US History: Mid-Atlantic and Southern States

United States Geography

• The United States ranks as the third largest country in both area and population.
• Located in North America, it is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east.
• Shares northern border with Canada and southern border with Mexico.
• Comprises 50 states and the District of Columbia.
• Size exceeds that of the European Union, featuring high mountains in the West and vast central plains.
• Death Valley is the lowest point at -282 feet below sea level.
• Denali (formerly Mt. McKinley) is the highest peak, reaching 20,320 feet.

People and Culture

• The U.S. has a rich history as a nation of immigrants, fostering a diverse population from around the globe.
• Divided into six regions:
  • New England: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont; known for European settlers seeking religious freedom.
  • Mid-Atlantic: Includes Washington, D.C., Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania; culturally and economically significant region.

CS471 - Web Technologies

• Focuses on the Internet, web development, and related technologies.
• Syllabus and resources are available on Blackboard.
• Key textbook: "Web Development with Django" by B. Shaw, S. Badhawar, C. Guest, B. Chandra.

Assessment Criteria for CS471

• Midterm exam (Week 8): 20% of final grade.
• Individual web project: 20%, requiring the use of Django.
• Lab participation: 10%.
• Final exam: 50%.

Web Project Guidelines

• Incrementally develop a personal web application using Django.
• Concepts discussed in lectures must be implemented during lab sessions.
• Code must be hosted publicly on GitHub for evaluation, with explanatory commit messages.
• A lecture on Git and using GitHub will be provided.
• Project title and repository link must be submitted through Blackboard.