AP Human Geography - 2014 Summer Assignment
If you have questions about your assignments, please feel free to contact me.
REMEMBER, if you are in Pre-Ap Comp/Lit you need to access the summer instruction
for Mrs. Roberts-Garske on the Language Arts page.
AP Human Geography:
Mrs. Jill Willford
jill.willford@d51schools.org
REQUIRED READING FOR AP Human Geography
The assignment is based on The Omnivore’s Dilemma (young readers’ edition), which is
an interesting investigation of where our food comes from. What’s in a Twinkie? What’s
in a Chicken McNugget? What happens to a field of potatoes destined to become French
fries? And did you know that you drink corn? In this book, author Michael Pollan
explores the secrets behind what we eat. You must purchase a new copy of book
because you will have to write in it; furthermore, the first weeks of instruction in AP
Human Geography will be based around this text.
The Omnivore’s Dilemma: The Secrets Behind What You Eat
by Michael Pollan
(Young Readers’ Edition)
*PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET THE YOUNG READERS’ EDITION;
THERE IS MORE THAN ONE VERSION.
It is essential that you have this edition of the novel.
*This assignment needs to be completed by August 1st.
I. ANNOTATION: Part II The Industrial Organic Meal – Chapters 10 & 11
Re-read the selected chapter, and annotate as you read. Annotation means
adding notes to a text as you read it. Annotation is not just highlighting; it is
having a conversation with the book as you read. I will give you an
annotation grade on day one.
II.
Outline: You need to write an outline for Parts I, III, IV You will submit your
outline as an attachment and email me by August 1—NOTE: this is BEFORE
school starts. Use the last page as a guide.
III.
CLASSWORK: Instruction for the first few weeks will be based upon this book.
Annotation
IV. ANNOTATION: Annotate Chapters 10 & 11.
Re-read the selected chapter, and annotate as you read. Annotation means adding
notes to a text as you read it. Annotation is not just highlighting; it is having a
conversation with the book as you read. I will be checking your annotations the first day
of school.
How to Annotate Your Book:
A. Make brief notes at the top of the page or on sticky notes to mark important
information.
B. Put a box around unfamiliar words, then go to a dictionary and look them up.
C. If you have a question as you read, or if something confuses you, write a
question mark in the margin or on a sticky note with the question that you
have.
D. Annotate for the following ideas:
There are five themes or main ideas in Human Geography. You need to look for these
five themes as you read the book.
1. Location – where is a place located
 Absolute Location – precise location of a place measured with latitude
and longitude
 Relative Location – location in relation to another place (for example,
Fruita is west of Denver; Wyoming is north of Colorado)
2. Place—the unique characteristics of a place (ask yourself: what makes this place any
different from another place?)
 Physical—physical features, such as land, landforms, bodies of water, and
climate
 Human—manmade features, such as human made landmarks (for
example—the Eiffel
Tower), buildings, cities, groups of people, and culture
3. Regions—how places are grouped together according to similarities (for example—
climate regions, language regions, economic regions [Corn Belt, Silicon Valley], political
regions [countries, states, parishes])
4. Movement –how people, goods and idea get from one location to another


the movement of goods (trade)
the movement of people (migration)

the movement of ideas (for example, any exchange or ideas such as language,
books, newspapers, internet, texting etc)
5. Human Environment Interaction – how humans


adapt to the environment (dressing appropriately or building shelter for the
climate)
modify the environment (cutting down trees, clearing land for buildings etc)

depend on the environment (farming, hunting etc)
AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY OUTLINE
Your Name
Mrs. Willford
AP Human Geography
Date
Outline for The Omnivore’s Dilemma
Thesis: Explain a few sentences what the author’s goal of the book is.
I. Part I: The Industrial Meal: Food from Corn
A. Summary and Themes of Geography (Geography Component)
a. Summary: Write a paragraph (6-8 well-developed sentences) summarizing the
section.
b. Themes of Geography: Write a paragraph (6-8 well-developed sentences)
identifying the primary theme of geography (choose one) that you recognized in the
section with an example of the theme.
II. Part II: The Industrial Organic Meal
*Do not outline this section of the book…. This is the section you should have
annotated.
III. Part III: The Local Sustainable Meal: Food from Grass
A. Summary and Themes of Geography (Geography Component)
a. Summary: Write a paragraph (6-8 well-developed sentences) summarizing the
section.
b. Themes of Geography: Write a paragraph (6-8 well-developed sentences)
identifying the primary theme of geography (choose one) that you recognized in the
section with an example of the theme.
IV. Part IV: The Do-It-Yourself Meal: Hunted, Gathered, and Gardened Food
A. Summary and Themes of Geography (Geography Component)
a. Summary: Write a paragraph (6-8 well-developed sentences) summarizing the
section.
b. Themes of Geography: Write a paragraph (6-8 well-developed sentences)
identifying the primary theme of geography (choose one) that you recognized in the
section with an example of the theme.
IV. Part IV: The Do-It-Yourself Meal: Hunted, Gathered, and Gardened Food
A. Summary and Themes of Geography (Geography Component)
a. Summary: Write a paragraph (6-8 well-developed sentences) summarizing the
section.
b. Themes of Geography: Write a paragraph (6-8 well-developed sentences)
identifying the primary theme of geography (choose one) that you recognized in the
section with an example of the theme.