AJ17059 American Geographies

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2008
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 2 credit(s) (plus 2 credits for an exam). Recommended Type of Completion: zk (examination). Other types of completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Jeffrey Alan Vanderziel, B.A. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Jeffrey Alan Vanderziel, B.A.
Department of English and American Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Tomáš Hanzálek
Timetable
Wed 15:50–17:25 G31
Prerequisites (in Czech)
AJ09999 Qualifying Examination && AJ07002 Intro. to American Studies II
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 25 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/25, only registered: 0/25, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/25
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 10 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
A survey of the physical, political, historical, social and cultural geographies of the United States. The course will examine the various states and regions of the U.S. in some detail, focusing on the topics hidden under the five geographies mentioned. Students should acquire a good working knowledge of many aspects of American studies which are not focused on in other courses in the department. Emphasis will be placed on students demonstrating knowledge acquired in the course. Students will be expected to work on the internet in preparing their presentations.
Syllabus
  • Course introduction. System of measures; The United States: An Overview; Physical Geography: The Land, Part I: Landforms, Glaciation; The United States: An Overview; Physical Geography: The Land, Part II: Earthquakes, Volcanoes; The United States: An Overview; Physical Geography: The Land, Part III (video); Physical Geography: Rivers, Lakes and Oceans; Climate, Flora and Fauna; Social Geography: American Cities (video); Social Geography: American Cities, Suburbs, Exurbs.....; Social and Cultural Geography: The American Population – A Changing Mosaic; Economic Geography: "The Fruited Plain" or American Agriculture; Economic Geography: The Industrial Colossus(?); Political Geography: Fifty States and More....
Literature
  • MITTLEMAN, Earl N. Nástin americké geografie. Revidované vyd. [Praha]: Velvyslanectví Spojených států amerických, 1994, 131 s. info
  • The Heath anthology of American literature. Edited by Paul Lauter. Lexington, Mass.: D.C. Heath, 1990, xxxix, 261. ISBN 0-669-12065-0. info
  • MULLER, Gilbert H. The McGraw-Hill reader. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1982, xx, 675. ISBN 0070439788. info
  • Jefferson, Thomas. 1787. Notes on the State of Virginia.
  • Muir, John. 1894. The Mountains of California
  • Momaday, N. Scott. 1969. The Way to Rainy Mountain
Assessment methods
Seminar. Assessment will be based on a written exam at the end of the semester (in January) which will account of 50% of the final mark. The details of the exam will be discussed in class. For those taking the course only for credit, this test is the only requirement. This test will cover both the readings and the materials presented in class. For those taking this course as an exam, you must write a 5-6 page essay. In the essay you will trace the development of a major American city (i.e. one of the current top fifty American cities in terms of size - see the list in the file "Reference Information (Part I)") over the course of the twentieth century. The only city you may not use is San Francisco, California (for obvious reasons if you look at the syllabus).
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
Teacher's information
http://elf.phil.muni.cz/elf/course/view.php?id=605
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 1999, Autumn 2000, Autumn 2002, Autumn 2003, Autumn 2005, Autumn 2006, Autumn 2007, Autumn 2009, Spring 2011, Spring 2013, Spring 2016, Spring 2018, Autumn 2020.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2008, recent)
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