FIRST MAP QUIZ - THE WORLD
The test will be available through Pipeline between September 9th at noon and September 11th at midnight
Study Guide

Overview:

Last week we focused on understanding the "nature of Geography" and especially on understanding the spatial perspective.  There is yet much more to learn about geography and that's what we want to do this week. Your general task is learn how to think geographically, i.e. "spatially."  In order to help you get a clearer conception of  geography and spatial thinking, it will be instructive for you to develop a framework for studying & understanding geographic content, skills, and perspectives.

To help speed you along the way, I want you to click on the National Geographic Society (NGS) website (see below also) and explore the area that explains the fundamental ideas contained in a book entitled Geography for Life - National Geographic Standards. Pay careful attention to the "essential elements of geography" and the "18 standards."  Understand the meaning of these terms by looking at the examples that are shown throughout the site. Think of how you can apply what you learn to your own community and to the world at large. Although written for K-12 education, it is conceived as a statement on what students should "know, understand and be able to do" with geography at world class levels. You will find it very instructive.

At this site you may read about the subject matter of geography, two major perspectives and two complementary perspectives, and the five skills of geography. However, I have provided a separate page with information on the perspectives and skills. 

Assignment:

Find and read 5 news articles from the daily newspaper/news magazine, USA Today, Time, Newsweek or other national news sources. Read them a second time using the essential elements and standards as a framework to dissect the articles. Try to find the application of each standard and element in the article. Look to see if they mention location, a physical and/or human description of the place, affects on the environment, earthquakes, migration, and maybe even history.  In other words, look for the geography in what you read. This is the link to the standards and elements "matrix".  You might want to use this to dissect your artciles.

Report your finding back to me using email.  Be sure to show how the information relates to the elements/standards and perspectives of geography. Give a complete bibliography of each article.          

Don't forget to put the course number - GE 102 - in the Subject  line of your email.                           

Concepts: (Ideas and Terms)

In reading about these terms in your textbook, reflect on what you learned from the NGS site and how that information relates to what your authors express.  Take notes that will help you prepare for the first exam.

Spatial perspective, ecological perspective, historical perspective, economic perspective, (geographic skills), essential elements, standards (go to the NGS link), the world in spatial terms, location, place, region, physical systems, human systems, environment & society, uses of geography

Resources:

National Geographic Society