CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LONG BEACH
Geography of
Latin America
GEOG 320I, Fall Semester 2002, TR 12:30-1:45, LA4-107
Dr. J.R. Curtis, Office: LA4-206-D, Office Phone: 562-985-4978, Office Hours: TR 2:00-3:20 or by appointment;
E-mail: jrcurtis@csulb.edu; Webpage: www.csulb.edu/~jrcurtis/
Required Text and Novel:
Blouet and Blouet,
James Roberto Curtis, Shangó
Examinations: There will be
two midterms and a final examination, each worth 200 points. The examinations will consist of
multiple-choice questions based on material presented in lecture and readings
from the text. They also will include map or place-identification questions
based on maps and lists of Latin American place names distributed in class. The
final is not comprehensive; it will cover only the material offered in
the last third of the semester.
Book Report on the Novel--Shangó: The report is worth 100 points. It must be exactly nine pages long, typed,
double-spaced, 12-point font, with one-inch margins. The report will consist of two sections:
description and analysis. You must follow
this format precisely! Section
One: Description. On pages 1 and 2, summarize the storyline. On pages
3 and 4, describe one of the major
characters (e.g. Miguel, Ileana, Rosa, Gutierrez, or Krajewski) in the novel
and the role that he or she played in development of the story. On page
5, select one of the minor
characters and describe that person and the role he or she played in the
novel. Section Two: Analysis. On pages 6 and 7, discuss the author's use
of setting (places and locations, both
real and imagined, general and specific, interior and exterior) and the role it
played in the development of characters and the storyline. On pages
8 and 9, critically evaluate the strong and weak points of the novel, and explain
why you would or would not recommend it to others. Please remember that this assignment will be
graded on both substance (what you write) and style (how well you write). Please do not enclose the pages in plastic. The
report is due on or before December 3; late reports will not be accepted.
Grading Policy: A total of 700
points is attainable in the course. The
point scores, relative to the rest of the class, will be used to determine a
letter grade distribution; grades will be based on a "curve." The highest point score on each exam, as well
as the highest cumulative point total at the end of the semester, will set the
curve.
LECTURE TOPICS, READING
ASSIGNMENTS, AND EXAMINATION DATES
The Caribbean Chapter
10, pp. 311-361
Mexico Chapter 8
First Midterm Examination,
Thursday October 3
Central America Chapter 9
The Guianas Chapter
10, pp. 362-366
Brazil Chapters 12 & 13
Second Midterm Examination,
Thursday November 7
Northern South America Chapter
11
Andean South America "
Southern South
America Chapter 14
Final
Examination, Tuesday December 17,
12:30-2:30