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TI 252  - theory and practice 2

Lecture Times: see timetable 2BA coordinator:  Dr Kathy Reilly Course coordinator:  Dr Alma Clavin

Course Description 

The intention of this course is to develop students’ understanding of the various traditions of doing geographical research and making geographical knowledge.  The course introduces students to both theory and practice in geography, focusing in particular on relationships between geographical concepts and the practices of geographical research.  Geographical thought will be considered through lectures, discussions, and seminars that examine the wide range of theoretical and methodological assumptions, and the connections between them, that underwrite analysis and evidence gathering in the discipline.  In addition the course aims to familiarise students with the different ways that geographers do research.  Critical analysis of all approaches to geographical knowledge will be stressed. Particular emphasis is put on developing a critical understanding of what it means to do geography and make geographical claims.

Previously, in the first semester, Part One of the course focused on the history of geographical thought, evidence in geography, and positivist theory and methods.

This semester (second semester) Part Two of the course will focus on post-positivist theories and methods in geography. Students will be introduced to important theoretical shifts in geographical thought beginning (in chronological terms) with Humanistic theory and practice in Geography’s challenge to positivist, and more recently postmodern geography. The course will then survey a group of contemporary theoretical and methodological shifts sometimes grouped together as “critical theory” or “critical geography”, including Marxist theory and practice, feminist theory and practice, poststructuralist theory and practice, and postcolonial theory and practice. 

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Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, students are expected:

• to gain an understanding of the history and practice of the discipline;
• to gain a critical understanding of the different theoretical and methodological approaches to all knowledge production in geography;
• to develop the ability to think critically about geography and what it means to ’do’ geography.  
  
  

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Course Format

This course consists of both lectures and tutorials. It is designed to benefit from the participation of students by deliberately integrating discussion, in-class participation, and various activities directly into the delivery of the course. Each set of lectures and tutorials focuses on core elements of different approaches to geographical knowledge and inquiry. Students will be expected to regularly attend lectures and tutorials, to actively participate in class discussion and activities, and to come to lectures and tutorials having prepared the readings.

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Tutorials

Thursday 11-12 AC213
Thursday 12-1 AC213
Thursday 1-2 IT214
Thursday 2-3 AC204
Thursday 4-5 AC213  

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Assessment

Tutorial attendance and participation      -15%

Assignment 1:                 Marxist Theory and Practice                              25% 
                                       group oral presentation  assignment 
                                      

Assignment 2:                 Feminist and Post Structural Theory and Practice in Human Geography
                                       (~2500 words)                                                   50% 
                                      

Assignment 3:                  Postcolonial Theory and Practice in Human Geography 25% 
                                       

There is no exam for this course.

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Lecture Structure

Weeks 1 & 2 – tbc

Weeks 3 & 4 – tbc

Weeks 5 & 6 – tbc

Weeks 7 & 8 – tbc

Weeks 9 & 10 – tbc
 
Weeks 11 & 12 – tbc

    

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