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WORLD REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY 120
Instructor: Lusiana Browning
Class Meeting Time: Monday – Thursday 11:30 – 1:20 PM
Lecture Room: Pearson 114
Office Hours: Before and after class.
Email: browning@udel.edu
Web URL: http://udel.edu/~browning/
Winter 2010
Course Objective
To form a general understanding of regional geography, learn its concepts and concerns. Presented is a
geographical survey of the environmental setting, historical formative periods, unique and spatial
characteristics that distinguish the major regions of the world. This is an introductory course that does
not require prior knowledge of geography.
Course Material
1) Text: World Regional Geography: Global Patterns, Local Lives (4th ed), by Pulsipher &
Pulsipher, 2008 - required
2) Colored pencils – required for the quiz
3) Goodes World Atlas 21st ed – recommended
4) Media Guide: www.whfreeman.com/pulsipher4e (online study guide offering map learning &
map related exercises, online quizzing, blank outline maps, etc).
Course Requirement
Student responsibilities: attending lectures, reading assigned material, taking 2 in-class exams, completing 6 map
quizzes (open book), and 1 current events presentation. The map quiz should help improve your knowledge of
the location of places, underscore why they are important and clarify how they relate to each other. Exams and map
quizzes are due on the dates specified in the syllabus. Only serious and excusable reasons (University criteria) will
entitle you to make-up or reschedule a quiz. Consult me if you are having problems.
Grade Distribution
The course grade will be distributed as follows: the 2 exams will account for 50% of the course grade; 6 map
quizzes at 42%. Eight percent (8%) of your grade will come from the presentation project.
Attendance: If you are going to miss class, it is your responsibility to inform me of your absence. Participation is
important so attendance and active involvement in class discussion will be considered influential in your final grade
and in determining the course grade for those whose scores fall on the boundary between grade levels.
Academic honesty: University policies on academic honesty are expected to be followed in this course. Any
indication that work you submit as your own has been copied in whole or in part from another student, or in some
other ways does not represent your own work, will be dealt with under university policies for academic honesty.
Class Cancelation: If you are unsure whether the University will cancel a class due to weather or road conditions
please call the UD Weather Information Line at 302/831-8800 or listen for closing bulletins on local radio stations.
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Date
Chapter
Jan 4
Chapter 1;
pp. 1-51
Topic/Themes
Introduction
Course overview, Test your mental map!
Presentation Exercise Discussion: Current Events:
Enhanced by Geographic Knowledge
Fundamentals of Geography
Key components of MAPS; concepts in map interpretation
The REGION as a concept
Jan 5
Chapter 1 (cont’d)
Concepts in Geography:
Culture; cultural markers. Gender roles and how they differ across cultures.
Landforms, Climate patterns, human settlement patterns, agricultural practices
Globalization, Measures of human well-being
Patterns of population growth and density
Concept of sustainable development;
Geopolitical Issues
Jan 6
Chapter 3;
pp. 115-158
Middle & South America
Setting the boundaries, basic landforms and climate patterns.
Influence of colonization, population patterns, population distribution.
Causes and effect of SAP programs, the Debt Crisis, Free Trade Agreements
Fragile democracy; the threatened ecosystem
Jan 7
Chapter 3 (cont’d)
Map Quiz 1
No Class
Jan 11
Jan 12
Chapter 7
pp. 353-399
Jan 13
Chapter 7
Sub-Sahara Africa
Jan 14
Chapter 6
pp. 297 - 336
Sub-Sahara Africa
Effects of landforms and climate on African development.
Outside influence on the region; consequences; difficulty of achieving true
Independence. Consequences of rapid population growth
Presentation:
The geography of HIV-AIDS.
Leading environmental problems; water scarcity, the limits of carrying capacity
Case Study: The Colonization of South Africa
Map Quiz 2 (Sub-Sahara Africa)
Presentation:
North Africa
Attempts to make desert region inhabitable; effects on people, economy, environ
Affects of Islamic culture on government, law and everyday behavior
Public Places and Restrictions on Women
Presentation:
Jan 18
MLK Holiday
No Class
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Jan 19
Chapter 6 (cont’d)
Oil revenue and income disparity in the region
Causes and effects of the sources of hostility; the Israeli and Palestinian conflict,
Access to water, distribution of oil wealth
Presentation:
Map Quiz 3 (North Africa)
Jan 20
Mid-Term Exam (Chapters 1, 3, 6, 7)
South Asia
Jan 21
Chapter 8:
pp. 413 - 453
Jan 25
South Asia
(cont’d)
Affects of climate (Monsoons) on agriculture, economy, health
Residual positive and negative influences of British colonization
Presentation:
Population: consequences of rapid growth.
The Caste System; Purdah and the Status of Women
Tensions and potentials for conflict; environmental issues
Presentation:
Map Quiz 4 (South Asia)
Jan 26
Chapter 9:
pp. 473-508
East Asia
Landforms and climate; affects on agriculture, population distribution and
density.
Presentation:
Jan 27
Chapter 9 (cont’d)
The differences between free-market and Communist economic systems? What
market reforms are enacted in the region; the positive and negative
consequences.
Why is population still growing when growth rates are declining? What is being
done to control growth?
Presentation:
Jan 28
Chapter 9 (cont’d)
The Hans Chinese Majority; discrimination on ethnic groups in the region
Environmental Problems: causes and outcomes
The Three Gorges Dam
Presentation
Map Quiz 5 (East Asia))
Feb 1
Chapter 5
pp. 245 - 280
Russia and the Newly Independent States
Turmoil and transition after the breakup of the Soviet Union; the transition to
Democratic government and market economies.
Presentation:
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Feb 2
Challenges of living in a harsh environment.
Demographic changes; decline in birthrates and life expectancy
Presentation
Map Quiz 6: (Russia)
Feb 3
Chapter 4;
pp. 183 - 222
Europe
High population density, high standard of living, diminishing resource base
The European Union; what it promotes to eliminate regional disparities
Presentation:
Feb 4
Role of guest workers in the region; difficulties with acculturation,
and assimilation
The varying welfare programs in the region
Friday Feb 5th
Final Exam (non-cumulative) – Room 114, during class period
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