Advanced Placement®
Human Geography
Course Syllabus & Outline
Mrs. Morey
(325)659-3576
Central Freshman Campus
San Angelo ISD
I. Introduction to the Course:
Welcome to AP Human Geography! You have chosen an opportunity to take this advanced College-level course. The course will prepare and challenge you about the multiple aspects, issues, and problems of the physical and human geography of our world. The AP Course is structured according to the course outline found in the most recent AP Human Geography outline published by the College Board*. Take this course only if you are interested in advanced studies in social studies. Upon completion of the College Board exam, students have the potential opportunity to earn credit in their college they attend. This varies by college, degree, and year.
The Texas State Board of Education’s Social Studies TEKS, including Celebrate Freedom Week, in World Geography will also be taught. It must be noted that this course will include state-mandated standards as well as focus on human geographic concepts noted in the College Board AP outline. AP Human Geography exam is made by the College Board and must be taken.
There are 7 major units of study. This course is a yearlong course that focuses on the historical and modern distributions, processes, and effects of human populations. Units of Study include:
● Foundations of Human Geography
● Population and Migration
● Cultural Patterns & Processes: Folk & Popular Culture, Language, Ethnicity, & Religion
● Political Organization of Space
● Agriculture, Food Production and Rural Land Use
● Industrialization and Development
● Urban Patterns
Emphasis is placed on the critical use of multiple perspectives in geographic issues, theories & models, hands-on application, sketch mapping & analysis of case studies. These regional case studies are compared to situations in the U.S. and local issues. It is suggested to be up to date on current issues (Texas, US, and Global).*AP and Advanced Placement is a registered trademark and copyrighted by the College Board.
II. Materials, Texts, and AP Exam:
ALL readings are required. The following is required for this course; it is provided by the school. You are responsible for your assigned textbook. If you lose it you must pay for it. Please see the textbook coordinator and the handbook for further rules on school-textbooks.
Rubenstein, James M. The Cultural Landscape: and Introduction to Human Geography. 11th ed. New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall Pearson Education, Inc., 2014. Information about AP Human Geography: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/sub_humangeo.html
There will be additional readings throughout the course taken from sources such as The Economist, PBS, National Geographic, BBC News, and more. These Readings are mandatory and should be completed on time. Students may be pre-quizzed on readings prior to the lessons. Additional case studies, readings from newspapers from around the world, films, online video clips, aerial and satellite photographs, and field study work will supplement the Course Textbook and AP outline/TEKS.
The AP Exam:
1. The AP Exam is created by the College Board & based on the AP Human Geography Outline. The exam date for this course TBA. SAISD will pay 50% of the fee for the exam, you are responsible for the other 50%. If you need assistance with the fee please see the counseling center. You will receive an AP Exam Preparation Guide & Review. Parents will receive an AP Parent Bulletin in the Spring. It is your responsibility to research on potential colleges, universities (and course credit policies) you wish to receive your AP score(s) & what is required for college credit. It is your responsibility to prepare for the exam. For more information on AP, please see:
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/courses/teachers_corner/8154.html
Other Materials: You will be responsible for your organization. You lose something, too bad, so sad. Do NOT put any papers in your textbook! Important Note – You must bring your textbooks, assignments, & required materials everyday (pending further notice). You may NOT leave the classroom to get any missed assignments or materials. Be prepared at all times!
Highly Suggested:
1. Three-Ring 2 inch Binder to place your work. You must include Dividers.
2. One 1 subject Notebook (any color): This may be collected at any time by your instructor.
3. Post-it notes (any color) and Index Cards.
4. Bring your own pencil sharpener, eraser, highlighter, etc.
5. Wide-Rule Paper: I do not have any!
6. Something to write with: Please! When you wake up every morning, you are going to school – so you need something to write with! Black or Blue Pen, or Pencil Only! No other color will be accepted. I will throw away an assignment if you do and you will be asked to do it again or receive a Zero.
7. At all times your textbook and any assignment(s)/project(s) due that day.
III Grading Policy
There is NO late work in the class. This is an advanced course. Students’ grades are earned! You must put in the work to obtain satisfactory and excellent grades. You will each be individually challenged in this class. Grades are not given to you, you earn them. You always know when something is due. There is no excuse that “you did not know.” This course is weighted, meaning that your Overall GPA may be above a 4.0 if you take this and other future AP Courses and earn top grades. For this reason, this class will include advance topics, challenging assignments, and independent reading. If you know you are going to be absent, you MUST tell the instructor in advance to make arrangements. Students may not “make up” assignments or exams at the end of a grading period to “boost” their grade. You have a three day window however, if you are absent on the day an assignment is due, you need to make arrangements to have the assignment brought to school. I will NOT take late work, this is a district policy and out of my hands. With that in mind, there are times when things are out of your control, come and talk to me face to face, I will see what I can do.
Everything you do in this class from the moment you first step in to the very final second of class in May is worth a grade and essential to understanding the course. You must put your name, date, and “AP HG” on every assignment you turn in. I will toss any assignment without a proper heading into the recycling bin and you will receive a zero.
The course grade is divided into percentages. These percentages are weighted based on the type of assignment. Details about this are listed below
Minor Grades 30%
1. Reading Quizzes & Field Study - Some quizzes will be posted and announced, others will not. Field Studies require you to use and apply geographic skills and knowledge to your own surroundings.
2. In-Class Labs, Socratic Seminars, Sketch Maps, etc.- Students may have access to a computer lab where they complete the Human Geography lab activities and assessments and use Internet sites to analyze geographic issues. The lab has Internet access where students may do research and access course website. Students will engage in high-level discussion sessions, or Socratic Seminars.
Major Grades 70%
1. Major Examinations, Labs, & Writing Assignments - All exams will include, but not be limited to, Multiple Choice questions to help you prepare for the AP Exam, as well as sections based on free-response and critical-thinking questions. You will have many forms of writing in Social Studies, including preparation for this year’s exam.
2. Major Projects and Research Assignments - Students will be given major and challenging unit projects throughout the year that are focused on high-level critical thinking problem-based learning and application. You will NOT pass the semester should you choose to not do the assignments.
Your six weeks grade will be posted in Home Access Center, which both, you and your parent/guardian will have access to. Never ask me for your averages any time during class. There may be times where I will sit with you in a student-teacher conference, or I may call on you and/or your parent/guardian for a conference concerning your grades and/or behavior. Never come to me to “make up all work to boost up your grade. Never come to me to turn in something X days late.
Do not ask for individual extra credit! Enrichment projects and independent work are more than possible in this class. You choose to do those for your own educational interest and professional benefit and not just to get “more points.” The Instructor reserves the right to give students potential extra credit and/or bonus points unannounced. If you are absent on those days you cannot make them up. The Instructor also reserves the right to remove any future opportunities if students abuse such opportunities.
IV. Course Expectations, Rules, Goals, Policies, and Class Philosophy
I have very high expectations from each and every one of you. You will work very hard in this course. You must plan ahead. You will witness and analyze different ways of life and human-environment interactions. You may not agree with the way others live, but you must respect it. Your instructor will not tolerate any form of ridicule, disrespect, or joking around of delicate and different content material. You must learn how to behave in an academic setting. That includes within the classroom and in a digital academic setting. Your instructor will not tolerate any form of misbehavior or misconduct. You must follow the instructors directions and instructions and all times. Disciplinary action, including being asked to leave the course, will follow if a continued pattern of misbehavior, misconduct, and low grades continues. The SAISD School AP Program policies will also be enforced.
Students will work in our classroom “From Bell-to-bell-and Beyond!” And those Bells do NOT Dismiss you. Apathy and disrespect for peers, instructor, and School will not be tolerated. Simply put, if a student follows The Instructor’s Classroom Philosophy, he/she will do just fine!
T. Together, We are a Class,
R. (Be) Respectful, Responsible, and Ready at all times,
U. Unite under our Differences,
S. Share, Sample, Support,
T. Take in Knowledge, but always question more!
You begin the year with a clean slate, for I have no reason not to trust you. However, if this trust is violated, it will be dealt with appropriately and immediately. Be honest and treat each other with respect. I expect each student to be actively ready, respectful, and responsible at all times in and out of our class. I have high expectations, both in grades, attitude, and in a genuine appreciation for the Social Sciences. I expect every student to uphold and follow the School Handbook, as well as my own Classroom Rules and Directions. Students are to follow all current and future posted and announced rules/procedures at all times. Written in this Syllabus is a contract for the students. Everyone will be treated fairly and equally; all must follow the syllabus.
This course features a mixture of: guided lectures with maps, video, film, and case study analyses; lab and group activities; instructional case study assignments; and assessments that include quizzes, class discussions, and examinations that include multiple choice and free-response questions. Problem-based Learning projects and presentation are also a part of the course.
Technology in Education:
You may bring your own device to use in class. Please READ the student handbook regarding your responsibility for there will be digital components to much of the work in this course. Students will use any and all technological devices for the appropriate educational purposes only; the use of such devices is at the discretion of the instructor. If any device is misused students will be asked to put them way or they will be confiscated. The San Angelo ISD Student handbook and school technology use policies apply.
These tools are a privilege not a right. Any and all time given in class with these devices must be used only for in-class assignments, projects, research for the course, or homework for this course only.
Class Policies: These are subject to change and students will be given a notice of any changes.
Work Ethic
I do not accept late work for this Course. There is a “no late” policy in this college-level course because this course is advanced and weighted. No excuses. This will be very, very difficult to get used to, but get used to it now. “Late” means not turning in a completed assignment on-time during class in the appropriate spot before the instructor picks up the assignment and gives the “pick up” warning. You leave it at home, in your parent’s car, etc. and it will not be accepted. I expect every student to turn in all assignments completed and ON TIME. It is not fair for those that followed directions if students that turn in things late get the same score.
You must become responsible, plan ahead, schedule your assignments and due dates appropriately and do not procrastinate. I understand emergencies beyond your control do happen in life. If there is an emergency situation, I must have your reason(s) for not being able to submit an assignment on time written with the date, your signature, and valid reasons BEFORE an assignment is due and a hand-written letter from a parent/guardian attached. We will come up with a way for you to turn in an assignment later. You will have to do this either in the morning or after school. NEVER ask me to discuss such emergency situations during class. Your parent/guardian will receive a contact about this situation. Your instructor is human, so please talk to her and I will come up with a plan of action with your parent/guardian in case of some urgent situations.