COURSE CGEO 505 Regional Analysis of Canada COURSE OUTLINE FOR FALL 2011

INSTRUCTOR: INSTRUCTOR PHONE: INSTRUCTOR E-MAIL: COURSE PREREQUISITES: The Chang School Office Hours:

Valentina Capurri N/A vcapurri@ryerson.ca None Monday to Thursday 8:00am 7:00pm Friday 8:00am 4:30pm Saturday 8:15am 1:15pm (closed July and August)

Every effort will be made to manage the course as stated. However, adjustments may be necessary at the discretion of the instructor. If so, students will be advised and alterations discussed in the class prior to implementation. It is the responsibility of students to ensure that they understand the Universitys policies and procedures, in particular those relating to course management and academic integrity. A list of relevant policies is included at the end of this outline. COURSE DESCRIPTION: The regional structure of Canada provides the focus for this course. Attention is given to the internal characteristics and problems of various regions, and to the interrelations which bind the regions together in a national framework. Emphasis is placed upon regional disparity, regional development concepts, and social and environmental variables COURSE OBJECTIVE/LEARNING OUTCOMES: At the end of the course, students will be able to: have a clear understanding of the development and present geography of Canada assess how the various regions have grown and developed over time analytically critique the social, economic and environmental situation experienced by each region and by the country as a whole understand the interrelation between the different regions TEXTBOOK & READING LISTS: Bone, Robert M. The Regional Geography of Canada. Fifth Edition. Don Mills, Ont.: Oxford University Press, 2011. The textbook for this course is available at the Ryerson Bookstore.
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OTHER MATERIALS: Please note that the instructor will post additional readings on blackboard for your consultation. METHOD OF INSTRUCTION: The course consists in a weekly 3-hour lecture. However, the instructor will do her best to encourage class discussion. Usually, the instructor will lecture for 2 hours and then open up discussion. METHOD AND SCHEDULE OF STUDENT EVALUATION: EVALUATION: Value 1. Participation 10% 2. Essay 30% 3. Mid-term examination 30% 4. Final examination 30%

Date December 2 October 21 December 16

Participation Participation in the class is important and students are expected to attend class, to have completed the readings, and to contribute meaningfully to the discussion. Please note that a component of the final grade is based on participation. Students are expected to have completed the readings for the week and to engage in the discussion by providing constructive criticism and asking relevant questions. Essay The essay is around 2500-3000 words (bibliography included). Avoid unusual font styles and sizes. Papers must be double spaced. If possible, students should follow the MLA style. However, this is simply a recommendation as any standard referencing system will be accepted. Objective: Throughout a critical analysis and reflection, students are expected to demonstrate an understanding of the regional geography of Canada. They are required to show an active engagement with the subject and be able to formulate an original perspective on it. How to proceed: Students should select a topic of interest among the following ones: transportation, health-care, environmental pollution, food-production, manufacturing, resource extraction, energy production and consumption, commercial activities, telecommunications, security, education, crime, poverty, immigration, or politics. Student must be able to critically assess the impact of the selected topic for the geography of one or more regions of Canada, and how the geographical characteristics of different regions impact the topic. Before submitting your work, please make sure that you have conducted a spell and grammar check in word, made appropriate subheadings, used at least 11-size font and double spacing, and strictly followed the page limits. In order to write a good essay, it is not enough to have thoughtful arguments, but also present them in a clear and organized fashion. The goal is to make the essay accessible and a pleasure to read.

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Please, respect the due dates of assignments since late assignments will not be accepted without penalty unless previous agreement has been reached with the instructor or medical grounds apply. Extensions will be granted only if the request comes in advance and with a legitimate explanation. Assignments must be handed in at the end of the class on the due day; emailed assignments will not be accepted. There will be a penalty of a letter grade per day for late assignments. Assignments will be returned in a promptly manner. Mid-term exam The mid-term exam takes place in class on October 21. Students are asked to answer 3 out of 8 questions. Each answer is worth 10% of the grade. The questions are related to the material covered in the initial 5 weeks of the course. Every effort will be made to return exams within one week. Final exam The final exam takes place in class on December 16. It requires students to answer 3 out of 8 questions. Each answer is worth 10% of the grade. Questions cover material from week 7 to week 12. MISSED TERM WORK OR EXAMINATIONS: Students are expected to complete all assignments, tests, and exams within the time frames and by the dates indicated in this outline. Exemption or deferral of an assignment, term test, or final examination is only permitted for a medical or personal emergency or due to religious observance (request must be received within the first two weeks of the course). The instructor must be notified by e-mail prior to the due date or test/exam date, or as soon as possible after the date, and the appropriate documentation must be submitted. For absence on medical or religious observance grounds, official forms may be downloaded from the Ryerson website at www.ryerson.ca/undergraduate/currentstudents/forms or picked up from The Chang School at Heaslip House, 297 Victoria St., Main Floor. COURSE SCHEDULE: This course is 14 classes in duration. Class
Class 1
September 16

Topic
Introduction to the course Regions of Canada Canadas Physical Base Canadas Historical Geography

Chapter
No readings Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3

Class 2
September 23

Class 3
September 30

Class 4
October 7

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Class 5
October 14

Canadas Human Face Midterm Examination Ontario Quebec British Columbia Western Canada Atlantic Canada The Territorial North Canada: A Country of Regions Final Examination

Chapter 4 No readings Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 No readings

Class 6
October 22

Class 7
October 28

Class 8
November 4

Class 9
November 11

Class 10
November 18

Class 11
November 25

Class 12
December 2

Class 13
December 9

Class 14
December 16

PLAGIARISM: The Ryerson Student Code of Academic Conduct defines plagiarism and the sanctions against students who plagiarize. All Chang School students are strongly encouraged to go to the academic integrity website at www.ryerson.ca/academicintegrity and complete the tutorial on plagiarism. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: Ryerson University and The Chang School are committed to the principles of academic integrity as outlined in the Student Code of Academic Conduct. Students are strongly encouraged to review the student guide to academic integrity, including penalties for misconduct, on the academic integrity website at www.ryerson.ca/academicintegrity and the Student Code of Academic Conduct at www.ryerson.ca/senate/policies. RYERSON STUDENT EMAIL: All students in full and part-time graduate and undergraduate degree programs and all continuing education students are required to activate and maintain their Ryerson online identity at www.ryerson.ca/accounts in order to regularly access Ryerson's E-mail (Rmail), RAMSS, my.ryerson.ca portal and learning system, and other systems by which they will receive official University communications. COURSE REPEATS:
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Senate GPA Policy prevents students from taking a course more than three times. For complete GPA Policy see policy No. 46 at www.ryerson.ca/senate/policies . RYERSON ACADEMIC POLICIES: For more information on Ryersons academic policies, visit the Senate website at www.ryerson.ca/senate. Course Management Policy No. 145 Student Code of Academic Conduct No. 60 Student Code of Non-Academic Conduct No. 61 Examination Policy No. 135 Policy on Grading, Promotion, and Academic Standing Policy No. 46 Undergraduate Academic Consideration and Appeals Policy No. 134 Accommodation of Student Religious Observance Obligations Policy No. 150

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