1st Semester, AY 2013-2014 | Geog 1 THU2 and THV2

Geography 1: Optional Research Paper

These are instructions for the mini-research activity for Geography 1. Take note that this paper is
optional and it is open only for those who were not able to participate in a class fieldtrip. Your output
will be graded according to the criteria listed below, and the score will correspond to the five percent
(5%) incentive for your final class standing.
Your output must be submitted in both MS Word and PDF format to johnson_damian@yahoo.com,
together with the indicated file attachments if any. Submission should be done no later than 11:59
PM of October 20, 2013 (Sunday).

CRITERIA FOR SCORING

The paper will receive the following maximum points per criterion if following has been achieved:
50%

Data and Content. The student has elaborately discussed the spatiality or how location and place affect the
subject of the research. Hence, emphasis has been given to the differentiation/uniqueness of the subject
across places.

30%

Delivery. The student has reached a word count of 2000-3000, and has communicated the topic effectively
through written English with minimal syntax and grammar issues

10%

Files. The student has submitted the requested items such as audio files, graphs and charts. Captioned
images were used to enhance the paper. Unlike audio files, graphs, images and charts should be pasted in
the document.

10%

Citation. Sources of information, graphs and photos were properly cited using the APA Style.

100%

TOTAL

IMPORTANT GUIDELINES and SPECIFICATIONS

1. Choose only one from the four general topics given.
2. Below each general topic are specific guidelines and instructions. However, you have the
freedom to explore your desired specific topic under each general topic. (For example, if you
will choose the general topic Geography of Music, you can limit your research to dance
music or ethnic music.)
3. Cite all your sources. Use the APA style of in-text citation and have a reference list at the end
of the paper. It will help using the Insert>Reference feature of MS Word.
4. The desired length of the manuscript is between 2000 to 3000 words. Formatting: Times
New Roman size 12, line spacing of 1.25.

5. The paper must have an introduction and a conclusion, each with around 150-250 words.
6. If necessary, you must write a part dedicated for defining keywords and jargon-specific
terms that are crucial for understanding the contents of the paper. The definitions part must
be placed after the introduction. Take note that the part for the definition of keywords is not
included in the final word count.
7. As for the other parts of the paper, the instructor will not be strict about them. Write in a
manner similar to feature articles that can be found on educational websites and magazines. It
is highly recommended to divide and group your related paragraphs under respective
sections. Put appropriate titles or headers for your sections, similar to how this instructions
document is written. You may paste photos from the internet but be sure that the captions
include the source name.

General Topic 1: Nations with Decreasing Populations

Your objective is to discuss why certain nations have decreasing populations. Identify certain
countries in the world with a negative rate of natural increase in recent history. Report on
demography-related rates such as crude birth and crude death, doubling time etc. Then, identify the
causes of the negative population growth. Were they caused by increased death rates, out-migration
or some other circumstances?
Afterwards, discuss key similarities among the countries in terms of factors that may cause that
decline in population. These may include the countrys culture, religion, economy, peoples lifestyle
etc. Are these countries part of the developed world or the less developed world? Try to find and
discuss correlations among these variables and the population. Finally, discuss how the respective
people and government of the countries react to the issue of declining population. Are they alarmed
by the situation? Why or why not? Discuss the measures and policies these nations employed to
regulate their population.
While you can take this approach, you do not need to enumerate and discuss about all the countries
with decreasing populations. You may choose only a particular region in the world, or do a
comparative study of just 2 or 3 such countries of your choice.
Requirement: Include graphs, pyramids and cartograms that show population trends per country
over time and the distribution of population across ages and sexes.

General Topic 2: Geography of Music

Explore the differentiation of music across the globe or among specific places. How do physical
geography and cultural geography affect the characteristics of music in different places? You may
use the regional approach or, in other words, distinguish the music of particular countries or regions
from each other in terms of style, rhythm, melody, use of language, instruments used etc. You may

also explore just a particular genre such as dance music or ballad, or specific aspects of music such as
instrumentality. Which places use more of percussion instruments? Which of them uses wind and
brass? Why? Or what are their instruments made of?
What are the inspirations behind crafting these instruments? Are they intended to mimic specific
sounds from nature?
The scale of analysis is entirely up to you. You have the freedom of choosing just a particular region
or group of countries for your paper. For example, you may tackle the musical geography in
Southeast Asia only, or choose adjacent countries in North America or in Africa to work on. You
may also compare the music of certain provinces that are part of the same country. Again, emphasize
on what is unique with the music of a particular region and which place-specific factors influenced
that differentiation.
Alternatively, the student may also focus on discussing the differentiation of folk and pop music, or
of music in urban and rural areas. However, one must be mindful of the geographic and demographic
factors of the specific urban and rural areas that contribute to that differentiation.
Requirement: A part of your paper (included in the word count) must be dedicated to
comparing at least two musical pieces such as songs or instrumentals from the places/countries
that you will include in your discussion. Attach the music files to your email.

General Topic 3: Place Effects to Visual Arts

Explore how geographies affect the style, choice and media of visual arts. Follow the specific
guidelines and tips in General Topic 2 (Music). However, focus on the differentiation of visual arts
across different places. Explore which styles and media of expression are commonly used in certain
countries or world regions. Which places are known for painting (or painting using a particular
medium such as oil)? For sculpture? For folding paper?
Alternatively, you may choose to discuss the subject of visual artists instead of the medium that they
use. Say, what are the most common themes of paintings and sculpture in Europe, and how are they
different from Latin American artwork? Do they focus on natural sceneries or on humans? You may
also discuss the places of origins of art movements and styles themselves. How did place and
location served as inspiration and influence to these artistic movements?
Requirement: Your paper needs to have captioned images. Since you
are discussing visual arts, you need to have photos of the specific item
or masterpieces to support your paper.
Note: In case an output will be deemed publishable in a compilation of students papers or in a website, the author will be
notified. The student author will also be properly cited if his/her outputs will be shown to future classes and presentations.
-Sir JD;)