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Introductory Economic Geography--Syllabus

About the Course
Syllabus
Assignments

Plagiarism

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Required text for the course:
NO TEXTBOOK REQUIRED for this course. 

Click here for the list of terms and concepts that will important to understanding economic geography

I have put together a collection of articles that we will discuss in this course according to the schedule below.   

The tentative schedule of readings and exams is as follows:

Week #

Topic

Readings (titles listed here)

Week 1

Introduction to the course

I, Pencil: My family tree as told to Leonard E. Read

In a 500-word essay, respond to the following prompt: Why is this essay relevant to this course, and even though it is was published 52 years ago?
Due on Wednesday

Week 2

Geographic patterns in agriculture

 

A welcome comedown
Blossoms, Inc.
Where a thousand flowers bloom
Flower power
Math lessons for locavores
Got cheap milk?
In praise of fast food

Week 3

 

Geographic patterns in population

 

Sodom and Gomorrah
One Child Families
China's pension system waltzes into crisis
No babies?
Childless by Choice
Cash bonuses to slow birthrates

Week 4

Test 1: Click here for the test questions

Two questions refer to the following news reports. 

Test 1, link for Question 1 and
Test 1, link for Question 2

Week 5, 6

Spatial interaction and diffusion

Pricing powder
Road to hell is unpaved
Bridging the gaps
Nashville Nigiri
Open Up

Portugal and migration

Week 6, 7

Resources and location patterns

OPEC and oil prices
In fighting coal plant, a dilemma
California and Texas
Blown in the wind
The cost of green
On "rare earth": article 1 and article 2

Week 7,8

Location of secondary and tertiary economic activities

The future of manufacturing is local
Will robots steal your jobs?
It's the business
Call Centers
iPhones and suicides
World goes to town
Give me your tired, your poor

Week 8

Test 2: Click here for the test questions

Week 9, 10

Environmental impacts of economic activities
Course wrap-up, and
review for final exam

Heat damages Colombia coffee
Bound to Burn
Peak Tuna 
Peak everything
Wholly shit
Why growth is good

Click here for the final exam questions

Your answers due before noon on Dec 7th

Skipping classes in college is very easy to do, but is a bad habit if you wish to graduate with a decent grade. In this course, classroom activities, discussions, and lectures are very important sources of information.  Further, in-class activities account for a part of the overall grade.  Unless the circumstances are exceptional, you WILL NOT be allowed to make up for absences.  Try your best to be on time for class meetings; chronic tardiness tends to interrupt class proceedings.  Also, please behave in a civil and courteous manner during class, even when you disagree with the instructor or fellow students.  Remember that you are no longer in high school ?

Students who feel that they may need an accommodation for any type should make an appointment to see me and should also contact the Office of Disability Services (838-8250).

Note: I reserve the right to modify the syllabus, if I find it necessary.  I will notify such changes in class.

Click here to email me.