AMERICAN GEOGRAPHY
AMST 225—Spring 2003
|
Colin
S. Cavell, Ph.D. Class UT: 13:00-14:15 Office
Hours: By appointment VOICE: 449999, Ext. 5277 (W) |
|
Course Room No.: S17-229 INTERNET: cscpo@arts.uob.bh Office No.: S17-263 729091 (H) |
A survey of the physical,
political and cultural geography of the United States
Grading Policy: 20%
for Attendance*; 20% for the Class Presentation; 20% for the Midterm Exam; 20%
for the Research Paper; and 20% for the Final Exam. A Guidelines sheet will be
distributed outlining the requirements for your Class Presentation and for your
Research Paper.
Attendance Policy*: Attendance in class is mandatory. As well, you are expected to follow the syllabus and accordingly
be prepared for each day’s class. This
means that you must read the pre-assigned readings before class so that you
will be prepared to discuss and debate in class the subject matter scheduled
for that day and answer questions related to the issues being covered. NOTE:
TURN OFF all cell phones during class.
·
Absence
from class may be made up by preparing a two-page,
typed (i.e. using maximum 12
point font size and maximum double-spaced text with one-inch margin on all
sides), summary on the missed
material scheduled to be covered the day(s) of your absence.
Required
Texts:
Birdsall, Stephen S. and
John Florin. 1992. Outline of American Geography: Regional Landscapes of the United States. Washington, D.C.: United States Information Agency.
Information USA [CD-ROM]. April 1999.
Washington, D.C.: United States
Information Agency.
Feb. 16: Introduction to American Geography: What is geography? What
is its utility?
Feb.
18: Themes and Regions
Readings: Birdsall and Florin, Ch. 1,
[Introduction], “Basic Themes:
Urbanization,” “Basic Themes:
Industrialization,” “Basic Themes:
High Mobility,” “Basic Themes:
Resources,” “Basic Themes: High
Income and High Consumption,” “Basic Themes:
Environmental Impact,” “Basic Themes:
Political Complexity,” “Basic Themes:
Cultural Origins,” “Regions”
Feb. 23: The Physical Environment
Readings: Birdsall and Florin, Ch. 2, [Introduction], “Climate,”
“Vegetation,” “Soils,” “Mineral Resources”
Feb. 25: Foundations of Human Activity
Readings: Birdsall and Florin, Ch. 3, [Introduction], “Settlement
Patterns,” “Urbanization,” “Patterns of Regional Culture”
Mar. 2:
Megalopolis
Readings: Birdsall and Florin, Ch. 4, [Introduction], “The Location of
Megalopolis”
Mar. 4:
[Al-Hijra New Year Holiday 1424]
Mar. 9:
Megalopolis
Readings: Birdsall and Florin, Ch. 4, “The Urban Environment,” “Changing
Patterns in Megalopolis”
Mar. 11: The Manufacturing Core
Readings: Birdsall and Florin, Ch. 5, [Introduction], “Mineral Resources”
Mar. 12-13: [Ashura Holiday]
Mar. 16: The Manufacturing Core
Readings: Birdsall and Florin, Ch. 5, “Cities in the Region”
Mar. 18: The Bypassed East
Readings: Birdsall and Florin, Ch. 6, [Introduction], “The Physical
Environment,” “Population and Industry”
Mar. 23: The Bypassed East
Readings: Birdsall and Florin, Ch. 6, “Cities and Urban Activities”
Mar. 25: Appalachia and the Ozarks
Readings: Birdsall and Florin, Ch. 7, [Introduction], “A Varied
Topography,” “The Appalachian People”
Mar. 30: Appalachia and the Ozarks
Readings: Birdsall and Florin, Ch. 7, “Economic and Settlement Patterns,”
“Regional Development Programs”
Apr. 1: The
Deep South
Readings: Birdsall and Florin, Ch. 8, “The Heritage,” “The Consequences,”
“The Onset of Change”
Apr. 6: The
Southern Coastlands
Readings: Birdsall and Florin, Ch. 9, [Introduction], “The Subtropical
Environment,” “On the Margin of the Continent:
Trade,” “Industrial Development”
Apr. 8:
Midterm Exam
Apr. 12-16: [Mid-Semester
Break]
Apr. 13: The Agricultural Core
Readings: Birdsall and Florin, Ch. 10, [Introduction], “The Environmental
Base,” “The Agricultural Response”
Apr. 15: The Agricultural Core
Readings: Birdsall and Florin, Ch. 10, “A Picture Portfolio of the United
States,” “Changes in the Patterns”
Apr. 20: The Great Plains and Prairies
Readings: Birdsall and Florin, Ch. 11, [Introduction], “The Plains
Environment,” “Settlement Patterns”
Apr. 22: The Great Plains and Prairies
Readings: Birdsall and Florin, Ch. 11, “Plains Agriculture,” “Water Control
and Irrigation,” “Natural Resources,” “Population Patterns”
Apr. 27: The Empty Interior
Readings: Birdsall and Florin, Ch. 12, [Introduction], “A Difficult
Environment,” “The Human Imprint”
Apr. 29: The Empty Interior
Readings: Birdsall and Florin, Ch. 12, “Dispersed Economic Structure: Irrigation and Agriculture,” “Dispersed
Economic Structure: Transportation
Services,” “Dispersed Economic Structure:
Tourism,” “Dispersed Economic Structure: Lumbering and Ranching,” “Dispersed Economic Structure: Mining”
May 4: The
Southwest Border Area
Readings: Birdsall and Florin, Ch. 13, [Introduction], “Ethnic Diversity”
May 6: The
Southwest Border Area
Readings: Birdsall and Florin, Ch. 13, “Population Growth Today,”
“Persistence of a Plural Society”
May 11:
California
Readings: Birdsall and Florin, Ch. 14, [Introduction], “The Physical
Environment,” “California’s Growth”
May 13:
California
Readings: Birdsall and Florin, Ch. 14, “Agriculture Today,”
“Urban California”
May 14:
[Prophet’s Birthday Holiday]
May 18: The
North Pacific Coast
Readings: Birdsall and Florin, Ch. 15, [Introduction], “The Physical
Environment,” “Patterns of Human Occupation,” “The Regional Economy”
May 20: The
North Pacific Coast
Readings: Birdsall and Florin, Ch. 15, “Alaska—A Political Island”
May 25: The
Northlands
Readings: Birdsall and Florin, Ch. 16, [Introduction], “A Harsh
Environment”
May 27: The Northlands
Readings: Birdsall and Florin, Ch. 16, “Human Occupation”
June 1: Hawaii
Readings: Birdsall and Florin, Ch. 17, [Introduction], “Location and
Physical Setting,” “Populating the Islands”
June 3: Hawaii
Readings: Birdsall and Florin, Ch. 17, “The Hawaiian Economy,” “Inter-Island Diversity”
June 4: Last day of classes; Review
June 9: Final Exam 11:30-13:30
June 19: Last day for
submitting second semester’s grades