GEOGRAPHY OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
Geography 120 – Spring 2008
Meeting: Lectures: MTW 9
- 9:50 am
Field: Thursday
generally 8 am - 5 pm and a three-day weekend.
Professor: Dr. Susan Digby
E-Mail: sdigby@oc.ctc.edu If you do not hear back in 24 hours (weekdays) please contact me by phone because your e-mail has not made it into my machine.
Phone: 360 475 7840
Professor on-line: http://faculty.olympic.edu/sdigby.
Office hours:
Tuesday 10-3pm or by appointment.
Science
215 except 10 - noon by the
Final
Exam: 8-10am, Tuesday 10 June
Course
description: This course is one of
three within the Life on the Edge learning community. Topics within the
geography course include the following: recording geographies, definitions of the
region, concept of bioregions, sustainability, regional subdivisions, coastal
processes, weather and climate, climate change, First Nations and European
histories, economic geography, resources, and environmental issues.
Credits: 5 Social Science
Course
Materials:
1)
Course reader (provided).
2) A road map for
Testing
and Grading: Grading will be
based on exam scores, participation in field trips, a field journal, a term
project and assignments.
Field trip attendance and
journal: 25%
Term project 25%
Two geography exams: 40%
Geography specific assignments 10%
Note:
If you will be absent for an exam you must make arrangements with the professor
ahead of time. An unexcused absence for
an exam is recorded as a zero.
Grade designation: I derive a final grade from a
percentage.
|
Academic Honesty: All forms of cheating and plagiarism are absolutely forbidden. This is the official policy of Olympic College (WAC 132C-120-070) and the instructor of this course.
Attendance: Regular attendance is essential. Material presented in class is material that you will be tested on; if you have to miss a class, contact a fellow student to get class notes and any announcements. While you are in class you will need to remain focused on geography; please turn off all cell phones and electronic devices. Behaviors towards learning at the university level are required. If there is any material that you do not understand, please make use of my office hours or e-mail me.
Schedule (subject to adjustment):
|
Date |
Topic |
|
Field site and activity* |
|
Week 1 Mar.31 |
Introduction: What is Geography? Introduction to the Pacific Northwest (PNW), region within
the world, concept of PNW, mental maps, bioregional thinking, place making. Introduction to term project, field journals |
1) The Region,
Philip Jackson 2) Bioregional Thinkin
, Robert Thayer. Introduction, Pg 1- 9 Film clip: |
Nisqually Delta 3 April Field Activity: 1) Changes in human perception and use of the environment
over time. Perception and use of marsh
lands. 2) Keep mind open to project possibilities |
|
Week 2 April 7 |
History: Competing visions of western settlement |
1) This place on earth Alan T Durning, Pg 1-66 2) Great Expectations, Dickens, Ch.1, Pg
1-4. |
Port of Field Activity: Historical awareness |
|
Week 3 April 14 |
History: (cont.) Summary of term
project idea and draft of one insight: 16 April |
1)The Lushootseed Peoples of 2) An overview of the historical geography of the |
Field Activity: Museum study of stories and objects |
|
Week 4 April 21 |
Climate and Weather: PNW relative to global circulation, precipitation,
temperature, relative humidity, variations within PNW |
1) Climate,
Claude Curran 2) Museums as contact zones, James Clifford, Pg 188 – 194. |
Queets / 24 April Field Activity: Journals |
|
Week 5 April 28 |
Climate and weather (cont) Mid-term test: Monday 28 April |
Wanderlust: A history
of walking, Rebecca
Solnit Introduction, Pg 3-13. |
Westpoint Treatment Plant, 1 May Field activity: Water cycle |
|
Week 6 May 5 |
Oceans and coastal processes, ocean ecosystem Mid-term project
workshop: 7 May |
The coastal zone and
its origin, John
Downing |
Field Activities: Journals, TBD |
|
Week 7 May 12 |
Agriculture and energy |
The Sustainability
Revolution Andres Edwards,
Pg 1-10. |
15,16,17 May Field Activities: Journals |
|
Week 8 May 19 |
Population, resources, cities and recreational space as a
resource. |
The Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition |
Elwha Dam 22 May Field Activities: Journals |
|
Week 9 May 26 |
Climate change and the Memorial Day 26 May |
Potential
consequences of climate variability and change for the Pacific Northwest, E.A. Parson et al. |
Field Activities: Journals |
|
Week 10 June 2 |
Tourism Project Presentations: 4 June |
. |
Field Activities: Journals |
* Field Activity note: At all sites students will be gathering materials
for the term project. Any additional journal requirements will be assigned
immediately prior to the trip.
Note: The professor reserves the right to modify the
course schedule, requirements, assignments, grading procedures and other
related policies as circumstances may dictate.
Strategies for Success
To do well you will need to keep up with class lectures and textbook readings and you will need to make notes and study from these materials. It’s very important that you don’t get behind. Check with your class contacts if you have questions about readings or class.
Class
contacts:
______________________________
______________________________
If you are a student
with a permanent or temporary disability and would like to request
accommodations, please contact Access Services at 475 -7540.
Student Services:
Olympic College
is committed to helping every student succeed in college. Take advantage of the many student advocate
programs that include Counseling 475-7530, the Writing Center 475-7318, and the