AJ17059 American Geographies

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2009
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
Thu 13:20–14:55 G32
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
Course objectives
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to identify the 50 states of the U.S. using a map and correctly identify each state capital. Students will be able to identify on a map the major cities and geographic features (lakes, rivers, mountains) of the U.S. Students will be able to identify and discuss the major factors that have impacted the development of American cities, the economy, demographics and transportation networks. Students will have an enhanced knowledge of American geography.
Syllabus
  • 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.
  • Week 1 -- Course introduction. System of measures
  • The United States: An Overview
  • Week 2 -- Physical Geography: The Land, Part I: Landforms, Glaciation
  • Week 3 -- The United States: An Overview; Physical Geography: The Land, Part II: Earthquakes, Volcanoes
  • Week 4 -- The United States: An Overview; Physical Geography: The Land, Part III (video)
  • Week 5 -- Physical Geography: Rivers, Lakes and Oceans
  • Climate, Flora and Fauna
  • Week 6 -- Social Geography: American Cities (video)
  • Week 7 -- Social Geography: American Cities, Suburbs, Exurbs..... Week 8 -- Social and Cultural Geography: The American Population – A Changing Mosaic
  • Week 9 -- Economic Geography: "The Fruited Plain" or American Agriculture
  • Week 10 -- Economic Geography: The Industrial Colossus(?)
Literature
  • MITTLEMAN, Earl N. An outline of American geography. [Washington?]: United States Information Agency, 132 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
Teaching methods
A 1.5 hour seminar per week, with videos shown during some sessions.
Assessment methods
Seminar. Assessment will be based on a written exam at the end of the semester. The details of the exam will be discussed in class. This test will cover both the readings and the materials presented in class.
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
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 2008, Spring 2011, Spring 2013, Spring 2016, Spring 2018, Autumn 2020.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2009, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2009/AJ17059