Annotated Learning Objectives

Annotated Learning Objectives

Intro Chapter

Having learned this basic background to the subject, you should be able to:

1. Differentiate among the various basic concepts of regions, and understand the nature of regional structure.

Pages 2-8

·  Read the section heading "Geographic Perspectives" beginning on page 2. This is a general discussion pertaining to regions.

·  The regional concept is specifically discussed beginning on page 4.

·  On page 7 the section "Regions at Scale" continues the general discussion of regions.

·  Figure I.2 (pages 4-5) maps the broadest of all cultural regions termed "geographic realms."

·  Figure I.3 (page 7) illustrates various scales of region.

2. Understand the general aspects of the natural environment and its evolution over the past few million years.

Pages 8-12

·  The section on "The Physical Setting" begins on page 8 and introduces general aspects of the natural environment.

·  On pages 8 and 9 read the "Natural Landscapes" and "Continents and Plates" subsections for basic information about the evolution of the natural environment.

·  Figure I.4 (page 9) shows tectonic plates.

·  Figure I.5 (page 10) maps recent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

·  Figure I.6 (page 11) shows the extent of Pleistocene glaciation.

3. Explain broad, world-scale patterns of terrain, hydrography (water distribution), and climate, with some emphasis on the interrelationship of these environmental systems.

Pages 12-16

·  Climate is introduced in the "Climatic Regions" subsection on page 12 (this is also a good example of regions - see objective 1).

·  Precipitation is a key element in climate and Figure I.7 (page 12) shows the broad spatial patterns of average annual precipitation.

·  Figure I.8 (pages 14-15) is a map of the world climate regions.

4. Understand the notion of culture and how it is expressed to form human landscapes in time and space.

Pages 16-19

·  Read the "Regions and Cultures" section that begins on page 16. This section includes subsections devoted to the concept of cultural landscapes and to culture and ethnicity.

·  Two contrasting cultural landscapes are shown in the photographs that are part of the

·  Field Notes box on page 17.

5. Identify and discuss the global distribution of humankind, with emphasis on the leading population concentrations.

Pages 18-22

·  Figure I.9 (pages 18-19) displays world population distribution.

·  The discussion of the global distribution of humankind begins on page 19.

·  Figure I.10 (page 20) provides an interesting visual illustration of the distribution of population; it is a cartogram in which the size that each country is drawn is determined by the size of its population.

6. Understand the importance of influential developed areas and how, at the global scale, the economically advantaged countries function as a core that dominates the less-developed countries that constitute a “have-not,” or economically disadvantaged periphery.

Pages 24-29

·  Ideas concerning the economic development of areas and countries are presented on pages 24-29 in the section "Patterns of Development."

·  In the "Patterns of Development" section the terms core and periphery are introduced (page 24).

·  The box titled "Core-Periphery Regional Relationships" on pages 26-27 discusses key elements of core-periphery relationships.

·  Figure I.11 (pages 22-23) displays the spatial distribution of countries by varying levels of income.

7. Name, map, and differentiate among the 12 world geographic realms that form the spatial framework to be followed in the remaining chapters of the book.

Pages 29-33

·  Refer to Figure I.12 (pages 4-5) for a map of the 12 world geographic realms.

·  On pages 29-33 each of the geographic realms is very briefly described. A chapter of the text is devoted to each realm. Chapter 1 introduces the first of these realms, Europe.

8. Read and interpret the maps that accompany the text, knowing such map properties as scale, projection, orientation, and point, line, and area symbols (Appendix A, Map Reading and Interpretation, covers most of these points, and should be considered a supplement to this introductory chapter).

Pages A-1 - A-2.

·  Read the three brief sections on "Map Reading," "Map symbols," and "Map Interpretation." The ability to understand information presented in visual form as maps will greatly add to your understanding of the World's geographic realms.