|
|
|
|
The University of Western Ontario Instructor: Dr J. Hopkins INTRODUCTION This course questions the human manipulation of the earth. About 10,000 years ago there was little land devoted to food production; most humans hunted and gathered their daily sustenance. There are now some 1472 million hectares of crop land; hunting and gathering is, for millions of us, restricted to the aisles of our nearby grocery store. Two-hundred years ago less than three per cent of humanity lived in urban settlements; nearly fifty per cent of the world's population is now urban. One hundred years ago, a trip from London, Ontario, to Toronto took more time than it now takes to travel from Toronto to London, England. Our relationship with the earth, and consequently the earth itself, has changed considerably over time. The development of, and change in, human landscapes is the unifying theme of this course. We will identify some of these historical changes in the physical and built environments of the world, recognize the cultural and technological innovations that brought them about, critique their ecological and social consequences, and discuss their geographical or spatial implications. Because societies differ in their attitudes toward the planet, which affects how they use, abuse and/or respect it, we will also apply, analyze and evaluate various approaches to viewing the environment. Methods of identifying, monitoring and controlling landscape changes, from the micro-level of personal observations in your everyday life, to the macro level of global change, will also be discussed to illustrate some of the tools used in viewing and analyzing landscape development and change. The material covered is intended to increase your knowledge of the human-environment relationship, challenge your existing views about our relationships with the planet, and affect your views toward the development and change of Earth by humankind. The written assignments in this essay-designated course will exercise, strengthen and test your critical thinking and communicative skills. By the end of this course, you should be able to better appraise, participate and express yourself in the increasingly complex issues of the human-environment relationship. You will leave with a broad overview, a 'big picture' if you will, of the relevance of geography in your everyday life, and the lives of generations to come. COURSE CONTENT LECTURE TOPICS (Sample) TUTORIALS TUTORIAL SCHEDULE (Sample)
EVALUATION
How do I grade? A 'B' (70%-79%) reflects evidence of an above average effort and performance. Not only have you fulfilled the assignments in a more meticulous fashion, you have demonstrated a more thorough understanding of the material as evidenced on the tests and in your written work. An 'A' (80%-89%) is reserved for outstanding effort and achievement. Exceptional diligence, a thorough knowledge of course material, and the ability to apply and convey concepts in an effective, logical and literate fashion are clearly evident. Hard labour and exceptional effort are necessary but not, by themselves, sufficient to warrant an 'A'. An 'A+' (90%+) is a rare exception. An outstanding performance on the examinations, and essays demonstrating a superb command of English and a critical mind capable of synthesizing complex facts and ideas to arrive at a particularly astute conclusion, will earn this prestigious grade. READINGS (Heavy Reserves D.B. Weldon Library) This text is available in the Book Store (approximately $35) and has been placed on Heavy Reserves in Weldon Library. You are expected to read it in its entirety. The book provides an excellent base for the course and will complement the lectures and any other assigned or optional readings. You are strongly advised to read sections of the book as they are assigned during the progression of the course. Trust me: you want to avoid digesting nearly four hundred pages in one week prior to the final exam. The reading schedule is as follows: Lecture # 1: Why Geography? Why Development & Change? Why Human Lecture # 2: Ways of 'Scaping' the 'Land': Viewing the
Lecture # 3: A Chinese View, A Theological View, A Scientific View: Lecture # 4: Hunting, Gathering and the Spread of 'Agri'-'culture' Lecture # 5: Settlement and the Spread of 'Urban Culture' Lecture # 6: The Rise of Industry and The Consumption of the Earth Lecture # 7: Technologies: Tools For Changing Environments Lecture # 9: Nuclear Proliferation as Environmental Hazard Lecture # 10:Diminishing Tropical Rainforests as Environmental Hazard Lecture # 11: Developing Sustainable Landscapes: Human-Environment
Challenges
for the 21st Century Highly Recommended: This book will be useful for writing your essays: Northey, M. and D.B. Knight (1992). 'Chapter 11: Writing a Proposal, Research EXTENSIONS, LATE ASSIGNMENTS, DROPS, PLAGIARISM, APPEALS You are advised to read the course calender to familiarize yourself with Western's regulations and procedures concerning appeals, grades, regulations, penalties and such. All assignments are due on the dates indicated above. Late assignments will lose 10 % per day, every day. Assignments submitted three or more days beyond the deadline will be graded for your educational benefit but will NOT count toward your final course grade. Please note that any requests for extensions must be made in writing to me, Dr Hopkins, at least fourteen days before the work is due. Extensions are permitted up to but not beyond three days past the original due date. Please include in your letter your new submission date. The date of the final examination is set by the Office of the Registrar and will not be changed. If you consider that you have grounds to write a final examination on an alternate date, you must follow the procedure established by the Dean's Office and complete the appropriate forms. The same holds for dropping the course. Plagiarism is, of course, unacceptable and those who tempt fate will be persecuted to the fullest extent allowed under the university's regulations. Please avoid this experience and do your own work. Requests to have an assignment or examination re-evaluated must be submitted to me in writing within one week of receiving the graded assignment. In this written request for re-appraisal the specifics of what you would like re-visited and the justification for doing so will be clearly and concisely stated. Should you feel that your final grade in the course is biased, inaccurate or unfair, you do have the right to appeal your mark. Please refer to the Western Calendar prior to doing so. In an attempt to avoid such time-consuming and stressful procedures, be assured that each and every piece of work is graded carefully. I stand by the assigned marks. Be aware that marks may be raised--as well as lowered--through an appeal process. It is very much in your own interests to seek assistance and requests as early as possible and always in advance of the event. MUTUAL EXPECTATIONS PLEASE NOTE
|
