STUDY GUIDE
GEOGRAPHY 305
Spring 2004 -- Erik Prout
FINAL EXAMINATION
FINAL EXAM, Monday, May 10th (10:30-12:30)
Final exam is the last course evaluation and it is worth 350 points or 35% of the total grade.
Bring large gray Scantron with you (type NCS MP90051 or 0-101607-TAMU)
The Exam will have somewhere around 75 questions;
Questions will include multiple choice, matching, and map identification.
Test taking rules:
No Cheating!
No Appearances of cheating.
No hats or unnecessary headgear.
No loose papers or notes & textbooks outside of a closed book bag..
No wandering eyes.
Do not disturb other students during exam.
Raise your hand to draw proctor's attention.
Study Guide:
This website is meant to be helpful in your preparation for an examination.
It should only reinforce your learning; it is not a substitute for reading and lecture notes.
A good way to prepare is in small study groups, so you can compare notes and share ideas.
Main theme: Modern Texas; Human Activities and Organization
Location matters (structures and places what we do on the Earth's surface)
Contemporary Geographies: economic, urban, transportation, touristic, etc.
Rhetorical questions concerning location and organization:
Where are human activities such as political and economic structures located?
How are past human activities seen in the landscape?
(movie theaters, or county courthouses in Texas)
What political districts, rural settlements and urban structures are a part of our everyday lives?
How do these organizing principals play out geographically?
Which Texas regions characterize different organization of land and ideology, and where are they located?
Existing and Future geographies: Regions of Texas
Urban-Economic Structure / MSA map:
Is Texas an urban place? How would you explain your answer?
Which cities stood out in the past and which ones stand out today for their size?
What kinds of buildings signify the center of cities?
What are the most typical courthouse square patterns?
What does Jackson say about the Sunbelt city in the South?
What kind of transportation system is being constructed around our cities?
What are the two CMSAs in Texas? How many MSAs are there in Texas?
Where are jobs and higher incomes found in Texas?
Perceptual and Future Maps of Texas:
What is a "perceptual region" and how does a geographer create a map of perceptions?
What are some of the new types of regions that may come about in Texas?
How are these new organizational schemes formalized/promoted in media?
What are COGs and T&T areas?
How did historical use of Central Texas and compass terms evolve?
GEOGRAPHICAL PLACE-NAMES (know where they are on a map):
Major Rivers and Cities (similar map as before)
Pay attention to city/river combinations (e.g. Waco/Brazos).
Transportation lines (Interstates) in Texas and major urban/economical centers along them.
Metroplex; I-35 corridor; which three IHs compose the Texas triangle?
Other places prominantly mentioned in lecture, slides, or films.
Riverwalk; Stockyard; Big Bend; Deep East Texas; Heart of Texas; Hill Country;
the five square plaza;
MAJOR COMPREHENSIVE ITEMS:
Regions: (definition, characteristics, and types of regions)
Location: absolute & relative
Texas' Borders: type of border and the 8 neighboring states.
Human--Environment relationship (Jordan's chapter two)
Cultural Pluralism / Diversity of People (Jordan's chapter four)
READINGS:
[new readings]
READER #24 J. B. Jackson “Vernacular City”
READER #25 J. B. Jackson “SLT—Sunbelt City”
READER #26 Terry Jordan Chapter 12 “Conclusion / P. Regions” to Texas: A Geography
READER #27 J.B. Jackson "High Plains"
READER #28 Danial Arreola Chapter 9 "Tejano South Texas"
READER #29 Donald Meinig Chapter 5 “Differentiation” to Imperial Texas
Texas Almanac (#30)
“Business” pp 566-573
“Recreation”
pp
119-137
“Transport”
p
590
“Oil” pp
599-600, p 606
[cumulative/old readings]
READER #2 Terry Jordan Chapter 1 “Introduction” to Texas: A Geography
READER #3 Terry Jordan Chapter 2 “Physical Environment” to Texas: A Geography
READER #10 Terry Jordan Chapter 4 “Confluence” to Texas: A Geography
READER #12 Terry Jordan Chapter 5 “Confluence” to Texas: A Geography
READER #13 Terry Jordan Chapter 6 “Confluence” to Texas: A Geography
READER #19 Terry Jordan Chapter 7
“Political” to Texas: A Geography
READER #11 J. B. Jackson “Chihuahua"
READER #15 J. B. Jackson “SLT—Virginia Heritage”
READER #20 & 22 2000 Census report on changing demographics/political reapportionment
[helpful parts from the Texas Almanac]
"Profile”
(pp 10-14)
"Metropolitan Areas" (p. 299) part of population (pp 296-300, 377)
"Environment: parks & wildlife (pp 80-92)
Geog 305 main page