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Advanced Placement Human Geography:
F-2013
A Michaelis, Greenwood HS
COURSE OVERVIEW:
This course introduces students to the study of the following:
 The tools and methods geographers use
 Majors aspects of Cultural Geography
 Major aspects of Economic Geography
 Ways humans use the Earth
 Ways humans alter the Earth and environmental consequences of human activities on Earth
 Spatial and landscape analysis related to human activities
AP GRADING:
(ALSO posted onto my GHS website (http://www.gwd50.org//Domain/324)
 Students will be on a 10-pt. scale since they are working toward college credit & most colleges
use the 10-pt. scale. Grades on REPORT cards, however, WILL be converted to a standard 7pt. scale.
 Because this is an AP level course, tests will count 60% of your interim/nine-wks. grade.
 Anything designated as an “Exam Grade” (EX: Mid-term) will have the value of two tests.
 Quizzes will count 25% of grade.
 Note: Study packets. + class notes, etc., which are REQUIRED to be turned in when
we have a test, will count as a quiz grade.
 Homework/Class work: This component will be worth 15% of the total grade.
 It will involve the following:
a) Completion of short read/respond assignments, video view/respond sheets, short in or
out of class assignments, etc., will be credited toward this grade.
b) Class participation grade: Once every 2-3 weeks, students will be given a class
participation grade for following along with class activities, lectures, etc.
i. Good attendance & no tardies will add to this grade.
ii. Involvement in discussions, etc., will count toward this grade.
iii. Students who chat, read/work on other materials when class activities are going on
or who work on assignments when we are involved in class lose point for these
activities. However, if you have completed APHG work and we are not going
over material, you may read or work on other class assignments.
iv. Sleeping & talking in class will also cost points in participation.
Students’ responsibilities include the following :
 Purchase a 2” notebook for use in this class only
 Purchase and keep a jump-drive available for academic use only
 OPTIONAL but recommended: Copy of APHG review book to be ordered thru GHS ($15)
 Keep syllabus in the notebook and having notebook in class each day
 Take notes (to be kept in notebook) in outline form from the text, to be completed by the date
following the assigned readings
 Turn in chapter notes and completed study packets on the day of each test
 Keep an up-to-date list of terms and concepts from the Martha Sharma Human Geography
Vocabulary List obtained from the AP Human Geography website (lists given to students with
the syllabus on the first day of class)
 If you are absent YOU are responsible for getting missed info.
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Primary Texts
Rubenstein, James M. The Cultural Landscape: An Introduction to Human Geography, Seventh
Edition, 2002, and Ninth Edition, 2009. Prentice Hall, New Jersey.
Supplemental Resources:
The Power of Place Video Series
Badley, Thomas J., ED. Violence and Terrorism, Annual Edition: 06/2007. McGraw Hill Companies,
2006.
De Blij, and Aleander Murphy. Human Geography: Culture, Society, and Space, 6th Edition. John
Wiley & Sons, New York, 1999.
Gettis, Arthur, Judith Getis and Jerome D. Fellmann. Introduction to Geography, 10th Edition.
McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., New York, 2006.
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Goode’s World Atlas, 20 Edition, 2000. John C. Hudson and Edward B Espenshade, Jr, Editors.
Rand McNally, & Company.
Tentative Course Outline:
Unit I. The Nature of and Perspectives on Geography:
CHAPTER 1:
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2.
3.
Basic Concepts in Geography Days 1- 6
(Reading Assignments: pp. 2 - 33)
HOW GEOGRAPHERS DESCRIBE WHERE THINGS ARE
Maps: Understanding and Using
Contemporary tools: Remote sensing, GIS
WHY EACH POINT ON EARTH UNIQUE
Place: Unique location of a feature
Regions: Areas of unique characteristics.
WHY DIFFERENT PLACES ARE SIMILAR
Scale: From local to global
Space: Distribution of features
Connections between places.
August 29: Test Ch. 1
Additional On-Going Assignments:
Maps: QUICK Reviews to identify major geographic regions & various places within those regions.
A map quiz for each major region (EX: Western Europe) will be given about once per week.
A map TEST will be given once the major regions of the world have been reviewed and quizzed.
(This should be before November.)
REGIONS:
1. States of the US + Provinces of Canada
2. Latin America (Mex., Carib., Central Am., S. Amer.)
3. Western Europe + Eastern Europe
4. North Africa + Southwest Asia (Middle East)
5. Central + Western Africa
6. Southern Africa + all Island Nations Off the African Coast
7. Caucasus Region + Central Asia
8. South Asia + East Asia
9. Southeast Asia and Parts of Oceania/South Pacific
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Unit II. Population: Population Demographics and Migration Patterns
CHAPTER 2: Population Aug. 30 – Sept. 13
(Reading Assignments: pp. 44-76)
1. WHERE THE WORLD POPULATION IS DISTRIBUTED
Population concentrations
Sparsely populated regions
Population density.
2. WHERE WORLD POPULATION HAS INCREASED
Natural increase
Fertility and mortality.
3. WHY POPULATION IS INCREASING AT DIFFERENT RATES IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES
Demographic transition
Population pyramids
Countries in stages of demographic transition.
Demographic Transition and World Population Growth
4. WHY THE WORLD MIGHT FACE AN OVERPOPULATION PROBLEM
Malthus on overpopulation
Declining birth rates
World health threats: Epidemiology
Sept. 13: Test Ch. 2
CHAPTER 3: Migration
Sept. 13-- 27
(Reading Assignments: pp. 78 - 103 )
1. WHY PEOPLE MIGRATE
Reasons for migration
Distance of migration
Characteristics of migrants.
2. WHERE MIGRANTS ARE DISTRIBUTED
Global migration patterns
U.S. immigration patterns
Impact of immigration on the US.
3. WHY MIGRANTS FACE OBSTACLES
Immigration policies of host countries (guest workers, time contract workers)
Cultural problems faced while living in other countries
4. WHY PEOPLE MIGRATE WITHIN A COUNTRY
Migration between regions of a country
Migration within one region.
Sept. 27 Test: Ch 3
UNIT III. Cultural Patterns & Processes:
Folk & Popular Culture: Language, Religion, Ethnicity
CHAPTER 4: Folk & Popular Culture
Sept. 27 – Oct. 9
(Reading Assignments: pp. 104 - 132 )
1. WHERE FOLK AND POPULAR CULTURES ORIGINATE AND DIFFUSE
Origin and diffusion of folk and popular cultures.
2. WHY FOLK CULTURE IS CLUSTERED
Isolation promotes cultural diversity
Influence of the physical environment.
3. WHY POPULAR CULTURE IS WIDELY DISTRIBUTED
Diffusion of popular housing, clothing, & food
Role of TV & Internet in diffusing popular culture.
4. WHY GLOBALIZATION OF POPULAR CULTURE CAUSES PROBLEMS
Threats to folk culture
Environmental impact of popular culture
Oct. 9 Test Ch. 4
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CHAPTER 5: Language
Oct. 9 - 18
(Reading Assignments: pp. 134 - 167)
1. WHERE ENGLISH-LANGUAGE SPEAKERS ARE DISTRIBUTED
Origin and diffusion of English
Dialects of English.
2. WHY AND HOW ENGLISH IS RELATED TO OTHER LANGUAGES
Indo-European branches
Origin and diffusion of Indo-European.
3. WHERE OTHER LANGUAGE FAMILIES ARE DISTRIBUTED
Classification of languages Distribution of language families.
4. WHY PEOPLE PRESERVE LOCAL LANGUAGES
Preserving language diversity
Global dominance of English.
Test Ch. 5: Oct. 18
CHAPTER 6: Religions
Oct. 18 - 29
(Reading Assignments: pp. 168 - 205)
1. WHERE RELIGIONS ARE DISTRIBUTED
Universalizing religions
Ethnic religions.
2. WHY RELIGIONS HAVE DIFFERENT DISTRIBUTIONS
Origin of religions Diffusion of religions
Holy places
The Calendar.
3. WHY RELIGIONS ORGANIZE SPACE IN DISTINCTIVE PATTERNS
Places of worship
Sacred space
Administration of space.
4. WHY TERRITORIAL CONFLICTS ARISE AMONG RELIGIOUS GROUPS
Religion versus government policies
Religion versus religion.
Test Ch. 6: Oct. 29
CHAPTER 7: Ethnicities
Oct 29 – Nov. 8
(Reading Assignments: pp. 206 - 237)
1. WHERE ARE ETHNICITIES DISTRIBUTED?
Distribution of ethnicities in the US Differentiating ethnicity and race.
2. WHERE HAVE ETHNICITIES BEEN TRANSFORMED INTO NATIONALITIES?
Rise of nationalities Multinational states
Revival of ethnic identity.
3. WHY DO ETHNICITIES CLASH?
Ethnic competition to dominate nationality
Dividing ethnicities among more than one state.
4. WHAT IS ETHNIC CLEANSING?
Ethnic cleansing in Yugoslavia
Ethnic cleansing in Central Africa.
Test Ch. 7: Nov. 8
NOV. 8 – 15: Review & EXAM on Ch’s 1 – 7
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UNIT IV. Political Organization of Space:
Nov. 19 – Dec. 6
CHAPTER 8: Political Geography
(Reading Assignments: pp. 238 - 271)
1. WHERE STATES ARE LOCATED
Problems of defining states Development of the state concept.
2. WHERE BOUNDARIES ARE DRAWN & WHY BOUNDARIES CAUSE PROBLEMS
Shapes of states
Types of boundaries
Boundaries inside states & problems with boundaries
3. WHY STATES COOPERATE WITH EACH OTHER
Types of Cooperative Organizations: Political, economic, and military
4. WHY TERRORISM HAS INCREASED
Terrorism by individuals and organizations State support for terrorism.
TEST: Ch 8: Dec. 6
UNIT V. Economic Development:
CHAPTER 9: Development
Dec. 6 – Dec. 17
(Reading Assignments: pp. 272 - 305)
1. WHY DEVELOPMENT VARIES AMONG COUNTRIES
Economic indicators of development
Social indicators of development
Demographic indicators of development.
2. WHERE MORE AND LESS DEVELOPED COUNTRIES ARE DISTRIBUTED
More developed regions
Less developed regions.
3. WHERE LEVELS OF DEVELOPMENT VARY BY GENDER
Gender-related development index,
Gender empowerment and development
4. WHY LESS DEVELOPED COUNTRIES FACE OBSTACLES TO DEVELOPMENT
Development through self-sufficiency vs. through international trade
Financing development
TEST: Ch. 9: Dec. 17
HOLIDAY BREAK:
Dec. 19 – Jan. 6
UNIT VI. Agricultural and Rural Land Use:
CHAPTER 10
Jan. 6 - 17
(Reading Assignments: pp. 306 - 341)
1. WHERE AGRICULTURE ORIGINATED
Origins of agriculture
Location of agricultural hearths
Classifying agricultural regions.
2. WHERE AGRICULTURAL REGIONS ARE IN LESS DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
Shifting cultivation
Pastoral nomadism
Intensive subsistence agriculture.
3. WHERE AGRICULTURAL REGIONS ARE IN MORE DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
Mixed crop and livestock farming
Dairy farming
Grain farming
Livestock ranching
Mediterranean agriculture
Commercial gardening & fruit farming Plantation agriculture.
4. WHY FARMERS FACE ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES
Issues for commercial farmers vs. for subsistence farmers Strategies to increase food supply.
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TEST: Ch. 10: Jan. 17
UNIT VII. Industrialization:
CHAPTER 11
Jan. 17 – 30
(Reading Assignments: pp. 342 - 371)
1. WHERE INDUSTRY ORIGINATED
The industrial revolution
Diffusion of the industrial revolution.
2. WHERE AND HOW INDUSTRY IS DISTRIBUTED
Industry in North America, Europe, and East Asia.
3. WHY INDUSTRIES HAVE DIFFERENT DISTRIBUTIONS
Situation factors (location near inputs, location near markets, break-of-bulk points)
Site factors (land, labor, capital)
Obstacles to optimum location.
4. WHY INDUSTRIES FACE PROBLEMS
Industrial problems from a global perspective
Industrial problems in more developed countries
Industrial problems in less developed countries.
TEST: Ch. 11: Jan. 30
UNIT VIII. Cities and Urban Land Use:
CHAPTER 12
Jan. 30 – Feb. 11
(Reading Assignments: pp. 372 - 403 )
1. WHERE SERVICES ORIGINATD
Types of services
Origin of services
Services in rural settlements.
2. WHY CONSUMER SERVICES DISTRIBUTED ARE IN REGULAR PATTERNS
Central place theory
Market area analysis
Hierarchy of services and settlements.
3. WHY BUSINESS SERVICES LOCATE IN LARGE SETTLEMENTS
World cities Hierarchy of business services Economic base of settlements.
4. WHY SERVICES CLUSTER DOWNTOWN
Central business district
Suburbanization of businesses.
TEST: CH. 12 Feb. 11
CHAPTER 13
Feb. 11 - 27
(Reading Assignments: pp. 404 - 437)
1. WHERE URBAN AREAS GROWN
Urbanization
Defining urban settlements.
2. WHERE PEOPLE ARE DISTRIBUTED WITHIN URBAN AREAS
Three models of urban structure
Use of the models outside North America.
3. WHY INNER CITIES HAVE DISTINCTIVE PROBLEMS
Inner-city physical problems
Inner-city social problems
Inner-city economic
problems.
4. WHY SUBURBS HAVE DISTINCTIVE PROBLEMS
The peripheral model
Contribution of transportation to suburbanization
Local government fragmentation.
TEST: Ch. 13: Feb. 27
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UNIT IX. Resource Issues
CHAPTER 14
Feb. 27 – March 11
(Reading Assignments: pp. 438 - 473 )
1. WHY ARE RESOURCES BEING DEPLETED?
Energy resources
Mineral resources.
2. WHY ARE RESOURCES BEING POLLUTED?
Air pollution
Water pollution
Land pollution.
3. WHY ARE RESOURCES REUSABLE?
Renewing resources Recycling resources.
4. WHY CAN RESOURCES BE CONSERVED?
Sustainable development
Biodiversity.
TEST: Ch. 14: March 12
Reviews for AP Exam:
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Reviews for Chapter 1: March 13 - 17: QUIZ March 17
Reviews for Chapters 2 & 3: March 18 – 21 QUIZ: March 24
Reviews for Chapters 4 & 5: March 25 - 28: QUIZ March 28
Reviews for Chapter 6 & 7: March 31 – April 4: QUIZ April 4
Reviews for Chapter 8 & 9: April 7 - 11: QUIZ April 11
Reviews for Chapters 10 + 14: April 14 – 17 QUIZ April 17
Reviews for Chapters 11 + 14: April 28-May 2 QUIZ May 2
After school & weekend reviews will start at this time –Schedules will be handed
out a week or so before this (EXTRA CREDIT for attending these)
 Reviews for Chapters 12 & 13: May 2 – 8 QUIZ May 8
 Reviews for AP Human Geography Exam: EVERY DAY May 8 - 15:
DATE for AP Human Geography Exam: TUESDAY MAY 13: 12:00 Noon
May 14 – June 2: Individual Projects and Consolidation of learned information.
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APHG: GHS MAPS Study Unit
 By taking APHG, it is assumed that you have already mastered the locations of places in the
world. If you know you have had trouble with this in the past, you need to put in EXTRA time to
be sure you are prepared for each quiz and for the final MAP TEST.
 Map work and map study is to be done on your own as this is “review” only, meant to refresh
your knowledge of world locations.
 There are Map Study websites on the APHG page of my webpage, which is accessible thru the
GHS webpage.
 There is a WORLD MAPS Power Point on the APHG Page thru my GHS webpage.
 There are atlases at the back of the class that you may check out to help you.
 Each region will be assigned as we complete one, and you MUST turn in a the study map that
has to be labeled and colored (at least shaded) at the time of the quiz.
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Additional On-Going Assignments:
See MAP Study Booklet & KEEP booklet in your APHG Notebook.
Maps: Reviewing to make sure students are able to identify major geographic regions and various
countries within those regions.
 A map quizzes for each major region (EX: Western Europe) will be given about once per week.
 A map TEST will be given once the major regions of the world have been reviewed and
quizzed. (This should be around early November.)
REGIONS:
1. States of the US + Provinces of Canada
2. Latin America (Mex., Carib., Central Am., S. Amer.)
3. Western Europe + Eastern Europe
4. North Africa + Southwest Asia (Middle East)
5. Central + Western Africa
6. Southern Africa + all Island States (Nations) Off the African Coast
7. Caucasus Region + Central Asia
8. South Asia + East Asia
9. Southeast Asia and Parts of Oceania/South Pacific
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Contact info for Ms. Michaelis:
Room H-121
Email: michaelisa@gwd50.org
Times I am generally available:
8:00 - 8:30AM
10:00AM – 11:30AM

BEST method to contact me
3:30 – 4:15 PM
Parents & students may check assignments and info on my webpage. I work hard at keeping it up
to date (at least each week) and will BRIEFLY post notes for students to use..
*Detach, complete, & return PAGE #_9_
(last page of packet) for HW/CW Credit
Supplies:
 One 2 inch ring notebook for your AP PSYCH notes + materials
 Minimum 1gb jump-drive (aka flash-drive, thumb-drive) for storing info when needed.
 Optional but recommended: 2-3 packages of 4” x 6” note cards for creating psych
terms flash cards
Classroom rules (Note: All school rules apply):
1. Treat all others as you would like to be treated…that is, show respect always.
2. Come to class PREPARED each day…
 Rested
 With all supplies & class materials
 AND with all assignments completed.
Thanks…and I look forward to working with you!
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AP Human Geography: Detach, complete, and return this sheet
to Ms. Michaelis for 20 points of HW credit.
NOTE: Attached is a syllabus that explains academic expectations for students and tentative
assignments. Please read. Then student should keep this in his/her AP PSY notebook at all
times.
Students should have their notebook and access to a book in class each & every day.
Supplies:
 One 2 inch ring notebook for your AP PSYCH notes + materials
 Minimum 1gb jump-drive (aka flash-drive, thumb-drive) for storing info when needed.
 Optional but recommended: 2-3 packages of 4” x 6” note cards for creating flash cards
 OPTIONAL but recommended: Copy of APHG review book to be ordered thru GHS ($15)
Classroom rules (Note: All school rules apply):
1. Treat all others as you would like to be treated…that is, show respect always.
2. Come to class PREPARED each day…
 Well-rested
 With all supplies & class materials -- AND with all assignments completed.
PARENT & STUDENT CONTACT INFO: Please fill in all that apply to you.
NOTE:
I am hoping to get together a Group E-Mailing List so we can stay in contact.
It is therefore important that your updated email address appears below if you want to be included.
NAME of STUDENT: _______________________________________________________
NAME of PARENT/LEGAL GUARDIAN:______________________________________________
Home phone #__________________________ Parent(s) cell:______________________________
Parent email address(es):______________________________________
Include on Class Group email:
Yes_________
NO______________
Student cell phone_________________________ Student email:____________________________
 I understand the rules & expectations on these sheets.
 AND I have viewed and understand the attached Class Info and Course Outline.
STUDENT signature:
___________________________________
PARENT/Legal GUARDIAN signature ____________________________________________
**To give students an incentive to pass the APHG exam, students have the possibility of having their
COURSE grade increased if they make either a 3 (to a min. low “B”), 4 (to a min. high “B”), or 5
(to a min. low “A”) on the AP exam. Explanation will be on a document on Grading on my
website.
*Students taking AP courses are required to take the AP exam or lose AP course credit.
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APHG: GHS MAPS Study Unit
Keep this MAP Booklet in your APHG notebook at ALL times
NAME:_________________________Class_______
 By taking APHG, it is assumed that you have already mastered the locations of places in the
world. If you know you have had trouble with this in the past, you need to put in EXTRA
time to be sure you are prepared for each quiz and for the final MAP TEST.
 Map work and map study is to be done on your own as this is “review” only, meant to refresh
your knowledge of world locations.
 There are Map Study websites on the APHG page of my webpage, which is accessible thru
the GHS webpage.
 There is a WORLD MAPS Power Point on the APHG Page thru my
GHS webpage. This may be used as an Atlas and guide to regions.
 There are atlases at the back of the class that you may check out to help you.
 Each region will be assigned as we complete one, and you MUST turn in a the study map
that has to be labeled and colored (at least shaded) at the time of the quiz.
Additional On-Going Assignments:
Maps: Reviewing to make sure students are able to identify major geographic regions and various
countries within those regions.
 A map quiz for each major region (EX: Western Europe) will be given about once per week.
 A map TEST will be given once the major regions of the world have been reviewed and
quizzed. (This should be around early November.)
REGIONS:
1. States of the US + Provinces of Canada
2. Latin America (Mex., Carib., Central Am., S. Amer.)
3. Western Europe + Eastern Europe
4. North Africa + Southwest Asia (Middle East)
5. Central + Western Africa
6. Southern Africa + all Island States (Nations) Off the African Coast
7. Caucasus Region + Central Asia
8. South Asia + East Asia
9. Southeast Asia and Parts of Oceania/South Pacific
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