Geog 621:  Current Trends in Geography Winter 2001 -- University of Oregon Prof. Pat McDowell

Syllabus | Books & Journals | Term Paper Assignment | P. McDowell home page | Dept. of Geography

Week 5 Schedule and Assignments

Monday, Feb. 5:  Recent developments in Biogeography (Cathy Whitlock)

Reading assignment:  

Savage, M. 1991.  Structural dynamics of a southwestern pine forest under chronic human influence.  Annals of the Association of American Geographers 8: 271-289.

Lovel, G.L. 1997.  Global change through invasion.  Nature 388: 627.

Stott, P.  1998.  Biogeography and ecology in crisis:  the urgent need for a new metalanguage.  Journal of Biogeography 25: 1-2

McGlone, M.S.  1996.  When history matters: scale, time, climate, and tree diversity.  Global Ecology and Biogeography Letters 5: 309-314.

Romme, W.H., Everham, E.H., Frelich, L.E., Moritz, M.A., and Sparks, R.E. 1998.  Are large, infrequent disturbances qualitatively different from small frequent disturbances?  Ecosystems 1: 524-534.

These papers address key themes in biogeography:  disturbance, invasion, landscape pattern, and biodiversity in the face of environmental change.  Please read the articles carefully and pay attention to all figures.  Our discussion will focus on the content of the papers.  

Wednesday, Feb. 7:  Recent developments in Ethnic Geography (Susan Hardwick)

Reading assignment:  

Silvey, Rachel and Victoria Lawson. 1999. "Placing the Migrant," Annals of the AAG, V. 89 (1) 121-132.

Wood, Joseph. 1997. "Vietnamese American Place-Making in Northern Virginia," The Geographical Review, V. 87 (1) 58-72.

Schnell, Steven M. 2000. "The Kiowa Homeland in Oklahoma," The Geographical Review, V. 90 (2) 155-300

The first one provides theoretical background; the Wood and Schnell articles are case studies.

General questions for all (most) "Recent Developments" sessions:  
Come to class prepared to answer the following questions about each of the readings:

1. Why was this particular reading chosen?  What issue is it seeking to address or what question is it seeking to answer?

2. What are the three most significant points raised in the reading?

3. What is the relationship between the matters discussed in the reading and the general evolution of geographical thought as considered during the first half of GEOG 620?

4. What purpose does any figure or table in the article play, and how effective is that figure or table in achieving that purpose?

5. What questions or critiques of the article do you have?  [Be prepared to raise at least three questions or critiques.]

last update:  03/03/01 02:06 PM
Department of Geography, University of Oregon, Eugene OR, 97403-1251