Geography of the United States

Geography 301 -- Erik Prout, Visiting Assistant Professor

Texas A&M University, Fall 2002


TABLE OF CONTENTS:

SYLLABUS (below)

**UPDATED SCHEDULE**

EVALUATION DATES: (these dates / due dates cannot be missed unexcusedly)

    September 27th Noon Deadline: Atlas and Map Exercise #1

    October 16th    Midterm Part One (scantron and ID card only)
    October 21st    Midterm Part Two (take home; word processed)    

    November 15th  Noon Deadline: Atlas and Map Exercise (turn-in on scantron)   

    November 27th Noon Deadline: Film Project (word processed)         

    December 13th 10:00-12:00: Final Exam (scantron and ID card only)

    ***MAPS***North America***links to others

webCT: evaluations and grades


SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR:

Dr. Erik Prout

Office Hours: General policy is set times and by appointment, which means you can come by or call during the designated times or we can schedule a mutually benifitial time to meet. I plan to be in my office during the following times:
Mondays 10:00-12:00
Wednesdays 2:00-4:00
Extra office hours around test dates will be announced in class.

Office: Eugene BUTLER Hall 110-B.
Office Phone # 979.458.3379 (Department office and emergency message 845-7141)
 

COURSE:

GEOG 301 (section 502)
Lecture format for three credits
Class meets M/W/F 8:00-8:50 in Halbouty 101
Website: http://geog.tamu.edu/~prout

Statement:
    Geography 301 is an introductory course in regional geography that examines the cultural and physical geography of North America with an emphasis on the United States. Geography as an academic discipline examines the fundamental relationships between humans and the Earth focusing on spatial and environmental relationships. The purpose of this course is to explore the diverse geographies of America especially those most relevant to Texas as well as introduce some important geographical concepts such as region and landscape.
    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 North America, (2) increase your knowledge and proficiency in United States, Canadian, and Mexican place-names and regions including their relative locations, (3) develop a dialogue regarding place, landscape and 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. 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. 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.

--ATTENDANCE: Attendance is an absolute necessity for learning and succeeding in University level courses. While I do not take roll per se, miss class at your own peril! Most evaluation related material will be discussed or emphasized during class time. If you miss a normal lecture period, first, get notes and impressions from fellow students, and then come to office hours if you still have any questions. Evaluation day absences will be "excused" only by University Policy! Exam day emergencies require immediate notification (phone call) and written verification; alternative evaluations are essay oriented and at my discretion.

--READINGS & RESOURCES: the primary reading for this course will come from a single textbook; the other required learning tool is an Atlas. 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 required resources include:
1. Regional Landscapes of the United States and Canada, 5th Ed. Birdsall/Florin/Price.
2. Atlas
3. Access to both the internet and a video-recorder (which are available in the university library).
4. You will need four large gray scantrons.


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 two exams: the midterm exam is worth 350 points (which is divided into two parts: closed book scantron and take-home essay), and the final exam is also worth 350 points (or 35%). The remaining 300 points consists of exercises: two are atlas exercises (50 points each) and the other is a film writing exercise (200 points). The majority of the course evaluations will be electronically graded; therefore you will need to bring the appropriate scantron on examination days. 
    The final grade is based on the total points and ranking of your points. For a large class section like this, 900/800/700/600 of possible 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 RUBRIC TABLE
  
Evaluation:
 Possible pts
 Mean score
 Your score
atlas exercise 1  
 50
  45.3
midterm (closed book)   
 250
 177.0
midterm (take home)
100
 		 96.0
atlas exercise 2
50
  44.2
film exercise
200
 161.0
final exam
350
 235.8
Total Points
 = 1000
 = 759.3
 =
         
  

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

Conducive learning environment is foremost: 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.
--- Late arrivals and early departures should be extreme situations; disruptive behavior of any sort is wrong. Let me know if you have a circumstance that
--- Food & drink are okay with me (not the university though), but smells, crunches, and wrappers are not; pack your trash out of the room including newspapers.
--- Turn off your cell phone (or at least the audible ringer) before you enter 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.

Cheating: NO, do not do it! On evaluation days, bring ID card and only what is necessary. Instead of devising ways to cheat, devote that time to studying. I will not tolerate any form of dishonesty. Cheating will be treated in accordance with Section 20 of the TAMU Student Rules.

Communication/Office Hours: I try my best to keep office hours and appointments and return messages in a timely manner; minimal email etiquette is required for effective communication.

E-Mails: If you use email to communicate with me, you need to use some basic etiquette. At a minimum, fill in the subject line, clearly write out which class of mine you’re in, and identify yourself by name and/or student ID number.

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.

Copyright Disclaimer: All course material is copyrighted. Taping, reproducing and downloading of course material for other than personal educational use will be regarded as copyright infringement and referred to University legal officers for action. Professional note takers must identify themselves to me and all people in our lecture hall must be enrolled in this section.
 


 



Updated Schedule and Outline

Week 1   
    MAIN THEME: Welcome to the class, semester, and academic geography.

    Lectures:                                                 
    9/2    First day of class -- Syllabus:
    9/4    Geo--graphy; 10 big geographical questions
    9/6    Regions; meta-geography; North America the continent

    Readings:    Ch. 1

    Key Points: definitions of geography and region; big picture of North America and United States


Week 2   
    MAIN THEME: Maps and locations; physical geographical ideas                 
                                                    
    Lectures:  
    9/9    Maps and Atlases; Atlas exercise [IMAGE1: map video]
    9/11   Memory: national day of remembrance
    9/13    Latitude & Longitude; Physiographic Regions,

  Readings:    Atlas intro. and Ch. 2

  Key Points: maps, map distortion, map reading, location, LL, physiography
     

Week 3   
    MAIN THEME: Physical and Human geography

    Lectures:   
    9/16   Physical: climate, vegetation, soils, resources
    9/18   Mobility: migration and diffusion
    9/20   [IMAGE2: Video Physical Geography of North America: The East]; atlas exercise

    Readings:    Ch. 3 and Ch. 4

    Key Points: climatic classification, variables of climate, migration, diffusion

   
Week 4   
    MAIN THEME: Megalopolis                                                                       

DUE DATE:
•    ATLAS Exercise #1 (turn-in on scantron form by noon on Friday, September 27th)  
     50 points or 5.0% of grade

    Lectures:   
    9/23       Culture: place, landscape, & meaning
    9/25       Megalopolis (and urbanization); NY state; [NY/NJ slides] 
    9/27       New York City [IMAGE3: slides & video of NYC]
     

    Readings:    Ch. 5 &  Ch. 11

    Key Points: Culture; Urban; Megalopolis, New York


Week 5   
    MAIN THEME: Cores and core regions                                                          

    Lectures:   
    9/30    New England; Northeast; Mid-Atlantic
    10/2     Manufacturing and Agricultural Cores; Core-Periphery;
    10/4     Middle West; [IMAGE4: Roger and Me]

    Readings:    Ch. 6 & Ch. 17

    Key Points: American states, Core,


Week 6   
    MAIN THEME: Canada and the some North American peripheries

    Lectures:   
    10/7    Upper Midwest, Great Lakes, Canada intro. [IMAGE5: NGS Video The Northlands]
    10/9    Oh Canada! Canadian regions and provinces; [IMAGE6: Video Canadian Federation]
    10/11   Bypassed East: New England and the Maritimes; [IMAGE7: Jack Kerouak's Road]
        Handout the take-home part of midterm

    Readings:    Ch. 7

    Key Points: Canada; marginal East and distant North.
 

Week 7   
    MAIN THEME: MIDTERMS

    10/14    Review Session
    10/16    Midterm

•    MIDTERM EXAM (350 points or 35% of total course grade)
•    Part One is Wed, Oct. 16th        (250 points on scantron)
•    Part Two is due on Mon. Oct. 21st    (100 points word processed)

    10/18    Office Hours 8-12 (questions about take-home part)



Week 8   
    MAIN THEME: Film Project; South

Take-home part of midterm is due during class-time, Monday!

    Lectures:                                                 
    10/21    Film: places in movies, movie making, and the film writing exercise [Image#8]
    10/23    South:  popular regions and the South begins where? [slides]
    10/25    South: Atlantic and Upland;[Image#9 Down from the Mountain]
 
     Readings:    Chs. 8, 9

    Key Points:


Week 9   
    MAIN THEME: South
    Lectures:   
    10/28    Gulf Coast [slides]
    10/30    Louisiana [Image#10]
    11/1    South Central [Image#11]

    Readings:    Chs. 10, 12

    Key Points:


Week 10   
    MAIN THEME:

    Lectures:   
    11/4    Pow-wow Highway [I.#12]
    11/6    Pow-wow Highway
    SWAAG (individual film assignments)

    Readings:    Ch. 14

    Key Points:


Week 11   
    MAIN THEME:  

DUE DATE
•    ATLAS Exercise #2 (turn-in on scantron form by noon on Friday, November 15th)  
     50 points or 5.0% of grade

    Lectures:   
    11/11    Pow-wow Highway
    11/13     Pine Ridge / L. Peltier [Image 13]
    11/15    Rocky Mountains [Image 14]

    Readings:    Ch. 13

    Key Points:


Week 12   
    MAIN THEME:

    Lectures:   
    11/18     Mountain West
    11/20    Southwest
    11/22    Mexico [Image 15]

    Readings:    Ch. 15

    Key Points:


Week 13   
    MAIN THEME:

DUE DATE:
•    FILM Project (due before noon on Friday, November 27th)       
        200 points or 20.0% of grade
  
    Lectures:  
    11/25    Borderlands
    11/27    Special Office Hours

NO CLASS: Thankgiving Break
 
    Readings:    Ch. 18

    Key Points:


Week 14   
    MAIN THEME:

    Lectures:   
    12/2    California
    12/4    Pacific Coast / Northwest
    12/6    Pacific Rim / Overseas possessions

    Readings:    Ch. 16

    Key Points:


Week 15   
    ONLY THEME: FINAL EXAMS!

   Last day of class – December 9th:
        Conclusion / Review for Final
  
special office hours: TBA

•    FINAL EXAMINATION (Friday, December 13th 10:00-12:00)   
        350 points or 35.0% of course grade


Erik Prout's web-bio

Department of Geography

Texas A&M University


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