Discussion 3 – Great Plains

Group Formation

1. You may continue in your previous group. If group size drops below 4 contact me. Under these circumstances some merging will be required.

2. On the other hand you may form your own groups if you wish. They should have 6 people and include at least 2 lower classmen (freshmen or sophomores) and 2 upper classmen (juniors or seniors).

Questions

Each group is to answer the following four question sets. Maximum size of answer is two pages. You can allot as much or as little of this space for each question set (single spaced, Times New Roman font size 12 with 1 inch margins on all sides). In addition to the two answer sheets you may have an additional page for references and two pages of maps, graphs, charts or diagrams (optional). A draft of your answers are due at the time of the quiz on Tuesday, final copy is due at the next class meeting after the exam. You can divide the work on this report in any way your group desires. Just make sure that it all fits together as a logical whole.

Be sure to Boldly Label each question set. Link and Cite any diagrams, maps… that you wish to use in your paper. Copy and paste them to size. Label them (diagram 1, map 1,….) then refer to them directly in the paper at the appropriate place. In other words this is not just a collection of interesting diagrams, these are illustrations that are an integral part of your over-all report.

Question Sets:

1. The Issue: Define the problem. Using the various themes of Geography as a guide in combination with the Scientific Method define the problem. That is in some order explain anything necessary about location, place, movement, human-environment interaction, and region and discuss the issue under the guise of hypotheses and predictions. Also consider the following, as you are considering the problem, is there some spatial variation to it even within the region? That is does it vary geographically? If so be sure to define and discuss this.
2. Comparison to Italy: How does this problem compare to the issue currently facing Italy that we studied at the beginning of the quarter? Here your tool will be more the Scientific Method where you consider various hypotheses and predictions plus evidence in a comparative manner between two places.
3. Compare to the Maya: How does this problem compare with the the Maya collapse? Again, use the Scientific Method to answer this question.
4. Buffalo Commons: Finally, what do you think of the “Buffalo Commons”? In order to discuss this be sure you adequately define this proposal as you understand it and then explain its predicted impact. Would this same metaphorical geographical methodology be a useful way in looking at the declining rural areas of the Pacific Northwest? Explain.

A bit more detail:

As always succinctly state any hypotheses then provide evidence from the readings or elsewhere (including the video and maps if you desire. Unfortunately the video was borrowed from another library and thus is not available for viewing again). Also, if you have any additional sources of information or wish to obtain some you are free to do so. For your evidence provide citations in the text plus references at the end. I highly suggest the APA method of in-text citations as one of the easiest and most complete (to see the library’s examples go to: http://www.library.wwu.edu/ref/apamsw.doc ).

Be sure to state and discuss and demonstrate why the hypotheses you chose is best. This may even include reasons for not accepting other hypotheses. As always, succinctly state your position and then provide as much evidence as possible again as always with citations.

Remember you may also include and refer to maps, graphs, diagrams… to help illustrate your case if you so desire (be sure to provide a citation for any of these you use – note that I have tried to always provided url or other source citations in my PowerPoint slides). As noted above these diagrams should be organized by number and referred to in the body of the report.

Report Write-up

Page 1 and 2. Answer the four question sets in order.

Page 3. Provide full references for readings, videos, websites… that you used in the previous two pages.

Page 4 & 5 (optional). Any maps, charts, diagrams that help illustrate your report along with a reference to its source.

Finally On the back of the last page – Neatly list all group members in alphabetical order, the assignment title, course number and date.

When I grade these reports I will look at things like the following:

1. How well is each set of questions answered? How thorough and complete is the answer? How well are all course materials integrated into the answer? If a specific geographical question is asked, how well was it answered?

2. How well do the various parts of the report work as a whole?

3. Are citations and references properly and effectively used?

4. What is the over-all quality of the report?

5. Are there additional materials being used? How effectively?

6. If maps, graphs, charts… are attached are they numbered and integrated into the report? Do they have citations indicating their original source?