McCluskey AP Human Geography
Mini-Syllabus: Tuesday, Sept. 4-Friday, Sept. 28th, 2012
Email: psorrentino@gsgis.k12.va.us
Website: mccluskeyminutes.wordpress.com
Course Description: Advanced Placement Human Geography is a broad subject, and includes a critical examination of
topics such as urbanization, political organization, population, religion, language, industrialization, migration,
agriculture, and economic development. It aims to reveal how man and his environment have a dynamic, spatial
relationship. It incorporates the 1994 National Geography Standards and allows students to apply their geographical
knowledge in a global context. There is a critical focus on the key concepts that underlie the geographical perspective.
Location, space, place, scale, patterns, regions, and globalization are discussed daily. Also, there is extensive use of
models (demographic transition, for example) and computer simulations included with the curriculum to provide both
support and differentiation for students to examine current and future world trends. Sample assessments include
creation of individual student portfolios, preparation of graphs and charts, analysis of primary and secondary sources,
research papers, and simulations.
Course Objectives: Students will be able to…
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Learn to acquire and manage large amounts of information delivered through a variety of instructional methods;
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Identify, interpret, evaluate, and employ primary and secondary historical sources to questions of Human
Geography
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Engage in the acquisition of primary and secondary sources for use in their own historical analysis and
interpretation;
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Formulate written and oral arguments, which encapsulate their own interpretations of Human Geography as
well as those of leading scholars in the field;
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Learn to recognize the varieties of historical interpretation;
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Experience a full range of written and oral communication methods appropriate to the historian’s craft and
learn procedures and/or formatting of such methods;
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Become aware of local, regional, and international opportunities for the advancement of knowledge of
Advanced Placement Human Geography
Textbooks:
Fellmann, Jerome D., Arthur Getis, and Judith Getis. Human Geography: Landscapes of Human
Activities. New York: McGraw Publishing Company, 2007.
Kuby, Michael, John Harner and Patricia Gober. Human Geography in Action. Hoboken: John Wiley and
Sons, Inc., 2010.
Grading Policy: This course will be graded on a point system throughout the semester and will comprise of multiple
criteria including homework checks, quizzes, projects, case studies, tests, class assignments and participation, and
writing assignments. Students can expect approximately a maximum of 160 points to be awarded during the month of
September during Mrs. McCluskey’s tenure. All assignments will indicate point value when given.
McCluskey Class Rules and Late Policy: Be on time, be courteous, do your work, come to class. Unexcused tardiness or
absences result in a zero for any assignment collected during your absence. 20% deduction per class period on late
assignments. No points awarded for late homework.
Honor Policy: Students are expected to complete all assignments, in their entirety, on their own unless otherwise
specified by the teacher. This especially pertains to homework organizers. Splitting up assignments, creating offline
google docs, etc, will be considered an honor violation and dealt with in accordance to MLWGSGIS honor policy.
AP Human Geography: 9/4-9/28
*Disclaimer: Teacher reserves the right to change this as necessary and with adequate notice
Refer to WEBSITE and CLASS ASSIGNMENT BOARD for official due dates
Tuesday, Sept. 4th: Introduction, Textbooks, Expectations
Focus: What IS Human Geography? Student expectations and perspectives, textbook issuance, summer project
expectations and due dates.
HW: Organizer #1, Summer Project
Thursday, Sept. 6th: The Nature, Perspectives, History, Evolution, and Careers of Geography
Text: Fellman, pp. 4-8; Kuby, pp. 1-3
Focus: “geographic questions”, 5 themes of geography, “spatial science”, early geographers, evolution of the field of
geography, specialized subfields, careers.
Due: Organizer #1
HW: Organizer #2, Summer Project
Tuesday, Sept. 11th: Seven fundamental geographic observations and the basic concepts that underlie them
Text: Fellman, pp. 7-17
Focus: Core geographic concepts, location, direction, distance, size, scale, natural vs. cultural landscapes, place
Due: Organizer #2; Summer Projects
HW: Organizer #3
Thursday, Sept. 13th: The regional concept and characteristics; Video application
Text: Fellman, pp. 17-18
Focus: Place similarity and regions, the regional concept, types of regions. Application of geographic observations and
concepts to video and accompanying writing assignment.
Due: Organizer #3
HW: Writing assignment due Tuesday, Sept. 18th.
Friday, Sept. 14th: Maps
Text: Fellman, pp. 18-28; Kuby, pp. 3-10
Focus: Why geographers use maps, how maps show spatial information, types of maps, GIS, importance of models
HW: complete writing assignment based on video
Tuesday, Sept. 18th: Map Case Study- computer lab
Text: Kuby Chapter 1 case study; pp. 11-31
Focus: application of learned information
HW: complete case study if necessary; Organizer #4
Thursday, Sept. 20th: Components of culture and the nature of human-environmental relations
Text: Fellman, pp. 36-43
Focus: definition and traits of “culture”; culture complexes, systems and regions; cultural ecology, environmental
determinism vs. possibilism, cultural landscapes, history of human impact on environment.
Due: case study, Organizer #4
HW: Organizer #5
Friday, Sept. 21st: Culture origins and culture hearths
Text: Fellman, pp. 43-50
Focus: history of evolution of human culture; hunter-gatherer vs. agrarian culture; effect of climate on cultural change;
cultural divergence; agricultural origins and spread, Neolithic innovations, culture hearths; Julian Steward and
multilinear evolution vs. diffusionism
Due: Organizer #4
HW: Organizer #5
Tuesday, Sept. 25th: The Structure of Culture and forms of culture change
Text: Fellman, pp. 51-59
Focus: ideological, technological, and sociological subsystems; mentifacts, artifacts, and sociofacts; causes, methods,
and results of innovation; types, methods, causes, results, and barriers of cultural diffusion
Due: Organizer #5
HW: Study for Quiz!
Thursday, Sept. 27th: Cumulative Quiz; TBD
Text and Focus: Material from Organizers #1-5 , class notes
HW: Work on other subjects
Friday, Sept. 28th: McCluskey wrap-up; class discussion
Focus: Questions and Interest inventory; student feedback
HW: Read Fellman, pp. 64-69, be ready for anything Mr. Sorrentino throws at you
Summary of Assignments for September: 160 points total
Summer Project: 40 points, due 9/11
Homework Organizers: 30 points total, due almost daily, checks between 5-10 pts. Each
Map Case Study: 15 pts
Video Writing Assignment: 15 pts.
Quiz: 40 pts.
Daily Participation: 20 pts.
Have a great rest of the year and make Mrs. McCluskey proud!