Geography 313
Latin America
Summer Session I 2007
T/Th 12:30-4:00 p.m. 2166 LeFrak Hall

Instructor: Ronald W. Luna
E-mail: ronaldl@umd.edu
Office: 2108 Lefrak Hall
Office Hours: Before or after class or by appointment
Library web site:
http://www.lib.umd.edu/GOV/212.html
Course web site: http://www.geog.umd.edu/homepage/courses/323

Objective: Geography 313 is regional geography course designed to acquaint you with the physical and human geography of Latin America and the Caribbean.  This course is organized by substantive topics rather than by country.  The topics include: physical geography, natural hazards (hurricanes, earthquakes, deforestation, etc.); pre-1492 cultures; the impact of colonization; nationalism and modern political states; present demographic characteristics, globalization, migration patterns, urbanization; United States influence in the region, and economic development issues.  In addition, understand how the past of Latin America has influenced the present and future of Latin America from a geographical perspective.

 

GEOG313 is a CORE course in cultural diversity (CORE-D).  It is part of your liberal arts and sciences education.  It is taught in an interactive manner and you will be expected to participate fully.  In this course you will be asked to think beyond your own culture, whether you are from the United States or from another country. Since we are not able go to Latin American, videos are the next best thing, and you will be seeing a variety of them. Language is a part of cultural diversity of this course, and several of the videos are in Spanish with English subtitles. 

 

Textbooks

Kent, Kent B.  2006.  Latin America Regions and People.  The Guilford Press.  New York ISBN 1-57230-909-1

Juan Gonzalez.  2001.  Harvest of Empire: A History of Latinos in America.  New York: Penguin Press.  ISBN 014-025539-7

Proposed course schedule (subject to change, check website regularly and listen for announcements in class):

 

Date

Topic

Activity/Assignment

June 5

Lecture 1: Introduction

Ch. 1, Ch. 2

 

Lecture 1b: Physical Environment

Ch. 3

Video:

Sao Paulo TD424.4.B73 S36

Mexico City TD424.4.M49 M49

What natural hazard most impacts Latin America?

 

How do humans play a role?

 

Assignment 1 due on June 7:

How do natural hazards have impacted Latin America?

June 7

Lecture 2: Legacy of colonization

Ch. 5; Ch. 1 (Harvest)

 

Lecture 3: Independence

Ch. 12; Ch. 2 (Harvest)

 

Video: Bolivar: El Libertador F2235.3.B453

Print, read, and bring to class:

http://www.emory.edu/COLLEGE/CULPEPER/BAKEWELL/thinksheets/thsh-bolivar.html

 

Why is their past still hunting Latin America?

 

Assignment 2 due on June 14:

What is the legacy of colonialism in Latin America?

 

June 12

Lecture 4: Economy/Globalization

Ch. 16

 

Ch. 18

Video: Danger: Children at work

JZ1318 .L5412

What is the current economy of Latin America?

 

How has the economy of Latin America changed over the centuries?

 

How has globalization affected Latin America?

June 14

Lecture 5: United States Influence

Ch. 3, 6, 7, 8, 9 (Harvest)

Video: In Whose Interest? E744 .I6

In what ways has the United States have impacted Latin America?

 

Print, read, and bring to class Monroe Doctrine: http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/facts/democrac/50.htm (All)

June 19

Lecture 5: United States Influence

Schools of the Americas: An Insider Speaks U428.A75 S35 1998

Schools of the Americas: School of the Assassins U428.A75 S36 1996

Assignment 3 due on June 21: Is the United States a friend or a foe for Latin America?

 

Print, read, and bring to class timeline:

www.zompist.com/latam.html (1846-1996)

 

www.pinzler.com/ushistory/timeline9.html (1854-1919)

 

June 21

Lecture 6: Population

Ch. 9

Video: Mirrors of the Heart F1408 .A64 1993

 

Lecture 6b: Population growth and economic development

Ch. 7 and Ch. 14

 

Lecture 6c: Urbanization

How has urbanization affected Latin America?

 

Where is your country in the demographic transition model?

 

Is Latin America experiencing a population boom?

 

June 26

Lecture 7: Migration

Ch. 9, 20 

Video: Continent of the Move F1408 .A64 1993

Is migration good or bad?

Assignment 4 due on July 5: Pick a country and select a current event (ex. Latin America’s presidential elections, civil unrest, Free Trade agreements, i.e.)

June 28

Lecture 7b: Migration

The other Side JZ1318 .C58 v.14 

What are some of the migration trends that Latin America is experiencing?

World in a Zipcode article

Latino Growth article

July 3

No Class!!!!!!!!!!!

 

July 5

Presentations

Everyone will present a 10-15 minute presentation

July 10

Future of Latin America

 

July 12

Final Exam

Final Exam on July 12:

What is the future of Latin America?

Attendance policy: Attendance and participation are mandatory. If an illness or an emergency causes you to miss class, you must contact your instructor via e-mail immediately and provide valid notification such as doctor's note. For each unexcused absence 10 points will be deducted from your overall participation and attendance grade.  You must shown on time and contribute to the class in order to obtain the full participation points.

Turning in assignments: As a rule, points will be deducted from assignments turned in late at a rate of 10 points per day.   No assignment will be collected via e-mail.  No assignment will be collected or graded after a week of the due date.  If you need to turn an assignment early o late please turn in my mailbox located in 2181 Lefrak Hall and have the secretary stamped your assignment.  General guidelines for written assignments will be outlined below, and expectations for each assignment will be clearly stated at the time the assignments are given and displayed in the course web site.   

Academic integrity: Academic dishonesty is a serious offense that can result in suspension or expulsion from the University of Maryland. All assignments should be your own work. Since there are several writing assignments, plagiarism would not be tolerated.  Please refer to the following website to determine how the University of Maryland defines plagiarism: www.testudo.umd.edu/soc/dishonesty.html.  All assignments must be cited properly, especially when using direct quotations, paraphrasing, or using ideas that are not your own and come from another author.  Paper that do not follow proper citation the instructor reserves the right to deduct points from the assignment, not graded the assignment, or report you to the Judicial Review Board.

Students with special needs: If you have a documented physical or learning disability, please contact me at the beginning of the semester so that accommodations can be made.

Evaluation:

100 points: Class attendance and participation are mandatory. Unexcused absences will affect your grade, as will neglecting to contribute to discussions, showing up late or leaving early.
25 points: Assignment 1  
35 points: Assignment 2
50 points: Assignment 3

100 points: Assignment 4

25 points: Class presentation 

100 points: Final Exam

Total: 435 points

Guidelines for written assignments:

You have several written assignments for this course (Research topic, article reviews, abstract, bibliography, and research paper). Specific expectations and materials for each assignment will be discussed in class. However, these are some general guidelines to follow:

  1. All assignments must be typed or word-processed, double-spaced, 12 point font, Times New Roman style, and with one inch margins.
  2. Do not use a fancy binder. Simply staple the papers together in the upper left corner.
  3. A title sheet for each assignment should be included which contains your name, date, assignment and title.
  4. Follow the guidelines for each assignments page/word length.
  5. Assignments will be graded on the following criteria: followed assignment guidelines, content, presentation, organization, clarity, and grammar.
  6. Must include proper APA citation.
  7. If you do not follow the instruction above points will be deducted from your assignment grade.

Additional Resources:

Videos:

United States and Latin America

Schools of the Americas: An Insider Speaks U428.A75 S35 1998

Schools of the Americas: School of the Assassins U428.A75 S36 1996

Father Roy: Inside the School of the School of the Americas U428.A75F28 1997.  118 Min. (Further detailed on School of the Americas)

Hidden Scars HV8599.L38 B37 1994.  51 Min. (Testimony of torture and migration to the United States by a Guatemalan immigrant)

The Yankees Years. F1439.5 .C75 Vol 1. 51 Min.  

Castro’s Challenge.  F1439.5 .C75 Vol. 2.  51 Min.    (Cuba)

Revolution in Nicaragua.  F1439.5 .C75 Vol.3. 51 Min (Nicaragua)

Battle for El Salvador.  F1439.5 .C75 Vol.4. 51 Min.  (El Salvador)

Fire in the Mind.  F1408 .A64 1993  Pt. 9  57 Min. (Peru and El Salvador)

Latin America: Intervention in our Backyard.  D727B47.1999 pt.10

The Panama Deception: Exposing the Cover Up.  F1567.P36 1993  91min.  (Panama)

In Whose Interest? E744 .I6

Globalization

Geraldo Off-line. JZ1318 .L54 2000 v.2. 24 Min. (Brazil)

Bolivian Blues. JZ1318 .L54 2000 v.27.  24 Min. (Bolivia)

The other Side JZ1318 .C58 v.14 2001.  30 Min.  (Mexico)

Migration

Abandoned: The Betrayal of America’s immigrants E184.A1 A23 2000. 55 Min.

De L’autre Cote. F787 .D4 2002. 99 Min.  (Mexico)

Los Trabajadores/The Workers.  HD8081.H7 C68 2001.  48 Min.  (Austin, Texas)

Continent of the Move F1408 .A64 1993  57 min.  (Mexico)

The other Side JZ1318 .C58 v.14 (Mexico)

Refugees in our backyard.    (Central America)

Environment

Boderline Cases: Environmental matters at the United States-Mexico Border. TD897.8.M6 C67 1997.  65 Min.

Banking on Disaster.  SB418.3.B6 B36 1989.  79 Min. (Brazil)

Toxic Legacy.  RA1270.P4 T66 2001.  46 Min. (Mexico)

Jungleburger.  HD9433.C6 J86.  52 Min.  (Costa Rica)

Rain forest.  QH541.5.R27 R35.  59 Min.  (Costa Rica)

Buenos Aires.  TD424.4.A74 B84  14 Min.

Sao Paulo.  TD424.4.B73 S36        14 Min.

Mexico City.  TD424.4.M49 M49    14 Min.

Lima.  TD424.4.P47 L56                  14 Min.

Economy

Life and Debt.  HV6250.4.C48 L53 1992. 48 Min. (Brazil)

Mexico-U.S. Free Trade Agreement Implications for the United States. HF1756 .M494 1991.  42 Min.  (Mexico)

The Money Lender.  The World Bank & International Monetary Fund:  HG3881.5.W57 M65 1991.  88 Min.

Religion

Guadalupe: Mother of all Mexico.  BT660.G8 G83 2001.  60 Min. (Mexico)

Encounter/Conquest

Fall of the Aztecs.  F2229.C66 2001 Vol. 1. 60 Min.

 

The Conquest of the Incas. F2229.C66 2001 Vol. 2.  60 Min.

 

Search for El Dorado.  F2229.C66 2001 Vol. 3.  60 Min.

 

All the World is Human. F2229.C66 2001 Vol. 4.  60 Min.

 

The Conquest of Mexico.  F1230 .C68 1992.  35 Min. 

 

Indigenous Always: The Legend of la Malinche and the Conquist of Mexico.  F1230 .M373 2000.  57 Min.

 

End of a Culture.  F1411 .E64 1988.  13 Min.

 

The Civilization of Mexico.  F1210 .C577 1988 13 Min.

 

Bolivar: El Libertador F2235.3.B453 30 Min.

Crime

Senoritas Extraviadas. HV6535.M63 S46 2001.  77 Min. (Mexico