Weekly assignments consist of doing the readings and answering the Forum Topic Questions (FTQs) and responding to other student comments to the FTQs in the Forums area of our classroom. Your responses are to be based upon your readings, personal experience, and thoughtful conjectures. I will also comment on your writing style to provide you feedback for improvement and sustainment of your writing skills.

You are to select one (only one is necessary) of the FTQs each week and respond to it in detail, citing at least two references. Then respond to at least two of your fellow student's postings for the week with substantial comments and/or questions. That means you will make three submissions each week. Your initial post is due no later than Thursday at 11:59 pm and your reply posts are due by Sunday at 11:59 pm. Your primary post should be a minimum of 250 words, and your replies should be at least 100 words.

Working through these FTQs will aid your understanding of the text and count for credit. You must respond to one of the Forum Topic questions provided for any given week and comment on two fellow student's postings to receive credit.

The Forum Topics this week will support your progress toward the following course learning objectives:

1 Use "spatial perspective" as a critical thinking tool in analysis, problem solving, and inter-disciplinary study.

2 Describe the world's regions through recognizing their physical and human dimensions.

3 Recognize and differentiate global regions by climate type, characteristic vegetation, and general landform types.

5 Identify basic spatial and geographic data analysis skills to be used in future studies.

6 Explain physical and human aspects of the world landscape through the use of maps, graphs, and data tables.

7 Assess spatial interaction between places and spatial diffusion from places, including density, dispersion and patterns.

8 Apply selected geographic concepts, ideas, and terms to student interests, other academic subjects, newsworthy events and professional concerns.

Canada and the United States are both part of the North American Realm. What do the two countries have in common culturally, politically, and economically? How do they differ? Will Canada and the United States become even closer politically in the future, or even unify one day? Should they?