geography1

Topic 1:

What is Geography?

Introduction | Goals| Notes on Readings |Outline | Notes| Links to Other Resources

Introduction

Definitions of geography as two perspectives (spatial and ecological), five themes (location, place, human-environment interaction, movement, regions), and five amplifiers (pattern, perspective, scale, change, systems). Developing a sense of where. Issues of scale: understanding the world from the local scale to the global. Developing a fluency in considering issues and problems at a variety of scales, local to global. Understanding the world in terms of core-periphery relationships. Begin to use the skills of geographers including spatial analysis through maps and an understanding of patterns and processes.

Goals

The goals for this section of the course are:

to develop an understanding and definition of the discipline of geography

define and apply geography's two perspectives

describe key concepts related to geography, including place, region, systems, core-periphery, spatial analysis, interdependence, globalization, the nearness principle,

use geography's fundamental tools, including maps, to "see" the world and to develop a geographical imagination.

Notes on Readings
Chapter 1 requires careful reading since it establishes the key concepts you will use throughout this course. Start to develop your geographical literacy through use of key terms. Chapter 2 places geography in the context of the constantly changing global system. Concentrate on core-periphery concepts and the theme of globalization. Chapter 4 pp 152-168 provides more information on contemporary human-environment interaction and global environmental change. Note especially the concept of environmental sustainability.

Outline Notes

The notes for this section of the course appear on this Word doc. Please remember, they are the barest outline of material covered in class. They are simply a reference, not a substitute for attending class and taking notes from the lecture. Feel free to format them, fill them in to include class comments, etc.

Links to Other Resources

To keep up with current events and what is happening in the world, check out these places:

CNN News

The New York Times

Los Angeles Times

Washington Post

Houston Chronicle

Course Topics | Assignment Schedule

Human Geography Home Page

Introduction	Definitions of geography as two perspectives (spatial and ecological), five themes (location, place, human-environment interaction, movement, regions), and five amplifiers (pattern, perspective, scale, change, systems). Developing a sense of *where*. Issues of scale: understanding the world from the local scale to the global. Developing a fluency in considering issues and problems at a variety of scales, local to global. Understanding the world in terms of core-periphery relationships. Begin to use the skills of geographers including spatial analysis through maps and an understanding of patterns and processes.
Goals	The goals for this section of the course are: to develop an understanding and definition of the discipline of geography define and apply geography's two perspectives describe key concepts related to geography, including place, region, systems, core-periphery, spatial analysis, interdependence, globalization, the nearness principle, use geography's fundamental tools, including maps, to "see" the world and to develop a geographical imagination.
Notes on Readings	Chapter 1 requires careful reading since it establishes the key concepts you will use throughout this course. Start to develop your geographical literacy through use of key terms. Chapter 2 places geography in the context of the constantly changing global system. Concentrate on core-periphery concepts and the theme of globalization. Chapter 4 pp 152-168 provides more information on contemporary human-environment interaction and global environmental change. Note especially the concept of environmental sustainability.
Outline Notes	The notes for this section of the course appear on this Word doc. Please remember, they are the barest outline of material covered in class. They are simply a reference, not a substitute for attending class and taking notes from the lecture. Feel free to format them, fill them in to include class comments, etc.
Links to Other Resources	To keep up with current events and what is happening in the world, check out these places: CNN News The New York Times Los Angeles Times Washington Post Houston Chronicle