Geography 305 -- Erik Prout, Visiting Assistant Professor
Texas A&M University, Spring 2004
QUICK LINKS:
Writing Assignments Maps of Texas
WebCT TurnItIn
Evaluations:
(these exam dates / due dates cannot be missed unexcusedly)
|
Evaluation |
Possible Points |
Mean Points |
Your Points |
|
250 |
188 |
|
|
|
250 |
189 |
|
|
|
(250)* |
181 |
|
|
| Atlas exercise |
26 |
22 |
|
| Evaluations Subtotal {posted on webCT} [equal to your top two midterms & atlas] |
526 |
409 |
|
|
Writing Exercises (& extra credit) |
135 (175) |
136 |
|
|
350 |
277 |
|
|
|
TOTAL |
=1051 |
825 |
|
SYLLABUS
Dr. Erik Prout
Visiting Assistant Professor
Office Hours: General policy is set times and by appointment, which
means you can come by my office or call or we can schedule a mutually
benifitial time to meet. I plan to be in my office during the following times:
Tuesdays 12:00-3:00 and Wednesdays from 2:00 (after class)- 3:00.
Office: Eugene Butler Hall 110 (Geo-Suites #B)
Office Phone # 458-3379 (Department office and emergency messages 845-7141)
COURSE:
Geog 305/502
Lecture format for three credits
Class meets every M/W/F between 12:40 and 1:30
Class meets in the BSBE 115
Website: http://geog.tamu.edu/~prout
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.
Requirements:
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 reading
comprehension, note-taking, 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 different maps of
–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. You will
need to register with TurnItIn.com, have regular access to NEO & WebCT, and
I will occasionally assign internet sites for you to visit, therefore you must
have internet access. I also assign various
The following resources will be REQUIRED to
successfully pass this course.
Most
of these resources/books can be shared with a fellow student.
The
Library has computer and media resources.
The
reading schedule is in the “Reader” as well as on the website.
1. Photocopied READER (available at Copy Corner); contains chapters from Terry Jordan’s Texas: A Geography as
well as blank maps and a few articles by various geographers.
2.
3. School Atlas of
4. Access to electronic reserve. (Evans Library)
5. Access to the Internet: (TurnItIn.com for writing) and (WebCT for evaluation results)
6. Access to Video/DVD: (Library Annex 4th floor & screening times).
7. Five large gray scantrons & soft lead pencil (bring on evaluation days with your TAMU ID).
Evaluation
/ Grading:
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 exams: the three midterm exams are worth 500 points (best two out of three -- 250 each*) and the final exam (comprehensive) is worth 350 points. The remaining 150 points consists of a weekly writing exercise (approximately 10 exercises for 15 points each).
The tests will be electronically graded; therefore you will need to bring the appropriate scantron on examination day (large gray type). 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 writing exercises will be submitted through the anti-plagiarism website TurnItIn.com. I clarify the topic during Friday’s class and they are due the following Monday.
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.
Jan. 27 (1 day grace)
March
29
Writing #8 Describe
April 5
Writing #9 Describe Texan politics.
MIDTERM THREE
Writing #10
Writing Extra
Credit
May 10 (10:30-12:30)
FINAL EXAM
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.
• 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.
•
• 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).
Some advice, suggestions, and observations
of common misconceptions I’ve noticed at TAMU.
1. Rule of thumb on TIME: for every hour of lecture, you
should anticipate 2-3 hours of study time outside of class. Therefore, a three
unit lecture implies an average commitment of ten hours a week. That is why 12
units is called full time. Obviously, certain weeks require more time than
others, but you should be spending a minimum of 1-2 hours reviewing each week.
Then of course, you need to plan for much more time when tests and due dates
come around.
• Don’t claim you study enough if
you’re not putting in over 5 hours a week. Likewise, don’t claim you study hard
if you’re not putting in over 10 hours a week. Many students claim to study “a
lot” but do they study enough? More importantly, are students studying effectively?
• Study hard but balance your time
with those things that make you happy, healthy, and/or proud to be an Aggie. There
are numerous activities to occupy your time (both university excused and pure distraction),
but in the end, I evaluate your academics, not your spirit.
2. The essence of an educated person
is LITERACY.
University studies require a high level of reading and writing. Reading a
textbook is a rite of passage—yes they are boring and fact laden—deal with it.
• Read, read, and read. Not all
material can be covered and elaborated on during lecture; textbooks and
readings are an essential component of higher education. On occasion, students
ask me about how to do better on the next test, and when asked, they confess
they did not read the textbook. There is no excuse for not reading.
• Texas A&M is a top-notch
university! A colleague of mine likes to say, A&M is the big leagues. The
value of a university degree is related to how difficult it is to obtain; TAMU
is a special place with high standards. Not everyone can get here nor can every
person succeed here.
3. Student—faculty interactions. The atmosphere on our campus is
generally very good, but students should be aware of how academic rank and
distinguished titles work.
• Titles: “Doctor” is appropriate
for anyone with a Ph.D. as well as M.D. (it is an honorary title that comes
with the highest educational degree). Not all instructors have Ph.D’s but most
everyone at TAMU does, so error on the side of using Dr. instead of
Mr./Mrs./Ms. etc. “Professor” is a title associated with an appointed position
(at a University and usually exclusive to having a doctorate).
• Salutations: “Howdy” is a common
and friendly greeting in Aggieland. Not all professors are howdy people, but I
personally like it and use it. Know who you are addressing and don’t mistakenly
insult them. When emailing or calling me, Howdy Dr. Prout is a perfect
salutation.
MAIN THEME: Welcome to the class and university level geography.
Lectures:
First day of class, 1/21, Howdy (Allegra) ; Syllabus; Geo--graphy
Second day of class, 1/23, Introduction to Regional Geography; Handout 1.
Required Readings:
Reading #0
[Handout] Donald
Meinig “intro & preface” to Imperial Texas
Reading #1 [E-Reserves] Richard Francavilgia "intro" to The Shape of Texas
Reading #2 [E-Reserves] Terry
Jordan “Empire or Border Province” (Ch. 1) to Texas: a Geography
Reading #7a Texas Almanac pp 10-14 "Profile"
Week 2
MAIN THEME: Texas' location and physical geography.
Lectures:
1/26 Maps and Texas Borders; latitude and longitude
1/28 Physiography; physiographic regions, part 1
1/30 Physiographic Regions, part 2; Handout 2
Required Readings:
Reading #3 [E-Reserves] T. Jordan Ch. 02 “Physical Environment”
Reading #4 [E-Reserves and JSTOR] R. J. Russell
"Climates of Texas" Annals of the Association of American Geographers
Optional Reading A [E-Reserves] Eric Swanson Ch. 2 "Physiographic Provinces" Geo-Texas
KEY POINTS: Physical regions and borders; maps, latitude and longitude
MAIN THEME: Physical Geography of Texas
Lectures:
2/2 Gulf of Mexico
2/4 Climate: global factors, Climatic classifications and patterns in Texas
2/6 Vegetation, Soils, Hydrology of Texas
Required Readings:
Reading #5 [E-Reserves] Gunter & Oelschlaeger "Bioregions" (Ch. 2) Texas Land Ethics
Reading #6 [E-Reserves] Eric Swanson "Texas Environment" (Ch. 10) Geo-Texas
Optional Readings B & C [book reserve] E. Swanson Chapters 7 (oil) and 8 (water)
KEY POINTS: geological aspect to physiography, the geography of the Gulf, climatic factors
physical regions (vegetation,
climate, etc.) of Texas
Week 4
MAIN THEME: Resources and Environment of Texas
Lectures:
2/9 Resources and Hazards: oil & water, pollution
2/11 Land Ethics / environmentalism
Required Readings:
Reading #7b Texas Almanac pp 57-109 “Environment”
Optional Reading D [book reserve] Gunter & Oelschlaeger "State of Neglect" (Ch. 3) TLE
KEY POINTS: Water resources (rivers, aquifers, etc.)
Environmental hazards (floods,
droughts, etc.)
MAIN THEME: Peopling of Texas & Columbian Exchange
Lectures:
2/16 Texas in Film (The Alamo); Evaluations & MT1 results;
2/18 Columbian Exchange; Human Mobility
2/20 Native Texas
Required Readings:
KEY POINTS: Diffusion, Migration, and Texas Indians.
Week 6
MAIN THEME: Historical Human Geography: people, culture, & place
Lectures:
Required Readings:
Optional Readings F and G: McComb's (Ch.2) Spanish Legacy and (Ch.3) Texas and the U.S.
KEY POINTS: Historical Geography in maps; expansion of settlement (with change of political control)
Week 7
MAIN THEME: Cultural Geography of Texas
Lectures:
3/1 Culture; different peoples
-----writing #5-----
3/3 Languages in Texas
3/5 Religions in Texas
Required Readings:
KEY POINTS:
Week 8
MAIN THEME: Culture Pluralism in Texas / Evaluation
Mid-semester Grades:
Lectures:
3/8 Cultural Pluralism
No
new readings on Examination Week.
Maps:
School
Atlas of
KEY POINTS:
TBA
3/12 Movie Screening (no lecture)
Week 9
SPRING BREAK
(Writings 6 & 7 movies B/C/D)
Week 10
MAIN THEME: Settlement Geography and Landscapes
Lectures:
3/22 Spring Break and Intro to Settlement
3/24 Settlement Geography -- universals & specifics
-----writings #6 & #7-----
3/26 Texas Settlement Geography
Required Readings:
KEY POINTS: Cultural landscapes: origins, patterns, & demise of traditional
Week 11
MAIN THEME: Population of Texas
Lectures:
3/29 Settlements & Ranching
-----writing 8 -----
3/31 Demography
4/2 Population growth in Texas
Required Readings:
Optional:
KEY POINTS: Population dynamics of Texas: growth, change, context
Week 12
MAIN THEME: People and Politics in Texas
Lectures:
4/5 Political Geography
----- writing 9 -----
4/7 Political Geography and Texas politics
4/9 [no class--reading day]
Required Readings:
Optional:
KEY POINTS: Political geography:
MAIN THEME: Texas Today / Evaluation
Lectures:
4/12 Political Futures
4/14 conclusion of Part Three of course / review
No new readings on Examination Week.
MIDTERM THREE ----- EVALUATION
Week 14
MAIN THEME: Modern Texas (cities)
Lectures:
4/19 Introduction to Part Four
4/21 Cities and urban Texas
4/23 Metropolitan Statistical Areas
Readings:
Key Points: MSAs and urban Texas; organization to human activities
Week 15
MAIN THEME: Modern Texas (economy)
Lectures:
4/26 Economic geography
4/28 Infrastructure and econ. regions
4/30 Popular Regions
Readings:
Weeks 16 and 17
MAIN THEME: Final Examinations
Final Lectures:
5/3 Conclusion to Part Four and Course; future regions of Texas
5/4 {redefined day} Final Review
Last Required Readings:
FINAL EXAM: Monday, May 10th 10:30-12:30
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