GEOG 111:02 HUMAN GEOGRAPHY Fall 2014 M-W-F 9:40-10:40 a.m. David A. Lanegran, Carnegie 104E, 651-696-6504 Office Hrs. 8:00-9:30 a.m. MWF, 12:00-2:30 M&F, and by appt any day. TEACHING ASSISTANTS Shelby Maidl and Alyssa Christian SYLLABUS This course in Human Geography is designed to provide you with an understanding of the primary questions of the discipline, the spatial analysis of the human population on the earth, a comprehensive view of the circulation systems that structure settlement patterns, and land use issues around the world. It also provides a chance to practice reading landscapes and using maps. Geography has been defined as the discipline that uses a spatial approach to understand and analyze the earth as the home of humans. It is concerned with the location and distribution of physical and cultural phenomena and with the spatial interaction of phenomena in places and the interaction between and among places. This class stresses the importance of geography in our everyday life and its connections to other disciplines. This course is divided into several sections. The first will introduce you to fundamental concepts of geography and a few research themes in human geography. The second part is focused on the geography of a select number of cultural traits and the cultural landscape. In it we will have a special focus on the geography of popular culture through the study of the rise and diffusion of Rock N Roll in the United States during the 1950s. The third part presents a rather detailed view of population geography. It deals with where people are, why they are in those places, and where they are going next. The fourth deals with the spatial patterns of power. This sub-field is called either political geography or geopolitics. The fifth section is an integrated analysis of settlement, land use patterns, and problems that is based on the concept of circulation systems. It has a special focus on urban settlement patterns and several regional cases of economic change and related environmental impacts. The last section is devoted to the analysis of agriculture. To achieve our goals we will use a combination of field experiences, lectures, discussions and writing. Student evaluations of the course over the past couple of years have consistently asked for more field work. Therefore this course will ask you to spend a significant amount of time on field assignments. Lectures: I have structured this course around a series of formal lectures, short writing assignments, field assignments and a variety of readings. For most of the lectures I will use power point presentation and those will be posted on the course Moodle site. If you miss a class you should discuss the missed lectures with your teaching assistants. I enjoy and encourage questions and discussion in all class periods. We have the good fortune to have two guest lecturers this term. I am sure you will enjoy their special contributions. Discussion sessions: In addition several days have been set aside for discussions of your reaction papers and field assignments that will be led by the teaching assistants. Please be prepared to be fully engaged in discussions during class times. To effectively engage in a discussion of a reading it is necessary to 1) listen to each other and connect your comments to those made by others; 2) comments should stay on the main points of the reading, connecting those points to your experience, other readings and other classes, 3) in this class I would also like you to relate the readings to field experiences Readings: This course involves a fair amount of reading, and it is expected that you read the assignments for the days indicated in the schedule below. Please keep up to date on the reading. The different types of assignment materials will require different levels of reading. The textbook will require you to read for factual information. Some of the reading will be presenting arguments and you will have form a
judgment. In addition to your textbook there will be some required readings on reserve in the library and posted on the Moodle site. Field Assignments: All good geography arises from field work, therefore, you will conduct two short field assignments outside of class time designed to have you personalize some of the concepts from the course. The assignments will ask you to respond to questions about the place you visit, record your observations, your thoughts and your conclusions. Exams: The three exams will be a combination of multiple choice questions and sort essays. Grades will be based on the following: 3 tests 300 points 2 field reports @50pts./EACH 100 points 1 map in media critique 25 points 1 critique of historic atlas 10 points 5 Reaction papers 100 points Rock and Roll research project 15 points TOTAL: 550 points Final grades will be based on the following: A 95-100% A- 90-94% :B+ 88-89% B 83-87% B- 80-82% C+ 78-79%; C 77-73%; etc. The class will meet three times per week. Attendance is expected. Lectures do not normally duplicate readings. If you have questions, be sure to bring them up in class or see me during office hours. Macalester s Academic Misconduct Statement: Plagiarism and cheating are both academic crimes. Never turn in work that is not your own, cheat on one of the tests or recycle a paper you have turned for another class. If you are caught it may result in failing the course or even suspension from the college. Please see me if you have question about what constitutes plagiarism. Anyone caught cheating on the exams will be reported to the Provost along established procedures. READINGS Required texts: deblij, Murphy & Fouberg, Human Geography 10th ed. ( 9 th ed. will also work ) Recommended Veregin, Goode's World Atlas 21st ed. (20 th will be ok) Readings on reserve in the library: Lanegran Minnesota On the Map Olson The Singing Wilderness Note: Most, but not all, readings are on the Moodle site - 2 - LECTURE SCHEDULE (This is a tentative schedule and is subject to modification).
09/03/14 I. Introduction to Geography A. Fundamental Concepts location, place, human environment interaction, spatial interaction Regions 09/05/14 Reading(s): DeBlij - Chapter 1; Atlas iv-xii; L&P - Chapter 1&,2, Minnesota on the Map Chapters 1,2,&3; Mapping Nationalism B. How to Lie with Maps C. Travel & Exploration - Minnesota on the Map ASSIGNMENTS - Critique of maps in media (Due 10/13/14) - Critique of maps in 1874 Statistical Atlas in Macalester Archives (Due 10/01/14) o Visits to archives to be facilitated by Alyssa and Shelby 09/08/14 & 09/10/14, Reading(s): DeBlij - Chapters 4-7 and 14; MLP - Part IV, Introduction, Chapter, 19 Atlas - pp. 35 & 152-153 & 150-151; Il. Cultural Patterns A. Concepts of Cultural Geography B. Popular culture and identities C. Mosaics of Culture Global patterns of language and religion Field assignment # 1 Victorian Landscape due 10/13/14 09/12/14 Reading(s): MLP - Chapter 17, Minnesota on the Map chapters 7 & 9. Selections from Knox B. Cultural Landscape, a. territoriality b. behavioral geography & Time Geography c. placemaking 09/15/13, 09/17/14, 09/19/14 & Reading(s): A. The Origin and Diffusion of Rock and Roll Diffusion in Contemporary Culture Popular culture and identities Guest Lecturers: Jim Hanson and (Steve Flenk) Rock and Roll research material due 09/19/14 09/22/14 & Reading(s): MLP - Chapters 16, Olson - The Singing Wilderness, pp. 5-10, 22-30, 98-111, 129-134, 146-151; Minnesota on the Map chapters 7 & 9 d. Wilderness, tourism and the selling of Place 09/24/14 Guest Lecturer Reiner Juenst Editor - Geographische Rundschau 09/26/14, DIVIDED CLASS DISCUSSION of Olson - The Singing Wilderness, pp. 5-10, 22-30, 98-111, 129-134, 146-151; Minnesota, A Different America? Minnesota on the Map chapters 7 & 9 ( WRITING ASSIGNMENT 2 Page reaction paper to both the Singing Wilderness and Minnesota: a Different America) summary of cultural geography section - 3 -
09/29/14, 10/01/14 Reading(s): DeBlij - Chapters 2 & 3; Atlas - pp.30-34; III. Geography of Human Population A. Modern Patterns B. Demographic Transition 10/03/14 EXAM # 1 10/06/14 & 10/08/14 C. Regional Case Studies Victorian Landscapes Field project DUE 10/06/14 10/10/14 NO Class Attend one section of International Round Table ( WRITING ASSIGNMENT 2 Page reaction paper to the session you attend) 10/13/14 D. Migration & Refugees What is your next move Maps in Media assignments DUE 10-13-14 10/15/14, Ashely Nepp guest lecture on Geovisualization 10/17/14 DIVIDED CLASS DISCUSISON of REACTION PAPERS TO International Roundtable and Summary of Population section 10/20/14 & 10/22/14 Reading(s): DeBlij - Chapters 8; Atlas pp. 61-63 MLP Ch.35 ( WRITING ASSIGNMENT 2 Page reaction paper to each assigned reading) V. Geography of Power A. Geopolitics (basic concepts) B. Nationalism and Model of Organic State C. Colonialism and World Systems Theory 10/24/14 Fall BREAK 10/27/14 Reading(s): MPL Chapters 36 & 37, ( WRITING ASSIGNMENT 2 Page reaction paper to each assigned reading) 10/29/14 E. Changes in the Meaning of International Boundaries 1. The Korean DMZ 2. National borders in the EU F. Public space in cities - 4 -
DIVIDED CLASS DISCUSION OF REACTION PAPERS TO READINGS AND Summary of political geography section SECOND FIELD ASSIGNMENT Ethnic commercial spaces in Twin Cities DUE 11-21 10/31/13, 11/03/14 & 11/05/14, Reading(s): MLP Part VI chapters 26 VI. Circulation Systems and Associated Settlement Patterns Reading(s): DeBlij - Chapter 10, 11, 12; Atlas pp. 52-60 A. General Concepts B. Economic Development 1. Factors of Economic Localization 2. Models of Development 3. Regions Global Patterns 4. Regions Case Study of Iron Range of Minnesota and Detroit 5. Summary of economic development section 11/07/14, 11/10/14 & 11 /12/14 C. Urban Geography Reading(s): DeBlij Chapter 9; 1. Definitions 2. Site and Situation 3. Center Hinterland Relationships - Von Thunen s Land Use Model - Central Place Theory -Case Study of Crex Meadows and St Paul 4. Urbanization of USA 11/14/14 EXAM #2 11/17/14 Reading(s): MLP - chapter 21. 5. Development of the Twin Cities 11/19/14 Reading(s): 5. Internal Structure of Cities in the USA 11/21/14 Reading(s): Lanegran - Swedish Neighborhoods, 6. Ethnic neighborhoods a. General Pattern b. Ethnicity in Minnesota and the Twin Cities c. Ethnic Entrepreneurs SECOND FIELD ASSIGNMENT DUE 11/24/14 DIVIDED CLASS DISCUSSION OF ETHNIC MARKET FIELD ASSIGNMENT 11/26/14 & 11/28/14 Thanksgiving 12/01/14 Reading(s): MLP Ch. 23 7. Urban Internal Structure Outside of North America a. Colonial and apartheid cities - Cape Town and George - 5 -
b. Communist and Socialist planned cities Moscow c. Cities of PRC 12/03/14, 12/05/14 & 10/08/14 Reading(s): DeBlij - Chapter 11, pp. 339-360; MLP Part VI Chapter 11 E. Modern Agriculture 1. Agricultural revolutions 2 contemporary patterns 12/10/14 F. the geographic organization of space and human behavior - Summary and conclusions Exam #3 9:00 Saturday Dec 13, 2014-6 -