Building Geographic Literacy: An Interactive Approach (6e)

For any introductory course in geography, history, political science, global studies, or multicultural studies that places an emphasis on maps.

This versatile text and interactive workbook enables students to learn place geography – and, as they learn, to reinforce and apply that knowledge by constructing thematic maps which convey physical, economic, cultural, or political characteristics of places. Building Geographic Literacy can be used with any current standard world atlas or geography textbook.

Please note this Table of Contents is from the fifth edition of Building Geographic Literacy.

Preface

1.         The Significance of Place

2.         The Frame of Reference: Earth’s Location Grid, Time Zones, and the International Date Line    

3.         Lands and Seas

4.         The United States and Canada

5.         Europe

6.         Russia, Transcaucasia, and Central Asia: A Region in Transformation

7.         Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Islands     

8.         East Asia

9.         South Asia

10.       Southeast Asia 

11.       Africa South of the Sahara       

12.       The Middle East and North Africa

13.       Latin America  

Appendices     

Index

• Complete updating of demographic and economic data:

– Includes the latest data illustrating new global trends in declining birth rates, labor migration, and rising incomes

– Example: Stagnant and negative growth rates in Europe’s population may slow economic expansion.

• Extensive treatment of the AIDS/HIV crisis in sub-Saharan Africa – Asks students to enter data on a map and answer relevant questions.

• Location analyses of Disney Theme Parks – Includes California, Florida, Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong.

• Recent expansion of the European Union – Highlights the significance of global trends in economic integration at a time of political fragmentation.

• Coverage of international flows of fresh water in the Middle East — North Africa region – Encourages students to consider questions on future regional tensions concerning allocation of this vital resource.

• Newest data on national reserves of oil, including major new discoveries in Canada – Prompts students to answer questions about the interconnections of global economic and political geography.

• Three introductory chapters:
• Convey the importance of knowing placename geography 
• Review topics such as: Earth's location grid, the lines of latitude and longitude, time zones and the International Date Line
• Outline place geography of the continents, major islands, and ocean and seas.
• 10 regional chapters:
• Each studies a major subdivision of Earth's lands and nations.
• Gives students a thorough introduction to each region followed by a survey of its important geographical features.
• Unique, integrated exercises – Askstudents to fill in place names on outline maps and construct thematic maps that show, for the places named, aspects such as population density, physical features, language spoken, etc.
• Review of the region's political, economic, and cultural geography and regional demographics.
• “Check Up” questions in all chapters except Ch. 1 – Enablestudents to check their understanding of the material just learned.
• “Objectives and Study Hints” – Highlight the significance of the geography of countries and peoples of the region.
• Summaries of one or two important Geoconcepts – Related to the places just studied (e.g., territorial seas and ocean sovereignty, megalopolis).
• “Special Challenge” exercises – Encouragestudents to focus on more complex geographic projects or problems.
• “Regional Watchlist” – Tracks recent trends and also notes potential or probable geographic changes.
• Glossary of important land and water features.