GEOG 202. Commonwealth of Virginia

Course Description: Spring 1999

 

Instructor: Dr. Susan L. Woodward
Office: Brown House 202. Office phone: 831-5234
Office hours: Monday and Wednesday, 4:00-5:00; Thursdayy, 1:00-3:00; and by appointment

E-mail: swoodwar@runet.edu

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This is a course in regional and historical geography. It presents and analyzes the distribution patterns of the major physical and cultural elements of Virginia, emphasizing how these patterns have developed and changed through time. Because this class is often taken by future primary and secondary grade teachers, the course also serves as an introduction to geographic methods.

COURSE GOALS:
1) A major goal of the course is to have you learn to think geographically (that is, to look for and understand spatial patterns and spatial interactions) while developing an appreciation of how contemporary Virginia has come into being.

2) A second goal is to introduce you to the nature of geography itself.

Geography seeks to identify and understand the spatial relationships between the physical phenomena of earth (for example, landforms, surface waters, climate, plants and animals) and the cultural systems that humans have developed (for example, settlement systems, economic systems, political systems.)

Geographers seek patterns and therefore are interested in generalization. The degree of generalization depends upon the scale at which an area or spatial pattern is examined.

To understand why these patterns exist, geographers need to understand the processes by which patterns develop.

Geographers typically employ maps and other graphics in addition to narrative in order to identify, analyze and demonstrate spatial patterns.

3) A third goal is to have you hone your skills in regional synthesis, in understanding and expressing how the various elements of physical and cultural geography come together to create the unique place that is Virginia.

REQUIRED MATERIALS: No modern textbook currently exists for this course. Thus we will rely heavily on lecture notes, selected readings, and various in-class and out-of-class assignments. The following materials are required for this class:

  1. USGS Map of Virginia, 1:500,000 (Available in RU Bookstore and at Felix's).
  2. Outline maps of Virginia and the eastern United States. Master copies are attached to the hard copy of the course description. Make photocopies for use in class and in assignments.
  3. Six or eight colored pencils, preferable an erasable type. They will be useful in preparing maps in assignments and on examinations.

On reserve in McConnell Library is a copy of an out of print but classic text on the geography of Virginia (Virginia in Our Century, by Jean Gottmann). This book is strongly recommended reading. It is arranged in much the same order as this course.

DETERMINATION OF FINAL GRADE:

Relative Value of Graded Work:

Assignments are due at the beginning of a class unless otherwise indicated. Late assignments will only be accepted within one week of their due date. Any assignment turned in during that week but after the due date will lose one letter grade.

Determination of Grade:

The lowest score received on midterm examinations will be dropped. The final letter grade awarded in the course will be determined according to percentages as follows: 90-100 percent = A; 80-89 percent = B; 70-79 percent = C; 60- 69 percent = D; less than 60 percent = F.

I do not scale exam grades or give individual extra credit assignments. On occasion there may be an opportunity for the class as a whole to win extra credit points.

ATTENDANCE: Attendance is expected at every class meeting. When you come to class, please be on time. Tardiness is disruptive and discourteous to me and to your fellow classmates.

Attendance is required at every exam. No make up exams will be given without my consent prior to the scheduled exam time. It is especially important to be on time for exams. They will include both essay sections and mapping sections. Most people find they take the full time allotted.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES: It is your responsibility to come to class, to read and to prepare assignments on time, and to keep up with the class. If you need clarification on assignments or lecture material, ask me for more information. Do not wait until late in the semester if you feel you are not comprehending material or are falling behind. Topics covered early in the semester are used throughout the course.

If you should miss a class, it is your responsibility to get notes from classmates, not from me. Any handouts from that class will be available at this web site or in the Brown House. Any graded materials returned to students that you failed to pick up because you were not in class will be kept in my office.

COURSE OUTLINE

  1. Introduction: Themes of geography: location, place, regions, movement, society-environment
  2. Physical Geography of Virginia
  3. Historical Geography: Settlement, Economic, and Land Use Patterns

EXAM DATES:

DUE DATES OF MAPPING AND WRITING EXERCISES WILL BE ANNOUNCED WHEN EACH IS ASSIGNED.

HONOR CODE: By accepting admission to Radford University, each student makes a commitment to understand, support, and abide by the University Honor Code without compromise or exception. Violations of academic integrity will not be tolerated in this class. Refer to your Student Handbook for details.

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Created by SLW, August 1996. Last modified by SLW: January 10, 1999