AP Human Geography ~ 2015 Summer Syllabus & Assignment

Mr. Joe Raiti –

Course Description

The Advanced Placement Human Geography course reflects the content of a typical college level survey introductory course in human geography. Through the five goals of the course, students will refine their analytical and problem solving skills using creative and critical thinking to develop abilities to:

  • Interpret maps and analyze geospatial data.
  • Understand and explain the implications of associations and networks among phenomena in places.
  • Recognize and interpret the relationships among patterns and processes at different scales of analysis.
  • Define regions and evaluate the regionalization process.
  • Characterize and analyze changing interconnections among places.

These skills will be practiced and mastered through the investigation of seven interdependent units of study as outlined by the College Board Advanced Placement Human Geography course description. Throughout these units, students will examine current trends in geography as well as geography related careers. The units of study with approximate percentages on the AP exam and estimated time frames are:

UNIT OF STUDY % of AP Exam Time

I / Geography: Its Nature and Perspectives / 5 – 10 % / 3 weeks
II / Population / 13 – 17% / 5 weeks
III / Cultural Patterns and Processes / 13 – 17% / 4 weeks
IV / Political Organization of Space / 13 – 17% / 5 weeks
V / Agricultural and Rural Land Use / 13 – 17% / 5 weeks
VI / Industrialization and Economic Development / 13 – 17% / 5 weeks
VII / Cities and Urban Land Use / 13 – 17% / 5 weeks
VIII / Test Review and Practice / 3 weeks before test

AP Human Geography is structured as a two-semester course that focuses on the human impact on Planet Earth. Students meet five days a week (5 – 50 minute sessions). Students have daily in-class assignments as well as some form of homework every evening (including weekends), which will include reading the text, writing outlined notes, and creating vocabulary key term note cards. Students should expect to spend approximately 30-60 minutes a night on course homework. Other weekly projects and writing assignments will be announced and posted with expectations and due dates.

Course Objectives

  • To introduce students to the study of patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of the Earth’s surface and atmosphere.
  • To learn about and employ the methods that geographers use, especially observation, mapmaking, data gathering and reporting, technical writing, etc.
  • To apply spatial concepts, geographic vocabulary, and landscape interpretation to a variety of locations and situations around the globe and in local areas.
  • To develop a geographic understanding of historical and current events.

Course Requirements and Expectations

  • Attend class daily, arriving on time. Actively participate in class and complete all work thoroughly.
  • Make up work when absent. It is your responsibility to contact the teacher. Make prior arrangements for planned absences. If you miss a quiz or test, you must come in before or after school to make it up.
  • Keep an organized and complete notebook for the entire year; bring to class daily.
  • Use charts, maps, lecture, and reading notes kept in your notebooks to study for tests. Ask for help if your notebook is incomplete.
  • If possible, form a study group for tests and use study aids such as flash cards to help you master the vocabulary you will encounter on specific assignments.
  • Ask the teacher for help if needed – I am committed to supporting your efforts!
  • Challenge yourself to work hard and maintain high standards.
  • Take advantage of opportunities to redo work for mastery of the course content and skills of the course.
  • Attend review sessions offered in spring semester before the exam on Friday, May 13, 2017.
  • Attend practice test sessions offered in spring semester before the exam on Friday, May 13, 2017.

Primary Textbook

Rubenstein, James M. An Introduction to Human Geography. 10th ed. New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2012.

*Each student will be given a textbook to use for the school year; students may not mark in this school-issued textbook. Textbooks may be purchased online at various websites (Amazon, Half.com, etc.) if students wish to highlight, underline, etc. in their personal book. This is an OPTIONAL purchase only!

Grading

As this is a college level course, there will be no extra credit assignments to substitute for required course work.

Grading Scale

  • 90 – 100: A
  • 80 – 89: B
  • 70 – 79: C
  • 60 – 69: D
  • 0 – 59: F

Grading Policy

The grading distribution is split up into five categories:

1.Tests(100 points each) – Students will be given exams one to two times a quarter to measure their levels of mastery of each chapter covered in class. Tests will be structured in the AP format – with a timed section of multiple-choice questions and timed constructed response questions.

2.Quizzes(25 - 50 points each) – Content quizzes will be administered throughout the course. Please note that quizzes may contain material that was covered previously in an effort to recall important information that may be on the course exam. Although most quizzes will be announced, there will be occasional pop-quizzes.

* NOTE: Students will be given the opportunity to rework incorrect responses on quizzes and submit them for points added onto their original test or quiz grades.

3.Unit Projects or Written Reports(points vary) – Students will be responsible for completing many written assignments throughout the course as well as several projects.

4.Classwork and Homework(points vary) – Students are given classwork assignments each day and homework assignments for each night of the week, including Fridays. Assignments may include, but are not limited to, map work, timelines, assigned readings, chapter outlines, vocabulary identification chards, guided reading questions, debates, seminars, projects, simulations, and research papers using the MLA style.

5.Notebook Check (points vary) – Notebook checks will be given after each unit is completed to make sure students are well organized, taking notes, and saving their class work. Within the binder, students should have a table of contents, as well as ten subject dividers labeled with corresponding work and have an organized, up to date interactive student notebook.

***A detailed syllabus will be given to all AP HuG students the first day of school with a calendar, letter from the teacher, and an academic agreement which BOTH student and parent / guardian must sign and return the following school day.***

AP Human Geography ~ Summer 2016 Assignments

Mr. Joe Raiti ~

Course Supplies

You will need:

3 ring binder – 1” thick for AP Human Geography use ONLY

Notebook paper (college or wide-ruled)

Set of 5 dividers

Blue or black pens

Red pen

Pencils

Set of 12 colored pencils

Summer Assignment #1

Label dividers as follows:

Vocabulary

Notes

Essential Questions

Test Prep Questions

Handouts

Summer Assignment #2

Current Events (Human Geography in the News): Current events will become very important when studying Human Geography. During your summer vacation you will need to read the newspaper, magazines, and Internet news sources for current events.

For each week you will need to do the following:

-Keep a current event folder:

  • In the first week identify 2 current events each that relate to population and/or migration, write (about 2-3 paragraphs on each article) in your journal summarizing and analyzing (your thoughts) about the article and keep the article.
  • The second week do the same as the first but identify 2 articles about culture (folk or popular).
  • The third week do the same as before but identify 2articles (each) about religion and/or language.
  • The fourth week do the same as before and identify 2 articles about ethnicity.
  • The fifth week do the same as before and identify 2 articles about politics and how it relates to geography and identify 2 articles about economics and how it relates to geography.
  • The sixth week do the same and identify 2 articles about agriculture.
  • The seventh week do the same and identify 2 articles about service and industry.
  • The eighth week do the same as before and identify 2 articles that relate to urbanization.
  • You should have a total of 18 articles and summaries.

-You should have a title page with your name, table of contents, the actual article, your summary, and reflection for each journal article. Make sure you included the source of the article (link to website is ok) and date of article!!

-Remember: use valid NEWS websites only, not opinion websites or blogs.

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