This paper was presented as part of a talk to the ASDP 2000 Summer Institute on Infusing Southeast Asian Studies into the Undergraduate Curriculum August 1, 2000.  A few changes have been to update the material to reflect the actual fall semester schedule.  The outline for the talk can be found at: Talk notes
 
 

Infusing Southeast Asian Studies into

Introduction to Human Geography, GEOG 1101

Robert C. Fuller

August 1, 2000







        I teach two 30-student sections of Introduction to Human Geography each fall and spring semester at North Georgia College & State University. I teach this social science course at the freshman level, although the classes normally comprise roughly 40% freshmen, 30% sophomores, and 15% each juniors and seniors. My approach to the subject matter is thematic rather than regional, i.e. I discuss a theme of human geography and relate it to one or more locations on Earth rather than discussing various regions of Earth and what makes each region unique. For example, using the thematic approach, I discuss the general characteristics of Earth that are conducive to supporting dense human populations (e.g. mild climate, near water, good soil, and gentle terrain), then give a few specific examples to support the theory.

        Previously, I have only used one Southeast Asian country, Vietnam, as an example to illustrate a geographic theme. In discussing economic geography, I have compared and contrasted the economic well-being of four people: a Vietnamese rice farmer, a Vietnamese textile worker in Ho Chi Minh City, a Vietnamese textile worker in France, and a French textile worker in France. Because of my adherence to the thematic approach to geography, I have made this example, like all others that I use in the course, rather short, spending perhaps ten minutes presenting the example. Beginning fall semester 2000, I intend to include additional, more involved examples of people’s lives to illustrate human geographic themes. I specifically intend to include several examples from Southeast Asian in the course. Exhibit 1 is the course syllabus for fall semester 2000. One chapter of the textbook that has previously been included in the course (a chapter on interpreting landscapes) has been removed. Additionally, subjects that I intend to use to emphasize Southeast Asia have been given more time in the course, while others have been de-emphasized.

        Two examples of the inclusion of Southeast Asian material are presented in the following two sample lesson outlines. The first is an example that will be used to illustrate two concepts. The first of these is the concept of accessibility, i.e. the opportunity for contact and interaction between people in two different locations, which is a necessary requirement for spatial interaction. The second is the concept of language, including the concepts of language families, language diffusion, and language differentiation. This example will be introduced during the discussion of culture, of which language is considered a major part. The example is intended to reinforce concepts of accessibility, barriers to accessibility, spatial interaction, and language, as well as introduce students to Southeast Asia as a region. The second example will be introduced during the discussion of agriculture following a general discussion of the three agricultural revolutions (1. the cultivation of plants and domestication of animals, 2. shift from subsistence to market agriculture, and 3. the mechanization or industrialization of agriculture). This example will focus on the Green Revolution and its impact on Southeast Asia and, by extension, the rest of Earth.

Example 1. Accessibility and language.

Readings assigned prior to class: Lecture: Assignment: Example 2. Green Revolution. Readings assigned prior to class: Lecture Assignment
Exhibit 1
GEOGRAPHY 1101
INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
Section A – Fall 2000

Course Syllabus

CRN: 720 Prerequisites: none     Meets: MWF 0800-0850 Rogers Hall 116
Professor: Robert C. Fuller, Office: Rogers Hall 106, 864-1755, rcfuller@ngcsu.edu
Office hours: MWF 0900-0950 & 1100-1150, T 0830-0920 & 1100-1150 and by appointment. If I am not in my office or lab (Rogers Hall 108) during office hours I will leave a note on my office door or leave word with the Physics Department secretary where I can be found.

Required texts: Knox, P. L. and S. A. Marston. 1998. Places and Regions in Global Context:
     Human Geography. 526 pp. Prentice-Hall.
Hammond, Inc. 1999. The New Comparative World Atlas. Hammond.
Recommended: Pretes, M. 1998. Study Guide: Places and Regions in Global Context:
    Human Geography. 120 pp. Prentice-Hall.

Objectives: The intent of this course is to impart to the students an understanding and appreciation of certain fundamental concepts in human geography, to add to students’ knowledge of locations and attributes of elements of their world, and to develop certain computer-assisted data acquisition and manipulation skills.  The major focus of the course will be on themes in human geography (e.g. population dynamics) but several regions of the world will be considered in some detail to help illustrate selected themes.

Instruction: Most classes will be lecture format.  There will, however, be interactive computer lab sessions, and some directed problem solving.  Assignments may be given as handouts, notes on the board, or verbally.  You are responsible for all. Students will be expected to read the entire textbook (Knox and Marston, 1998) and selected additional readings, all of which will be testable.  Students will be expected to learn the locations of the world’s countries and selected physical features.

Homework exercises: A series of exercises will be required during the semester.  These may require writing brief responses to questions, working with maps, use of the Internet, spreadsheets, or other computer-based technology. You will need two 3 ½” IBM-formatted disks, labeled with your name, the course number and section.  Exercises will have varying point values, based upon the level of effort expected.  These exercises will be extremely important learning tools and will both count heavily toward your course grade and will help you develop knowledge needed for tests and in life.

Quizzes: Short quizzes, announced or unannounced, will be given frequently.  These will normally cover the most recent lectures, reading assignments, and/or out of class assignment.  You should be prepared for a quiz every class meeting.

Midterm and final exams: A midterm exam will cover approximately the first 40% of the course material.  The final exam will be comprehensive but will be weighted toward material covered after the midterm exam.  Both exams will include a regional geography (place-knowledge) section.
 

Grading: The following system will be used to assign grades in the class:

                                Quizzes                                                20%
                                Homework exercises                            20%
                                Midterm exam                                      25%
                                Final exam                                            35%
                                Total                                                   100%

                                        A   90% <=  Total <= 100%
                                        B   80% <=  Total <=   90%
                                        C   70% <=  Total <=   80%
                                        D   60% <=  Total <=   70%
                                        F                  Total <=   60%
 

Attendance and participation: Regular class attendance and class participation are essential to satisfactory completion of this course.  Students are responsible for all information, assignments, quizzes, exams, and announcements, whether they are present or not.  Missed quizzes and exams may not be made up and will receive grades of zero unless prior approval has been received from the professor or in the case of legitimate emergencies that make prior notification impossible.  Approval for missing quizzes, assignment due dates, or exams will be granted only for documented serious illness, death in the immediate family, other serious emergencies, or properly documented school-sponsored events (ref: 2000-2002 Undergraduate Bulletin, p. 59).  Make-up quizzes and exams will normally be different from the originals and may be of the all-essay variety.

Academic honesty: All work in this course must be entirely your own and must be performed specifically for this course.  Work that fails to meet this requirement will receive a grade of zero.

Schedule: The following schedule is for general guidance only and is subject to change:

Weeks 1, 2     Introduction, Basic concepts, Internet     K&M Ch. 1; H (skim)
September 4   No class – Labor Day
Week 3          Maps                                                     K&M pp.22-32; H pp. 6-7
Weeks 4, 5     Changing global context                         K&M Ch. 2
Weeks 6, 7     Population                                             K&M Ch. 3
October 4       Midterm exam
October 9       Last day to drop with W (if passing)
Weeks 8, 9     Environmental geography                        K&M Ch. 4
Weeks 10, 11 Cultural geography                                  K&M Ch. 5
Week 12         Economic geography                              K&M Ch. 7
Week 13         Agriculture                                             K&M Ch. 8
Week 14         Political geography                                 K&M Ch. 9
Week 15         Urban geography                                   K&M Ch. 10 & 11
Week 16         Future geographies                                 K&M Ch. 12
Dec. 6             Last class
Dec. 8             Academic review day
Sat. Dec. 9      Final exam  0730-0930

                        Note: K&M = Knox and Marston, 1998.  H = Hammond, 1999.