PowerPoint training, or want to brush up or want a critique of your past powerpoints, contact BITS

(Bringing Instructional Technology to Students) to set up an appointment (email bits.training@uwec.edu ).

You are REQUIRED be trained in PowerPoint by Week 8 (Mar. 18). Dreamweaver training workshops

are scheduled in CITI. If you absolutely cannot make a training workshop, you are responsible to set up an individual

training through BITS. Call for a one-on-one or small group training at 836-5157 ((bits.training@uwec.edu)

(Hours 10-3 Mon., 10-4 Tu./Wed./Th, and 12-3 Fri.). I'd encourage you to go in small groups so you can help

each other along later. BITS staff are extremely helpful no matter what level you are at. You can also e-mail

BITS a past powerpoint for a critique and suggestions for improving your style.

 

PLAGIARISM WARNING: For all projects you must not simply lift your textual material

from the Web (or plagiarize any other source), and you must have a variety of printed and digital sources.

Graphics should also be cited with a tiny source citation hyperlink to the page of the graphic's origin.

 

 

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	Shaw chapter	Goldman pages	Turnock pages	Project or Guest lecture/video
Week 1	Jan. 26, 28	INTRODUCTION AND PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY	Start reading ahead
Week 2	Jan. 31, Feb. 2, 4	PRE-SOVIET HISTORY	CH. 1		13-40	Choose your country case study by Mon., Jan. 31; Start on Country Analysis Part 1
Week 3	Feb. 7, 9, 11	SOVIET ERA	CH. 2-3	11-25, 93-97
Week 4	Feb. 14, 16, 18	POST-SOVIET ERA	CH. 4-5	25-56, 97-108		Country analysis Part 1 due Fri., Feb. 18; ; Start on Country Analysis Part 2
Week 5	Feb. 21, 23, 25	GEOPOLITICS	CH.11	202-212	41-55	Class debate on NATO expansion, Feb. 28 Ukraine Election
Week 6	Feb. 28, Mar. 2, 4	ENVIRONMENT	CH. 6		165-206	Environmental videos on Chernobyl, Soviet subs, Lake Baikal
Week 7	Mar. 7, 9, 11	ETHNICITY/LANGUAGE	CH. 9	57-77	88-103	Country Analysis Part 2 due Wed., Mar. 9; ; Start on Country Analysis Part 3 Review Fri., Mar. 11
Week 8	Mar. 14, 16, 18	RELIGION (no powerpoint)		224-236		MIDTERM I Monday, March 14 STUDY GUIDE Students from Macedonia & Serbia, March 16
Week 9	Mar. 30, Apr. 1	NATIONALISM IN EASTERN EUROPE		264-268		Country Analysis Part 3 and Powerpoint topic due Fri. Apr. 1
Week 10	Apr. 4, 6, 8	NATIONALISM IN FORMER USSR	CH. 10	236-240		Work on powerpoints after professor approves topic Teresa Sanislo lecture on Latvia, Apr. 6 Yugoslavia video, Apr. 8
Week 11	Apr. 11, 13, 15	ECONOMY/INDUSTRY/ DEMOGRAPHICS	CH. 7-8		56-68, 104-117	Work on powerpoints
Week 12	Apr. 18, 20, 22	NORTHEASTERN EUROPE SURVEY		245-248	130-139	Review Mon., April 18 MIDTERM II, Wed. April 20 STUDY GUIDE Powerpoints due on Fri. April 22 in W drive folder
Week 13	Apr. 25, 27, 29	SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE SURVEY		248-253		Order of powerpoint presentations of Country Case Studies. Print off your draft full size for me to make revisions during your presentation.
Week 14	May 2, 4, 6	RUSSIA/ EX-SOVIET HEARTLAND SURVEY		216-223		Want to learn the Russian Cyrillic alphabet? Extra credit for 2-page paper on Goodbye Lenin film (May 5-8, Davies Theater, 6 & 8:30)
Week 15	May 9, 11, 13	CAUCASUS/ CENTRAL ASIA SURVEY		240-244		Final review May 13. FINAL STUDY GUIDE All revised PowerPoints due Friday, May 13, 4:00 pm, in your W Drive project folder. Also hand in both old & new printouts!
Week 16		FINAL EXAM				FINAL EXAM: Tuesday, May 17, 8:00-9:50 am, in the classroom

 

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 308 is GE IIIC (Social Sciences-Geography); meets Foreign Culture requirement.

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, PowerPoint
5. Understanding of numerical data.	Country summary
6. Historical consciousness.	First third of course, country summary
7. International and intercultural experience.	Entire course
8. Understanding of science and the scientific methods.
9. Appreciation of the arts.	PowerPoint presentation
10. Understanding of values.
11. Understanding of human behavior and human institutions.