Description, Enrollment, Instructor, Books, Materials, Grading

Course Description

This course focuses on the geographical differences that exist within this relatively small part of the world. Although "Middle America," as many prominent scholars call it, is our immediate neighbor to the south, Americans, or perhaps more appropriately "norteamericanos," often have an incomplete or even inaccurate understanding of the region. The region is in some respects like a tapestry or mosaic. For example, in reference to one very large portion of it, Mexico, Lesley Byrd Simpson once said: "There are many Mexicos." Here, the region is studied systematically by unraveling or breaking it into 12 sub-regions. Each is discussed in the context of its biophysical environment, the ways in which people have used it historically, and the current economic, political, and cultural landscape.

This course is designed for all advanced students regardless of their specific interests. It is designed to introduce the region to those students with little or no knowledge of it, and to help students familiar with region to understand better its geographical attributes.

Enrollment Information

Course number: GRG 341K and LAS 330 Topic 2

Unique number: 38030 (GRG), and 41035 (LAS)

Meeting time: MWF 11:00-11:50 a.m.

Meeting room: GRG 102

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or consent of instructor.

Instructor Information

Instructor: Dr. William E. Doolittle.

Office: GRG 306

Hours: by appointment

Phone: 232-1581

email: dolitl@austin.utexas.edu

Textbooks

Required

Collection of readings to be purchased at Jenn's Copy and Binding, 2200 Guadalupe Street (in the basement of the Church of Scientology building)

Materials

This course focuses heavily on the material or visual landscape. Accordingly, a large number of illustrations will be used during each class meeting, specifically photographs, and maps, and to a lesser extent, graphs, and tables, all of which are in PowerPoint. To help students in their note taking, these materials will be posted in Blackboard approximately one week prior to the class meeting in which they will be used. They will remain posted approximately one day after the day they are used in class. Students are free to print-out these materials and use them in class and in studying for exams. Students should not, however, use them in lieu of attending class.

Basis of Grading

Undergraduate Students

Two mid-term examinations made-up of 33 multiple choice questions each (30% each for 60%)
One end-of-the-semester examination made-up of 33 multiple choice questions, 10 fill in the blank questions, and two short answer questions (40%)
Class participation, based largely but not exclusively on attendance. The course grade based on the three examinations will be dropped one letter for four unexcused absences, two letters for seven unexcused absences, three letters for ten unexcused absences, four letters for 13 unexcused absences.

Graduate Students

Two mid-term examinations made-up of 33 multiple choice questions each (20% each for 40%)
One end-of-the-semester examination made-up of 33 multiple choice questions, 10 fill in the blank questions, two short answer questions (30%)
A 10-15 page term paper [topic to be discussed with instructor] (30%)
Class participation. Same as for undergraduate students (see above)

http://uts.cc.utexas.edu/~wd/courses/341k/general/descrip.html

Created by William E. Doolittle. Last revised 8 July 2008, wed