Department of Geography
Geography 301: Geography of North America
Fall 2005
Instructor: Dr. James C. Saku
Office Phone: 301-687-4724, Secretary: 301-687-4369
Office Location: GU 229
Office Hours: 8:00 -8:50 MWF, 9:30-10.30 TR or by appointment
Lecture Hours: TR 8:00 a.m. -9:15 a.m.
Email:
Course Description
Major national and geographic regions of the United States, Canada and Mexico. Relationship between natural and economic factors.
Course Objectives
1. Introduce students to the regional concept.
2. Identify the major physical and cultural realms of the United States, Mexico and Canada.
3. Examine the population geography of Canada, Mexico and the United States.
4. Examine the economic and political regions of the United States, Mexico and Canada.
5. Provide a comparative analysis of regional issues between Mexico, United States and
Canada.
Learning Objectives
1. Students should demonstrate their understanding of the historical evolution of the United States, Canada and Mexico.
2. Provide an understanding of the physical and cultural landscapes of North America.
3. Compare and analyze the political systems of Canada, United States and Mexico.
4. Identify regional economic and social problems within North America.
5. Write a term paper on any aspect of the Geography of North America.
Required Text
McKnight Tom L. 2004. Regional Geography of the United States and Canada. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall.
Please note that there is no current text book on the Geography of North America. Most of the texts are about 20 years old. While the materials on Canada and United States will be obtained from the above text, the materials on Mexico will be derived from several sources. Hand outs will be provided in class.
Academic Dishonesty
Note that academic dishonesty including plagiarism and cheating during examination is a serious offense and carries severe penalty. Refer to the Pathfinder for details.
Disruptive Student Behavior
Please refer to Pathfinder for details.
Blackboard
To facilitate effective communication between the instructor and students, the course is available on Blackboard site. You are encouraged to visit the site regularly to check on announcements and deadlines. Course outline and assignments are also posted on the site. For those not familiar with Blackboard, information will be provided in class.
Policy
Students are expected to attend classes regularly and participate actively during class discussions. To participate actively in class, students are required to read assigned materials prior to class. Attendance will be recorded and failure to attend classes will result in the loss of marks. Your attendance grade will be based on the total number of days present over the expected number of days multiplied by 25. For example, if you were required to be in class for 34 days in the semester, and you were present for 24 days, your attendance grade will be (24/34)x25 = 18 points. Students are responsible for informing the instructor of their presence if they arrive after attendance has been taken.
Class assignments and term essay are to be submitted promptly on the due day. Late submission of term essays carries a penalty of 20 points per day for a maximum of 5 days. No essays will be accepted after the 5th day without a reasonable cause. A reasonable cause is defined as serious illness (doctor's report required) or tragedy within the family (a note from family member required).
Grading
All texts including the final examination will consist of multiple choice, short questions and answers and essays. Prior approval is required for missing an examination. No make-up examination will be granted if you fail to seek prior approval.
The final grade will consist of the following (Please note that except the final exams, the dates are tentative and subject to change)
Class attendance and participation = 25 points
Map quiz (September 8th) = 40 points
Three unannounced quizzes = 60 points
Class exercises – September 29th and November 10th = 50 points
Paper Review (October 13th) = 25 points
Group project and presentation (October 25th and 27th) = 50 points
Research project (December 1st at 3:00 p.m.) = 100 points
Class test 1 (to be announced) = 100 points
Class test 2 (to be announced) = 100 points
Final examination (Dec. 13th, 11:15-1:45 p.m.) = 100 points
Your final grade will be determined based on the total points accumulated over 650. The scale is as follows:
A = 90-100%
B = 80-89%
C = 70-79%
D = 60-69%
F < 60%
Quiz:
There will be three unannounced quizzes. You need to read each day before you come to class. You will lose points for a quiz if you did not seek prior approval for class absence on the day a quiz is conducted.
Class Assignments:
Each student is required to review and provide critical comments on the following readings. These readings are in your book. Your review should be limited to 4 to 6 pages typed double space. Personal comments about the readings are strongly recommended. The award of marks for the review will be determined by the quality of the review. The criteria will include a demonstrated understanding of the issue, critical appraisal, logic and clarity.
1. California or bust? The future direction of US population ‘Drift’. (page 43)
2. New York City, globalization and the attacks of September 11, 2001. (page 162)
Term Project
Each student is required to select an essay topic related to The Regional Geography of North America. Consult with the instructor if you are in doubt of your essay topic. Essays should be limited to 10 pages (typed doubled space). You are encouraged to build a strong bibliography from journals, periodicals and the Internet for your research essay. Examples of journals include Annals of the Association of American Geographers and The Canadian geographer. These journals and other journals are available in the library.
Headings and sub-headings are strongly recommended. You will lose marks if you do not use sub-headings. Students are encouraged to examine comparative issues dealing with Canada, Mexico and the United States.
The purpose of the project is threefold:
a. Provide students an opportunity to apply geographic concepts to the economic, social and physical issues in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
b. Familiarize students with current issues confronting Canada, Mexico and the US.
c. Experience in data collection and writing of research essays.
Essays will be graded based on the following criteria
a. format - clear, concise and logical
b. grammar and typos
c. presentation - data, charts
d. background of your work - reference to existing literature
e. relevance of topic to course
f. practicality and usefulness
g. strong bibliography (at least two journal articles)
Group project and presentation
All students are required to participate in a group research project. Students will be assigned to a group for a class project and presentation. Students have the right to join any of the groups. However, the instructor may assign students to one of the groups in order to maintain a balance in the total number of students in each group.
Students are strongly advised to meet promptly to familiarize themselves with each other and to start their research projects early. Students are required to undertake a detail research and present their findings to the class. Presentations must be in PowerPoint. One individual, selected by the group will present the findings of their research to the class. Group members are expected to join in the discussion during question time.
As part of the project, students can submit maps, graphs, figures and visual aids in support of issues they raise in their presentation. The class presentation will take about 15 minutes. It is important that each student participates in the preparation and presentation. The purpose of this project is to foster group work and promote critical thinking. Copy of the project should be submitted to the instructor on the day of the presentation. The paper will be graded.
Titles of Group Projects
a. Native Americans in Canada, Mexico and the United States
b. Tourism in Canada and the United States
c. The North American Free Trade Agreement
d. The Alaskan Native Land Claim Agreement
e. Health care management in Canada and the United States
f. Nunavut: A New Territory in Canada?
Paper review
All students are required to review and provide critical comments on the following article. Your review should be limited to four pages. Personal comments about the article are strongly recommended. The award of marks for the review will be determined by the quality of the review. The criteria will include a demonstrated understanding of the issue, critical appraisal, logic and clarity.
James C. Saku and Robert M. Bone 2000. “Modern treaties in Canada: the case of Northern Quebec Agreements and the Inuvialuit Final Agreement. The Canadian Journal of Native Studies. 20:2, 283-307.
Course outline and reading (subject to change)
1. Introduction to North America: The North American continent - characteristics, historical evolution of Canada, Mexico and the United States (Reading: Chapter 1)
2. The Physical Environment: the nature of the land form, climate, soils and vegetation
(Reading: Chapter 2)
3. Population Geography: The concept of melting pot or potpourri? Historical and contemporary population, race and ethnicity in the United States and Canada (African-Americans, American Indians, Hispanic Americans), political, judiciary, religious and cultural institutions: similarities and differences between Canada and the United States (Reading: Chapter 3)
4. Population geography of Mexico: Ethnicity and language, social structure, religion and education, political system in Mexico
5. The North American City: historical development of North America cities, Urban morphology, functions and population, Urban ills, delights, dichotomy and urban tomorrow (Reading: Chapter 4)
6. Regions of the United States and Canada: the regional concept, types of regions, uniform, nodal, cultural, economic and political regions, geographical regions of Canada and the United States (Reading: Chapter 5
7. The Atlantic Northwest: Maritime Provinces of Canada and New England States, physical setting, settlements, economic activities -- agriculture in New England of Atlantic Northeast, coal mining in Cape Breton, pulp and paper in Newfoundland, fishing industry, decline and prospects, The Hibernia oil and gas project, tourism potentials (Reading: Chapter 6)
8. French Canada: French Canada as a region and concept: population geography, cultural distinctiveness, french nationalism, the language problem, primary economic activities and urban industrial activities (Reading: Chapter 7)
9. Megalopolis: regional extent, urban and rural activities (Reading: Chapter 8)
10. The Appalachian and the Ozarks: The physical environment, settlement of the Appalachian and the Ozarks, primary economic activities (agriculture, forest and mining)
(Reading: Chapter 9)
11. The Boreal Forest and the Arctic: physical setting, population, Native culture and economy, market economy, regional economic base (economic leakage), mining, lumbering, river basin development, environmental issues, native land claims in Alaska and the Canadian North (Reading: Chapters 19 and 20)
12. The California Region: physical environment, agriculture, settlement, population and urbanism (Reading: Chapter 16).
13. A regional study of Mexico: economic base: agriculture, financial institutions, industry, energy and mining, transportation and communication
14. The North Pacific Coast: the terrain, climate, forests and wood product industries, agriculture in British Columbia, commercial fishing, hydro-power generation (Reading: Chapter 18).
15. Course Review
Map Quiz
One of the course requirements is to know North American cities and physical sites. The following list forms the basis of an in-class map quiz. As a preparation towards the quiz, use the attached maps to locate the land forms and settlements.
1. Southeastern Coastal Plain 26. Los Angeles 51. Rocky Mountains
2. Appalachian Uplands 27. Kotzeblue Sound 52. Cape Breton Island
3. Interior Plains 28. Pittsburgh 53. Hudson River
4. Hudson Bay Low Lands 29. Oklahoma City 54. Rio Grande
5. Canadian Shield 30. Yukon River 55. Gila River
6. Great Salt Lake 31. Norton Sound 56. Bay of Fundy
7. Lake Michigan 32. Philadelphia 57. Pecos River
8. Lake Superior 33. Atlanta 58. Sierra Nevada
9. Lake Winnipeg 34. James Bay 59. Cascades
10. Great Bear Lake 35. Kodiak Island 60. Platt River
11. Columbia River 36. San Antonio 61. Lake Manitoba
12. Sacramento River 37. St. Louis 62. Gulf of California
13. Colorado River 38. Victoria (Canada) 63. Gulf of Mexico
14. Mississippi River 39. Winnipeg 64. Mexico City
15. St. Lawrence River 40. Edmonton 65. Sierra Madre Del Sur
16. Missouri River 41. Quebec City 66. Bahia de Campeche
17. Athabasca River 42. Saskatoon 67. Mesa Central
18. Hudson Bay 43. Nunavut 68. Sonora
19. Vancouver 44. British Columbia 69. Sierra Madre Oriental
20. Mackenzie River 45. Ontario 70. Baja California Sur
21. Toronto 46. Quebec 71. Baja California Norte
22. Ellesmere Island 47. Maine 72. Chiapas
23. Gulf of St. Lawrence 48. Alberta 73. Yucatan Peninsula
24. Arctic Archipelago 49. Nova Scotia 74. Veracruz
25. Salt Lake City 50. Newfoundland 75. Matamoros