INTRODUCTION TO
GEOGRAPHY
FALL, 2007
Instructor: Dr. Joseph M. Cirrincione TAs
: Chris Castro
Office: 2181-E
Lefrak John
Clark
E-Mail: jcirrinc@umd.edu Brandon
Nero
Phone: 405-4053 Richard
Russo
Alex Schmid
Jackie
Waite
Course
Goals
You have chosen this course as part of your CORE
Liberal Arts and Sciences Studies Program, the general education portion of
your degree program. A faculty and student committee approved this course as a
Behavioral and Social Science CORE Distributive course because it will
introduce you to ideas and issues that are central to a major intellectual
discipline and because it promises to involve you actively in the learning
process. This is primarily achieved by
active participation in the discussion sections. The discussion sections are
structured to enhance active interaction with data sources, major concepts
associated with the field, instructors, and fellow students. Please take advantage of the discussion
section and the opportunities this course offers you.
The objective of this course is to make you
aware of the importance of a geographic perspective in understanding the human
condition. Major topics associated with
the sub fields in geography will be introduced while exploring the impacts of
the environment, culture, and location on human affairs. Comparisons will be made between traditional
and modern systems as a means of understanding variations in how people
perceive and organize their territory.
Geographic theories and real world situations will be presented at the
micro (local) and macro (regional and world) level.
Required
Materials
Edward
F. Bergman & William H. Renwick, Introduction to Geography: People,
Places and Environments, 4th ed., Upper Saddle, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 2003.
Packaged
Supplement by Pearson Education, Inc and Packaged Atlas
Geog.
100 Course Packet available at Campus Bookstore
TOPICS
1. Introduction: Chs.
1
The
Nature of Geography
Areas of Geography
Systematic and Regional Approach
The Region as a Concept
Discussion
Session:
Maps - the Geographer's tool
Group activity and mapping project.
2. Environmental
Systems I: Landforms
Internal Processes
External Processes
Discussion
Session:
The Earth's Fractured Crust: Short term
environmental shifts.
Group analysis and report of case studies.
3. Environmental Systems II: Energy & Moisture
Sources of energy Ch.
2
The energy balance
Atmospheric Pressure and movement
Hydrologic cycle
Written Assignment Handout: The Water Budget
Discussion Session: The Earth’s Seasons,
Winds and Currents
4. Environmental
Systems III: Climatic
Regions
System of classification Ch.
4,9
Major characteristics of climatic regions
Variations in soils and vegetation
Discussion
Session:
Global environmental change.
Cases and controversy: Deforestation &
Desertification.
Written Assignment Handout: World Climates
Discussion
Session (2): Exam Review
EXAM 1 - THE PHYSICAL REALM - 10/15/03
5. .Development of Global Profile:
Group Project
Discussion
Session:
The Cultural Landscape. Each group to be
assigned
a major culture region and develop a cultural
profile
of the region. Group oral report accompanied by
written handout.
6. Economic Development: Global
Economic Change.
Global Inequities
Traditional and Modern Systems
Discussion
Session:
Culture groups to reexamine their regions
utilizing "Measures of
Development" and classify their region.
7. Population Growth
Major stages of
population growth
Modern population growth and the Demographic
Transition
Modern Migration
Written
Assignment Handouts: Population Growth
Discussion
Session:
Population and growth
rates - The Social Implication
8. Industrial
Location & Development Ch.
12
Industrialization and Economic Development
Industrial Location
Industrial regions
Discussion Session: Globalization
Written Assignment
Handout:
Industrial Location Theory
9. Global
Agricultural Systems
Traditional Agricultural
Systems Ch8
Modern Agriculture
Discussion
Session:
Agricultural Location Theory and Crop Selection.
Group to select appropriate crops for their
farm.
10. Transportation
Systems: A question of connectivity
Transportation costs and location
Evolution
of transportation systems: Models and
Examples
Discussion Session:
Spatial Interaction and the Gravity Model:
Exercise on
factors affecting the movement of people, goods,
and ideas.
Written Assignment Handout: Early Settlement
Location
11. Process
of Urbanization Ch.
10
Preconditions
for City Growth
Periods of Urbanization
Modern Urban Growth
Economic Development and Urbanization
Discussion
Session:
Global variations in urban growth -
Problems and Prospects. Group review and report
on urban growth in their region.
12. Organization
of Cities
City
functions and land use
Models of urban land use
Evolution of urban land use
Discussion
Session:
Population
Pyramids
13. Urban
Systems
Cities, Towns & Villages as service centers
Urban hierarchy and central places
Central Place Theory
Urban system: The USA
Discussion
Session:
Review and
completion of all activities.
Exam II - The Final
Section 0100's (10 AM) -
Disability:
If you have a
documented disability and wish to discuss academic accommodations with me,
please contact me as soon as possible.
Academic Integrity:
All students at the
Evaluation:
There are two exams, five
papers, ten group projects, and 5 quizzes. Each exam will be worth 65 points,
the papers 10 points each, the group projects five points each, the five quizzes ten points each ,and 10
points for discussion section
participation for a total of 290 points. Your final grade will be based on the number
of points received for the exams, papers, group projects , quizzes and discussion
section participation. Attendance is required at the discussion sections. All
papers will be given out and returned during the discussion sections. It is imperative you actively participate in
the group and individual activities of the discussion section to maximize your
involvement in the learning process.
Record:
Exams: Papers: Group
Activities: Quizzes Participation
(130
points) (50 Points) (50 points) (50
points) (10 points)
1 ________ 1 _______ 1
_______ 6 _______ 1
_______
2 ________ 2 _______ 2
_______ 7 _______ 2
_______
3 _______ 3
_______ 8 _______ 3
_______
4________ 4 _______ 9 ________ 4 _______
5 ________ 5 _______ 10 _______ 5 _______
Total:
(290
points)
Section
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TA’s
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