AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY

2017 - 2018

INTRODUCTION
Advanced Placement Human Geography presents high school students to the equivalent of an introductory
human or cultural geography college level course. Students will be exposed to a rigorous curriculum that
encourages them to think and process at a higher level. This requires students to embrace college level work
ethic, effort, maturity and discipline to complete the curriculum. The payoff for students’ hard work is the
opportunity to earn college credit by passing the AP exam taken in May. More importantly, the content of an
AP Geography course helps students develop critical thinking skills through the understanding, application and
analysis of the fundamental concepts of geography.

REQUIRED TEXT
1. Human Geography: Culture, Society, and Space, 10th ed. Harm de Blij, Alexander B. Murphy and Erin H.
Fouberg. John Wiley and Sons, 2012.
Text has a student companion and an AP study guide that can be purchased separately.
2. Harm de Blij, Why Geography Matters: More Than Ever. Oxford Press, USA (August 12, 2012) 368 pages
You must purchase separately. Used copies can be found on Amazon, Ebay or similar sites.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
1. Barron’s AP® Human Geography Flash Cards; 2nd Edition, 2013.
2. Barron’s AP® Human Geography; 6th Edition; 2016 Edition by Meredith Marsh
3. Cracking the AP Human Geography Exam, 2017 The Princeton Review
4. Kaplan AP Human Geography, 2016 Edition by Kelly Swanson
5. 5 Steps to a 5 AP Human Geography 2016 Edition by Carol Ann Gillespie
6. AP Human Geography Crash Course All Access by Christian Sawyer, 2011
7. Rubenstein, James M. The Cultural Landscape: An Introduction to Human Geography. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson
Education, Inc., 2013.
8. Domosh, Mona, Roderick P. Neumann, Patricia L. Price, and Terry G. Jordan-Bychkov. The Human Mosaic: The Cultural
Approach to Human Geography. New York: W.H. Freeman and Company, 2011.
9. Kuby, Michael, John Harner, and Patricia Gober. Human Geography in Action. 4th ed. New York: Wiley, 2007. Print.
10. The Power of Place: Geography for the 21st Century. Annenburg Media. Web. [http://www.learner.org/powerofplace/]

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Through AP Human Geography, students are introduced to the systematic study of patterns and processes that
have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of the Earth’s surface. Students will employ spatial
concepts and landscape analysis to analyze human social organization and its environmental consequences.
They will also learn the methods and tools geographers use in their science and practice. This study includes
topics of the nature of perspectives on geography, population, migration, cultural patterns and processes,
language, human identity, religion, political organization of space, cities and urban land use, economic
development, agricultural and rural land use, industrialization, services, human environment, and globalization.
The course will place emphasis on geographic models and their applications and use case studies for
comparative analyses of differing regions. This course teaches the use of spatial concepts and landscape
analysis to examine human organization of space at different scales, ranging from local to global.

COURSE OBJECTIVES
The overall goal of AP Human Geography is to introduce students to the study of geography as a social science
by emphasizing the relevance of geographic concepts to human problems.

This course will:

1. Develop the student’s ability to think about the world in spatial terms.
a. Use maps, tools, and technologies to acquire, process, and report information from spatial perspectives.
b. Use mental maps to organize information about people, places, and environments in a spatial context.
c. Analyze the spatial organization of people, places, and environments on Earth’s surface.
2. Develop the student’s understanding of places and regions.
a. Physical and human characteristics of places.
b. Creation of regions to interpret Earth’s complexity.
c. People’s perceptions of places and regions based on culture and experience.

3. Develop the student’s understanding of physical systems.

a. Determine physical processes that shape the patterns of Earth’s surface.
b. Determine characteristics and spatial distribution of ecosystems on Earth’s surface.

4. Develop the student’s understanding of human systems.

a. Including characteristics, distribution, and migration of human population and settlement.
b. Including characteristics, distribution, and complexity of Earth’s cultural mosaics.
c. Analyze patterns and networks of economic interdependence on Earth’s surface.
d. Analyze forces of cooperation and conflict among people over the division and control of land.

5. Develop the student’s understanding of the environment and society.

a. How human actions modify the physical environment.
b. How physical systems affect human systems.
c. The changes that occur in the meaning, use, distribution, and importance of resources.

6. Develop the student’s understanding of the uses of geography.

a. Applying geography to interpret the past and present to plan for the future.

In addition to the described content, the course will also work to refine important skills. They include
analyzing data, writing, and presenting written and oral arguments. In order to help students master the ability to
write a good essay the course will concentrate on the instruction of several essential skills:
 Effective writing style
 The ability to make arguments
 The ability to evaluate critically and to compare scholarly works
 The ability to synthesize data
 The ability to analyze, interpret, and respond to stimulus-based data including charts, graphs,
cartoons, and quotes

The course will cover a large amount of content since the study of Human Geography is both historical
and contemporary. Therefore, it is essential that students remain aware of what is happening in the world. It is
suggested students read newspapers and news magazines as well as regular viewing of news broadcasts
throughout the course. Students must be able to draw upon factual knowledge in order to exercise analytic skills
intelligently. Solid reading and writing skills, along with a willingness to devote time to independent reading,
homework, and study are necessary to succeed.

CLASSROOM POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Procedure 1: Restroom
The restroom should be used in between classes. In an emergency situation, students needing to leave class for
the restroom or water fountain will need ask and carry the approved hall pass. Passes for other designated areas
will be signed and given by teacher.

Procedure 2: Absenteeism
Any absences in this class will put you behind. If you are absent, it is YOUR responsibility to find out what
you’ve missed – ask before or after class or through email. Since assessments are announced many days in
advance, students should be ready to take the missed assessment the day they return to school. If the absence is
excused, students have FIVE school days from the last missed day to make up any work. DO NOT FAIL TO
TAKE TESTS. They weigh heavily on your grade. Tests not taken in a timely manner will be altered to an
essay style test. I also suggest students find a “buddy” in class to contact if you are absent or to study with at
home.
Procedure 3: Submission of Assignments
Course assignments will be completed in your course notebook. ALL assignments will include your name, date,
class period, assignment title and page number on ALL pages of the assignment. Work will not be accepted
beyond the scheduled time and date in class. Any work not submitted on time will receive a zero.

Procedure 4: Classroom Behavior

The classroom is a learning environment where all sincere ideas are respected and entertained. Any form of
bullying or disrespectful attitude towards other people, their property, or their ideas will not be tolerated.
Furthermore, when you enter the classroom, I expect classroom/library behavior. You are considered a college
student when in my classroom and I expect you to act and engage like responsible individuals. At the end of the
class, DO NOT line up at the door. All trash must be thrown away before you are dismissed. All assigned
textbooks must be taken home every day or placed back on the bookshelves.

Procedure 5: Electronic Devices

We will be using iPads and laptops during class periods. Students will only use electronics with teacher consent
and should remain on task during these times. If any electronic devices become distractions during class time, I
reserve the right to take such items. Unless I specifically ask for an assignment to be completed on your iPad or
computer, I expect that you complete your assignments in your course notebook.

AP EXAMINATION – May 18th, 2018 Arrive at testing site by 730am

The AP Examination in Human Geography is approximately three hours long, and consists of a 60-minute
multiple-choice section and a 75-minute free-response section. Each portion of the examination will account for
50% of the student’s final exam score. If you pass this exam you receive college credit, regardless, this exam
does not affect your report card grades.

ASSESSMENT
Students and parents should not be discouraged if grades seem low at first. This is normal as students adjust to
the rigors and demands of college-level coursework. The key to success in AP Human Geography is consistent
effort and improvement. Student grades are based on the following criteria:
 25% - Classwork/Homework: These assignments consist of independent work, group work, or any other
assignments completed by the student in class or at home. It may consist of notes, vocabulary, short writing
assignments, etc. All notes and vocabulary are mandatory and will be kept in a 1 subject spiral notebook that
will be checked periodically.
 25% - Comprehension Quizzes and Unit Tests: Comprehension Quizzes are administered during each unit.
They provide students with a chance to practice before the Unit Test and address areas they need to study
further. They may be open note at the teacher’s discretion. Unit Tests are administered at the end of each
Unit. They are not open note and are much longer than Comprehension Quizzes. Most quizzes and tests will
be taken online in our virtual classroom on Schoology.
 25% - Unit Free Response Questions: FRQs will have a completion time of 30 mins or less. FRQs are meant
to measure a student’s depth of knowledge in any particular unit. They are completed on paper. Some may
be written with a partner but the end goal is for students to complete accurately and individually.
 25% - Participation: Class Participation grades are given based on attendance and active engagement in the
classroom. Participation includes daily classroom attentiveness, completion of assignments, and following
directions.

Student grades can be checked and followed on Skyward. I will do my best to keep the grades as up to date as
possible. Late assignments will not be accepted unless the student has an excused absence. Grading policies are
subject to change at the discretion of the teacher. If any changes are made, students will be made aware.

Academic integrity will be upheld at all times. Plagiarism of any sort will not be tolerated and will earn a grade
of zero with the potential of disciplinary action. Please see the Code of Conduct.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
Fall Semester Spring Semester
1. Geography: Nature and Perspectives 5. Agricultural and Rural Land Use
2. Population and Migration 6. Industrialization and Economic Development
3. Cultural Practices and Processes 7. Cities and Urban Land Use
4. Political Organization of Space 8. Globalization and Resources

Course by Unit
Please keep in mind there are many assignments listed and we may not complete all of them. I will do my best
to cover content through lecture and research activities in class but ultimately, students must complete the
assigned reading with integrity and proficiency to increase their grades and likeliness of passing the exam.

UNIT 1 De Blij Supplementary Material Assignments

Nature & Perspectives Chapter 1 Resource Maps Summer Reading

5-10% of AP Exam Intro to Human Novel
Geography Map Projection Handouts Summer Mapping
A. Geography as a field of
inquiry, looks at the world
Assignment
from a spatial perspective Video: “Why are we changing Summer Selfies
B. Offers a set of concepts, the maps?”
skills, and tools that facilitate Mapping the World
critical thinking and problem Power of Place Video #1, 2 Assignment & Assessment
solving
C. Provides a foundation for
analyzing world patterns and Unit Vocabulary
processes
D. Geospatial technologies What is Home?
increase the capability for
gathering and analyzing
geographic information with
Cultural Landscape
applications to everyday life Analysis
E. Field experiences continue to
be important means of Autobiographical Mapping
gathering important
geographic information and
data
Orange Peel Projection,
Projection Worksheet

UNIT 2 De Blij Supplementary Material Assignments

Population Chapter 2 Current State of the World Unit Vocabulary

13-17% of AP Exam Population Population Videos
What’s Your Number?
A. Knowledge of geographic
patterns and characteristics of
Chapter 3 Hans Rosling Videos
human populations facilitates Migration Baby-O-Matic and
understanding of cultural, Human Geography in Action: Discussion
political, economic, and The Hidden Momentum of
urban systems Population Growth (India) Country Profile Assignment
B. Population growth and
decline over time and space
C. Causes and consequences of Population Pyramid
migration are influenced by Analysis
 cultural, demographic, Crash Course: Population
economic, environmental, Ecology, Population Pyramids, DTM Speeding Dating
and political factors
DTM
Great Migrations Research
Population Pyramid and and Presentations
Demographic Transition
Model Videos Cholera Outbreak!

The Great Immigration FRQs

Debate: Arizona Laws

Power of Place Video #14, 25

Movie Night:
Half the Sky

UNIT 3 De Blij Supplementary Material Assignments

Cultural Patterns & Chapter 4 Videos: Unit Vocabulary

Processes Local Culture, National Geographic: Too
13-17% of AP Exam Popular Young to Wed Pop Culture Landscape
Culture, and Child Brides Project
A. Concepts of culture frame the
shared behaviors of a society
Cultural Apartheid Explained
B. Culture varies by place and Landscapes Taboos Explained Who Am I? Collage
region
Chapter 5 Crash Course: Ethnic Conflict Case
Identity: Race, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism Studies
Ethnicity,
Gender, & The Fight for Jerusalem Dead Languages Research
Sexuality Assignment
Power of Place Video #4, 7,
Chapter 6 10, 17 Philosophical Chairs:
Language Language
Movie Night:
Chapter 7 Not Without My Daughter Language Internet Research
Religion Whale Rider Project
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
My Fair Lady Comparative Religion
Seven Years in Tibet Worksheet & Trading Cards
Bend it Like Beckham
FRQs

UNIT 4 De Blij Supplementary Material Assignments

Political Organization Chapter 8 Evolution of Contemporary Unit Vocabulary

13-17% of AP Exam Political Political Patterns
Geography State, Nation, and
A. Contemporary political maps The New York Times Upfront: Colonization Review
have been shaped by events Proxy Wars
of the past
B. Spatial political patterns Cold War Review
reflect ideas of territoriality Power of Place Video #3, 19
and power at a variety of Systems of Government
scales
C. Forces of globalization
Videos: USA/Canada Border, Poster
challenge contemporary Gerrymandering, What is the
political-territorial EU? Centripetal and Centrifugal
arrangements Forces Case Study Poster
Movie Night:
Gandhi UN Internet Research
Ghosts of Rwanda Scavenger Hunt
Hotel Rwanda
The Question of Turkey,
BREXIT?

Supranationalism Research

Model UN

UNIT 5 De Blij Supplementary Material Assignments

Agriculture and Rural Land
Use
13-17% of AP Exam
A. Development of agriculture
led to widespread alteration
of the natural environment
B. Major agricultural regions
reflect physical geography
and economic forces
C. Settlement patterns and rural
land use are reflected in the
cultural landscape
D. Changes in food production
and consumption present
challenges and opportunities
Chapter 11 Types of Agriculture Matching Unit Vocabulary
Agriculture
The Green Revolution Fill in the Blank Notes
in India
USA Agriculture Mapping
Two US
Commodity Chains: Poultry & Global Farmer’s Market
Pork
Trip to the Grocery Store!
The Meatrix
Green Revolution Reading
Power of Place Video #6, 21, Assignment & 1 Pager
25
Film: King Corn & Handout

UNIT 6 De Blij Supplementary Material Assignments

Industrialization & Chapter 10 Crash Course: Industrial Unit Vocabulary

Economic Development Development Revolution and Hotelling’s
13-17% of AP Exam Model Rostow’s Ladder of
Chapter 12 Development
A. The Industrial Revolution, as Industry & Weber's Theory of Industrial
it diffused from its heath, Services Location Contrasting Development
facilitated improvements in Models
standards of living
B. Measures of development are
Rostow's Theory of Industrial
used to understand patterns Development Analysis Industrial Centers Mapping
of social and economic Handout
 differences at a variety of How Can Entrepreneurs
scales Power of Place Video #5, 9 Control Costs Worksheet
C. Development is a process
that varies across space and
time
Industrial Location Project
D. Sustainable development is a
strategy to address resource Is Wal-Mart Good for
depletion and environmental America?
degradation

UNIT 7 De Blij Supplementary Material Assignments

Cities and Urban Land Use Chapter 9 New York Times Upfront Unit Vocabulary
13-17% of AP Exam Urban Magazine March 31, 2014
Geography Move or Else Urban Game/City Planning
A. The form, function, and size with Urban Development
of urban settlements are Power of Place Video Discussion
constantly changing #12, 16
B. Models help to understand
the distribution and size of
Urban Models Review
cities Movie Night: Poster
C. Models of internal city City of Joy
structure and urban Slumdog Millionaire
development provide a
framework for urban analysis
D. Built landscapes and social
space reflect the attitudes and
values of a population
E. Urban areas face economic,
social, political, cultural, and
environmental challenges

UNIT 8 De Blij Supplementary Material Assignments

Environmental Geography Chapter 13 Planet & Humanity,

Human Environmental Change, Confronting Change, Policy
Selected Sections of the AP Exam Environment Human Impacts Responses

Power of Place Video #22, 26

Movie Night:
The Day After Tomorrow
An Inconvenient Truth

UNIT 9 De Blij Supplementary Material Assignments

Globalization Chapter 14 Power of Place Video #15, 20

Globalization
Selected Sections of the AP Exam and the
Geography of
Networks
 ®
AP Human Geography

My student, _________________________, has decided to endeavor through AP® Human Geography. As a

result, I have reviewed their course syllabus together with them in order to understand expectations. I feel
comfortable with the rigor, content, evaluation, instructional strategies, and general expectations of the course. I
understand that there will be daily course readings, homework assignments, and multiple group projects. I agree
to support my student by checking Skyward to review their grades and attendance frequently. I will encourage
my student to practice organization strategies, time management, and maintain perfect attendance only missing
class when absolutely necessary.

I, _________________________, have decided to endeavor through AP® Human Geography. As a result, I

have reviewed the course syllabus in order to understand class expectations. I feel comfortable with the rigor,
content, evaluation, instructional strategies, and general expectations of the course. I recognize that there will be
daily course readings, homework assignments, and projects I will be required to complete. I understand I will
need to maintain academic integrity at all times, manage my time successfully, and absences should be kept to a
minimum to avoid falling behind. If at any point I should need support in the course, I should seek help from
my teacher, peers, and resources.

Students, please retain the syllabus in your class notebook or binder and RETURN THIS PAGE TO
MRS. MAURO by August 16th, 2017.

Guardian (sign) _______________________________ Student (sign) _________________________________

Guardian (print) ______________________________ Student (print) _________________________________

Parent Email _____________________________________________________________________________

Phone ___________________________________________________________________________________

Video Permission Form

We will be viewing several films or clips of films over the course of the school year that may contain adult
material and subject matter as this is a college level course. Most movies will be rated PG or PG-13 but some
films may have an R-Rating. These movies have been selected to illustrate key issues with a direct relation to
the content of the course and the students will receive adult supervision and guidance during the films.
If your child has permission to view the video, please sign below. If not, please contact me at
mauros@lake.k12.fl.us

_____________________________________ (Parent Signature)