Geography EXERCISE (500 words)

You must answer all parts of all questions for complete credit.  Write up your answers as the questions are structured below (1a, 1b1, 1b2, 2a and on).  Submit your answers on canvas.

 

1. Go to The New York Times and search the term: Geography (or follow this link to the same results  http://www.nytimes.com/topic/subject/geography (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.  ). Scroll through and find an article on any topic within these search parameters and read it.  What is the article about and what is the significance of or what role does geography play in the discussion of the topic? Submit the following:

1. Title and link to article that you selected. (2pt)

2. Explain why you selected this article. What was interesting about this to you? (3pts)

3. Describe the main topic/idea of the article. (5pts)

4. Discuss the “geography” in this article? What role does geography play in the treatment of the topic? What is the “geography” in this article? What is the significance of geography? (5pts)

5. Is the role/significance of geography explicit in the article or is it something you had to infer? In other words, is the “geography” easily identifiable or did you have to figure it out? (5pts)

 

2. Conduct an internet search to find a core (developed) country and a peripheral (developing) country that share a common environmental concern (for example, threats to forests, grasslands or wetlands, pollution, acid rain). Compare and contrast the different ways core and peripheral countries are addressing the same issue and provide some explanation for similarities and differences. Be sure to cite all sources used.

Submit the following:

1. Identify a core country and a peripheral country. Use the map from Chapter 2 slides to confirm that your selection is accurate.  (2 pts)

2. Identify from the news and briefly describe an environmental issue/concern that exists in both countries (5 pts)

3. Identify SPECIFIC ways each country is dealing with those issues (for example in policies, laws, treaties, influencing citizens’ actions) (5 pts)

4. Compare and contrast the methods being employed in each country to identify similarities and differences. Explain why these similarities and differences might exist.  What factors influence how each country deals with the issue?  (5 pts)

 

3. You will write a research proposal for your final project for this class. That proposal will consist of you describing a research project that is geographic but which focuses on any subject matter of your choice. For now, forget about the geography and think about a topical area in which you might be interested in doing research.  You can study any subject in the world in which you have an interest.  You do not have to be concerned with practical issues such as the cost of the study, access to data, time constraints, etc.  For now, I just want you to identify something you want to learn more about.  Your topic does not have to be “academic” or boring. It can be related to your major or a class that you have had. It can be completely not related to your education.  Chose something about which you have a passion and about which you would like to learn more.  Once you identify a general area, come up with a specific question.  Submit the following:

1. Identify the topic area in which you are interested. This can be anything – your major, a sport, food, an animal, cars, interest rates, poverty, computer games, anything. Give a brief explanation of why you are interested in this topic area. How did your interest in this develop? (7 points)

2. Develop a question about your topic area. Ask a question that would allow you to learn something more about the topic area in which you are interested.  The following are just examples – do not use these as your answer. (6 points)

· Example: If your topic area was computer games, your question might be: How many hours a day on average do people play video games? Or Is there a relationship between playing video games and achieving a certain GPA?

· Example: If your topic area is sports, your question might be:  Why has the city of Pittsburgh won so many professional sports titles? Or Why do some cities have professional hockey teams and others do not? Or What are the differences between rugby and American football?

· Example: If your topic area is literature, your question might be: Why do different regions develop particular styles of literature? Or How is literature used to persuade political arguments?

· You can ask a research question on ANY topic you want.