AP Human Geography Course

AP Human Geography Course Syllabus 2014-2015

Description: (From the AP Human Geography Teacher's Guide) "What is Human Geography? Human geography is the study of where humans and their activities and institutions such as ethnic groups, cities, and industries are located and why they are there. Human geographers also study the interactions of humans with their environment and draw on some basic elements of physical geography."

Purpose: The purpose of the AP Human Geography course is to introduce students to the systematic study of patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of Earth's surface. Students employ spatial concepts and landscape analysis to examine human social organization and its environmental consequences. They also learn about the methods and tools geographers use in their science and practice.

Goals: In addition to preparing the student for success on the AP Human Geography Exam administered annually in May, the course is designed to develop and enhance skills and knowledge that will help to ensure success in future educational endeavors; both in Social Studies and in other disciplines. On successful completion of the course, students should have developed skills that enable them to: Use and think about maps and special data. Understand and interpret the implications of associations among phenomena in places. Recognize and interpret at different scales the relationships among patterns and processes. Define regions and evaluate the regionalization process. Characterize and analyze changing interconnections among places.

Topics:

The AP Human Geography course material is divided into seven content areas. These areas are:

Geography: Its Nature and Perspectives

5-10%

Population and Migration

13-17%

Cultural Patterns and Processes

13-17%

Political Organization of Space

13-17%

Agricultural and Rural Land Use

13-17%

Industrialization and Economic Development

13-17%

Cities and Urban Land Use

13-17%

Course Material: Rubenstein, James M. The Cultural Landscape ? An Introduction to Human Geography, 11th ed. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2014.

Veregin, Howard. Rand McNally Goode's World Atlas, 22 ed. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2010.

Periodicals: New York Times The Week The Economist

Video: Series The Power of Place: Geography for the 21st century series.Annenberg/CPBProject,2003. NOVA: World in the Balance

Additional resources will be used to supplement teacher preparation and student learning.

Supplies Required: 2 composition note books ? one for vocabulary and the other for current event articles 2 - 2" Ring binder with 7 dividers for worksheets, handouts and notes and the other for final project Pens, pencil and Highlighters Colored pencils for making maps, charts, and graphs

Expectations: Be present, on time, and have all materials

Respect others Do all assigned readings and other assignments

Only ask to leave class if absolutely necessary

Participate in and out of class Have a positive attitude and do your best

Homework: Due to the nature of this college-level course, you can expect an average of at least 30-40 pages per week, homework every night. Remember that the required reading accompanies a chapter outline packet that you must fill in as you read. Completing these assignments helps you to participate in class discussions and activities. Random checks of your work will occur in class.

Grading: Students will be challenged by a variety of assessment techniques, with emphasis on skill application through maps and projects. For each of the 7 major units of study, there will be one test, reading guidelines and quizzes, vocabulary quizzes, and written analysis activities.

Additionally, there will be reading quizzes, workbook activities, online assignments, Socratic seminars, and other classwork/homework assignments

For this course, grading is as follows: 40% Tests (FRQs, Multiple Choice, and Short Answer) 30% Quizzes and Study Materials (including key terms) 30% Country Assignments, Essays, Projects, Presentations, Binder/Notebooks, Participation

Assessment Breakdown Map Quizzes: Students will take weekly map quizzes to determine their understanding of the framework necessary to adequately discuss global geographic trends. Map quizzes will focus on political and regional geography. Class Assignments: Students will receive regular grades on class assignments, many collaborative, completed throughout the year. These will assess their understanding of key concepts discussed through the week. Tests and AP Prep Materials: Tests will generally be in the format of the AP exam, with multiple choice sections and free response questions. Some assignments will be completed out of the classroom. Chapter Outlines: The primary homework of the class, students will be required to keep running thematic outlines based on their readings of Rubenstein text. The assessment criteria will be distributed in class. PING Project: Throughout the year, students will be part of a country undergoing a global simulation ? this will require various assignments to be completed throughout the year. At the end of each marking period, students will receive a grade based on their performance.

Final Project = Year-long PING Project: You will be required to complete a final project throughout the year that will count as part of your final exam. (aka The PING Project)

Current Events: Students will bring articles on current events that connect with content and ideas discussed in class, along with a brief written response. These will be shared with the class.

Attendance: Students are expected to be in class the full 40 minutes. If you are frequently late or absent, your grade may be affected due to the exercises conducted at the beginning and end of class. If you know you are going to be absent, please let me know so that I can keep you up-to-date on what you will be missing. If you are absent the day of a test, be aware that you will take an alternate version of the exam to insure fairness.

Course Outline: Topic 1: Geography: Its Nature and Perspectives (5-10%)

2 weeks A. Geography as a field of inquire B. Evolution of key geographical concepts and models associated

with notable geographers C. Key concepts underlying the geographical perspective: location,

space, place, scale, pattern, regionalization and globalization D. Key Geographical skills:

1) How to use and think about maps and spatial data 2) How to understand and interpret the implications of associations

among phenomena in places 3) How to recognize and interpret different scales and relationships

among patterns and processes 4) How to define regions and evaluate the regionalization processes 5) How to characterize and analyze changing interconnections among

places E. Geographic technologies, such as GIS, remote sensing and GPS F. Sources of geographical ideas and data: the field, census data

and satellite imagery

Textbook Chapters and Key Issues

Chapter 1 Key Issue 1 Chapter 1 Key Issue 1

Chapter 1 Key Issues 1, 2, and 3

Chapter 1 Key Issue 1 Chapter 1 Key Issue 1 and 2 Chapter 1 Key Issue 1

Chapter 1 Key Issue 2

Chapter 1 Key Issue 3 Chapter 1 Key Issue 1

Unit Activities and Projects Power of Place:1. One Earth, Many Scales

2. Boundaries and Borderlands West Wing - Why are we changing maps? MacGyver - How to use a map FRQ Relative Location Local GIS mapping activity Field Study of your high school Vocabulary and Map quiz Test Chapter 1

Topic II: Population (13-17%) 4 weeks

A. Geographical analysis of population 1) Density, distribution and scale 2) Implications of various densities and distributions

3) Patterns of composition: age, sex, race, ethnicity 4) Population and natural hazards: past, present and future B. Population growth and decline over time and space

Textbook Chapters and Key Issues

Chapter 2 Key Issue 1 Chapter 1 Key Issue 4; Chapter 2 Key Issue 4; Chapter 3 Key Issue 1 Chapter 2 Key Issue 3 Chapter 3 Key Issue 1

1) Historical trends and projection for the future 2) Theories of population growth including the Demographic

Transition Model 3) Patterns of fertility, mortality and health 4) Regional variations of demographic transitions 5) Effects of population policies

C. Population Movement 1) Migration selectivity 2) Major voluntary and involuntary migrations at different scales 3) Theories of migration, including push and pull factors, human capital and life course 4) International migration and refugees 5) Socioeconomic consequences of migration

Unit Activities and Projects Power of Place: 21. Population Geography

14. The Maritime Connection NOVA: World in the Balance 9 Billion? A Whirlwind Trip Through Population Trends TED Talk Hans Rosling: Global population growth, box by box PBS ? Matters of Race Demographic Transition Models and Population ? Power of the Pyramids Immigration Patterns Free Response Questions 2006 FRQ Selected Migration Patterns of the Late 20th Century 2005 FRQ Immigration Admitted to the U.S (1900-1998) 2011 FRQ Population of Mexican Cities, 2007 Demographic Transition Models and population Pyramids Vocabulary quiz Test Chapter 2 and 3

Topic III: Cultural Patterns and Processes (13-17%) 5 weeks

A. Concepts of culture 1) Traits

2) Diffusion

3) Acculturation, assimilation, and globalization

4) Cultural regions

B. Cultural Differences 1) Language 2) Religion 3) Ethnicity

4) Gender 5) Popular and folk culture

Chapter 2 Key Issues 2 and 4 Chapter 2 Key Issues 3 and 4 Chapter 2 Key Issues 2 and 4 Chapter 2 Key Issue 3 Chapter 2 Key Issue 4; Chapter 3 Key Issue 3 Chapter 3 Key Issue 4 Chapter 3 Key Issues 1, 2, and 4 Chapter 3 Key Issues 1 and 4 Chapter 3 Key Issues 1 and 3 Chapter 3 Key Issues 3 and 4

Textbook Chapters and Key Issues Chapter 4 Key Issue 1; Chapter 5 Key Issues 1, 2, and 3; Chapter 6 Key Issue 1; Chapter 7 Key Issues 1 and 2; Chapter 4 Key Issues 1 and 3; Chapter 5 Key Issue 1 Chapter 6 Key Issue 2; Chapter 7 Key Issue 1; Chapter 5 Key Issue 4; Chapter 6 Key Issue 2 Chapter 5 Key Issues 1 and 3; Chapter 6 Key Issues 2 and 3 Chapter 7 Key Issue 2

Chapter 5 Key Issues 1, 2, 3, and 4 Chapter 6 Key Issues 1, 2, 3, and 4 Chapter 6 Key Issue 4; Chapter 7 Key Issues 1, 2, 3, and 4 Chapter 4 Key Issue 4 Chapter 4 Key Issues 1, 2, 3, and 4

C. Cultural landscape and cultural identity 1) Values and preferences

2) Symbolic landscapes and sense of place

3) Environmental impact of cultural attitudes and practices

Unit Activities and Projects Power of Place: 4. East Looks West

7. Northwest Contrast 17. Sacred Space, SecularStates? 25. Ethnic Fragmentation in Canada Frontline: Bhutan ? The Last Place Ted Talk Wade Davis: Cultures at the far edge of the world Ted Talk The world's English mania - Jay Walker Ted Talk Chimamanda Adichie: The danger of a single story Codewords of Hate Film ? Wale Rider Free Response Questions 2002 FRQ Impact of Religion on the Cultural Landscape Mapping Gendered Space Spanish Toponyms in the United States Field Study ? Religious Institutions Vocabulary and map quiz Test Chapter 4, 5 and 6

Topic IV: Political Organization of Space (13-17%) 3 weeks

A. Territorial dimensions of politics 1) The concept of territoriality 2) The nature and meaning of boundaries 3) Influences of boundaries on identity, interaction and exchange 4) Federal and unitary states 5) Spatial relationships between political patterns and patterns of ethnicity; economy and the environment

B. Evolution of the contemporary political pattern 1) The nation-state concept 2) Colonialism and imperialism 3) Democratization

C. Changes and challenges to political-territorial arrangements 1) Changing nature of sovereignty 2) Fragmentation, unification, alliance

3) Supranationalism and devolution

4) Electoral geography, including gerrymandering 5) Terrorism

Unit Activities and Projects Power of Place: 3. Supranationalism and Devolution

4. East Looks West

Chapter 4 Key Issues 2 and 4; Chapter 5 Key Issue 4; Chapter 6 Key Issues 2 and 3 Chapter 4 Key Issue 2; Chapter 5 Key Issue 4; Chapter 6 Key Issues 2 and 3 Chapter 4 Key Issues 2 and 4; Chapter 6 Key Issue 3

Textbook Chapters and Key Issues

Chapter 8 Key Issue 1 Chapter 8 Key Issue 2 Chapter 8 Key Issue 2 Chapter 8 key Issue 4 Chapter 7 Key Issues 2, 3, and 4; Chapter 8 Key Issue 2 Chapter 8 Key Issue 1 Chapter 8 Key Issue 2 Chapter 8 Key Issue 3 Chapter 8 Key Issue 4 Chapter 7 Key Issue 2 Chapter 7 Key Issue 2; Chapter 8 Key Issues 2 and 3 Chapter 7 Key Issue 4; Chapter 8 Key Issue 4 Chapter 8 Key Issue 2 Chapter 8 Key Issue 4

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