AP Human Geography Syllabus

Transcription

1 AP Human Geography Syllabus Textbook The Cultural Landscape: An Introduction to Human Geography. Rubenstein, James M. 10 th Edition. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall 2010 Course Objectives This course, AP Human Geography, is constructed to introduce students to the systematic study of patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, human use or/ and human alteration of the Earth s surface. Students will learn and employ the methods of geographers. These include observation, mapmaking, data gathering and reporting, and technical writing. Students will also learn how to employ spatial concepts, geographic vocabulary, and landscape interpretation to a variety of locations and situations around the globe as well as in local areas. Overall, students will develop a geographic perspective in their manner of thinking with which to view the landscape of the world and better understand current events. Teaching Strategies This course is taught as a survey course and as such students are expected to keep up with readings and be prepared for classroom discussion. Periodic quizzes/test requiring a summary of the assigned readings are given to ensure students meet these responsibilities. In the area of instruction, this course features a mixture of : Lectures Cooperative Groups Computer Labs Reading Quizzes Discussion of key terms and concepts Examination of case studies Practice of key geographical skills Instructional video Student PowerPoint presentations Biweekly Current Issue individual/group work Practice of written expression of free response questions

2 COURSE OBJECTIVES: The learner will be able to Use and think about maps and spatial data sets. 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 interconnections among places. Four Habits of Mind are addressed by any rigorous social studies course: 1. Constructing and evaluating arguments: using evidence to make plausible arguments. 2. Using documents and other primary data: developing the skills necessary to analyze point of view, context, and bias, and to understand and interpret information. 3. Developing the ability to assess issues of change and continuity over time. 4. Enhancing the capacity to handle diversity of interpretations through analysis of context, bias, and frame of reference. Three Habits of Mind are addressed by a Human Geography course: 1. Seeing global patterns over time and space while also acquiring the ability to connect local developments to global ones and to move though levels of generalizations from the global to the particular. 2. Developing the ability to compare within and among societies, including comparing societies reactions to global processes. 3. Developing the ability to assess claims of universal standards yet remaining aware of human commonalities and differences: putting culturally diverse ideas and values in geographical and historical context, not suspending judgment but developing understanding. The Exam At the conclusion of the course, students will take the AP Exam. A score of 3, 4, or 5 (on a 1-5 scale) is accepted for credit at most colleges and universities. The exam is 2 hours 15 minutes in length a multiple-choice section (75 questions in 60 minutes) and a free response section (3 essays in 75 minutes). Teaching strategies will prepare students for AP test in May.

3 Student Assessment At the end of each grading period students grades will be compiled and measured. A grade will be assigned according to the following: Percentage-Based Scores A B C D F Course Outline The outline by no means show everything which will be covered in the course, nor will it show exact dates, only estimations on how long it will require to teach each unit. I believe flexibility is required in the planning of a high school course, especially at the AP level. The purpose of this outline is to provide a guideline and pacing for instruction. Geography: Its Nature and Perspectives (2 weeks) Readings Rubenstein, Chapter 1: Thinking Geographically define geography and human geography have a better understanding of place interpret many components of mapmaking develop connections with place and region identify advantages and disadvantages of different projections Population Geography (4 weeks) Readings Rubenstein, Chapter 2: Population & Chapter 3: Migration understand population distribution quantify fertility and mortality rates interpret population regional surplus understand Malthus theory why people migrate why those who migrate face obstacles understand cultural problems faced with living in other countries identify migration between regions and countries

4 Cultural Patterns and Processes (4 weeks) Readings Rubenstein, Chapter 4: Folk and Popular Culture & Chapter 5 Language identify origins of folk and popular culture understand why folk cultures cluster explain diffusion of popular culture and its influence on individual lifestyles understand the origins diffusion of English describe the importance of people s preservation of local language discuss the diffusion of Indo-European language explain the distribution of major language families worldwide Political Organization of Space (7 weeks) Readings Rubenstein, Chapter 6: Religion, Chapter 7: Ethnicity & Chapter 8: Political Geography understand universalizing and ethnic religions explain origin and diffusion of religions discuss religion versus government policies explain why different ethnic groups clash understand ethnic cleansing describe the ethnic conflict in Rwanda understand the importance of borders discuss the problems with boundaries explain political, military, and economic cooperation describe effects of terrorism in a given region Economic Development (3 weeks) Reading Rubenstein, Chapter 9: Development explain the economic indicators of development describe fair trade discuss the obstacles of development explain the social indicators of development explain gender empowerment Agriculture and Rural Land Use (3 weeks) Reading Rubenstein, Chapter 10: Agriculture understand the origins of agriculture explain Grain Farming discuss classifying agricultural regions explain rural landscape analysis

5 Industrialization (3 weeks) Reading Rubenstein, Chapter 11: Industry explain why do industries have different distributions compare and contrast pre-industrial, industrial, and post-industrial life and landscape explain new industrial regions describe Free Trade in North America Cities and Urban Land Use (4 weeks) Readings Rubenstein, Chapter 12: Services & Chapter 13: Urban Patterns describe service in contemporary rural settlements explain Market Area analysis be able to locate Central Business Districts discuss the Hierarchy of Business services define Urban Settlements explain Urbanization describe inner-city economic problems explain Local Government Fragmentation Looking Ahead (2 weeks) Reading Rubenstein, Chapter 14: Resource Issues explain the depletion of mineral resources describe the causes of air pollution identify renewable resources debate preservation versus conservation understand the issues of sustainable development