Human Geography
(GEOG 200) (Honors)
Spring Semester 2008 -- Section # 13110
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 11:30am - 12:20pm
Room: BH-122 (Bluemont Hall)
(Course Outline Provided
Below)
Professor: Jeffrey Smith, Ph.D.
Office: 164C Seaton Hall (Due north of the K-State Union)
Mailbox: 118 Seaton Hall
E-mail: jssmith7@ksu.edu
Office Phone: 532-3412
Department Phone: 532-6727
E-mail: jssmith7@ksu.edu
Office Hours: Mon & Wed: 2:30pm - 3:15pm and by
appointment.
(I’m here to help!)
REQUIRED READING/TEXT:
- Fellman, Jerome, Arthur Getis, and Judith Getis. 2007. Human
Geography:
Landscapes of Human Activities (10th Edition). Boston:
McGraw-Hill.
(ISBN: 0-07-305151-2)
Note: Earlier
editions
of
this book will work just fine as well.
Note: A copy of the
textbook is on 2 hr.
reserve
at the Hale Library.
COURSE DESCRIPTION/FORMAT:
This course is designed to introduce students
to the systematic and theoretical concepts of Human Geography.
The
course provides an excellent opportunity to explore a wide variety of
theoretical
concepts that permeate many of the social sciences. Each student
is strongly encouraged to ask questions and participate in the class
discussion.
COURSE
GRADING:
Each
student's grade is based on three (3)
exams (100 points each) and 3
projects. Scheduled exams and the due date for the
“projects” are listed on the outline. Exam format is multiple
choice, short answer, and essay. Exams are NOT cumulative in nature, but
students are required to retain a working knowledge of prior exam
information throughout the semester. All grades will be posted
at: http://online.ksu.edu
Make-up exams will be given only for legitimate,
verified excuses and ONLY IF
every attempt has been made to contact me at least 24
hours BEFORE the exam is scheduled to be given. In the rare
event that a make-up exam is granted and taken, the student's exam
score will be dropped 10%. This does not prevent you from taking
the exam early and receiving full credit. All rules and
regulations as established by Kansas State University regarding the
attendance policy will be strictly followed.
Please be advised that I do not initiate withdrawals
for students who quit attending class. Recommendation: If you
have a conflict with the class and can no longer attend, formally
withdraw. The last day to withdraw from the class is: Monday, March 24, 2008. No
withdrawal (W) grade will be administered after this
date. No extra credit is given in this class!!!
GRADING SCALE:
90-100% =
A (562 - 625 points)
60-69% = D
(375 - 437 points)
80-89%
= B (500 - 561 points)
Below 60% = F (374 or
fewer points)
70-79%
= C (438 - 499 points)
- As of
1999 ALL Kansas State University undergraduate students, by act of
registration, pledge that... “On my honor, as a student, I have neither
given nor received unauthorized aid on my academic work.” (In
other words, cheating will not be tolerated by the professor or the
University.)
- I reserve the right to modify the contents of the
course. Every attempt will be made to notify the class in advance
should a deviation be necessary.
- This course carries the designation of University
General Education (UGE). Students’ UGE experiences should inspire
them to appreciate differing viewpoints, consider openly new and
divergent thinking, weigh ideas with careful skepticism, challenge
conventional wisdom, and explore for more accurate and more useful
knowledge. The intent of the UGE program is to expand students’
breadth of education at KSU.
- Any student with a disability that needs a
classroom accommodation, access to technology or other assistance in
this course should contact Disability Support Services and/or their
instructor.
I am here to
help you. Please come see me if you have any concerns or
questions.
Outline
Date
Lecture
Readings
in Textbook
Fri 1/18
Syllabus/Outline/Intro. to Class
Mon 1/21
NO CLASS – Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
Wed 1/23
Overview of
geography, key terms, 5 themes
Chapter 1
Fri 1/25
Overview of geography, key terms, 5 themes
Mon 1/28
Maps - tools
of the geographer
Wed 1/30
Maps - tools
of the geographer
Fri 2/1
Population geography
Chapter 4
Mon 2/4
Population geography
Wed 2/6
Population geography
Fri 2/8
Population geography
Mon 2/11
Population Pyramid
Project Due (100 points)
Wed 2/13
International
migration
Fri 2/15
International migration
Mon 2/18
Illegal
Immigration (Discuss “Antonio’s Gun & Delfino’s Dream” readings)
Wed 2/20
Internal migration
Fri 2/22
Internal migration
Mon 2/25
Lecture Catch-up
Wed 2/27
EXAM #1 (100 points)
Fri 2/29
Cultural
geography
Chapters 2
& 7
Mon 3/3
Cultural
geography
Wed 3/5
Cultural
geography
Fri 3/7
Social geography
Chapter 10
Mon 3/10
Sit and Spin Project
Due (100 points)
Wed 3/12
NO CLASS – Work on Atlas of KS Project
Fri 3/14
NO CLASS – Work on Atlas of KS Project
Mon 3/17
NO CLASS – Spring Recess
Wed 3/19
NO CLASS – Spring Recess
Fri 3/21
NO CLASS – Spring Recess
Mon 3/24
Social geography /
Students Draw Manhattan
Wed 3/26
Atlas of KS Project
Due (125 Points)
Fri 3/28
Ethnic
geography
Chapter
6
Mon 3/31
Ethnic geography
Wed 4/2
Urban
geography - Mental Maps
Fri 4/4
Urban geography
Chapter 11
Mon 4/7
Urban
geography
Wed 4/9
Urban
geography
Fri 4/11
Lecture Catch-up
Mon 4/14
EXAM #2 (100 points)
Wed 4/16
Economic geography
Chapter 9
Fri 4/18
Economic geography
Mon 4/21
Economic
geography
Wed 4/23
Religious
geography
Chapter 5
Fri 4/25
Religious geography
Mon 4/28
Religious
geography
Wed 4/30
Human-environmental
interaction – Global Warming
Chapter 13
Fri 5/2
Human-environmental interaction – Natural
Disasters
Mon 5/5
Human-environmental interaction
Wed 5/7
Lecture
Catch-up
Fri 5/9
EXAM #3 (100 Points)
Semester Projects
Population Pyramid Project
(100 total points)
Purpose:
The purpose of this assignment is to enhance each
student’s critical thinking abilities and give students practical
experience representing demographic data visually.
NOTE:
Students will most likely NOT be able to complete
this assignment until after the lecture in Population Geography is
covered in the class.
Instructions:
Working individually, each student is to identify a
population data set (real or imaginary) that represents an “unique” or
different population. (You are encouraged to think
creatively.) After identifying the data set students are to make
a “population pyramid / profile” of that population using the base
model provided. If the population is real (not imaginary) then be
sure to include a copy of the data set. The hard copy of the
Population Pyramid project is due Monday, February 11th at the
beginning of class (75 points).
On the day the project is due, each student will
visually present their pyramid / profile to the class then discuss its
major characteristics (25 points).
Obviously, a color pyramid / profile will be more
striking and will impress your professor more than one using only black
and white.
If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact
Prof. Smith.
Sit and Spin Project
(100 TOTAL points)
Purpose:
The purpose of this exercise is to help students
enhance their powers of observation and foster students’ creative and
critical thinking abilities. This simple exercise should be fun
to complete and not physically demanding. Most of the work is
intellectual.
Required Materials:
- Writing utensil
-
Paper
- Comfortable seat
- Time keeping device
- Critical & Creative thinking
- Keen observation
- Camera (digital will work best)
Matrix:
ANYWHERE you want. You are encouraged to be
creative as you select a site to complete this assignment. Be
respectful and, if needed, gain permission from an owner or
manager. If asked, be sure to tell people who you are, what you
are doing, and why.
Instructions:
Working individually, students are to find a place
where they can comfortably sit and observe what is going on around
them. For thirty (30) minutes each person is to take notes,
drawings, sketches, etc. at any scale(s) you wish. Be specific in
your notes and try to capture as much detail as you can.
Once you have completed taking notes on your
observations you are to analyze what you saw (spin your mental
wheels). Not only are you to look for geographic patterns, but
also be aware of how your personal biases may influence your
perspective on what you see and the conclusions you reach.
Remember this assignment falls under the umbrella of “Social Geography”.
Each student is to submit two things:
- a photo(s) (2 maximum) (25
points)
- a short 1 to 2 page summary of
their findings (be sure to incorporate theoretical concepts discussed
in class throughout the semester) (50
points)
Your photo and paper are due at the beginning of
class on Monday, March 10th.
On the day the project is due, each student will
visually present their photo(s) to the class. Ideally I will put
all of the images into a single PowerPoint presentation.
Therefore, if you can submit your photo early I will have it ready for
class. In class, students will then discuss their observations /
findings. (25 points)
Atlas of Kansas Project
(125 TOTAL points)
Purpose:
The three-fold purpose of this assignment is to
enhance each student’s critical thinking abilities and help advance
students’ formal writing skills.
Instructions:
Each student will produce (print and submit
digitally – pdf format) one high quality, clear, color, thematic map on
a theme within the state of Kansas. The map and supportive
material will be due March 26th. It will focus on ANY aspect /
theme / topic within the state of Kansas. The map could be a
physical map (e.g. soils, geomorphology, elevation, climate), an
historical map (e.g. trails through Kansas, early ethnic settlements,
county seats), or a contemporary map representing a geographic pattern
in Kansas (e.g. corn production by county, feedlots and number of
cattle fed, human population by county, ethnic groups, elderly).
Each student is to submit the following information:
- a hard/paper
copy (8½" X 11") (25 points)
- a digital
copy (pdf format) (25 points)
- full citation for
the source of the data (10 points)
- copy of the
data set used (15 points)
- 1½ to 2
page typed summary (25 points)
(The summary should be 12 point
font, 1 inch margins and explain the geographic pattern of the map)
On the day the map and summary information are due,
all of the maps will be displayed on the wall giving students the
opportunity to review them. Following the display time each
student will present a short (5-7 min MAXIMUM) oral summary of their
map for the class. This need not be formal; be sure you highlight the
main findings and geographic patterns represented on the map (25 points
each).
*** PRIOR to working on each map, see Prof. Smith to
select your theme so as to prevent duplication. If you do no
acquire prior approval, 25 points will be deducted from your score. ***
Have fun and do well! If you have any
questions be sure to ask Prof. Smith.
NO LATE projects
will be accepted.
Potential Topics for Maps:
- Map showing something about internet connections
or technology
- Map of major watershed regions in KS
- Map of ethnic festivals and/or ethnic towns (e.g.
Lindsborg)
- Map of BAK routes over past (decade, 20 yrs, 50
yrs???)
- Map of Bed & Breakfasts in KS
- Dot map showing famous people from KS (astronauts,
Eisenhower, Jack Kilby, Dole, Chrysler,..)
- Map of scenic bi-ways in KS
- Map of State and National Parks / Monuments and
recreation areas
- Map of golf courses
- Map of population or ethnicity/race
- Map of source region for State Universities (KU,
K-State, Ft Hays, Emporia, Pitt State, ...)
- Map of ???
Last
Updated: 6 December 2007