Book Analysis

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Book Analysis

Read any book, fiction or non-fiction, and do so from a geographical perspective. For this assignment it is acceptable to merely re-read a favorite book, except, of course, you will concentrate on the geographical aspects. I am not requesting a book report but rather am requesting you use the book as a catalyst to discuss the five themes of geography: location, place, region, movement, and environmental interaction. The analysis should be around three or four or five double-spaced pages, but could be longer or shorter, depending on your writing style. Minimize the amount of story-line as I am not interested in a book report. Rather, the book should be used to illustrate the five themes of geography as well as to identify the specialized terminology in our textbook. In effect, you will discuss geographic terminology in the text via examples from your reading. This should improve your critical thinking skills.

An “A” paper will combine good substance with good composition. It will make an explicit connection to geographical words, topics, and concepts and will do so within the context of the particular book. The paper should be compositionally correct and should be double-spaced.

In essence, a reader of the paper ought to learn as much as was discovered with the first Discussion Board assignment dealing with the 5 Themes of Geography. If an impartial reader were to read your paper, would they understand the 5 themes?

When grading the papers, I look for things like:

a) Was there too much story line (which usually means too little geography) b) Was the composition weak c) Was concept fully explained d) Did student make a good distinction between physical and cultural characteristic of Place e) Did student make a good distinction between absolute and relative Location f) Did student make a good distinction between the boundary and commonality of the Region g) Was a weak example used to describe the theme h) Was one of the 5 themes omitted i) Was there a weak structure or format j) Did the student “get it”

Rubric for Grading the 5 Themes Paper

Goal: Use any book to demonstrate the 5 Themes of Geography to a neighbor

Place

A sentence similar to this should read, “The physical characteristic of _____ is illustrated by _______.

A sentence similar to this should read, “The cultural characteristic of ______ is illustrated by ______.

In other words, make the distinction in Place very explicit, because you are trying to explain this to your neighbor.

Location

A sentence similar to this should read, “The relative location is demonstrated by the grocery store being 3 blocks east of our house and 2 blocks north from John’s house”. In other words, when something is relative to another location, both locations have to be mentioned for it to make sense. Don’t be vague; be specific and explicit and provide examples.

A sentence similar to this should read, “The absolute location was in Paris, France”. You don’t have to use latitude and longitude or an address to discuss an absolute location. Everyone knows where Paris, France is. The same for New York. Both cities can be considered an absolute location.

Movement

If the movement is dealing with people, then mention the word “migration” and add any associated push or pull factors.

If the movement is dealing with a technology, then make explicit the exact thing that is moving.

If the movement is dealing with goods and services, then make them explicit.

RegionEvery region needs a boundary, so provide one, and make it explicit.

Every region has a commonality which makes it a region. Be sure to make it explicit.

Human- Environment Interaction

The land impinges on the human and vice-versa, so make this relationship explicit.

For This Assignment, Here Are Some Rules of Writing To Follow

Make a separate paragraph for each theme. Do not co-mingle themes within a given paragraph, much less within a single sentence. For example, when discussing a region, refer to it as a region and not a place or location.

Close the deal. Make sure your neighbor understands the 5 themes of geography and their major sub-headings. This means you have to be very specific and very explicit.

Don’t repeat: if you have provided examples for one relative location, you don’t need to provide a second. Short is better than long.

Give each paragraph a purpose. Why is it there? What are you trying to accomplish? Get to the point quick.

Re-read the examples provided in Bb and try to mimic them.

The directions asked for your name on the paper itself. As a general rule of life, it is good to learn

DEMO

Roxanne Crocker Geo 210

Geography Themes in The Alchemist

        The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is the story of Santiago/>/>, a shepherd boy from Spain/>/>, who dreams of finding treasure at the pyramids in Egypt/>/>.   He travels a vast distance and learns a great deal in pursuit of his Personal Legend.   Although this book is primarily about Santiago/>/>’s personal and spiritual growth, there are many examples of the five themes of geography.  

        Relative location is exemplified early in the book when the father of the boy describes their village.   He says people “ climb the mountain to see the castle”.   This is a description of the nearest landmark to their home.   The village’s relative location is next to a castle in the mountains.   Also, when the main character travels to Tangier/>, Morocco/>/>, he meets a man who speaks his native tongue.   When he asks him how he knows the Spanish language, the stranger replies that they are only two hours from Spain/>/>.   This explanation of the distance between Tangier and Spain/>/> is another example of relative location.   I do not recall any examples of absolute location in the story.

        Region is specifically mentioned in the first chapter; “The girl was typical of the region of Andalusia/>…”   Andalusia/> is a formal region in Southern Spain/> consisting of eight provinces.   A formal region can be defined by governmental boundaries and several are mentioned in this story.   The main character travels to Tarifa, Tangier, and Ceuta/>/> .   These cities are formal regions as are Spain/>/> and Africa/>, the countries that they are situated in.   The country of Egypt/>/> is also mentioned.  

        Movement is the most consistent theme in this story.   Santiago/>/> is a traveler.   As a shepherd boy, his purpose is to wander the area in search of food and water for his sheep.   His movement is necessary to provide basic needs: food, water, and shelter, for him and his sheep.   Santiago/>/>’s dreams of treasure spur him to sell his flock and begin the long journey to Egypt/>/>.   This movement is initiated to fulfill a personal aspiration.  

        The theme of place should include characteristics of the land and changes from, or adaptations by, the people that have lived there.   The desert illustrates this theme in the book.   Its physical characteristics include an arid environment with extreme heat, harsh winds and 3,000 miles of sand.   The wind often heaps the sand into rolling dunes.   Its human characteristics include the dress, travel, and necessities of the people that live there.   The people of the desert wear loose, light colored clothing that covers their head and entire body.   The light color and extensive clothing helps them stay cooler and protects them from the sun’s glaring rays.   Travel in the desert requires carrying plenty of water because of its arid conditions.   Camels were often favored as a prime means of transportation due to their ability to travel long distances on very little food or water.   These things help define the desert as a place.   The oasis in the desert, where Santiago/>/> and his caravan stays, is another good example of a place.   Although located in the desert, an oasis is the antithesis of its surrounding area.   An oasis will have palm trees, often fruit bearing, and water.   In the desert, and oasis is thought of as an idyllic place.  

        Human-Environmental Interaction is also evident in an oasis.   People in the desert need water to survive.   An oasis contains that life-giving element.   Therefore, people of the desert often camp near an oasis.   Santiago/>/>’s impression of the oasis is that it was bigger than many of the towns he had visited in Spain/>/>.   There were 300 wells and countless tents at this sanctuary.   The people of the desert dug wells at the oasis to provide the best access to water, a perfect illustration of modifying the environment for human needs.   The Pyramids of Egypt/>/> present another case in point.   The pyramids were built as monuments to the dead.   The Egyptians built the pyramids to tower over 450 feet above the sand that covers the ground.   It altered the environment and changed the landscape of the desert.

        Geography is an important concept in Paulo Coelho’s novel.   His job as a shepherd and his journey to the pyramids illustrate movement.   His village, near a castle in the mountains, and Tangier’s proximity to Spain/>/> help to explain their relative location.   The countries of Spain/>/>, Africa/>, and Egypt/>/> are good examples of formal regions, as are the cities of Tangier, Tarifa, and Ceuta/>/>.   Camels, heat, sand, and people covered from head to toe in loose, light colored clothing identify the desert as a place.   An oasis evokes images of palm trees and bodies of water surrounded by sand and tents.   These images come to mind when thinking about an oasis as a place.   Human-environmental interaction is evident in the wells dug at an oasis that signify humans need for water.   The Egyptian pyramids also exemplify the man-land tradition when man built these towering monuments to their dead leaders.   These examples from The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho clearly demonstrate the five themes of geography.