"Apocalyptic" Geography: Reflection
News Media Reflection Journals
Overview
Throughout the semester, you will track and analyze contemporary “apocalyptic” events—broadly defined as moments of environmental, political, economic, or social crisis—by engaging with current events reported in major news outlets. These events may include (but are not limited to): wildfires, refugee displacements, climate disruptions, war, famine, pandemics, infrastructural collapse, and authoritarian crackdowns.
Using The New York Times or The Wall Street Journal Links to an external site. as your primary sources, you will choose eight articles over the course of the semester that reflect a different kind of unfolding crisis or rupture somewhere in the world. Each article will serve as a case study through which you apply and demonstrate geographic thinking.
Assignment Goals
Apply key concepts from our course to real-world events.
Develop skills in critical media literacy and geographic analysis.
Practice concise, structured writing.
Learn from and teach others by sharing within a small peer group.
Instructions
1. Find an Article
Select a recent article (within the last 3 months) from either The New York Times or The Wall Street Journal that describes a contemporary crisis or apocalyptic event.
You will need to sign up to one or both papers.
2. Write a Reflection (250-300 words)
Your reflection should include:
A brief summary of the article (1–2 sentences).
An explanation of how the event represents an “apocalypse” (broadly defined).
A clear connection to at least one core concept from our course (e.g., scale, space, place, environmental justice, uneven development, migration, borders, climate change, geopolitics, racial capitalism, etc.). Be sure to bold the concept(s) you use and engage with the current lesson.
A concluding comment on why this event matters geographically.
You will need to complete this assignment eight times over the fifteen-week semester.
Remember: You need to submit your reflection by Thursday and your response to a classmate by Sunday in order to receive a grade.
Citation
Use APA style. Include the article title, publication date, and a working link (if possible).
Tips for Success
Don’t just describe what happened—explain how geography helps us understand why it happened, who is affected, and how it connects across scales.
Remember that “apocalypse” doesn’t just mean end-of-the-world events—it can also mean the slow unraveling of systems, the exposure of vulnerabilities, or the revealing of injustice.
Evaluation Criteria
Criteria Table
Criteria Points
Article is appropriate and timely 5
Accurate and concise summary 10
Clear connection to geographic concepts 10
Thoughtful analysis and commentary 15
Grammar, clarity, and citation 5
Response to another's post 5
*This is a Gen-Ed course; nothing overly complex.