AP© Human Geography
Fall Semester Syllabus
Instructors:
Colleen Schmidt
CSCHMID1@Houstonisd.org
Charlie Swenson
CSWENSON@Houstonisd.org
Course Overview:
AP Human Geography is a two semester course designed to fulfill the curriculum of expectations of a one
semester COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY human geography course.
“The purpose of the AP course in Human Geography is to introduce students to the systematic study of patterns
and processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of Earth’s surface. Students employ
spatial concepts and landscape analysis to examine human social organization and its environmental
consequences” (The College Board, 2013).
During the academic year you will be exposed to eight themes surrounding human geography:
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
Geography: Its Nature & Perspective
Population
Cultural Patterns and Processes
Political Organization of Space
Agricultural and Rural Land Use
Industrialization and Economic Development
Cities and Urban Land Use
Human Environment
Course Objectives:
•The student will develop a geographic perspective to better understand the intricate relationship between
peoples and events at varying degrees of scale
•The student will use interpretive abilities to develop spatial concepts at different scales
•The student will use spatial concepts, geographic terminology and landscape analysis to examine human
organization of space at multiple levels of scale.
•The student will use and interpret maps, data sets, and geographic models from different sources to
evaluate the human landscape. This includes sources from GIS, aerial photographs, and satellite
images and data sets from NGO’s and Government agencies.
Course Textbooks:
Fouberg et al., (2009) should be brought to class daily.
Fouberg, E., Murphy, A., de Blij, H. (2009). Human Geography. 9th edition. John Wiley & Sons. Inc.
Getis, A., Getis, J., & Fellman, J. (2009). Introduction to Geography. 12th Edition. McGraw Hill.
Course Website:
http://www.houstonisd.org//Domain/26269 (All materials for both Schmidt & Swenson’s class are available at
this location).
Grading Policies:
Grading for AP Human Geography
65%
Assessments
15% Unit Project
25% Unit FRQs
25% Unit MCQs
15%
Reading Quizzes
Each Tuesday and Thursday with no unit exam that week
6 MC questions
10%
Vocabulary Quizzes
Each Friday with no unit exam that week
5 MC questions and 2 you write the definition
10%
Stuff
Daily work/class activities
A=
B=
C=
D=
F=
Course Schedule:
Monday August 26 – Friday December 20 (77 class days)
Unit 1 –
Geography: Its Nature and Perspectives
Monday August 26th – Friday September 20 (18 class days)
Unit Project Thursday, September 12th
FRQs
Thursday, September 19th
MCQs
Friday, September 20th
Unit 2 --
Population
Monday September 23rd – Thursday October 17th (18 class days)
Unit Project Friday, October 11th
FRQs
Wednesday, October 16th
MCQs
Thursday, October 17th
Unit 3 --
Cultural Patterns and Processes
Friday October 18th – Wednesday November 13th (18 class days)
Unit Project Friday November 8th
FRQs
Tuesday November 12th
MCQs
Wednesday November 13th
Unit 4 --
Political Organization of Space
Thursday November 14th -- Friday December 13th (18 class days)
Unit Project Friday December 6th
FRQs
Thursday December 12th
MCQs
Friday December 13th
Review for Final Exam
Monday December 16th (1 class day)
Final Exams Tuesday December 17th – Monday December 20th
90 - 100
80 - 89
75 - 79
70 - 74
69 BELOW
Late Policy:
All assignments are due ON TIME. Late work will be accepted up to seven days late and no later. The highest
possible grade on late work is 50%. If you are on campus the day an assignment is due, then you are required to
turn it in, even if you miss your geography period. It is your responsibility to come and to turn in your work
even if you leave early or arrive late. Assignments due to www.Turnitin.com (Unit Projects) are due by 9:00
a.m. of the day they are due.
Absences:
You are expected to attend class every day. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to promptly gather the
assignments that you missed. I will not remind you of missed assignments, you must take the initiative to find
out what you missed. The assignments and lesson discussion are all available on the webpage. If you miss a
test, YOU must schedule on the day of your return, a new test date, but keep in mind that the format of the retest is at the teacher’s discretion. It is your responsibility to reschedule your missed test in a timely manner. Any
assignments not made up from an absence will result in a zero. Tests are schedule far enough in advance that
absenteeism the day before a test will not allow for a postponement of your test.
Retakes:
Retakes are available under the CVHS re-take policy. You may retake a vocabulary quiz or test for a grade no
higher than 70. Reading quizzes (due to a built-in curve) do not qualify for the re-take policy. You must notify
the teacher in writing no later than 24 hours after grades have been posted and/or returned. Retakes will only be
provided during an advocacy period of the instructors choosing.
Academic Integrity:
Cheating, copying, talking during tests, and plagiarizing will not be tolerated in this course. Any student
displaying academic dishonesty will face the full consequences of their actions. In like manner, the student will
receive a “P” in conduct and a zero on the assignment. There will not be an opportunity to make up the
assignment.