Several in-class exercises address specific issues related to resource exploitation and the Siberian landscape. Students who have studied other areas or countries with prominent resource-dependent economic sectors are encouraged to attend, as are students with an interest in political economy. The text, which is available at the University Bookstore, provides an accessible historical-geographic overview of Siberia for students who are unfamiliar with the region. Class Assignments and Grading Activities for the course include midterm and final examinations, two short research papers, three in-class exercises, and reading based group discussions. The final is not comprehensive-the exams cover roughly each half of the course separately.
Students have an option regarding the research paper.
The two papers will address the role of a specific raw material in the contemporary global economy, and raw material production in a specific country or sub-state area, respectively. A draft of all papers will be submitted for review in advance of their due date. The in-class exercises should take less than one class session each. Students are encouraged to work in small groups on these exercises. The information above is intended to be helpful in choosing courses.