Geography

Rural China has experienced a remarkable and, in some ways, alarming amount of change since the beginning of economic reforms in 1978. Write an essay about how rural Chinese areas and rural-urban relationships have changed in the decades since 1978. Discuss relevant key state policies that have affected rural areas, and how peasants have reacted to them. How does the state view rural areas today? In your essay, be sure to distinguish between different key periods of time. Exact dates are not necessary, but you should identify differences by decade, leadership, or broad policy changes. For example, the desirability of an agricultural hukou has changed significantly between 1979 and now. Also distinguish, where relevant, different situations in different places (for example, remote areas vs. peri-urban villages).

From the list below, choose one region. Use the Lesson Lecture materials and any outside materials to answer the following questions for your region.  Reference the maps on Europe in your textbook to identify your regions. Describe some of the major physical geographic features of your region (e.g. mountain ranges, rivers, lakes, seas, natural resources, climate).  How has your region’s physical geography promoted and/or hindered its development?  Provide examples.   Northern Europe

Details  Be creative. Feel free to use unique layouts and illustrate your points with figures. All one-page papers must include these elements:  Papers may not exceed one page!!  Creative and descriptive title (Bad Title: Minerals are Great! Good Title: Quartz is Everywhere)  Your name  Date of submission  Substantive and detailed text   Illustrations, with captions and citations  APA-formatted bibliography of citations  Topics will be selected on the discussion board. First come, first served!     Solar System  Minerals  Rocks  Volcanoes & Earthquakes  All one-page papers must be submitted to both the Canvas assignment portal and the discussion board locations as PDF files. Why PDF files?  The format of your work will not change between your computer and mine, unlike documents from word processing programs, which often change formats when you change computer platforms.  You can use color without going through the time or expense of printing in color.  The PDF file name must be in the following format: YourLastName_Topic.pdf  For example, Hall_Quartz.pdf. Upload all PDFs to the assignment portal on Canvas  Refer to the course schedule for deadlines.  Avoid plagiarism by writing all material in your own words. Do not use direct quotations and be sure to list all sources of information in your bibliography, which includes all sources for factual information and illustrations. The bibliography can be in addition to your one-page paper and should grow along with your writing series.     Remember, the first information you find is not necessarily the best information. Your goal is to include the best information on the topic in your one-page paper. Be sure to include vocabulary that you have learned in class and tell me something new. The best papers will look great and have excellent, substantive, detailed scientific content.  Format the one-page paper so that it is visually appealing. Use any fonts you like, so long as they are clear and readable. Please use an 11 point font or larger for the main body of your text. You may use smaller fonts for figure captions.  Use reputable sources for your scientific material. You may start with Wikipedia, but you may not use it as the ultimate source for substantive information. You must confirm any material in Wikipedia by using other reliable sources: books, journal articles, magazines, newspapers, or websites of universities, museums, scientific societies, and government institutions. You should not need to list Wikipedia in your bibliography, except for figures.  Please include a bibliography of all of your sources in APA or GSA format at the end of the paper. Please be sure to use in-text citations. In some way, indicate which figures come from which sources. For example, you might number the figures on your one-pager and then have a list of figure sources in your bibliography.  The grammar and spelling in your one-page paper should be perfect. These are short, concise assignments that you should edit, review, and revise many times before turning them in the first time. Review your work again before submitting with your portfolio at the end of the semester.  Grading  The grading rubric for the one-page papers is attached to the assignment. I may modify it as the semester progresses, if the need arises.  Discussion board responses are a separate grade and worth 20 points each.     Requirements for Each Topic  All papers must contain illustrations, comprehensive descriptions of your topics, and a bibliography. The minimal information that must be included for each topic is listed below. Be sure to include other relevant and interesting material as well.     Solar System:  Start your research on the NASA website: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/ (Links to an external site.)     Minerals and Rocks:  Include the chemical formula, physical properties, hand specimen identification, geologic occurrence, and origin of the mineral name.  Recommended sources:  Smithsonian Mineral Gallery: http://geogallery.si.edu/index.php/en/minerals/all (Links to an external site.)  Minerals, textures, hand specimen identification, geologic occurrence  Recommended source:  Lab text: Oceanography by Trujillo  Volcanoes & Earthquakes:  Use NOAA’s Natural Hazards Viewer at http://maps.ngdc.noaa.gov/viewers/hazards/ (Links to an external site.) to create a map of regional earthquake and volcanic activity as well as determine basic information. Explain why there are volcanoes and/or earthquakes in the area. Explain map symbols using a legend or figure caption.  Describe geologic causes, casualties, and damages.  Other recommended websites:  Natural Hazards Image Database: http://ngdc.noaa.gov/hazardimages/ (Links to an external site.)  S. Geological Survey: http://geohazards.usgs.gov (Links to an external site.), http://volcanoes.usgs.gov (Links to an external site.)  Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Global Volcanism Program: http://www.volcano.si.edu

In five well-researched and developed paragraphs, explain the cultural, economic and physical geographic patterns which distinguish North Africa from Sub-Saharan Africa and therefore more closely align North Africa with Southwest Asia.  Provide detailed description of the spatial patterns of ethnicity, religion, language, allocation of natural resources, climate and vegetation.  Explain how these patterns are displayed in the African Transition Zone.  Lastly, identify a spatial pattern you determine to be the most distinguishing factor that makes North Africa a separate region.  Justify your selection with at least three key details. You must cite any outside resources using APA format. Visit the Purdue OWL APA Formatting and Style Guide for assistance with citing according to APA format.

1. What is the primary driving force of surface ocean currents?  List two additional factors that influence surface currents. 2. Distinguish and define among shore, shoreline, coast, and coastline. 3. What is a beach?  Distinguish between beach face and berm.  4. List three factors that determine the height, length, and period of a wave. 5. List and describe two ways in which waves cause erosion. 6. List three ways that barrier islands form. 7. How do ocean currents influence climates?  Provide two examples. 8. Describe two processes that contribute to longshore transport.

why isnt renewable energy taking off like it is in other states. can compare with another state. their energy sources, geography,etc   professional sources Required

Discussion Topic #3 – watch the following video and then post a 300-350 word commentary of your views and thoughts and reflections on the Discussion Board – Please note that you cannot make all three posts on the last day of the discussion forum – this would not contribute to a meaningful week long discussion with others in the class.  Please be sure to make an effort to discuss what you personally think and avoid any form of ‘copy and paste’ model. It is your own opinions, reflections and commentary that you should provide for the forum to be effective and interesting. Please be sure that you: do not ‘copy and paste’ information in the posts feel free to discuss your own personal views and reflections on the topic  try to minimize or avoid generalized comments – such as – “this is really a huge problem and the government should do something about it.” feel free to include personal anecdotal information – things that you have personally experienced are great to include feel free to include information that you have learned in other classes and/or in your own personal reading – please give a reference/link if relevant please be sensitive to others viewpoints – especially if you don’t share their opinion on a particular issue upload your 350 word post on the discussion forum first before you respond and make your response posts make as many response posts as you wish.

Read chapter 13: Earth Biomes Chapter 13: http://www.earthonlinemedia.com/ebooks/tpe_3e/biomes/title_page.html  (Links to an external site.) After reading chapter 13, answer the following questions : What are the benefits of studying different biomes and what impact do they have on animals and humans? What would be some of the negative outcomes if the biomes slowly diminished? Explain how human activities are affecting terrestrial biomes.

The goal of this activity is for students to examine a culture other than their own. They will then compare/contrast this experience to their own culture as well as applying the principles of culture on the landscape as outlined in the lecture presentation. Attend a cultural event on campus or in the community that is hosted by a culture other than your own. This can include, but is not limited to, a celebration, ceremony, meal, museum or personal invitation event. DO NOT chose a chain restaurant or place you have been before – the experience must be completely new to you. Use you five senses as you participate in/witness the activity and consider the following questions. Be thoughtful and detailed as you describe your experience. – Describe the event. Who was the host culture?  – How did you witness “culture on the landscape” (think senses: sight, smell, taste, hearing and touch).  – Describe your perspective as an ‘outsider’. How were you perceived by the ‘insiders’? – Compare/contrast this experience to your own culture.  – Discuss how prominent you feel this culture is on California’s landscape and why.

These past few weeks, you’ve learned a lot about how energy from the Sun is transported around the globe through atmospheric and oceanic circulation. For this second mapping assignment, you are going to demonstrate your knowledge and use an animation (one that you’ve previously explored in Mapping Assignment #1) as evidence to enhance your knowledge and discussion of these processes Visit the Earth – Map of Wind, Weather, and Ocean Conditions Animation  (Links to an external site.)  or use the link available here or in the Week 9 Module in Canvas. Note that this is the same animation you previously used for Mapping Assignment #1. Instead of focusing on current surface wind conditions, you will take a look at sea-surface movement and temperature. Click on the “earth” button on the bottom, left side of the page (see image below).  Note that the image should be in color (as in the screenshot above). If it isn’t, you may need to use a different web browser. Once the animation menu is visible, click on the “Ocean” link under Mode. This will change the map to show current ocean conditions. See image below. Lastly, click on the “Currents” link under Animate to change the map so it illustrates current ocean surface currents. Your map should look similar to the image below.   Click on the “earth” button again to hide the menu. Now, you are viewing surface, ocean current movement. Temperature values are also shown. For example, ocean currents in red, orange, and yellow represent warmer sea-surface temperatures. Ocean currents in green, blue, and purple represent colder sea-surface temperatures. Rotate the Earth (by clicking and dragging) and take a look at the currents on the west coast of the United States and compare them to the east coast. Take a screenshot or picture of your view so I know you are looking at the correct area and current settings. You will submit this along with a written response.   For your assignment, respond to the following prompt in the form of a short, original essay (500 words minimum): Based on what you see in the animation, (1) describe the sea-surface currents on the West Coast of the Unites States versus the East Coast of the United States. Considering what you’ve learned in the Weather Processes & Systems and Ocean Environments lectures/readings, (2) how have our major wind systems and these currents influenced weather patterns on both coasts? Think about the differences in weather patterns such as humidity, temperature, precipitation, etc., as well as differences in weather events such as hurricanes.    Same as with Mapping Assignment #1, any resources that are used (whether the readings/lectures or outside sources) must be cited in MLA format. If you are unfamiliar with MLA format, please see the Library Handouts page here. If you are using general information from a source, then simply adding the citation at the end of your assignment in a “Works Cited” section is sufficient. If you are using a direct quote (i.e. copying and pasting any portion of the source directly), then you must use quotation makes and parenthetical citations in the text, as well as adding the citation to the end of your assignment (see pg. 2 of the “MLA Handout” style guide). Use quotations sparingly. Responses that are quote-after-quote do not demonstrate your knowledge or understanding and will be marked down. The general rule of thumb is to aim for 20% or less (I highly suggest keeping it around 10%) of direct quotes in any assignment.  When you are ready to submit your assignment, click on the “Submit Assignment” button. If you have typed them, you can submit them by (1) copying and pasting them into the text box, or (2) submit them as a file (such as a Word document or PDF). Please do not submit other files types, such as Pages, since these cannot always be read on my end. For the image/screenshot, you can include them in your file, or upload them separately. Please note that Canvas does not recognize TIFF images files, so make sure your images (if separate from your essay) are in PDF or JPEG format. If you need assistance with this, please do not hesitate to ask. Your assignment must be submitted by 11:59PM on Friday, October 23rd.  See the rubric below for grading details.  Rubric Mapping Assignment #2 Rubric Mapping Assignment #2 Rubric Criteria Ratings Pts This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Originality Student has submitted an original assignment that they personally have cultivated and written; sources are cited correctly in MLA format (as a Works Cited page as well as parenthetical citations if using direct quotes); direct quotes are used sparingly and do not make up more than 20% of the assignment. 25.0 pts Full Marks 0.0 pts No Marks 25.0 pts This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Thoroughness & Accuracy The minimum requirements are met – the assignment is complete with at least 1 screenshot/image of the animation using the correct settings and viewing the correct area(s); the written portion is at least 500 words (excluding citations); the prompt is answered thoughtfully, thoroughly, and accurately. 15.0 pts Full Marks 0.0 pts No Marks 15.0 pts This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Understanding It is clear the student thoroughly understands the topic and has met the learning objectives. 10.0 pts Full Marks 0.0 pts No Marks 10.0 pts Total Points: 50.0 Previous Next