AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY

Course Syllabus

Mrs. Rains

rainsm@apps.anderson1.org

Room: 417

Wren High School

1) CONTACT INFORMATION

Web Site: http://www.anderson1.k12.sc.us/Domain/1543

School Phone Number: (864) 850-5900

School Address: 905 Wren School Road

Piedmont, SC 29673

“Office Hours”: 7:00-7:45 am

3:00-4:00 pm

2) RULES

Code of Conduct Create and maintain a safe and positive learning environment

Show respect for the environment, others, and oneself

Come to school prepared to learn

Act responsibly

Have fun learning

iPads are only allowed to be used in class when specified by the instructor.

You may NOT take photos or videos with your iPad, phone, or any other device without express consent. **DICIPLINE CODES OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND WREN HIGH WILL BE ENFORCED.**

3) REQUIRED CLASS MATERIALS

iPad (CHARGED)

Stylus Writing Tool

Headphones

3-Ring Binder

Black or Blue Pens

4) GRADING PROCEDURES (100 Point Scale)

MAJOR GRADES (Tests / Projects/Papers) 70%

MINOR GRADES (Quizzes / Homework / Class work) 30%

GRADES ARE ASSIGNED AS INDICATED HERE:

100-90% A

89-80% B

79-70% C

69-60% D

59-0% F

5) METHODS OF INSTRUCTION

Lecture

Class Discussions

Small Group and Individual Work

Current Events

Projects

Videos, Music

6) COURSE OVERVIEW AP Human Geography is a yearlong course that focuses on the distribution, processes, and effects of human populations on the

planet [C2]. This course is designed based on the seven units of study developed by the AP College Board in the course outline.

SEVEN UNITS OF STUDY: [C1]

Geography: Its Nature and Perspectives

Population

Cultural Patterns and Processes

Political Organization of Space

Agricultural and Rural Land Use

Industrialization and Economic Development

Cities and Urban Land Use

COURSE GOALS:

C1 – The course provides a systematic study of human geography including the following topics outlined in the Course

Description:

o Nature of and Perspectives on Geography

o Population

o Cultural Patterns and Processes

o Political Organization of Space

o Agricultural and Rural Land Use

o Industrialization and Economic Development

o Cities and Urban Land Use

C2 – The course teaches the use of spatial concepts and landscape analysis to examine human organization of space.

C3 – The course teaches spatial relationships at different scales ranging from the local to the global.

C4 – The course teaches students how to use and interpret maps, data sets, and geographic models. GIS, aerial

photographs, and satellite images, though not required, can be used effectively in this course.

7) TEXTS USED

Main Text:

Rubenstein, James M. The Cultural Landscape: An Introduction to Human Geography. 7th ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J.:

Prentice Hall, 2002.

Additional Texts, Primary & Secondary Sources Will Be Used Throughout the Year

8) UNIT OUTLINE: [C1]

Syllabus, Course Requirements, Summer Reading o DESCRIPTION: This unit is designed for the first two weeks of school. The goal is to provide students with an

understanding of what is required in this course and prepare them for the topics ahead. o ACTIVITIES:

Discuss syllabus and course calendar.

Discuss requirements and strenuous nature of the coursework.

Introduce Socratic Seminar.

Conduct seminar regarding summer reading assignment. The summer reading assignment was Outcasts United.

This reading assignment is beneficial because it interests the students and touches on many of the seven units of

study [C1]. Students receive some knowledge about population, cultural patterns and processes, and political

organization of space.

Provide students with AP Topic Outline and discuss with them which 7 units of study they encountered in their

summer reading ( i.e. population, cultural patterns and processes).

Introduce Free-Response Questions.

Unit 1: Nature of and Perspectives on Geography o DESCRIPTION: This unit focuses on Geography: Its Nature and Perspectives unit of study. The unit discusses main

geographical concepts including geography as a field of inquiry, notable geographers, location, scale, space, place,

pattern, regionalization, maps, data usage, technological advances (GPS, GIS), and globalization.

o ACTIVITIES: Lecture notes highlighting Geography: Its Nature and Perspectives [C1] including geography as a field of

inquiry, notable geographers, location, scale, space, place, pattern, regionalization, maps, data usage,

technological advances (GPS, GIS), and globalization.

Mapping skills: latitude, longitude, compass directions, landforms

Basic concepts: themes of geography, physical geography, political geography

Assignments and quizzes assessing these skills.

Unit2: Population and Migration o DESCRIPTION: This unit focuses on the population unit of study. This unit covers the geographical analysis of

population including but not limited to: density, distribution, migration, hazards, and patterns.

o ACTIVITIES: Read Rubenstein, Ch. 2–3 – 2 Reading quizzes.

Complete both textbook vocabulary and the additional vocabulary provided by teacher – Test on all vocabulary.

Lecture notes highlighting Population [C1] including distribution, scale, patterns, density, natural hazards,

historical trends, demographic models, push and pull factors, population policies and their effects, major

voluntary and involuntary migrations, and local movements.

Case Study 3: Population Pyramid

Timed Free Response Question on Population and Migration

Current Events on Population and Migration

Conclude with unit exam using AP exam format (multiple choice, free-response questions).

Unit 3: Cultural Patterns and Processes o DESCRIPTION: This unit focuses on the cultural patterns and processes unit of study. This unit of study is broken into

two parts (units). This first unit discusses concepts of culture and identity. This unit includes the following topics but is

not limited to: traits, diffusion, gender, language, religion, and cultural landscapes.

o ACTIVITIES:

Read Rubenstein, Ch. 4–6 – 3 Reading quizzes.

Complete both textbook vocabulary and additional vocabulary provided by teacher – Tes on all vocabulary.

Lecture notes highlighting Cultural Patterns and Processes [C1] including concepts of culture, cultural

differences, cultural landscapes, cultural attitudes, and cultural identity.

Timed Free Response Question on Cultural Patterns and Processes.

Class Activity-Dialect Assignment

Case Study 4: Culture Traits of your Culture Sub Region – This case study has students thinking of the culture

in their region and comparing both nationally and globally. [C2, C3]

Case Study 5: Mapping your Culture – This case study has students mapping the culture in their county using

dot maps. They will focus on languages and religions. [C2, C3, C4]

Conclude with unit exam using AP exam format (multiple choice, free-response questions).

Unit 4: Political Organization of Space o DESCRIPTION: This unit focuses on the political organization of space unit of study. This unit discusses the following

topics but is not limited to: territorial dimensions, evolution of political patterns, and electoral geography.

o ACTIVITIES:

Read Rubenstein, Ch. 7-9 – 3 Reading quizzes.

Complete both textbook vocabulary and the additional vocabulary provided by teacher – Test on all vocabulary.

Lecture notes highlighting Political Organization of Space [C1] including territoriality, territorial dimensions,

evolution of political patterns, electoral geography, and challenges to inherited political-territorial arrangements.

Timed Free Response Question concerning Political Organization of Space.

Case Study 6: The Rise of Nationalism and the Fall of Yugoslavia – This case study has students distinguish

between nations and states and the advantages of regional autonomy through critically analyzing news stories

on ethnic conflicts around the world. [C2, C4]

Conclude with unit exam using AP exam format (multiple choice, free-response questions).

Unit 5: Agricultural and Rural Land Use

o DESCRIPTION: This unit focuses on the region agricultural and rural land use unit of study. This unit discusses the

following topics but is not limited to: development and diffusion of agriculture, major agricultural production regions,

and rural land use.

o ACTIVITIES:

Read Rubenstein, Ch. 10—1 reading quiz.

Complete both textbook vocabulary and the additional vocabulary provided by teacher– Test on all vocabulary.

Lecture notes highlighting Agricultural and Rural Land Use [C1] including development and diffusion of

agriculture, agricultural revolutions, major agricultural production regions, settlement patterns and rural land

use, von Thünen’s model, and modern commercial agriculture.

Timed Free Response Question concerning Industrialization and Economic Development.

Case Study 7: Global Sources for your Local Supermarket – This case study has students collect primary data

in their local supermarket and using the data to describe local and global agricultural patterns. [C2, C3]

Conclude with unit exam using AP exam format (multiple choice, free-response questions).

Unit 6: Industrialization and Economic Development o DESCRIPTION: This unit focuses on the industrialization and economic development unit of study. This unit covers the

following topics but is not limited to: key concepts in industrialization, growth and diffusion of industrialization, and

impacts of industrialization and development.

o ACTIVITIES:

Read Rubenstein, Ch. 11-12 – 2 Reading quizzes

Complete both textbook vocabulary and the additional vocabulary provided by teacher – Test on all vocabulary.

Lecture notes highlighting Industrialization and Economic Development [C1] including key concepts in

industrialization, growth and diffusion of industrialization, and impacts of industrialization and development.

Timed Free Response Question regarding Agricultural and Rural Land Use

Case Study 8: Is Walmart Good for America? – This case study has students evaluate the benefits and

disadvantage of Walmart both domestically and abroad. [C2, C3, C4]

Conclude with unit exam using AP exam format (multiple choice, free-response questions).

Unit 7: Cities and Urban Land Use/Globalization o DESCRIPTION: This unit focuses on the cities and urban land use unit of study. This unit discusses the following topics

but is not limited to: urbanism, origin and evolution of cities, functional character of contemporary cities, and built

environment and social space.

o ACTIVITIES:

Read Chapter Rubenstein, Ch. 13-14 – 2 Reading Quizzes.

Complete both textbook vocabulary and the additional vocabulary provided by teacher– Test on all vocabulary.

Lecture notes highlighting Cities and Urban Land Use [C1] including globalization, urbanism, origin and

evolution of cities, functional character of contemporary cities, and built environment and social space.

Timed Free Response Question concerning Cities and Urban Land Use.

Case Study 9: Census Tract Data – This case study has students use electronic data from the U.S. Census

Bureau to understand land use patterns and trends in today’s cities. [C2, C3, C4]

Conclude with unit exam using AP exam format (multiple choice, free-response questions).

AP Exam Review o DESCRIPTION: This unit focuses on reviewing the key concepts and vocabulary that surround the seven units of study.

Students will focus on the seven units and the structure of the AP exam.

o ACTIVITIES:

Practice Exams

Vocabulary Review Games

Partnered Analysis of seven units

Review of test structure and scoring

9) ABSENTEE POLICY

All students are responsible for getting and making up all missed assignments, notes, worksheets, etc. You have the same number of

days to make up the work you missed as the number of days that you were absent. All missed work MUST be MADE UP before the

nine weeks ends NO EXCEPTIONS OR EXCUSES!

Student Signature:__________________________________________________________ Date:__________

Parent/Guardian Signature:__________________________________________________ Date:__________