Geography: Theory and Methods, Regionalism and the Quantitative Revolution

Write an essay with 4-5 pages (double-spaced, 12pt, Times New Roman font) for each of the following 3 questions (minimum 12, double-spaced pages total). Be sure to specifically answer each question (and all parts of each question!). Be concise (!). You must draw on a minimum of 5 articles/readings for each question. Be sure to cite your sources throughout (correctly!) with using AAG style, and proofread for correct wording and grammar. While you are writing, write under each part for each question.  For instance, do not write 4 pages solid essay! Instead, write one page under part a of question 1.

1. 1.      Theory and Methods (total four pages)

a-      What is theory (start with Cresswell, Introduction) and why is it important to geography? What role do theory and observation play in geographic research? (one page)

b-      What methods do human and physical geographers use? (one page)

c-       How do our choice of theory and methods shape the kind of research we do? (one page)

d-     Use the research of at least two ‘key thinkers’ in geography to illustrate the last point (question c) (choose one human geographer (Törsten Hägerstrand, chapter 1 in key text book) and one physical geographer (William Morris Davis)) (one page).

Please cite everything and DO NOT USE FAILS CITATION.

References list for this question

Geographic Thought: A Critical Introduction: Ch. 1 “Introduction” Question a,b,c

        Geographic Thought: A Critical Introduction: Ch. 3 “The Emergence of Modern Geography” Question a,b,c

       Törsten Hägerstrand - Key Texts, Ch. 1 “Innovation Diffusion as Spatial Process” Question d

       William Bunge - Key Texts, Ch. 2 “Theoretical Geography” Question a,b,c,

       Shifting paradigms in geomorphology: the fate of research ideas in an educational context- under the sub- topic called Davisian theory, page 335-336. Question d

Answer example:

If you want to answer question a and b in two paragraphs, start each paragraph with according to Cresswell (2013)………………. And end it with (Cresswell 2013)

1. 2.      Regionalism and the Quantitative Revolution (total five pages)

a-      Describe the study of regions and why regionalism played an important role in the discipline (geography) in the early 20^th century. Describe the contributions of Vidal de la Blanche and Richard Hartshorne to the discipline (two page).

b-      What was the quantitative revolution and how did it forever change the discipline? Include a discussion of the underlying tension between the universal and the particular, or the general and the specific (two page).

c-       Use at least 2 ‘key thinkers’(David Harvey and Peter Haggett, chapter 3 and 4 in key text book) in geography to illustrate how the discipline changed during this period (one page).

References list for this question

        Geographic Thought: A Critical Introduction: Ch. 4 “Thinking About Regions ”  Question a

       “The Character of regional Geography by Hartshorne” Question a

       Geographic Thought: A Critical Introduction: Ch. 5 “Spatial Science and the Quantiative Revolution” Question b

       Peter Haggett -- Key Texts, Ch. 3 “Location Analysis in Human Geography” Question c

       David Harvey - Key Texts, Ch. 4 “Explanation in Geography” Question c

3.  Feminism, Postmodernism and Poststructuralism (total 5 pages)

a-       Describe in depth the key ideas of Feminist, Postmodernist and Poststructuralist Geographies. Be sure to include the context in which these ideas arose (what period of time, the relationship of these ideas to previous theoretical paradigms and to other disciplines) and specific critiques of these theoretical approaches. (3 pages)

b-       Identify and discuss the theoretical contribution of three ‘key thinkers’ (Gillian Rose, Edward Soja, and Trevor Barnes) in these theoretical genres (and why their work is a good illustration of these theories). (2 pages)

References list for this question

        Geographic Thought: A Critical Introduction: Ch. 8 “Feminist Geographies”

        Gillian Rose – Key Texts, Ch. 19 “Feminism and  Geography”

        Geographic Thought: A Critical Introduction :“Postmodernism and Beyond”

        Edward Soja - Key Texts, Ch. 16 “Postmodern  Geographies”

        Geographic Thought: A Critical Introduction: Ch. 10 “Toward Poststructuralist Geographies”

        Trevor Barnes - Key Texts, Ch. 23 “Logics of Dislocation”

I hope this was helpful instruction. Thank you very much