ADVANCED PLACEMENT HUMAN GEOGRAPHY

Mr. Stanton E-Mail: Eugene_A_Stanton@mcpsmd.org or

Office Phone: 301-972-7923 Website: http://www.worldjourney.net/phs/

Advance Placement Human Geography Test (Given by College Board) Friday - May 14, 2010

Overview - Course Description

Advance Placement Human Geography is a college level class where students are introduced to the organized study of geographical patterns and progressions that have shaped humanity through the use and alteration of the Earth’s surface. During the year, we will examine human social organization and its environmental consequences on our planet through the use of spatial concepts and landscape analysis. We will study the patterns and processes that have shaped the human understanding of our world. We will evaluate land use and study how humans have changed the topography of the world. Our studies will include the examination of world cultures, human institutions, the effects of new technologies, and world geography. It is my goal to give you the tools to obtain a score on your AP test, which could amount to credit for a 3-credit college course. Strong writing skills and advanced cognitive aptitude are required to succeed on the college level and it is for this reason that these skills will be emphasized in this course.

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-- I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” Robert Frost (1874 - 1963), The Road Not Taken

“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” Mahatma Gandhi (1869 - 1948)

“In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous.” Aristotle (384 BC - 322 BC)

UNITS OF STUDY - Exams & Projects

Evaluation General Subject(s) Approximate Exam Date

Unit 1 Geography: It’s Nature and Perspectives 9/16/09

Unit 2 Population and Migration 10/20/09

Unit 3A Culture and Language 11/16/09

Unit 3B Religion and Ethnicity 12/11/09

Unit 4 Political Geography 1/13/10

Exam Semester Exams 1/15/10 thru 1/22/10

Unit 5 Agriculture 2/16/10

Unit 6A Development and Industry 3/11/10

Unit 6B Resource Issues 3/25/10

Unit 7 Services & Urban Patterns 4/30/10

Test Prep AP Test Study, Writing Practice, and actual AP Test 5/3/10 thru 5/13/10

Main Exam Advance Placement Test (Given by College Board) 05/14/10

Projects Due Final Projects 5/17/10 thru 6/8/10

* Note: Dates are approximate and may be changed at the discretion of the Teacher, the Administration, the College Board, or MCPS for a variety of reasons.

Course Objectives

Examine the discipline of geography, including its tools, themes, and concepts.
Utilize and evaluate maps and spatial data.
Define regions and evaluate the regionalization process.
Characterize and analyze changing interconnections among places.
Evaluate geographic problems on the global, national, and local scale.
Identify and interpret at different scales the relationships among patterns and processes.
Assess the nature and significance of phenomena that occur in the same place.
Analyze the diversity of global cultures and their economic characteristics.
Recognize how tastes and values, political regulations, and economic constraints work together to create particular types of cultural landscapes.
Examine how cultural landscapes are shaped and how they change over time.

Grading Format (Per Quarter)

Your final grade is based on your capacity to demonstrate your ability to perform the objectives and required skills for each unit. You will be assessed based on value points on the basis of unit exams, essays (short essays & extended essays), on-line exercises, worksheets, projects, quizzes, notebooks, research papers & presentations, group presentations, group projects, cases studies, simulations, on-line quizzes and homework assignments.

Type of Evaluation Percentage % Value

Summative Assessments (This includes mostly Unit Exams, 40%

but may also include Research Papers and Research Presentations)

Formative Assessments (Quizzes, Essays, Worksheets, Projects, 50%

Simulations, Case Studies, Notebooks, Group Projects, and

Group Presentations.)

Homework (Graded on accuracy or quality in relation to established 10%

learning outcomes. This includes on-line quizzes and exercises)

There will be due dates and deadlines for assignments; if you turn in an assignment after the due date but before the deadline, you will be penalized one letter grade. Assignments turned in after the deadline will receive a grade of E.

Essays

From time to time, you will be given an essay to complete at home that critiques a subject of discussion. Sometimes the assignment will be given as a handout and other times it will come from the companion website to the book. Assignments given as handouts need to be hand written. On-line assignments need to be typed and they my be submitted electronically or by hand the next day. DON’T TRUST THE COMPUTER OR THE INTERNET – MAKE SURE TO KEEP A COPY OF ALL YOUR WORK!

Worksheets

You will receive a set of worksheets and an on-line assignment for each chapter. These assignments will normally be due the next day of class. Unless specifically noted by the teacher, the assignment is an individual obligation. Collaboration with other classmates will not help you learn the material and will be considered cheating. Cheating is a serious offence and all parties will receive a 0, without exception.

Quizzes

It can be argued that your greatest tool for success in this course is the textbook. It is for this reason that you will be quizzed after each reading assignment. Quizzes may be given in any format and can vary in duration. Each reading assignment will be one chapter in length. You are highly encouraged to read the chapter more than once in order to help you understand and retain the large amounts of information in each chapter. You will also be given an assignment to complete an on line quiz or two.

Research Paper & Presentations

You many be given and assignment to research and write a paper. The paper will need to be a least 5 pages and no more than 8 pages. A coversheet and a bibliography will need to be attached and will not be included in the minimum and maximum page requirements. All research papers must be typed and double-spaced in no larger, or smaller, than a font equivalent in size to a 12point “Times New Roman.” Late Research Papers Will Not Be Accepted After The Deadline! (See the MCPS Policy statement in the rules section.) A minimum of six sources will be required. You will also need to give a short presentation on the findings of your paper. You are expected to find an interesting and unique way to present your findings to the class. Understand that I am very Internet savvy and I do check for plagiarism. Plagiarism is illegal and unethical! A paper with any degree of plagiarism will receive a grade of 0! (All research subjects must be cleared with me.)

Notebook

This is a collection of all your work in this course. You must keep all your work, neatly in this notebook, regardless of the previous grade received. The notebook is your study guide for the AP Exam. You need a 2-inch binder with six dividers. Notebooks may be checked without warning, so it must be brought to class everyday. There will be a deduction for any missing work. All work must be dated and in chronological order.

Dividers must be properly labeled as follows: **Remember to keep a hard copy of everything you do.

1. “Class Notes” 3. “Essay’s 5. “Worksheets” (Including on-line exercises)

2. “Handouts” 4. “Quizzes” (Including On-line) 6. “Other.” (Homework & class work not noted)

Group Presentations

You will be assigned to a group as we cover each chapter or unit. Groups will be given a topic on selected case studies from each chapter or unit in the book. Groups will be expected to find an interesting and unique way to present their findings to the class. This can be anything from a simple presentation using the board or audio-visual materials, to a game or short skit. Groups may utilize the assistance of the teacher or fellow classmates in their presentations. The use of audio-visual materials is highly encouraged. Late presentations will not be permitted! (See MCPS Policy) Groups will be given a specific day that their presentation is due and will vary in size and composition. Therefore you may not work with the same people all the time. Grades will be given individually, based on the individual contribution of each participant. For grading purposes, each person must have evidence of their participation.

Projects

Occasionally you will be given an assignment to complete, as homework, during class, in the Media Center, or in one of the Computer Labs. It is your responsibility to make sure that you have a current and active school computer password. If you do not have an active password now, you need to register for one before or after school with-in a week of the start of class.

Class Discussion

It is critical that everyone participate in class discussions and class activities in order to get a variety of viewpoints on the subjects that we will be covering. Class discussions are an integral part of this course and every student is required to respond when questioned and encouraged to give input to class discussions.

Reassessment

The opportunity for reassessment of quizzes will be offered for a maximum of two quizzes each quarter, provided the student has completed all work associated with the chapter quiz being reassessed and quiz corrections have been properly completed. Reassessments must be taken within three days of the original quiz. The reassessment grade will replace the original grade with no exceptions. Make-ups must be taken during lunch.

Late Work

Please note that MCPS guidelines state that late work received prior to the deadline will receive a 10% deduction in grade. In accordance to MCPS policy, late work submitted after the deadline will receive a zero grade. Extenuating circumstances, like a death in the family or a serious illness will be considered on an individual, one-time only basis, if allowed under MCPS policy. This rule will be strictly adhered to, so these circumstances must be exceptional and allowable under the MCPS policy. Please be aware that MCPS policy does not allow teachers to give extra credit for any reason; therefore, it is important to do your work properly and to turn it in early or on time.

Important information if you are Absent

You are responsible for the material discussed in class, this includes days you are absent. Quizzes may be excused, but tests will not. Make-up tests are your responsibility. When you return remind me that you need a make-up test. Make-up tests will be different and have a different format than the original test. They also must be given with-in the MCPS designated allotted days. It is your responsibility to pick up your assignments and turn in your work the day after you return from any excused absence. Being absent from class does not excuse you from doing the assignment. It is your responsibility to collect and complete missed assignments when you are absent.

EXTRA HELP AND COMMUNICATION

Course Grades will be posted on Edline and Course information can always be found at my website: www.worldjourney.net/phs. I am available during lunch daily and periodically before and after school.

Seven Simple Rules

I) Be on time each day. When the bell rings, you must be in your seat or well on your way. If you are standing around outside talking, you will be marked tardy.

II) You will be assigned a seat and will be expected to sit in that seat each day. If you are sitting in an unassigned seat, you may be marked absent.

III) Be prepared. Bring paper, pen or pencil and your notebook to class each day. You will not be permitted to go to your locker or to another classroom to get your notebook or assignments once class has started.

IV) Do not bring food, drink, or gum into the classroom. Let’s keep our school clean. It’s an issue of pride.

V) It is your responsibility to make sure that your assignments are completed and turned in on time.

VI) No one will be allowed to sleep (or put their head down) in class. If you have a health issue, please let me know. Your privacy will be completely respected.

VII) School rules will be adhered to strictly. You are expected to know them and follow them. Any variation will result in immediate disciplinary action.

Books

The text for the course is An Introduction to Human Geography: The Cultural Landscape 8^th Edition, by James M. Rubenstein, 2005, published by Pearson/Prentice Hall in Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.

A Supplemental book for this course is: People in Places: A Documentary Case-Study Workbook, by Philip E. Steinberg and Kathleen Sherman-Morris, 2005, published by Pearson/Prentice Hall in Upper Saddle River, New Jersey

The Atlas for this class is The World Almanac World Atlas, 2006, published by Hammond World Atlas Corporation

Companion Website

We will also use the Person Education Companion Website for The Cultural Landscape: An Introduction to Human Geography 8th Edition at http://wps.prenhall.com/esm_rubenstein_humangeo_8/0,9140,1362726-,00.html

Supplementary Resources

There are two sources that really help to illustrate geographical concepts. I subscribe to both and will use articles that help explain current geographic issues such as population, urban and rural issues, issues that relate to agriculture, globalization, industrialization, emerging nations, religions, and culture. These sources are National Geographic Magazine and the Washington Post. Both sources often have great maps and graphs to explain these important concepts.

Electronic Resources

Here is a sampling of websites that we will use in class to make maps and learn about critical geographical issues:

National Geographic - http://www.nationalgeographic.com/

Map Machine - http://plasma.nationalgeographic.com/mapmachine/index.html

US Geological Survey - http://www.usgs.gov/

Map Projections Info - http://www.nationalatlas.gov/articles/mapping/a_projections.html

World Atlas - http://www.worldatlas.com/

World Factbook - http://www.theodora.com/wfb/abc_world_fact_book.html

United Nations - http://www.un.org/

Geographia World Travel - http://www.geographia.com/index.html

NASA - http://www.nasa.gov/home/index.html?skipIntro=1

Population Reference Bureau - http://www.prb.org/