What are the absolute and relative locations of the region or subregion you have selected? What is the connectivity of this region to others?
GEO 200 Worksheet Template Guidelines and Rubric
Overview: Each worksheet activity in this course provides you with an opportunity to engage deeply with a specific geographic region by analyzing the fundamental themes of geography that characterize that region. By engaging in these activities, you will also be practicing some of the key skills necessary to analyze the region you chose for your final project. Complete each question fully—not only to have the opportunity to receive full points for the question, but also to gain valuable feedback from your instructor on honing your skills moving forward.
Prompt: Complete the following steps:
1. Select a region from the list provided in the assigned module in Brightspace to address the questions related to the geographic themes below. Selecting a region outside of the list provided without instructor guidance may result in each item below being marked as “Not Evident in Submission” if your selection is not accurately representative of an appropriate region for the module.
2. Address each question in the worksheet below in detail.
a) Refer to your module resources and the Themes of Geography resource for more information about your region and each of themes to help you complete this worksheet.
b) Each response should describe the region you have selected in detail and be a minimum of four complete sentences in your own words. (Paraphrase the information; do not quote or copy and paste from the text).
3. Once you have completed this worksheet, save your worksheet file and upload it to Brightspace to submit this assignment.
| Region Name: East Africa | |
| 1. Location and Connectivity:
What are the absolute and relative locations of the region or subregion you have selected? What is the connectivity of this region to others? |
The Absolute location of East Africa is 1.9577° N, 37.2972° E
The relative location of East Africa is described by its connectivity to other regions. East Africa is connected to the west by Central Africa with countries like Democratic Republic of Congo then to the east it is connected to the Indian Ocean then to the north by Sudan and Ethiopia. It is connected to the south by Malawi. |
| 2. Physical Characteristics: How would you describe the climate, physiography, landscape, and natural hazards of the region or subregion you have selected? Ensure you address at least three of the physical characteristics listed above for the purposes of this worksheet.
Note: This is part of the Place theme of geography. |
Generally, the climate in East Africa is tropical but the high elevations reduce an average temperature. In terms of vegetation we have grasslands and woodlands found in more wet regions but semiarid areas have thorn bushes. The physiography of East Africa is dominated by the Great Rift Valley which cuts down from north to south, we also have the Serengeti plains, high mountains like Mt. Kenya and Kilimanjaro then we have the Lake Victoria. The most prone natural hazards in the area include floods, earthquakes, droughts, landslides, lightning as well as strong winds. |
| 3. Human Characteristics: What are the language families/groups, religions, races, and cultures of the region or subregion you have selected? What is the population density and economic development of the region or subregion?
Note: This also is part of the Place theme of geography. |
Swahili is the main language spoken across East African communities which constitutes the Bantus, Cushitic, Nilotic and Semitic people. Hausa is another most dominated language group in East Africa. A large percentage of East African people are Christians and Islamic. The cultures of East Africa are diverse but the common ones among countries there include the shared heritage of Western colonialism, we have the subsequent independence then also the Islamic conquest. |
| 4. Human/Environmental Interactions:
How do the physical and human characteristics interact to produce notable observations of the landscape in the region or subregion you have selected? |
In East Africa, some of the interactions emanate from the social gatherings like in the religious gatherings as well as from the cultural festivals. These interactions and inter-marriages have developed into unified sets of settlements in the region. The linear settlements are influenced by the presence of rivers and interaction market centers evolving from the presence of a road system. |
| 5. Movement:
With how much ease and ability do ideas, goods, and people flow in and out of the region or subregion you have selected? What drives this movement? |
The capability of the region to have an access to the Indian ocean has connected it to other parts of the world like Australia and hence it has enhanced an ease flow of commodities in and out of the region. East Africa is a hot bed for tourism, this has made the region to be well connected to the rest of the world for the establishment of an international air networks as well as the internal road network which influences the flow of goods and people in and out of the region. |
Worksheet Rubric
| Critical Elements | Attempted With Minimal or No Functional Issues (100%) | Attempted With Key Functional Issues (75%) | Not Evident In Submission (0%) | Value |
| Location | Identifies absolute and relative locations or the region or subregion selected and describes the connectivity of this region to others with minimal or no gaps in details or logic | Identifies absolute and relative locations or the region or subregion selected, but does not describe connectivity of this region to others, or there are key gaps in details or logic | Does not identify absolute and relative locations of the region or subregion selected and does not describe the connectivity of this region to others | 19 |
| Physical Characteristics | Identifies and describes at least three aspects of the climate, physiography, landscape, or natural hazards that comprise the physical characteristics of the region or subregion selected with minimal or no gaps in details or logic | Identifies and describes most aspects that comprise the physical characteristics of the region or subregion selected, but description contains key gaps in details or logic | Does not identify and describe aspects that comprise the physical characteristics of the region or subregion selected | 19 |
| Human Characteristics | Identifies and describes human characteristics of the region or subregion selected with minimal or no gaps in details or logic | Identifies and describes human characteristics of the region or subregion selected, but description contains key gaps in details or logic | Does not identify human characteristics of the region or subregion selected | 19 |
| Human/
Environmental Characteristics |
Describes how physical and human characteristics interact to produce notable observations of the landscape in the region or subregion selected with minimal or no gaps in details or logic | Describes how physical and human characteristics interact to produce notable observations of the landscape in the region or subregion selected, but description contains key gaps in details or logic | Does not describe how physical and human characteristics interact to produce notable observations of the landscape in the region or subregion selected | 19 |
| Movement | Describes the flow of ideas, goods, and people in and out of the region or subregion selected, and explains what drives movement, with minimal or no gaps in details or logic | Describes the flow of ideas, goods, and people in and out of the region or subregion selected, but does not explain what drives movement, or description contains key gaps in detail or logic | Does not describe the flow of ideas, goods, and people in and out of the region or subregion selected, and does not explain what drives movement | 19 |
| Articulation of Response | Submission has no major errors related to grammar, spelling, or syntax | Submission has major errors related to grammar, spelling, or syntax that negatively impact readability and articulation of main ideas | Submission has critical errors related to grammar, spelling, or syntax that prevent understanding of ideas | 5 |
| Total | 100% |
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