Category: Geography

Country – JAPAN
1. Each student will select one country from the list attached to this handout. Students cannot choose the same countries. Countries will be on a first come first serve basis. Students must email the instructor the country they select for approval. Students must email the instructor with their selection in a timely manner. This will ensure that the student gets their first choice. No one can choose the United States for North America.
2. Each student will prepare a powerpoint for the country selected.
a. Each powerpoint will include the geography, government, history, and cultural aspects of the country selected.
i. Geography can include a physical description and climate. It should also include the latitude and longitude location.
ii. Government will explain the type of government used in that country and its successes and failures
iii. History will give a brief over-view of that countries past
iv. Cultural aspects will tell the reader about what makes that country unique. This could include food, sports, entertainment, dress, etc.
b. Each powerpoint must be at least 8 slides but no more than 11.
c. Each powerpoint must include some type of visual (picture, map, etc.) in addition to the written word.
3. The powerpoint must also have a bibliography slide
a. The bibliography must include sources from the internet and the library.
b. You must have at least two sources for the country you select.
c. You may not use general encyclopedias or Wikipedia.
d. You are to use the MLA style to list the bibliography. A copy of it can be found in the writing lab or online. www.hindscc.edu/departments/english_modern_foreign_language
4. Please remember the course policy regarding cheating and plagiarism. If you use someone else’s work, you must give them credit. Any use of plagiarism will result in a zero on the project.
5. Student will submit their powerpoints to the discussion board in Canvas. Each student will be required to view the powerpoints of their classmates. Students should make at least one comment on each classmates powerpoint. The comments you make must be more than one word and be thought provoking comments. One word answers such as cool, awesome, and I like it will not suffice.

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

PowerPoint Presentation on Japan: Geography, Government, History, and Culture

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Slide 1: Title Slide

• Title: Japan: Geography, Government, History, and Culture
• Subtitle: An Exploration of Japan’s Unique Identity
• Student Name
• Date

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Slide 2: Geography of Japan

• Physical Description:
  • Japan is an archipelago of 14,125 islands located in East Asia.
  • Four main islands: Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku.
  • Japan is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and has mountainous terrain, with about 73% of the land area being mountains.
• Climate:
  • Japan experiences four distinct seasons: winter, spring, summer, and autumn.
  • It has a temperate climate, with hot, humid summers and cold winters, especially in the north.
• Location (Latitude and Longitude):
  • Latitude: 24.396308° N to 45.551483° N
  • Longitude: 122.93457° E to 153.986672° E
• Visuals: Map of Japan highlighting its location in East Asia, climate zones, and topographical features.

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Slide 3: Government of Japan

• Type of Government:
  • Japan has a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government.
  • The emperor is the ceremonial head of state, while political power lies with the elected prime minister and the Diet (Japan’s legislature).
• Successes and Failures:
  • Successes:
    • Japan is known for its high standard of living, strong economy, and technological advancements.
    • The country’s post-WWII peace and economic recovery is one of the great success stories in history.
  • Failures:
    • Japan has faced challenges related to its aging population and low birth rate, which strain social services.
    • Political stagnation and lack of immigration policy reforms have also been points of criticism.
• Visuals: Picture of the Japanese Parliament building and a symbol of the Japanese monarchy.

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Slide 4: History of Japan

• Brief Overview:
  • Ancient Japan:
    • Japan’s history dates back thousands of years, with early influences from China and Korea.
    • The establishment of the imperial dynasty (traditionally dated to 660 BC) marks the beginning of Japan’s recorded history.
  • Medieval Japan:
    • Japan was ruled by powerful shoguns during the feudal period, with a focus on samurai culture.
  • Modern Japan:
    • In the 19th century, Japan underwent rapid modernization during the Meiji Restoration, transitioning from a feudal system to a modern industrial state.
    • Japan’s involvement in World War II had profound consequences, leading to its defeat and subsequent reconstruction.
    • Post-WWII Japan became a global economic powerhouse, and its economy is now one of the largest in the world.
• Visuals: Timeline or historical map of Japan, showing key events.

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Slide 5: Cultural Aspects of Japan: Food

• Japanese Cuisine:
  • Sushi, sashimi, ramen, tempura, and sushi rolls are iconic dishes.
  • Rice is a staple, and Japanese food emphasizes fresh, seasonal ingredients.
  • Tea ceremonies and traditional Japanese sweets (wagashi) are also central to the culture.
• Visuals: Pictures of traditional Japanese meals such as sushi, ramen, and tea ceremonies.

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Slide 6: Cultural Aspects of Japan: Sports

• Traditional and Modern Sports:
  • Sumo Wrestling: The national sport of Japan, with deep cultural and historical roots.
  • Baseball: The most popular modern sport, with a strong following in schools and universities.
  • Martial Arts: Judo, Karate, Kendo, and Aikido are martial arts developed in Japan and practiced worldwide.
• Visuals: Images of sumo wrestling, a baseball game in Japan, and a martial arts practice.

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Slide 7: Cultural Aspects of Japan: Entertainment

• Anime and Manga:
  • Japan is internationally known for its animation (anime) and comics (manga), which have become cultural phenomena.
  • Anime series like “Naruto” and “One Piece” have global followings, and Japanese film directors like Hayao Miyazaki have brought Japanese cinema to the world stage.
• Visuals: Iconic characters from anime or images from famous Japanese films.

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Slide 8: Cultural Aspects of Japan: Fashion and Dress

• Traditional Clothing:
  • The kimono is a traditional garment worn during ceremonies and cultural events.
  • The yukata is a lighter, more casual version worn in summer festivals.
• Modern Fashion:
  • Japan is also a global hub for fashion, especially street fashion in cities like Tokyo, known for unique styles in districts like Harajuku.
• Visuals: Pictures of traditional kimono and modern Japanese street fashion.

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Slide 9: Bibliography

• MLA Citation Format:
  • Author(s). “Title of Article or Book.” Title of Website or Publisher, Date of Publication, URL.
  • Example sources:
    • Berthrong, John H. Japan: A History of the Land of the Rising Sun. Cambridge University Press, 2007.
    • “Geography of Japan.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 2021, www.britannica.com/geo/Japan.

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Slide 10: Conclusion

• Recap of Japan’s Significance:
  • Japan’s unique blend of tradition and modernity makes it one of the most fascinating countries in the world.
  • Its geography, government, history, and cultural achievements have shaped its identity and influenced the global community.
• Final Thought:
  • Understanding Japan’s rich history and dynamic culture helps foster appreciation for its contributions to the world.

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This structure for a PowerPoint presentation will ensure that you cover all the essential aspects of Japan’s geography, government, history, and culture while incorporating visuals to support the information. The sources will be properly cited in MLA format on the bibliography slide.

1. North Korea and South Korea have very different economies, politics, and relations with the world. North Korea leans towards China and Russia, as it is a communist/totalitarian regime with a dictatorial leader, Kim Jong-un. South Korea is a democratic country with a peace-loving government and great relations with the rest of the world. Provide some of the other political, cultural, religious, and economic differences that exist between North Korea and South Korea. 2. Choose any two countries in East Asia and describe their physical and cultural attributes (area, population, neighbors, religion, culture, etc.) and climatic conditions (weather and climate). Provide specific examples and graphics. 3. The Chinese Civil War, which intermittently took place from 1927 to 1949, was fought between the Republic of China (ROC) and the Communist Party of China (CPC). During that time, many of the territories in China were taken over by the Nationalist Party, Communist Party, and Japan. Explain the three-way split in China after its revolution and the ultimate result of the occupation of the mainland and islands in China. Explain the political atmosphere after the 1997 hand-over of Hong Kong from Britain to China and the imbalance in the economy and trade that presently exists between China and Taiwan.

Open up the attached word document and answer the questions there. When finished, upload the document to Canvas.
Read Chapter 4 from “Introduction to Water in California” and answer the following questions. There is no length limit.
1. Summarize Chapter 4.
2. How are California’s water challenges exacerbated by climate change?
3. How should we as a state move forward in facing those challenges?

For this paper you can ONLY use your class atlas. All information for this paper is based exclusively on information from the class atlas. (However, you are very LIMITED in how much information you can use from pages 34-65) This is not based on previous information you know about the country or information you have learned from other courses or sources. The objective of this paper is to demonstrate your competency of reading charts and graphs and maps located in your class atlas.
Be sure to include a self-made map that you have made of your country.
Furthermore, you must provide
In-text citations of the page numbers AND
a “Works Cited” page
Finally, it is imperative that you do NOT use direct quotes or heavily ‘borrowed’ text from the atlas. You must interpret the information that is in the atlas. You must limit you use of the information from the section in the atlas entitled Gazetteer of Nations (pages 34-65), and instead focus on the graphs, charts, and maps
The purpose of this paper is demonstrate your ability to read maps, charts and graphs. In order to demonstrate this you will be using ONLY our class atlas. Additionally, if you base your paper on information found on pages 34-65 of the atlas then you are only demonstrating your ability to read written text. Do NOT focus on the information found on pages 34-65 of the atlas but rather look through the maps, charts and graphs at the beginning of the atlas and then turn to the maps for the region of the world in which your country is located and review those. Be descriiptive in explaining what you see, explain where in your country you see specific climates, or where the mountain range is located or where within your country the population is primarily concentrated, etc. And my last word of advice is to AVOID the use of words like left right, up or down. In describing locations, those terms do not make sense. Instead, use the terms that do make sense in describing location, terms like north, south, east and west!!

Your Paper Must be submitted as either a Word file or as a PDF

Be sure to also include
Your self-made map!! Your map must include a variety of information on it. For example, all maps should include the capital city as well as all other major cities in your country. Additionally, any and all major landforms or other noteworthy places should be included. You may add additional information to your map including, but not limited to,
Your map must be designed by you and display effort. A quick sketch on a piece of lined notebook paper will not be acceptable for points. Do not use lined notebook paper for your map.
where the different climates of your country are located
where the major tourist destinations are located
places of historical significance
In order to receive full credit for this assignment you are
Only allowed to use your class atlas as the sole source of your information.
Within your atlas, however, you are only allowed to use limited information from pp 34-65. No direct quotes should be used from these pages and only very limited content should be based on this. Focus on the maps and charts and graphs. (You will fail this portion of the assignment if the majority of paper is based on the information from pages 34-65.)
You must cite your atlas in a Works Cited page as well as
Provide in-text citations as needed. (A minimum of one per paragraph. Precise page numbers are required, do not provide a range of pages per citation. Your paper will not be graded if precise page numbers are not included)
Your paper must be at least four full pages in length (anything less will have proportional points deducted).
You must adequately address a large number of topics (regarding physical geography, human geography, political geography, economic geography, demographics, languages, religions, etc.) and
You should organize your paper in a logical manner. Proper grammar, spelling and organization will be evaluated.
Additionally, an introduction and a conclusion are expected.
Avoid over usage of information from pages 34-65 (see above as to why, and remember that you will fail if you do not follow this requirement)
Last reminder: Your paper must have a minimum of four full pages of text. Anything shorter than 4-full pages of text will have points deducted. (In other words, make sure you end at the very bottom of page 4 or go over to at least page 5!)
The following rubric will provide a basic over-view of how your grade for this assignment will be calculated.
Use of Information only from the Atlas: Required: Paper will fail if you do not follow this. Remember: this paper is about utilizing the atlas for information, it is not about what you already know about this country or what information you can find from other sources. –AI will not be helpful because AI does not know our atlas.
Full Bibliographic Citation of Atlas: Required: Minimum of 10 point deduction if omitted
Four Full Pages of Text: Required. Proportionate deductions will be made if this is not met
In-text citations of Atlas page numbers: Required: Minimum of 10 point deduction if omitted
Did you cover the country you were assigned? If not, your paper will not be graded
Proper grammar, punctuation, spelling,
use of paragraphs, Intro, Conclusion, transitions, etc: 20 points
Content: Discuss topics including but not limited to physical geography; climate; major landforms; social indicators (literacy rates, transportation networks, physicians per capita, caloric intake, etc.); demographics (life expectancy for males and females, TFR, mortality rates, etc) , economics, political system; conflicts, etc. Only very limited information from pp34-65 can be incorporated within your submission.
20 points
Ability to discuss internal variations of the topics listed above (i.e. What is the climate for this country? Is the same climate found throughout the entire country? If not WHERE are the different climates located?)
10 points
Inclusion of Self-Made Map: Your map should show the capital city, all other important cities, landforms, major bodies of water, etc. This should be of high quality and show time and effort put into it. Lined Notebook paper should not be used 5 points
Remember, all information in the paper is based on your atlas however you are restricted in your usage of the information from pages 34-65 of the Atlas. The purpose of this project is to demonstrate your ability to accurately interpret information from maps, charts and graphs.

For this paper you can ONLY use your class atlas. All information for this paper is based exclusively on information from the class atlas. (However, you are very LIMITED in how much information you can use from pages 34-65) This is not based on previous information you know about the country or information you have learned from other courses or sources. The objective of this paper is to demonstrate your competency of reading charts and graphs and maps located in your class atlas.
Be sure to include a self-made map that you have made of your country.
Furthermore, you must provide
In-text citations of the page numbers AND
a “Works Cited” page
Finally, it is imperative that you do NOT use direct quotes or heavily ‘borrowed’ text from the atlas. You must interpret the information that is in the atlas. You must limit you use of the information from the section in the atlas entitled Gazetteer of Nations (pages 34-65), and instead focus on the graphs, charts, and maps
The purpose of this paper is demonstrate your ability to read maps, charts and graphs. In order to demonstrate this you will be using ONLY our class atlas. Additionally, if you base your paper on information found on pages 34-65 of the atlas then you are only demonstrating your ability to read written text. Do NOT focus on the information found on pages 34-65 of the atlas but rather look through the maps, charts and graphs at the beginning of the atlas and then turn to the maps for the region of the world in which your country is located and review those. Be descriiptive in explaining what you see, explain where in your country you see specific climates, or where the mountain range is located or where within your country the population is primarily concentrated, etc. And my last word of advice is to AVOID the use of words like left right, up or down. In describing locations, those terms do not make sense. Instead, use the terms that do make sense in describing location, terms like north, south, east and west!!

Your Paper Must be submitted as either a Word file or as a PDF

Be sure to also include
Your self-made map!! Your map must include a variety of information on it. For example, all maps should include the capital city as well as all other major cities in your country. Additionally, any and all major landforms or other noteworthy places should be included. You may add additional information to your map including, but not limited to,
Your map must be designed by you and display effort. A quick sketch on a piece of lined notebook paper will not be acceptable for points. Do not use lined notebook paper for your map.
where the different climates of your country are located
where the major tourist destinations are located
places of historical significance
In order to receive full credit for this assignment you are
Only allowed to use your class atlas as the sole source of your information.
Within your atlas, however, you are only allowed to use limited information from pp 34-65. No direct quotes should be used from these pages and only very limited content should be based on this. Focus on the maps and charts and graphs. (You will fail this portion of the assignment if the majority of paper is based on the information from pages 34-65.)
You must cite your atlas in a Works Cited page as well as
Provide in-text citations as needed. (A minimum of one per paragraph. Precise page numbers are required, do not provide a range of pages per citation. Your paper will not be graded if precise page numbers are not included)
Your paper must be at least four full pages in length (anything less will have proportional points deducted).
You must adequately address a large number of topics (regarding physical geography, human geography, political geography, economic geography, demographics, languages, religions, etc.) and
You should organize your paper in a logical manner. Proper grammar, spelling and organization will be evaluated.
Additionally, an introduction and a conclusion are expected.
Avoid over usage of information from pages 34-65 (see above as to why, and remember that you will fail if you do not follow this requirement)
Last reminder: Your paper must have a minimum of four full pages of text. Anything shorter than 4-full pages of text will have points deducted. (In other words, make sure you end at the very bottom of page 4 or go over to at least page 5!)
The following rubric will provide a basic over-view of how your grade for this assignment will be calculated.
Use of Information only from the Atlas: Required: Paper will fail if you do not follow this. Remember: this paper is about utilizing the atlas for information, it is not about what you already know about this country or what information you can find from other sources. –AI will not be helpful because AI does not know our atlas.
Full Bibliographic Citation of Atlas: Required: Minimum of 10 point deduction if omitted
Four Full Pages of Text: Required. Proportionate deductions will be made if this is not met
In-text citations of Atlas page numbers: Required: Minimum of 10 point deduction if omitted
Did you cover the country you were assigned? If not, your paper will not be graded
Proper grammar, punctuation, spelling,
use of paragraphs, Intro, Conclusion, transitions, etc: 20 points
Content: Discuss topics including but not limited to physical geography; climate; major landforms; social indicators (literacy rates, transportation networks, physicians per capita, caloric intake, etc.); demographics (life expectancy for males and females, TFR, mortality rates, etc) , economics, political system; conflicts, etc. Only very limited information from pp34-65 can be incorporated within your submission.
20 points
Ability to discuss internal variations of the topics listed above (i.e. What is the climate for this country? Is the same climate found throughout the entire country? If not WHERE are the different climates located?)
10 points
Inclusion of Self-Made Map: Your map should show the capital city, all other important cities, landforms, major bodies of water, etc. This should be of high quality and show time and effort put into it. Lined Notebook paper should not be used 5 points
Remember, all information in the paper is based on your atlas however you are restricted in your usage of the information from pages 34-65 of the Atlas. The purpose of this project is to demonstrate your ability to accurately interpret information from maps, charts and graphs.

Hello,
Please double-check my answers, and if there’s any wrong one, write the correct answer in the assignment pdf file I have attached. If the answer that I have is correct, then just put the word “correct.”
Below I have attached a related quiz to the topic, the assignment file, another useful video related to the topic, and a file with my answers that I have for this assigneeemnt that just needed to be double checked.

Why is map design important?
Why is a map’s appearance so important? After all, you could argue that a poorly put together map of New Zealand is still (at the end of the day) a map of New Zealand. However, a well-designed map is going to be more useful than a poorly designed one—but why? Why are things such as the choice of colors, lettering, and placement of items on the map critical to the usefulness of a map? Consider what kind of effect a poorly designed map might have, and what sort of impact bad design could make on the usefulness of, say, a map of a local county fair, a real estate map of a new subdivision, a promotional map showing the location of a small business, or a map of a proposed new urban development readied for promotional purposes. How can the design of a map influence the way the map’s information is perceived by its readers?

Application Essays Exam 2_8A:
Chapters: 7 Ethnicities, 8 Political Geography, 9 Food and Agriculture, 10 Development, 11 Industry and Energy, 12 Services and Settlements

Complete any TWO of the following essays. If you complete more than two, only the first two will be graded. Essay exams must include your original work and must be done independently. All material not originating from you must be cited properly.
Please review San Jacinto College’s honor code statement: https://www.sanjac.edu/procedure-v5001ba-cheating-plagiarism-collusion-and-fabrication
Format: Submission should be Times New Roman, 12 pt. font
Only include your name in the header.
For EACH essay question: no more than3 pages double-spaced maximum , (1.5 page double-spaced minimum for EACH QUESTION. Include all references on a separate page.

1. Many arguments have been raised about the impacts of the Green Revolution, both pro and con.
1. How might the scale at which the Green Revolution is examined affect the arguments that are made about it?
2. What types of factors are likely to be considered if the question is:
1. “has the Green Revolution been good for Asia?”
2. as opposed to: “has the Green Revolution been good for a village or a particular agricultural community in India?”
2. What is your main source of protein?
1. All restaurants now tell you how many Calories (kilocalories) are in their meals.
1. Does this information influence your choice of meal?
2. Why or why not?
3. What are some arguments about either outsourcing or offshoring in the U.S.?
1. How has it impacted the U.S.?
2. What information confirms or challenges comment arguments that have been made in the media?

4. Informal economy:
1. What does it mean to work in the informal economy?
2. Compare and contrast the significance of the informal economy between regions of the world.
3. What informal economies exist in the United States?
1. Who works in these jobs?
2. What are the implications or consequences?
5. Megacities, not nations, are the world’s dominant, enduring social structures. –Khanna 2016
A) Discuss this concept, B) whether or not you agree or disagree, and C) why?
· Main article: https://qz.com/666153/megacities-not-nations-are-the-worlds-most-dominant-enduring-social-structures-adapted-from-connectography/
· Other resources: https://www.citylab.com/equity/2016/04/cities-drive-the-new-world-order-parag-khanna-connectography-maps/480165/
· https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2017/06/as-nation-states-falter-cities-are-stepping-up/
· (Are cities the new countries?): https://www.bbc.com/news/education-35305586
· https://www.forbes.com/sites/joelkotkin/2014/08/14/the-most-influential-cities-in-the-world/#dce3e5e7ad0a

1.The Greek war of independence, also known as the Greek Revolution was a successful war of~m dependence waged by the Greek revolutionaries between 1821 and 1832 against the Ottoman Empire. The Greeks were later assisted by the Russian Empire, Great Britain, France and several other European powers, while the Ottomans were aided by their vassals, Egypt, Algeria etc.
2.Events: Greece had been part of the Ottoman Empire since the 15th century. The growth of revolutionary nationalism in Europe sparked off a struggle for independence among st the Greeks which began in 1821.
3.The object of the struggle was to expel Turks from Europe and to establish old Greek eastern empire.
4.Nationalists in Greece were supported by other Greeks living in exile and many West European countries.
5.Poets and artists lauded Greece as the cradle of European civilisation. They mobilised public opinion to support its struggle against a Muslim empire. The English poet Lord Byron organised funds and later went to fight in the war.
6.Ultimately, the Treaty of Constantinople of 1832 recognised Greece as an independent nation. Its independence was guaranteed by Russia, England and France.

1.The Greek war of independence, also known as the Greek Revolution was a successful war of~m dependence waged by the Greek revolutionaries between 1821 and 1832 against the Ottoman Empire. The Greeks were later assisted by the Russian Empire, Great Britain, France and several other European powers, while the Ottomans were aided by their vassals, Egypt, Algeria etc.
2.Events: Greece had been part of the Ottoman Empire since the 15th century. The growth of revolutionary nationalism in Europe sparked off a struggle for independence among st the Greeks which began in 1821.
3.The object of the struggle was to expel Turks from Europe and to establish old Greek eastern empire.
4.Nationalists in Greece were supported by other Greeks living in exile and many West European countries.
5.Poets and artists lauded Greece as the cradle of European civilisation. They mobilised public opinion to support its struggle against a Muslim empire. The English poet Lord Byron organised funds and later went to fight in the war.
6.Ultimately, the Treaty of Constantinople of 1832 recognised Greece as an independent nation. Its independence was guaranteed by Russia, England and France.