GEOGRAPHY 3750
GEOGRAPHY OF CONTEMPORARY SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
SPRING 2016
Instructor: Joseph R. Oppong Class Time: TR 9:30-10:50
Office: ENV 310Q Room: GATEWAY 137
Phone: 940-565-2181 Section: 001
Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 11.00 - 12:30 P.M. or by appointment
REQUIRED TEXTS: Robert Stock. 2013. Africa South of the Sahara, Third Edition: A Geographical Interpretation. New York: Guilford.
Recommended: Samuel Aryeetey-Attoh (ed) 2010. Geography of Sub-Saharan Africa Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education, Inc. Third Edition.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Geography of Sub-Saharan Africa deals with the geographical and cultural diversity of Sub-Saharan Africa and the associated problems and prospects for economic development. It examines the opportunities, constraints and dilemmas of Sub-Saharan Africa’s diverse physical and cultural landscapes, contemporary problems such as ethnic conflict and environmental pollution, and the challenge and prospect of globalization and culture change.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: This course has 3 main objectives:
1. To introduce students to the geography of the peoples and cultures of Sub-Saharan Africa to facilitate in-depth understanding of contemporary issues and problems of the region.
2. To equip students to understand the underlying issues in such contemporary Sub-Saharan African problems as political instability, health and disease, population growth, economic development and environmental pollution.
3. Through reading, audio-visual materials and class discussions, to provide an arm-chair experience of the region and its people as a basis for stimulating critical thinking and comparison with other world regions.
COURSE GRADING: Class attendance is expected. Participation will be measured mainly through class attendance and contributions to class discussions. The final grade comprises:
Midterm Exam - 100 points
Country Paper - 200 points
Paper Updates (5) - 100 points
Final exam - 100 points
Map Quiz (1) - 100 points
Presentation - 100 points
Discussion (10) - 100 points
Total - 800 points
GRADING POLICY
Grading will follow a 90-80-70-60 breakdown. There will be no curve or mercy. It is the policy of the Geography Department that grades will not be changed except in cases of computational error. Similarly, it is the policy of the Geography Department not to assign extra assignments to students in order to raise their grades. This policy will be enforced strictly in this course. Please Note: No extra work for change of grade will be permitted
.
MIDTERM EXAMINATION: Test will deal with material covered in course to this date. Format will be multiple choice and short answer questions.
MAP QUIZ: One map quiz will be given during the semester. Students are required to know the location and national capital of each African country
COUNTRY PAPER UPDATES During the first week of class, each student will be assigned one African country. Throughout the semester, the student serves as Ambassador for that country during class discussions, providing regular updates on news and current events to the class. Every two weeks, each student will submit a 3-5 page double–spaced typed write up on their country dealing with the current topic of discussion in class. This write up is an installment (part) of the country paper. The country update is due on the Tuesday following class discussion of the topic.
ONLINE DISCUSSION – 100 points
To ensure engagement and active student participation with the issues addressed in class, 10 discussion questions will be posted on blackboard and will cover materials discussed in class. You are required to contribute an original post of at least 100 words to the discussion question in the first few days it is posted (6 points). You are also required to post at least 2 comments (of at least 50 words) on a colleague's post on the discussion (2 points each). For each question, you get a total of 10 points. You get a zero (0) for not contributing.
COUNTRY PAPER - The paper is the culmination of the weekly updates. It should describe the geography of the country and explain contemporary issues of development based on historical factors such as colonialism, and recent developments such as structural adjustment and engagement with China policies. How and why does human behavior in the country differ from the United States? (LENGTH: About 20 pages). Topic with brief one page introduction and bibliography (3 - 5 references) is due on January 26, 2016. This paper is due on May 2, 2016 by midnight and should be submitted through Blackboard.
FINAL EXAMINATION: Questions will be set on the whole course, with emphasis on the second part. In setting the midterm and final examinations, I will assume knowledge of the material in the textbook, as well as that presented in the lectures. Please Note: No extra work for change of grade will be permitted.
STATEMENT ON CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM
Students caught cheating or plagiarizing will receive a "0" for that particular assignment or exam. Additionally, the incident will be reported to the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities for further penalty. According to the UNT catalog, the term "cheating" includes, but is not limited to:
a. use of any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes, tests, or examinations;
b. dependence upon the aid of sources beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying out other assignments;
c. the acquisition, without permission, of tests or other academic material belonging to a faculty or staff member of the university;
d. dual submission of a paper or project, or resubmission of a paper or project to a different class without express permission from the instructor(s); or
e. any other act designed to give a student an unfair advantage.
The term "plagiarism" includes, but is not limited to:
a. the knowing or negligent use by paraphrase or direct quotation of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment; and
b. the knowing or negligent unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials.
DROP POLICY
February 26, 2016 is the last day to drop this course with a grade of W. After this date the instructor may record a grade of WF. April 5, 2016 is the last day to drop this course.
ATTENDANCE and PARTICIPATION
Attendance will be taken on an irregular basis, and it is strongly recommended that students not miss class. Participation grade will be based primarily on attendance and contributions during class discussions. Beginning February 27, 2016 students with 3 unexcused absences may receive a WF for nonattendance.
POLICY ON STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: The Department of Geography, in cooperation with the Office of Disability Accommodation, complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act in making reasonable accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. Please present your written accommodation request before the 12th class day, Feb 1, 2016 so that I can make the necessary arrangements needed.
TENTATIVE COURSE OUTLINE AND READING ASSIGNMENTS
Week Beginning Major Topic Reading
Jan 18 Introduction to Africa
Jan 25 Africa in a Global context Chap 1-3
Feb 1 The Physical Environment/ Deforestation and desertification Chap 7-8
Feb 8 Historical Geography of Sub-Saharan Africa Chap 10-12
Feb 15 Political Landscape – From instability to democratization.
(Aryeetey-Attoh, Chap 6)
Feb 22 The Cultural Landscape – Africa’s Cultural Diversity Chap 4-6
(Aryeetey-Attoh, Chap 7)
MAP QUIZ – Feb 25, 2016
Feb 29 Population Geography of Sub-Saharan Africa Chap 13-15
(Aryeetey-Attoh, Chap 8)
Mar 7 Geography and Development - From Dependency to NEPAD
(Aryeetey-Attoh, Chap 9)
MIDTERM EXAM
SPRING BREAK - March 14-20, 2016
Mar 21 Transport, Communication and Technology (Aryeetey-Attoh, Ch. 10)
Mar 28 Urban Geography of Sub-Saharan Africa Chap 22-24
(Aryeetey-Attoh, Chap 11)
Apr 4 Social Geography Chap 28-30
Apr 11 Medical Geography (Aryeetey-Attoh, Chap 13)
Apr 18 Agriculture, Industry and Entrepreneurship Chap 25-27
(Aryeetey-Attoh Chap 14/15)
Apr 25 Africa in a new Global Economy - Aryeetey-Attoh Chap 16
May 2 Presentations
FINAL EXAMINATION THURSDAY May 12, 8.00-10.00 am
Helpful websites for learning the countries and capitals of Africa
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/African_Geography.htm
Other Sources for Information on Africa
CIA World Fact Book, Wikipedia, www.allafrica.com, www.bbc.com, etc.
SUGGESESTED OUTLINE OF COUNTRY BOOK AND SCHEDULE
Chapter / Subject/Topic / Due Date1 / Introduction / 2/2/2016
2 / Physical geography and Environmental Challenges / 2/16/2016
3 / History and Politics / 2/16/2016
4 / Culture and Population / 2/16/2016
5 / Regional Integration (ECOWAS, NEPAD etc.) / 3/1/2016
6 / Transport, Communication and Information Technology / 3/1/2016
7 / Urbanization: Challenges and Prospects / 3/1/2016
8 / Gender and Health Geography / 3/22/2016
9 / Agriculture, Industry and Entrepreneurship / 3/22/2016
10 / Globalization and National Sovereignty / 4/5/2016
11 / Conclusion / 4/5/2016
12 / Complete Book Due / 5/2/2016