Country Reports

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Country Reports

• Human Geography
• Fall 2002

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Purposes of Assignment

• 1. Learn key concepts in human geography by
  applying them to a concrete task. This comes
  first!
• 2. Develop professional skills in organizing and
  presentation information.

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1. Learning Key Concepts

• The textbook and the lectures are the principal
  sources for concepts.
• Review all chapters to date, and get familiar
  with the chapters not yet read.
• Review class notes carefully.

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2. Professional Skills

• Organize key information so people can get on
  board fast.
• Provide detailed information in a helpful manner.
• Write clear, accurate English.
• Make report attractive to eye.

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The Client --Actually, Clients

• You are reporting to a client, an organization
  planning to send personnel into a foreign land.
• But your more important client is not imaginary.

It's me!
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Give the client what he wants

• I want to see that you read the book, heard the
  lectures, and learned how to apply what was there.

• I want to see solid research in up-to-date,
  reputable sources.
• I demand good writing.

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Sample Title Page
Uganda
A Report for the Episcopal Church
By David A. Tait November 2002
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Client Information

• Briefly describe the client you have in mind, and
  the kind of mission the client organization is
  planning.
• For instance, education or missionary/medical
  team.

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Physical Geography

• Location in the world
• Size of country
• Major physical features (terrain, climate, etc.)

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Political Geography

• Form of government
• Capital city
• Important political regions

• Important recent political changes
• Former colony
• Former Soviet-bloc country

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Population

• How many people?
• Population trends -- demographic transition.
• Population pyramid.
• Population density.

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Migration

• Migration into our out of country -- why?
• Internal migrations - why?
• Refugees?

How do migrants travel?
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Language

• Identify major languages, note official
  languages, lingua franca tongues, etc.

• Note linguistic conflicts.
• Classify key languages according to scheme in
  text.

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Religion

• Major religions in country.
• How did they get there?
• Percentages of population?

• Evidence of religious changes or conflicts.
• Religion and language, ethnicity, etc.

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Ethnicity and Race

• What are the key racial and ethnic groups?
  Identify population shares and key demographic
  data.
• How well do they get along?
• Race, ethnicity, politics.

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Interaction

• Language, religion, and ethnicity often interact,
  and may affect politics and economics. Be alert
  for that!

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Economics

• Gross National Product
• Major economic sectors
• Key trends
• Exports, imports

• Core, periphery, semi-periphery.
• Technological development fast world, slow world.

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Organizing your report.

• Provide a coherent narrative that allows a person
  to get a quick overview.

• Provide supporting data through devices like
  maps, tables, sidebars, and appendices.

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Possible Table of Contents

• 1. The mission.
• 2. Introduction
• 3. Physical
• geography
• 4. Politics
• 5. Population

• 6. Economics
• 7. Religion
• 8. Language
• 9. Race/Ethnicity
• 10. Summary
• Appendices
• Bibliography

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Flexibility

• Although you need to cover all the items
  mentioned, the emphasis will vary.
• Keep in mind the main focus of your
  organizations mission -- this will focus your
  research.