Geography of Texas

Statement:

Geography 305 is an introductory course in regional geography that examines the cultural and physical geography of Texas. Geography as a discipline examines the fundamental relationships between humans and their various earthly environments. The purpose of this course is to explore the diverse geographies of Texas as well as introduce some important geographical concepts such as region and landscape. As you are aware, Texas has a strong regional personality—maybe more identifiable than any other American region—therefore it is important to discuss how "Texas" is represented to and interpreted by the world at large.

The successful outcome of this course, which is my goal, is to (1) facilitate your understanding of the various cultural and ecological contexts found in Texas, (2) increase your knowledge and proficiency in Texan place-names and regions including their relative locations, (3) develop a dialogue of Texas in regards to landscape & representation, and (4) convey the importance of intellectual pursuits that construct geographical places, regions, and ideas.

There are no prerequisites for this course, so there is no presumption of prior geographical study. However, it is an upper-level course that assumes a sophisticated level of lecture note-taking, reading comprehension, and study habits on your part. I assume all university students are capable and willing to learn, and I will help you become a better student if you ask. You must take responsibility for your learning by attending lectures, completing assignments, reading textbooks, and above all else evaluating your own learning and trying to improve. I highly recommend you form a small study group as soon as possible. One feature of a geography course that differs from other university courses is the need to use atlases and maps; be prepared for memorization of geographical features (both human and physical such as cities, landforms, and ethnicity) and their locations on maps of Texas.

–RESOURCES & ATTENDANCE: Unfortunately, no single "Geography of Texas" textbook is currently in print. The Readings for this course will have to come from a variety of sources. Occasionally, film/movie clips will be shown in class and some of these may be difficult to find at video rental stores. I will also assign internet sites for you to visit, therefore you must have internet access. In summary, most test related material will be mentioned in class! Miss class at your own peril, and if you should, contact your fellow students for notes and visit the course website for handouts. The readings are equally important to lecture, so it is imperative that you keep up with the reading schedule. Attendance is a key factor in academic performance; use your time wisely and take special note of the underlined days listed below as examination dates.

The following resources will be REQUIRED to successfully pass this course.
Most of these resources/books can be shared with a fellow student.
The tentative reading schedule is in the “Reader!"

4. Historical Atlas of Texas. Stephens and Holmes, OUP. 1989. ISBN# 0-8061-2307-9

7. Four large gray scantrons & soft lead pencil (bring on evaluation days with your TAMU ID).

I use a total point scheme for grading. Every examination and exercise has a set value of points, and the final grade is determined from the total number of points accumulated. The primary source of points are the three exams: the two midterm exams are worth 500 points (250 each) and the final exam (comprehensive) is worth 350 points. The remaining 150 points consists of a map and atlas exercise. For the first time this semester, I am offering an extra credit project. The project will be worth a maximum of 100 points and it will deal with landscape photography. Details will be posted online and discussed in class.

The tests will be electronically graded; therefore you will need to bring the appropriate scantron on examination day (large gray type). The exercise will be primarily scantron graded with a small section of fill in the blank and map identification; part of the exercise is a survey of the class regarding Texas geography that is graded on a completion basis only. A note on electronically scanned grading: you are responsible for providing a scantron that is free of folds, rips, or any deformity that prevents it from running through the machine.

The final grade is based on the total points and ranking of your points, not the percentage of points. There is no rounding up of points. For a large class section like this, 900/800/700/600 of the possible 1000 points can be used as an approximate guide for A/B/C/D thresholds. I reserve the right to modify the thresholds after evaluating the whole class and the point distribution.

Excused absences are by university policy! Any examination date or due-date missed is a tentative zero (see schedule). Exam day emergencies require immediate notification (a phone call to me, the Department of Geography, or an appropriate university official) and written verification of emergency. Alternative evaluations are essay oriented and at my discretion.

Grading Table:

Evaluation	Possible Points	Mean Points	Your Points
Midterm 1	250	189
Atlas Exercise	150	135
Midterm 2	250	191
Extra credit	(100)	42
Final Exam	350	264
TOTAL	=1000	821	=

Classroom Policies:
I have high expectations of my students and in return I commit myself
to reasonable expectations; here are a few key points.

• Conducive learning environment is foremost: late arrivals and early departures should be extreme situations; disruptive behavior of any sort is wrong. Food & drink are okay, but smells, crunches, and wrappers are not (pack your trash out of the room including newspapers). You must minimize the distractions especially unnecessary noise because it interferes with others ability to hear me. Discretely let me know if the screen is out of focus or if my voice is too low. I will try to project my voice and I will pester those who waste our class time. Cell phones and audio devices must be turned off before entering the lecture hall.

• Questions: YES, ask questions. The best questions start with why, where, or who. If you are curious or unsure, probably others in class are thinking the same thing. I will respond. Please communicate with me; I realize this is a very large lecture section so if you are hesitant to ask questions in front of everyone, at least ask after class or during office hours.

• Academic Dishonesty: NO, do not do it! On evaluation days, bring ID card and only what is necessary. Instead of devising ways to cheat or plagiarize, devote that time to studying. I will not tolerate any form of dishonesty.

• Change of Schedule: No significant changes will be made without proper notice.

• Communication/Office Hours: I return phone calls and emails in a timely manner and I try my best to keep office hours. When emailing me, please write out your name and exact course inside the message as well as filling in the subject line.

• ADA Statement: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Department of Student Life, Services for Students with Disabilities in Room 126 of the Koldus Building, or call 845-1637.

• Copyrights: All course material is copyrighted. Taping and reproducing of course material for other than personal use will be regarded as copyright infringement and referred to the University lawyers for action. Before tape recoding, ask me first. Professional note takers must be enrolled in this course (university policy) and receive my permission prior to any commercial transaction involving course notes (state law).

Lecture and Reading Schedule (last updated 9/20)
BOLDED text is done / ITALICS text is tentative schedule

Lectures:
    First day of class, 9/2, Howdy (Allegra) and Syllabi.
    Second day of class, 9/4, Geography and Regional Geographies.
    Third day of class, 9/6, Maps and Cartography. (bring School Atlas to lecture)

Required Readings:
    READER #2, T. Jordan Ch. 1 “Introduction” to Texas: a Geography
    Texas Almanac pp 9-20
    Historical Atlas maps 1 & 2.

Lectures:
9/9    Texas Borders; latitude and longitude
9/11    Memory of last year's 9/11
9/13    Physiography; physiographic regions, part 1

Required Readings:
READER Swanson Ch. 2 Physiographic Provinces
READER Jordan Ch. 2 “Physical Environment”

Lectures:
9/16    Physiographic Regions, part 2
9/18    Geology and Gulf of Mexico
9/20    Climate: global factors and patterns in Texas

Required Readings:
    TX Almanac pp 53-99 “Environment”
    READER Russell “Climates of Texas”
    READER Muller & Faiers “Water Budget …”
    Historical Atlas maps 3, 4, 5, 6

KEY POINTS: geological aspect to physiography, the geography of the Gulf, climatic factors

Lectures:
9/23   Climatic classifications of Texas
9/25   Vegetation, Soils, Hydrology,
9/27    Water Resources: rivers & reservoirs

Required Readings:
Texas Land Ethics intro., Chapters 1-3
Historical Atlas maps 44, 45, 49

Lectures:
9/30    Aquifers and Oil (fossil fuels)
10/2    Environmentalism
10/4    Land Ethics

Lectures:
Monday 10/7: Physical Regions of Texas
Wednesday 10/9: Review for 1st Examination

Lectures:
10/14    Preliminary test results; Texas in Film (The Alamo)
10/16    Columbian Exchange; Human Mobility
10/18    Native Texas; collect Atlas Exercise; Settlement of Texas Video pt.1

Required Readings:
    READER #9    FBK "To Know the Land and its People."
    Texas Almanac (pp21-51) "History"
    Historical Atlas maps 7-43

Lectures:
10/21    European colonial activity; Settlement of Texas Video pt.2
10/23    Mexican Texas; Mexico
10/25    Republic of Texas; Extra-Credit

Lectures:
10/28    Settlement Frontier; Pluralism
10/30    Linguistic geography
11/01    Religious geography

Required Readings:
    READER #14    TJ "Linguistic"
    READER #15    TJ "Religion"

Lectures:
11/04    Settlements & Rural Landscapes
11/06    Independent Study Period
11/08    Reading Day -- SWAAG conference

Required Readings:
    READER #16    JBJ "Virginia Heritage"
    READER #17    FBK "Cattle Complex"
   READER #19    TJ "Rural Settlement"
    Texas Almanac (pp594-605) "Agriculture"
    READER #20    TJ "Texas Graveyards" (Ch.1 Truth & Ch.6 Legacy)

Optional:
READER #18 JBJ "High Plains"
Texas Graveyards Ch. 2 (Southern Folk Cemetary)

Lectures:
11/11    Settlements 2: courthouse squares/plazas, survey systems
    (early extra credit deadline)
11/13    Demographic trends in Texas
11/15    Political Geography and Texas politics

Required Readings:
    READER #21    TJ "Demography"
    Texas Almanac (pp286-290) "Cities and Towns" & (pp383-399) "Population History"
    READER #22    2000 Census report -- changing demographics
    READER #23    TJ "Political"
    Historical Atlas (maps60-63)

Lectures/Classhour:
11/18    Final lecture (political regions in Texas)
11/20    Review
11/22    Examination

Lectures:
11/25 STUDENT SLIDE CONTEST!
11/27 Individual Landscape Experiences
Thanksgiving Break

Readings:
READER #25 J. B. Jackson “SLT—Sunbelt City”
READER #26 J. B. Jackson “Vernacular City”

Readings:
    Texas Almanac pp 543-593 “Business;” pp 109-124 “Recreation.”
    READER #27    Donald Meinig Chapter 5 “Differentiation” to Imperial Texas
    Historical Atlas: maps 50-55, 59, 64

Last Reading: READER #28 Terry Jordan Chapter 12 “Popular Regions” to Texas: A Geography