Geography 321: Spring '07

GEOGRAPHY 321

GEOGRAPHY OF LATIN AMERICA

SPRING 2008

Click: Chart of Regions and Links

HOURS AND ROOMS

Lecturer Jeff DeGrave,

degravjr@uwec.edu

Office: 140 Phillips Hall

Tel: (715) 836-4471

Office hours: 11:00-12:00 M, W

12:15-1:00pm T

***Also available by appointment***

COMMUNICATION POLICY

For this class the primary source of communication is email! You are responsible for checking your email at least once per day to find out any changes to deadlines, exam dates, the syllabus, or any other important information. If you send me an email, it is my goal to respond to every email within the next 24 business hours. For example, if you send me an email on a Friday at 5pm, you can expect a reply from me by the ensuing Monday at 5pm. It may happen that I am not able to respond within 24 business-hours so DO NOT RELY on receiving an immediate response VIA EMAIL from me if you have an urgent issue (i.e. questions about the next day's exam!)

NOTE: Syllabus subject to revisions (via email or announced in class)

Books and Outside Readings	Extra Credit
Grading	Course Schedule
Attendance	Academic Misconduct
Exams	Disability Services
Exercises and Project	Baccalaureate Degree

COURSE GOALS

Situated on the doorstep of the United States, Latin America has forever maintained a controversial relationship with the United States. The balance between economics, politics, autonomy and international relations has been a tenuous proposition since the Age of Encounter. This course will offer an overview of geographical, or "place-based," studies of Latin America (Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America) as well as the impact of these regions and cultures here in the United States. Focal points of the course will include including globalization and trade, colonialism and neocolonialism, geopolitics, the use and / or exploitation of natural and human resources, historical geography, ethnic and religious divisions, environmental questions, immigration and migration, urbanization, and dependency issues.

The course will include lectures that transcend borders, using historical, population, cultural, economic, and environmental modes of geographical analysis. We may also have guest lecturers from UWEC students, faculty, and visitors from these countries, to offer a regional geographic focus and to help foster critical thinking skills to apply to not only the lectures, but also additional readings and videos. There will also be class discussions and presentations to compare and contrast our different case studies.

Each student will also closely examine a particular region—a country or cultural region—as a "Regional Case Study" for in-depth geographical analysis, culminating in a class presentation via PowerPoint.

BOOKS AND OUTSIDE READING

1. Blouet and Blouet: Blouet, Brian W. and Olwyn M. Latin America and the Caribbean: A Systematic and Regional Survey, 5^th ed. John Wiley and Sons. Hoboken, NJ. 2006.

2. Taking Sides—Latin American Issues: DeGrave, Analisa E., Santos-Phillips, Eva, DeGrave, Jeff R. McGraw-Hill/Dushkin. Dubuque, Iowa.1^st edition (2006).

3. Goode's World Atlas: Espenshade, Edward. 21st edition (2005).

4. The BBC World News. You can check out what's going on in the world by visiting the BBC World News website.

Or, the easiest way to keep up with world news events is to have them emailed directly to your UWEC email account.

To receive FREE daily email news briefs from the BBC:

1) Go to the BBC E-mail Services website and click .

2) Enter the required information and click .

3) Click the "Americas" box, complete the additional information below, and click .

5. Other Readings: Additional readings may be assigned periodically throughout the semester for which will be responsible. These readings may be discussed in class and, of course, may appear on a test. As readings are added, the class will be informed via the class e-mail list with plenty of advanced notice.

GRADING
Map Quiz	100 points
Country analysis (in three parts)	150 points
Midterm I Exam	200 points
Midterm II Exam	200 points
Country Presentation	120 points
Class Participation	30 points
Final Exam	200 points
Total	1000 points

GRADING SCALE

A 930-1000 B+ 880-899 C+ 780-799 D+ 680-699

A- 900-929 B 830-879 C 730-779 D 630-779

B- 800-829 C- 700-729 D- 600-629 F 599 and below

ATTENDANCE

You are expected to attend class and it is ultimately your responsibility to acquire lecture notes from one of your classmates from any classes you miss. Lectures, exercises, and exam study guides will be posted on this web page (see SCHEDULE below), which can be accessed via the internet. Much of the information discussed will be in your book(s), however, NOT ALL of the content covered in lecture will be in your books or available on on-line. Therefore, it is in your best interest to attend class.

CLASS PARTICIPATION

Class participation is not only welcome at all times but is also part of your grade. Participation points can be earned by submitting a question based on reading assignments prior to that day’s class. In effect, the questions that you submit will be (anonymously) used to guide the discussion about the reading for that day’s class. Don't be intimidated by others; I encourage shy people to speak up and express their opinions--please raise your hand to get a word in.

EXAMS

You will have three exams (200 points each) and a map quiz (100 points). The exams will be comprised of multiple choice, matching, short answer, and essay questions, covering current events in Latin America, the readings, lectures, discussions, guest speakers, exercises, and videos. Exam study guides will be posted on the on-line syllabus (see SCHEDULE below). The final is not cumulative. You can make up an exam only under extenuating and verifiable circumstances that I recognize, and only if you notify me before the scheduled exam at degravjr@uwec.edu or 836-4471 (or the departmental secretary at 836-3244.).

**Unauthorized absences will result in a zero on the exam--no exceptions!**

EXERCISES

You will have three exercises, focused on your region, which you will do on your own. The three exercises are worth 50 points each, designed to lead you closer and help guide you into to your final project / presentation. The goal of the exercises is for you to learn about your cultural region, digest the information, and write about it IN YOUR OWN WORDS. Information copied from the web (even if you cite the source) without putting it into your own words will reduce your grade significantly (see below)!!! Pasting someone else’s information into your assignment does not show you have digested the information until you have put it in your own words. In effect, I want to see what YOU have understood, not what someone else has.

· Don't wait until the last minute to do these exercises, because you may not be able to overcome unforeseen difficulties. No excuses will be accepted for problems that could have been solved by starting the exercise earlier (such as a computer crash). For this reason, exercises handed in late will continually lose 10% off the maximum grade for every business day they are late for up to five business days.

· Late assignments are not accepted beyond five (5) business days. No exceptions. However, even if an exercise is late, always turn it in, because receiving partial credit is far better than receiving no credit at all.

· All assignments must be stapled together if there is more than one page or five (5) points will be subtracted from each page that is not stapled.

· ***DO NOT COPY AND PASTE INFORMATION FROM THE WEB INTO YOUR ASSIGNMENT!*** If you copy and paste information into your assignment, you will be penalized as follows:

o Violation #1: 50% off total points earned for that assignment

o All Ensuing Violations: no credit for each assignment

In addition, all assignments must be PRINTED and turned in to me prior to or on the due date to be considered for credit. Emailed exercises are NOT acceptable.

Exercise 1: Use your Atlas and case study sources to uncover the history/geography of your region.

Exercise 2: Use statistical data to analyze the economic and social issues your region.

Exercise 3: Discover the people and culture of your region

NOTE: All pages must be stapled together or you will be penalized five (5) points!

REGIONAL CASE STUDY CLASS PRESENTATION (Click to visit the Chart of Regions and Links)

The three exercises are designed to steer you toward a topic for your Regional Case Study Presentation that you will submit and present to the class. Your presentation should explore a contemporary geographic issue related to Latin America and contain enough content about which to speak for 6-8 minutes. In addition, you will also be required to field questions from the class.

Your presentation is NOT an overview of your region or a discussion on a topic, but an in-depth discussion about a specific place-based CONTEMPORARY GEOGRAPHIC ISSUE. The issue must be geographic in nature and contemporary (within the last year or two) but it may include historical elements as long they are essential to set up the contemporary issue. Your presentation will not merely include dry statistics and descriptions, but a dynamic view of geographic controversies, trends in politics, culture, or environment, etc. Make your region "come alive" not only to impress the instructor, but to interest your fellow students in the place. You will place the PowerPoint into the W: Drive one day prior to your presentation date. You must use a variety of printed and digital sources. Graphics should also be cited with a tiny source citation hyperlink to the page of the graphic's origin. All sources must be included within or accompany your presentation.

Included in your presentation grade will be the timely approval of your topic (10 points) as well as your participation in others’ presentations by asking two questions (5 points each).

Again, do not wait until the last minute to do these projects, because you may not be able to overcome unforeseen difficulties. No excuses will be accepted for problems that could have been solved by starting the exercise earlier (such as a computer crash). If you have any technical computer questions, contact the CNS Help Desk at 836-5711 or helpdesk@uwec.edu If you need PowerPoint training, or want to brush up or want a critique of your past PowerPoints, contact BITS (Bringing Instructional Technology to Students) to set up an appointment (bits.training@uwec.edu).

PLAGIARISM WARNING:

For all assignments (including your presentation) you must not simply “copy and paste” your textual material from the Web!!

EXTRA CREDIT

By attending, studying, and writing a 2-page double-spaced report on the geographic aspects of an approved geographically / culturally related event (listed below), you can receive up to 10 points of extra credit for each report - THREE reports maximum. Reports grades are based on:

1. Relevance to geography (3 points)

2. Relevance to something discussed in class (3 points)

3. Degree of analysis / critical thinking (3 points)

4. Sheets of paper stapled together (1 point) --if two pages

Reports are due and MUST be received within SEVEN (7) days of the event. All extra credit assignments are due by Friday, April 4. Events and locations not listed may be added only with prior approval.

· Latino Community Grocery Stores:

Visit a Mexican grocery store in the area and write up your geographical / globalization impressions (don’t forget to buy something!). If you visit more than one, you will need to explain what makes one store significantly different (therefore worthy of credit) than a previous visit to another store

1. EAU CLAIRE: Supermercado Sandoval (2824 London Rd)

2. ST. PAUL: Burrito Mercado (175 Concord St. at Robert St.—across the river from downtown St. Paul)

3. MINNEAPOLIS: Mercadito Las Americas, 401 E Lake St

La Cosecha, 1515 E Lake St

· Campus Films: Films that are appropriate for extra credit will be announced throughout the semester

· Presentations: Speakers and presentations appropriate for extra credit will be announced throughout the semester

COURSE SCHEDULE (subject to change)

Week	Class dates	General theme	Readings	ASSIGNMENTS, Due DateS, QUIZZES and EXAMS
1	Jan. 22-25	INTRODUCTION	Blouet: CH. 8, 9, 10	MAP QUIZ STUDY GUIDE
2	Jan. 28- Feb. 1	PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY PRE-COLUMBIAN CIVILIZATIONS	Blouet: CH. 2 Blouet: CH. 3	Friday, Feb. 1: Choose your regional case study area
3	Feb. 4-8	Pre-Columbian Civilizations (Cont’d) ENCOUNTER / COLONIZATION	Blouet: CH. 4	Exercise 1: Due Wednesday, Feb. 20 Map Quiz: Friday, Feb. 8
4	Feb. 11-15	Encounter / Colonization (Cont’d) SLAVERY	Blouet: CH. 4 Taking Sides: Issue 5	EXAM I STUDY GUIDE
5	Feb. 18-22	Slavery (Cont’d) / Review		Exercise 1 Due Wednesday February, 20 EXAM 1: Friday, Feb 22
6	Feb. 25-29	INDEPENDENCE ECONOMICS I: U.S. FOREIGN POLICY: INTERVENTIONISM-- UNITED FRUIT	Blouet: CH. 4, 8 Blouet: CH. 4, 7 Taking Sides: Issue 13	EXERCISE 2: Due Wednesday, March 12
7	Mar. 3-7	Economics I (Cont’d)
8	Mar. 10-14	ECONOMICS II: RISE OF MNC's ECONOMICS III: TRADE ALLIANCES AND DEBT	Taking Sides: Issue 16 Blouet: CH. 4	EXERCISE 2 Due Wednesday, March 12
SPRING BREAK!!!
9	Mar. 25-28	Economics III (Cont'd)	Taking Sides: Issue 15 Taking Sides: Issue 17	EXERCISE 3: Due Friday, April 11
10	Mar. 31- Apr. 4	Economics III (Cont'd) GEOPOLITICS	Blouet: CH. 5 Taking Sides: Issues 1, 2, 4	Friday, April 4: Presentation Topic Due; Presentation Order Finalized and EXTRA CREDIT DEADLINE!!!
11	Apr. 7-11	POPULATION IMMIGRATION Review	Blouet: CH. 5, 6 Blouet: CH. 10 Taking Sides: Issue 6