A.P. Human Geography
Africa Essay
Overview: Over the next 7 weeks, in addition to everything else you’re working on, we’ll be writing an essay examining the population of a country in Africa. This
essay will be very similar in scope to the first essay; however, we’ll add culture to the information needed.
1.
This essay should answer the following questions about the country:
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2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
What is the country’s location: absolute and relative?
What kind of people live there?
What physical features are important?
How do the physical features affect the culture of the country?
What is the culture like?
What is movement like to and from the country: immigration,
emigration, tourism, seasonal work…?
What are the demographics of the population?
How do the movement and demographics affect the culture?
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What are aspects of popular and folk culture?
What religions are found in the country?
What languages are spoken in the country?
What ethnicities are found within the country?
What is the political organization of the country?
What supranational organizations does the country belong to?
What is the agriculture of the country like?
What is the economic state of the country?
Is it an LDC or MDC?
Try to have a focused thesis: a main reason you are writing to inform people about this country.
Use at least 5 concepts from unit one and 10 concepts from unit two, 10 concepts from unit 3, 10 concepts from unit 4, 10 from unit 5, and 10 from unit 6 in
your essay (please bold these concepts)
Use evidence from at least 6 different sources for your essay:
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The main source for geography should be an encyclopedia article found on the Gale database: http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/suic/?userGroupName=rou1231.
The password for this database is “panthers” if you’re accessing the information from a computer other than the school’s. or the CIA World Factbook:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/
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The main sources for population and migration should be the CIA World Factbook and the US Census bureau:
http://www.census.gov/population/international/data/idb/informationGateway.php; Use an authored source from Gale, economist.com, slate.com,
nationalgeographic.com, bostonreview.net.
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For culture, you can use any of the above sources. Be sure any source other than a Gale encyclopedia; CIA World Factbook, or US Census Bureau has an
author
Include four charts, maps, or graphs of some kind in your essay
Essay should be typed in 12 point, Times New Roman or Calibri Font, Double Spaced(except for assignment information on first page)
All outside information should be cited properly using MLA in-text citations and on a works-cited page.
Important Dates:
1/7 – Essay Introduction and Explanation/Choose a Country
2/25 – Outline Due
3/4 – Rough Draft Due - Revisions
3/5 - Revisions
3/7 – Final Draft Due
Sample Outline:
I.
a.
Introduction.
a.
Thesis: Despite its problems, Jamaica’s vibrant population
and culture make it a great place to visit and live.
b. Main Points:
i.
Geography: As a Caribbean island, Jamaica
offers a great combination of coastal
environments and mountains.
ii.
Population and Migration:
a.
Made up mostly of ancestors of former
slaves: heavy British influence
iii.
Culture
a.
Folk Culture
b. Popular Culture
c.
Language
d. Religion
e. Ethnicity
III.
IV.
II.
Section I: Geography
What is the topography of the country like? Elevation,
rivers, lakes, oceans, climate
b. How does topography affect culture?
Section II: Population and Migration
a.
What is population like? Demographics
b. Distribution
c.
Concentration
d. Crude Birth Rate/Crude Death Rate/Fertility/Mortality
e. Stage of Demographic Transition: Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage
3, Stage 4
f.
Population Pyramid
g.
Health Threats
h. Push and Pull Factors
i.
Distance: Internal vs. International Migration
j.
Characteristics: Gender, Family Status
k.
Immigration Policies
l.
Cultural Problems for Immigrants
m. Urban/Rural Migration
Section III: Culture
a.
Folk Culture
i.
b.
c.
What are some characteristics of folk culture in
the country?
ii.
Has that folk culture diffused at all throughout
the world?
Popular Culture
i.
How has popular culture diffused to the
country?
ii.
How has the country changed because of
popular culture?
iii.
How has popular culture affected the folk
culture of the country?
Language
i.
What languages are spoken in the country?
How do these languages affect culture?
ii.
How do local languages affect country as a
whole?
iii.
Are there any interesting dialects?
iv.
How has diffusion affected the language/lingua
franca of the country?
v.
What language branch is this language from?
d.
iii.
V.
VI.
VII.
What is the majority religion in your country?
How are the religions distributed in your
country?
What types of places of worship exist in your
country?
How does government interact with religion?
Are there any conflicts among religious groups?
iv.
v.
e. Ethnicities
i.
What ethnicities exist in your country?
ii.
Where are these ethnicities distributed?
iii.
How do the citizens of the country view their
nationalities?
iv.
Are there any ethnic clashes?
Section IV – Politics
Section V – Agriculture
Section VI - Economy
Conclusion.
Essays will be graded using the following rubric.
Component
4
3
Timing
Articles, Outline,
Rough Draft etc. are
completed on time.
Analysis
Religion
i.
ii.
2
Most of the Articles,
Outline, Rough Draft
are completed on
time.
1
Articles, Outline,
Rough Draft, and
Final Draft are
completed late or
incorrectly.
Analysis of country is
absents. Thesis may
be absent or
inconsequential.
Sources do not add to
essay.
Essay not structured
according to outline
above. Map, graph, or
chart is missing or is
completely unrelated
to topic.
Analysis of country is
extensive. Student
supports his/her
thesis with relevant
details from more
than 6 sources.
Essay is organized
according to outline
above. Student may
use more than four
map, graph, or chart
to illustrate analysis.
Analysis of country is
complete. Student
supports his/her
thesis with details
from at 6 sources.
Analysis of country is
incomplete. Thesis
may be vague.
Support may include
less than 6 sources
Essay is organized
according to outline.
Student uses at least
four map, graph, or
chart to illustrate
analysis
Essay may be missing
some structure. Less
than 4 maps, graphs,
charts are used.
Visuals may not relate
to essay.
Comprehension
55+ concepts are
used correctly and
bolded. Student
demonstrates firm
comprehension of
major geographic
themes through
essay.
55 concepts are used
correctly and bolded.
Student
demonstrates
adequate
comprehension of
major geographic
themes.
< 55 concepts are
used correctly some
may not be bolded.
Student
demonstrates some
understanding of
major geographic
themes.
< 35 concepts are
used correctly.
Student
demonstrates little
understanding of
major geographic
themes.
Citation
All citations are
correct. Including a
bibliography. Sources
are used well and
relate to thesis
All citations are
correct. Including a
bibliography.
Most citations may
not relate to thesis.
Citations are incorrect
or not included
Organization