This course is the 2nd half to a rhetorical level course intended to introduce the student to the major themes and patterns of world geography.  Students may join this class without taking the 1st part. This course will involve both writing and reading.  We will be reading a full-range of primary documents from each topic we study.  You will be learning how to read, think about, analyze, argue with, and present ideas about physical and human geography and to connect events to the larger trends and themes in world history.

This class is a discussion-based, interactive format. Each week you will be responsible for reading background material and assigned primary documents.  You will be expected to write a reading response for each of your readings.  These reading responses should be 1-2 pages on the background material for each topic.  In class, we will spend much time discussing our reading, putting themes in their historical context and asking questions about the author’s and our own worldviews.  I expect you to come to class prepared to participate in this discussion. You will also be assigned brief presentations.  These presentations will involve researching the biographical information for significant figures and key information for major moments we will study in class. 

For each continent, we will conduct mapping projects, as well as cultural studies.  Students will research independently representative cultures from each continent to share with the class.  We will use black line maps to study the political and geographical features of each location.  

Weekly topics:  

For each continent:  mapping, animals, climate, historical migration patterns, landforms, economics, cultural aspects and country focuses

1-Physical and Human Geography

2-Central and South America
mapping, animals, climate, historical migration patterns, landforms, economics

3-Central and South America cont with presentations
primary documents from a variety of modern indigenous and political cultures chosen by students--ex. Venezuela, Honduras, Brazil

4-Sub-Saharan Africa

5-Sub-Saharan Africa cont.
primary documents from a variety of cultures

6-North Africa and the Middle East

7-North Africa and the Middle East cont. With presentations
primary documents from a variety of cultures

8-South Asia

9-South Asia cont.
primary documents from a variety of cultures

10-East and Southeast Asia

11-East and Southeast Asia cont with presentations
primary documents from a variety of cultures

12-Oceania/Australia
mapping, animals, climate, historical migration patterns, landforms, economics

13-Oceania/Australia cont
primary documents from a variety of modern cultures chosen by students-ex. Polynesia, Micronesia, New Zealand/Maori

14-Antarctica
mapping, animals, climate, landforms

15-Test and final presentations