Instructor: Dr. James C. Saku

Office Phone: 301-687-4724, Secretary: 301-687-4369

Office Location: FA 224

Office Hours: 9:00-10:00 MWF, 9:00-11:00 T or by appointment

Lecture Hours: TR 2:00-3:15

Email: jsaku@frostburg.edu

Course Description

A geographic analysis of the state. Prerequisites: Geography 103 and 104.

Course Objectives

1. Identify the major physical, cultural and political regions of Maryland
2. Examine the population and economic geography of Maryland
3. Examine the role of selected governmental agencies in Maryland
4. Provide an understanding of the problems confronting Maryland

Required Text:  There is no required text for the course. The only text book on the Geography of Maryland is out of print. As such, course materials will be obtained from several sources including the internet. Students are required to use interlibrary loan, Maryland University System Access (MdUSA) and the few materials available in the library for their reading. A copy of the following text is on reserve for use by all students.

DiLisio, James 1983. Maryland: A Geography. Westview Press, Boulder.

Disruptive Student Behavior:  The University will not tolerate disorderly or disruptive conduct which substantially threatens, harms or interferes with university personnel or orderly university processes and function. A faculty member may require a student to leave the classroom when his/her behavior disrupts the learning environment of the class. A student found responsible for disruptive behavior in the classroom may be administratively withdrawn from the course.

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. Students are responsible for informing the instructor of their presence if they arrive after attendance has been taken. Individual essays are to be submitted promptly on the due day. Late submission of term essays carry 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

Class attendance and participation = 25 points

Group projects (To be announced) = 25 points

Service Learning (March 15^th) = 25 points

Annotated bibliography (February 17^th) = 25 points

Research project (May 4^th at 3:00 p.m.) = 100 points

Mid-term (To be announced) = 100 point

Final examination (Tuesday, May 23 at 2:30 -5:00 P.M.) = 100 points

A = 90-100%

B = 80-89%

C = 70-79%

D = 60-69%

F < 60%

Annotated bibliography

Each student is required to use Maryland University System Access (MdUSA), an electronic information resource in the library to search for three journal articles on any topic on Maryland. Provide an annotated bibliography to each of the articles and present hard copies of the articles and your work to me. This means you have to print the articles and present them to me. An annotated bibliography represents the highlights of the article. This is usually not more than two paragraphs. If you are in doubt of how to write an annotated bibliography, consult materials in the library or the instructor.

The purpose of this assignment is to help you start thinking of your research project for the class. It will also help you to understand how to use MdUSA and improve your writing skills.

Each student is required to undertake a Service Learning Project. I have arranged with Thrasher Carriage Museum for each student to spend 2 hours volunteering their time to help catalogue their collections. The work will be done in their warehouse located on 701 Kelly Road, near new YMCA in Cumberland. You will be required to submit a signed note from a representative of the museum when you finish the project. You will also be required to submit a one or two page report on the project, its usefulness and limitations on March 16^th. The project manager is Ms. Deborah Miller and her phone number is 301-777-5132.

Term Project

Each student is required to select an essay topic related to the Geography of Maryland. The topic may be physical, economic or culturally oriented. 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. Headings and sub-headings are strongly recommended. You will lose marks if you do not use sub-headings.

Your paper will not be returned to you after grading. You may submit two copies if you want your graded paper returned to you.

The purpose of the project is threefold:

1. Provide students an opportunity to apply geographic concepts to the economic, social and physical issues in Maryland
2. Familiarize students with current issues confronting Maryland
3. Experience in data collection and writing of research essays
4. improve the writing skills of students

1. format - clear, concise, rational and logical
2. grammar and typos - proof read your paper. A paper with several typos is unpleasant to read.
3. presentation - effective use of data, charts, maps and visual aids
4. background of your work - linking your paper with existing literature
5. relevance of topic to course
6. effective use of concepts and theories
7. overall integration of the paper - that is, one paragraph flows into the next
8. practicality and ability to provide usefulness solutions to the problems identified in the paper
9. strong bibliography (at least five sources required)

1.   www.inform.umd.edu
2.   www.sailor.lib.md.us/md/md.html
3.   www.dbed.state.md.us/dbed/regdev.html
4.   www.op.state.md.us/general/op1about.htm
5.   www.mlis.state.md.us
6.   www.wmhs.com
7.   www.mdsci.org
8.   www.rockygapresort.com
9.   www.magazine-rack.com - links to several magazines
10.   www.gov.state.us
11.   www.mdarchives.state.md.us
12.   www.mdisfun.org
13.   www.allconet.org - listing of county governments
14.   www.Chesapeakebay.net
15.   www.times-news.com

Group project and presentation

All students are required to participate in a group research project. The project deals with regional socio-economic analysis. Students will be assigned to a group for a class project and presentation. Students have the right to join one of the six 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 detailed research and present their findings to the class. 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. Note: Oral presentation will be graded.

As part of the project, students are strongly encouraged to use maps, graphs, figures and visual aids in support of issues they will raise. The class presentation will take about 10-20 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. One copy of the project should be submitted to the instructor on the day of the presentation. Groups are expected to share their work with class members.

The regional analysis should include all aspects of the physical, social, and economic characteristics of the region. It may be important to compare your region with the rest of Maryland. Issues to be addressed should include but not limited to

1. Geographic location
2. Population: structure (male-female ratio, age distributions), past and present trend
3. Economic background: past and present, employment, unemployment, regional industrial base, tourism potentials, primary activities
4. Major regional problems (crime, unemployment, education, health care etc)
5. Solutions to problems
6. Look into the future

The following are the regions

1. Western Maryland (Allegany, Garrett and Washington Counties)
2. Lower Eastern Shore (Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester Counties)
3. Southern Maryland (Calvert, Charles and St. Mary's Counties)
4. Upper Eastern Shore (Caroline, Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne's and Talbot Counties)
5. Maryland's D.C. Suburbs (Federick, Montgomery and Prince George's Counties)
6. Baltimore (Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carrol, Harford and Howard Counties and Baltimore City)

Course outline (subject to change)

1. Introduction to Maryland: The Mosaic of Maryland, Maryland's relative location (Megalopolis, Manufacturing belt, Appalachian)
2. The Physical Environment: Territorial coverage, Climate (temperature and precipitation), Climatic zones (highland, valley, central hills, metropolitan, oceanic), Soils and Vegetation
3. Physiologic Regions: The coastal plain, the Piedmont, The Appalachian Highlands
4. The Chesapeake Bay: origins, dimensions and characteristics of the bay, the degradation of the bay, Year 2020 Panel Chesapeake Bay Executive Council Report
5. Historical Analysis: Colonization (17th century), agrarian development (18th century), early urban industrial period (19th century)
   
   Population geography: historical overview, current trends and projections, ethnic composition, (regional concentration), socio-economic characteristics
6. Regional analysis: Student Presentations

a) Western Maryland Region (Allegany, Garrett and Washington Counties)

b) Lower Eastern Shore Region (Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester Counties)

c) Southern Maryland Region (Calvert, Charles and St. Mary's Counties)

d) Upper Eastern Shore (Caroline, Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne's and Talbot Counties)

e) Maryland's D.C. Suburbs (Federick, Montgomery and Prince George's Counties)

f) Baltimore Region (Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carrol, Harford and Howard Counties and Baltimore City)

7. Agricultural activities: Crops (truck farming, field crops, tobacco), livestock (poultry, dairying), Maryland agricultural land preservation program.
8. Fishing - aquaculture, oystering, crabbing
9. Mining: historical and contemporary (iron ore and coal mining)
10. Manufacturing: nature and extent, regional distribution of industrial activities, problems
11. Recreation and tourism: what is tourism? purpose of tourism planning, importance of the industry, nature of tourism in Maryland
12. Transportation and communications: road, port and railways. The Maryland Department of Transportation Plan for the 21st century
13. Health Care Management- The Western Maryland Health Care System - history and structure
14. Urbanization and urban problems: historical basis, planned urban centers
15. Planning in Maryland: what is planning and why planning? The 1992 Planning Act of Maryland -- visions, role of local government, planning departments (planning data services, local planning assistance, comprehensive planning, planning design service and administration, elements of comprehensive planning (development and environmental planning)
16. Regional Economic development in Maryland: types of programs --

a) Regional Response: Maryland industrial training, partnership for work force, At-Risk Business Assistance, Maryland with pride, 

b) Federal Response and Technology Commercialization

17. Community Development and Housing: neighborhood revitalization, home ownership, affordable housing, historic preservation.
18. Summary