researching culture

The following information is for Section 01 

and their WikiBooks project.

New York Times editorial on why students should go into Cultural Geography:  http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/10/opinion/11brooks.done.html

Fantastic website on culture from a geographic perspective:
http://www.p12.nysed.gov/ciai/socst/grade3/geograph.html

Wikimedia Commons is THE source for images that are in the public domain, which means you have the right to use these images without seeking anyone's permission.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Pictures_and_images

This is an introduction to the online course in Cultural Geography offered by the University of Wisconsin.
http://online.uwc.edu/academics/catalog/course.asp?cid=001776

This info is for Sections 02 and 03.

Thanks to all who brought in food today, including Rachel, Megan, and Merina in Section 02, and ND, Erica, Eleanor, Megan, and both Amandas in Section 03.  (Did I forget anyone?  Let me know!)  Way to add some cultural flavor to the class!

No class tomorrow, or the rest of this week, but we'll be back next Monday.  If you want to bring in an authentic dish from the nation you are studying on Monday, feel free.

Tonight, everybody blogs.

Rubric for presentation

I have posted the rubric for your culture presentation.  You should take a look at this to make sure you know exactly how I am going to grade your presentation to the class.  It's posted under my Links section.

See you Monday!

Culture assignment

Sections 2 & 3:  the culture assignments are due at the start of class on Monday.  We will draw names to determine what order we go in.  Everyone should be ready to present.

Of course, this means that if you didn't finish working on your presentation in class, you need to do it over the weekend.  Since you are all collaborating via Google Docs, you can get this done.

Only the person who actually prepares and brings in food gets the extra credit points.  It is expected that you prepare the food yourself (or with your parents' help).  Do not buy a prepared dish from a restaurant or a grocery store.  We learn by doing.

If your food needs to be refrigerated, please check to see if your advisor has a mini-fridge in your room.  If not, stop by my room (the TV Studio - Room 121) before school.

Put an address label or something else with your name on it on the bottom of the dish or Tupperware so we can get it back to you.

I'm really looking forward to learning about the culture of these countries from you guys.  Should be a tasty class!

Culture project

Today Sections 02 and 03 started their projects on culture around the world.  The details are found in the document Culture Assignment, found in my Links section.

Brendon H, you need to join a group.  Email someone you want to work with, and join their group.

Work continues in class tomorrow, but it would be a good idea to get some of the research done tonight.  Plus, you need to blog tonight.  Any questions about the project - just ask.

culture discussion

Thank you and congratulations to those of you who participated in today's discussion about culture.  This is not a lecture-only class.  You may encounter such a class when you get to college, where there are several hundred students in a large lecture hall listening to a professor talk for two hours.  But in our class, with only a couple dozen of you, I rely on you to participate, to ask questions, to volunteer information, to share your thoughts and opinions.  This is an expectation, spelled out in my syllabus.

Don't forget to blog about today's class!

preview of culture

What did Section 01 learn in class today?  Well, we learned to be prepared for class.  We learned that cutting-and-pasting is not always the most effective way to learn things, unless we can elaborate and explain what we pasted.  We learned that "Ummm..." is not always the best way to start an oral report.  And we learned that you guys can be pretty tough on each other when it comes to grades.

But what did we learn about culture?  You tell me.  In your blog tonight, summarize what you learned about culture during our class discussion today.

(Great class today, by the way.  You guys make Human Geo fun!)

Culture defined

Culture is the shared experience, traits, and activities of a group of people who have a common heritage.  - from Cracking the AP Human Geography Exam, 2011 Edition

Tonight's homework:  find two other definitions of culture, plus the sources where you found them.  Then in a paragraph of at least 100 words, combine these into your own personal definition of what culture means to you.