GEOG 1105 Spring 2008

Geography 1105
Location of Human Activity
Spring 2008

Instructor: Dr. Bill Graves
Office: McEniry 409
Email: bgraves@uncc.edu (the best way to reach me)
Phone: 687-5980
Office Hours: Anytime my door is open (not available MW 10-11am or TTh 12:00-2pm)

Course Materials:

Rubenstein, J. 2005. An Introduction to Human Geography. Ninth edition
Supplementary readings provided in class
Web site http://www.uncc.edu/bgraves/1105/ (Check here for announcements, lecture outlines, assignments and reading lists)

Description: Geography 1105 is an introductory course in human geography. Emphasis is placed on understanding and explaining the patterns of the economic landscape. Students will learn the tools and techniques used to explain geographic patterns and interactions at the local, regional and global scales. Regionally specific examples and current events will be used to illustrate the various themes discussed, but the focus of the course will be on concepts, not places.

The first objective of the course is to increase the students' awareness and understanding of the landscape which surrounds them. Although the location of human activity may often seem random or haphazard, these patterns are in fact influenced by identifiable factors and are to some extent predictable. The second objective is to providing the interested student with a starting point from which to pursue more advanced work in the field of geography.

General Education (COGE) Requirements: GEOG 1105 meets Goal VI (Understanding the Individual, Society and Culture) of the general degree requirements on UNC Charlotte. By successfully completing this course you should be able to:

Understand how institutions operate with societies in both contemporary and historical perspectives
Understand internal and external influences which promote and inhibit human action
Understand the patterns of change which individuals experience at various points in life
Recognize the complex, integrated and dynamic nature of human behavior and human experience
Understand the commonalities, differences and interdependence among and within societies of the world

Grading:

Exams: 3 @ 20 points = 60 points
Assignments: 2 @ 20 points = 40 points

There will be three exams in the course. Each exam will be a combination of multiple choice, and short answer questions. The material on the exams will come primarily from the class lectures and discussions and the supplementary readings distributed in class. The tentative dates for the three exams are Monday, February 11^th, Wednesday, March 19^th and Monday May 5th (the May 5th exam will be given at 11am in the regular classroom). The final exam is not cumulative. The assignments will require the analysis and interpretation of data sets that I will provide. All assignments must be completed by 11am on the assigned date.

Policies:

Late assignments will be penalized by one full letter grade for each day they are overdue. Incompletes will be handled strictly according to University policy. Make-up exams are not given except under unusual (and verifiable) circumstances. Any makeup exams given are administered during the final exam period. See course website for listing of additional policies. No whining!

All students are required to be familiar with, and adhere to, the University Regulation of Student Conduct and the UNC-Charlotte CODE OF STUDENT ACADEMIC INTEGRITY (available in the current UNC-Charlotte course catalog as well as online at: http://www.legal.uncc.edu/policies/ps-105.html). Failure to abide by the code could result in failure of this course and dismissal from the University.

GEOG 1105 Course Outline and reading list (Everything subject to change!)

1) Introduction Ch. 1 (Rubenstein)

2) Population and the world economy Ch. 2 and 3

Assignment #1 - Tentative Due Date: Monday, February 4th

Exam #1 - Tentative Date: Monday, February 11th

3) Economic development Ch. 9

4) Spatial interaction and diffusion None

5) Agricultural location Ch. 10

6) Industrial location Ch. 11

Exam #2 - Tentative Date: Wednesday, March 19th

7) Retail location Ch. 12

Assignment #2 - Tentative Due Date: Wednesday, March 26th

8) Location in the new economy Ch. 12

No class April 7^th or 16^th

9) Urban geography Ch. 13

Exam #3 - Monday, May 5^th at 11 am (regular classroom)