Geoscience
111: CULTURES and REGIONS
Course No.001160, 2 to
2:50 p.m. MWF, King Hall 217
Instructor: Dr.
Paul R. Sando, King Hall 210, phone 477-2241.
Office
Hours: 8:30 to 10:40 a.m. TR, 11 to noon MWF, or by appointment.
Email:
psando@mnstate.edu
Texts: Required:
Jordan-Bychkov
and Domosh, The Human Mosaic, 10th
Ed.
Strongly
Recommended: Goodes World Atlas, 20th Ed. (or similar world atlas)
Readings
will be assigned based on the course schedule and class progress.
Geoscience
111 will introduce the foundations for studying the development of cultures and
cultural diversity in the world, introduce the foundation concepts of Regional
Geography, and study the interrelation between cultures, regions, their
environments, and human activities.
The objectives of this course include developing a framework of basic
concepts and theories, studying interdependence and interrelationships in
global cultures and regions and having students develop their own methodology
for analyzing the world based upon the concepts learned.
Evaluation
of these goals includes; three exams given during the term, five quizzes, and
two written projects. Each exam
may include map questions and written definitions along with multiple-choice
questions. The instructor reserves
the right to give drop quizzes if attendance becomes poor. Appointments for make-up exams may be
made if the instructor is notified in advance of a necessary absence or in
cases of an extremely good excuse. Drop quizzes cannot be made up.
Tentative
Exam Dates; Feb. 14, March 28, and
the Finals are:
Section
One (1pm) on May 4 at Noon,
Section
Two (2pm) on May 8 at 3 pm.
Grades: 1st Exam-55 pts, 2nd
Exam-55 pts, Final Exam- 70 pts, 5 Quizzes (10 pts each)- 50 pts, Writing
Projects (3) -60 pts, for a total of 295 points.
Only the class grade will be curved and
only as necessary. The instructor
also reserves the right to assign extra credit. The grading scale is based on straight percentage of total
points.
A
- 90 to 100%; B - 80 to 89%; C - 70 to 79%; D - 60 to 69%; F- below 60%
Student
Requirements
1. Attendance policy: Class
attendance is not mandatory, but it is strongly recommended (There exists a
distinct statistical correlation between attendance and success). The
student is expected to attend class.
It is your responsibility. If the student misses a class it is
his or her responsibility
to see the instructor and get missed assignments or get the notes from a
classmate. If you must leave class
early, for whatever reason, I ask the courtesy of being told beforehand and
that you sit in such a location as to cause a minimal disruption of class as
you leave.
2. The student is expected to read the
text material. I do not lecture
from the text alone, so it is your responsibility to read and make sure you understand the
text. (Hint: Ask me questions if
you don't understand.) It is
nearly impossible to do well without good notes.
3. Make-ups:
The student is expected to take all exams and quizzes. If you expect to make-up an exam or
quiz, I need to know the reason for the absence
in advance. If it is an
emergency on test day, email, or call and leave a message, and be ready to present
your excuse at the next class period.
Make-ups of exams or quizzes must be completed within one-week of your
return to class. If you should
have a problem, please see me. I
can be flexible if circumstances require.
4. Writing Projects: The students will be expected to
complete three short writing projects of twenty points each. The projects shall consist of at least
three, double-spaced pages of text (one inch margins all around), possibly one
map, and any other relevant tables or graphics. The topics must be something relating to Cultural-Regional
Geography and the material covered in class. It is a good idea to have a topic prior to writing by
the instructor, but otherwise the topic is up to the student's discretion.
Instructor's approval may help avoid doubling up on a subject, address or avoid
problems early on, and allow a better chance of finding reference
materials. The instructor will be
available to help students locate and secure references if needed. You
must have a minimum of FOUR references (though better papers will have
more). It is expected that the
student will communicate well and will present a decently edited paper. With the instructors approval, the
second and third projects may re-write, expand on, or revisit a subject
previously attempted. References
should be cited within the text according to any major accepted format and
should also be listed in a bibliography.
The projects are due February 28,
March 30, and April 25. Please feel free to use the
assistance of the Write Site for help with your paper.
5. Students with disabilities who believe they may need an accommodation in this class to contact Greg Toutges, Coordinator of Disability Services at 477-2652 (phone) or 477-2047 (TTY), CMU 222 as soon as possible to ensure that accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.
6. Finally, this is a university course,
and you are expected to conduct yourselves as proper scholars. The University's policies concerning
any academic dishonesty are listed in your student handbook. Plagiarism is using someone elseÕs work
as your own without citing that person as a reference. Be sure you cite references well. Ask if you have questions,
please! I also refer you to the
universityÕs academic honesty policy at: http://www.mnstate.edu/sthandbook/POLICY/index.htm
Tentative
Topic Schedule:
Topics Readings
A.
Introduction Ch.
1
1.
Cultural Regions
2.
Cultural Diffusion
3.
Cultural Ecology
4.
Cultural Integration
5.
Cultural Landscape
B.
Popular/Folk Culture Ch.
2
1.
Regions And Diffusion
2.
Ecology And Landscape
3.
Integration
C.
Folk Culture/Landscapes
1.
House Types
2.
Agricultural Patterns
REGIONAL STUDY UNIT-----NORTH AND SOUTH
AMERICA
D.
Demographics Ch.
7
1.
Regional Demographics
2.
Diffusion & Migration
3.
Patterns
EXAM
ONE>>>>>>>>>>>
REGIONAL STUDY UNIT-----CHINA/SE ASIA
E.
Languages And Dialects Ch.
4
1.
Families And Subfamilies
2.
Minority Languages
3.
Americanese & Dialects
F. Ethnic Geography Ch.
5
1.
Rural Folk Context
2.
Popular Urban Context
G.
Religion/Denominations Ch.
3
1.
Ethnic Religions
2.
Universal Religions
3.
Denominations
EXAM
TWO>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
REGIONAL STUDY UNIT----MIDDLE EAST/N.AFRICA
H.
Political Geography Ch.
6
1.
Political
Culture, diffusion, and division
2.
Heartland/Rimland
and other political ecology
3.
Interaction
and political landscape
I.An
introduction to Economic Geography
(via
Cultures and Regions)
1.
Agriculture of the world Ch.
8
2.
Industrialization Ch.
9
REGIONAL STUDY UNIT----- EUROPE/RUSSIA
J.
Urban Regions
1.
Cityscapes In Geography
Ch.
10
1.
Internal Urban Structure Ch.
11
2.
Popular Architecture
REGIONAL STUDY UNIT------JAPAN/PACIFIC
RIM
FINAL
EXAM>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>