Thursday, July 22, 2010

AP Human Geo. Syllabus

AP Human Geography Course Overview
Dr. Haley
Room 158
Email: THaley6817@aol.com OR pamela.haley@browardschools.comPhone: 754-322-0650
Website: dbhshumangeo2010-2011.blogspot.com

AP Human Geography is structured according to the course outline found in the AP Human Geography Course Description published by the College Board. There are seven units of study. The primary textbook for the course is the seventh edition of The Cultural Landscape: An Introduction to Human Geography by James M. Rubenstein. However, since this book may not be available, we will be using Barrons AP Human Geography, 2008, 2nd Edition. Additional resources will be the Promethean Board, multimedia presentations, B.E.E.P., the Internet, and the computer cart.

AP Test
The AP Examination in Human Geography is approximately two hours long, and consists of a 60-minute multiple-choice section and a 75-minute free-response section. Each portion of the examination will account for 50% of the student’s final score.

Grading
Grading follows Broward County School District scale. Tests and writing and other assignments (50%), homework, seatwork, and group presentations (20%), and quizzes (25%). You will also be given checks for home/seatwork assignments (5 checks = A, 4 checks = B, etc.). 5% of your overall grade will be for class participation, which includes but is not limited to participation in Socratic seminars, attendance, effort, and behavior. Makeup assignments need to be completed within two weeks of missed assignments. Check email or learning partner for missed work.Written expression is a vital part of this class as clear writing encourages clear thinking. As Ernest Hemingway said, “Write simply, but do not think simply.” Correct usage of English language is required of all writing assignments. Grammar, usage, and coherency will count toward your evaluation. Please proofread! For every school day late in submitting an assignment, your paper will be marked down 5 points for a maximum of 25 points.

Writing Scale
1. 90-100 (A- to A+) Well-organized and high quality work that shows originality and creativity. Extra steps taken for developing a verbal or visual style.

2. 80-89 (B- to B+) High quality, well organized, needs some revision, and shows some attention to style and visual design.

3. 70-79 (C- to C+) Assignment completed, needs some revision, and has logical structure. Style is straightforward but unremarkable.

4. 60-69 (D- to D+) Assignment completed but poor quality. Needs significant revision. Lacks organization.5. <60>

Class Discussion

This class will have Socratic seminars. Because of the occasional volatile nature during these discussions, the following behaviors are expected:
• Students do not need to raise hands to enter a discussion, but they must not interrupt the speaker.
• If one disagrees with the speaker, allow the speaker to finish her/his thought, and say, “I respectfully disagree.”
• All students are expected to participate verbally. However, no individual student will be allowed to dominate discussion. I will call on students who do not participate in discussion.

Be ready to provide academic evidence for your point of view. Please avoid personal anecdotes such as “I know somebody who . . .” This class is more about group behavior, not individuals. Avoid opinions unless you have academic support. Approach your comment with something like this: “I’ve observed x. Do you or does anyone know of any academic research on this topic?”

Please do not speak while somebody else is speaking. This is a serious infraction because it is rude and distracts the speaker, other students, and the teacher, and in doing so compromises the learning environment. Detentions will be given for this. After two detentions, parents will be called.

Classroom Procedures
• Please keep a notebook with a copy of all vocabulary word note cards, handouts, graded and checked assignments, the AP and class syllabi, etc. You will need this to review for your AP test. In addition, if a mistake is made on your grade, you have proof of your grade. I recommend a 2-inch binder.

• Each student will be assigned a learning partner. This is the person who you will call or email when you miss an assignment. Assignments should follow the syllabus; however, there might be variations. Your learning partner will also proofread his/her partner’s paper before submission. Much of this class will be conducted using the Promethean board. Therefore seating arrangements will focus on the board allowing for clear viewing from every seat.

• If you are absent, it is your responsibility to get missing assignments. This can be accomplished from: (1) your learning partner, or (2) web page postings. Before asking me, please access these resources. It is your responsibility to arrange for make-ups. If possible, you can make up assignments in class. However, lunch or after school make-ups may be required.

• Be in your seat and ready to begin class by last bell. If you come in late, please take your seat as inconspicuously as possible. Please remain in seat until bell.

• Personal questions or concerns will be dealt with after class, by appointment, or email. If you have a concern with me or classroom procedures, please see me after class, or make an appointment at lunch or after school. I cannot address personal concerns at the beginning of class because I must begin the class. It is not fair to the class to take time with individual concerns unless it is an emergency. Only in emergencies should you address a problem before class. When returning from an absence, do not ask this question or any variation of: "Did I miss anything important?" Follow procedures when you are absent.

• Please avoid coming in late for class – even with a pass. Tardiness is a disruption and interrupts class flow.

• Do not ask for passes or to sharpen pencils during the middle of discussion or lecture. Everyone will be given 6 passes per term. You will be given up to 10 extra credit points if you do not use these passes. Student generated pink passes will count as double jeopardy. Unless there is a dire emergency, never interrupt a lecture or presentation. Please wait until lecture, discussion, has been completed. Daily warm-ups will consist of 5-10 daily vocab. words which you are to learn each day. Expect a vocabulary test each week from this list of words. Bring a #2 pencil for Scantron quizzes. Any form of dishonesty will be dealt with severely. This includes copying homework or plagiarism.

• Computer skills are required for this class such as email, Internet research, and word processing for writing assignments. Each student will have a computer skills checklist. If you do not have access to a home computer, use the ones in the media center or at your public library.

• Full attention should be given to class topics. At this time, refrain from looking at photographs, doing crossword puzzles, work from other classes, etc.

• If used during class, electronic audio devices will be confiscated. Your parent must see bookkeeper in main office for return of device.

• Rudeness to ANY PERSON in this class is unacceptable. Hostile arguing or body language, backtalk, or other rude behaviors will be noted and dealt with after class. If behavior interferes with learning environment, student will be removed from class. (See additional behavior requirements on Hostility handout.)

FAILURE TO ADHERE TO CLASSROOM PROCEDURES WILL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO: PARENT NOTIFICATION, DETENTIONS, AND REFERRALS.

Note: This syllabus is a guide. Changes may be necessary as course progresses.

Course Planner
Quarter 1 (Terms 6 & 8)
Weeks 1-2
Classroom procedures
Class syllabus
Pre-test
What is Human Geography?
Computer Checklist
Draw cognitive map. Don’t forget to include hazards (jammed intersections, dangerous areas, etc.)
Cultural Sharing handout

Weeks 3-4
Maps, Scale, Space, and Place
Videos:
Power of Place series, #1:“One Earth, Many Scales”
Types of projection: http://www.youtube.com /watch?v=VnpJQ4IMg1Y&NR=1
Location: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AI36MWAH54s
Online interactive maps--http://www.yourchildlearns.com/geography.htm
BEEP Discovery: Basics of Geography II
XPEDITIONS:
  • Map Projections
  • Through the Eyes of a Refugee
  • Urban Daydreams: You Should See What I See
  • Daily Life in the Middle East
  • Low Tech Geographic Systems
Weeks 4-5
Population Geography
Demographic Transition Model
Videos:

XPEDITIONS
  • A Look at Population Density in the US
  • Human Migration within and into the US
  • Population Issues in China and India
Powerpoint:
Cultural Interaction: Spatial Interaction and Spatial Behavior

Weeks 6-8
Cultural Geography
Films:
  • The Hillbilly
  • City of Factories
  • Ethnicity
  • Desmond Morris films
Folk/Pop Culture
Pop Culture (3-day lesson)
Merchants of Cool (can watch online)
XEPEDITIONS:
  • Globalization
  • Pgymies: Getting Right to the Point
  • The Spread of Buddhism
Language PowerPoint (Lecture on language…20 pages mostly text)
Cox Language Powerpoint
Ethnicity and Race Powerpoint
PBS.org--Identifying race.
BEEP Discovery Films:
  • Worlds of Faith
  • How to Study Culture
Week 9
Review and Exams
Project check
Testing Strategies
Practice Tests

Quarter 2 (Terms 7 & 9)

Weeks 1-2
Political Geography
XPEDITIONS:
  • The United States/Mexico Border
  • International Alliances
Rubenstein, Ch. 7 (South Africa and apartheid)

Weeks 3-4
Economic Development
Film: Life and Debt http://www.mefeedia.com/watch/24608532 OR go to Google video and type in “Life and Debt” in key words field. You should be able to view the entire film.
XPEDITIONS:
  • You've Got Oil; or Maybe You Don't
  • Cultural Characteristics Influence a Region's Character
Noam Chomsky on Globalization

Weeks 5-6
Agricultural and Rural Geography
Mapping the Core-Periphery Model
Interpreting Agricultural Regions
Farming Facts
Films:
  • King Corn
  • Food Inc.

Week 7
Urban Geography
XPEDITIONS
  • Life on the Edge: Cities on the Fringe
  • Sprawl: The National and Local Situation
Power of Place series, #16: “Rural and Urban Contrasts”
Power of Place series, #24: “Cityscapes, Suburban Sprawl”
BEEP Discovery:
  • Place and People
  • Changing China: Urban Development in Shanghai
Weeks 8-9
Exam Review
Model Review
Testing Strategies
Practice Tests
Project Presentations (10 minute limit)


Additional Videos (depending on time)
  • Geography: A Voyage of Discovery
  • The Story of Stuff
  • A Hot Dog Program
  • In Search of the First Language
Power of Place series
#25 Ethnic Fragmentation in Canada
#2 Boundaries and Borderlands
#18 Oil and Water
#15 Global Interaction
#11 A Challenge for Two Old Cities

Great Links
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/atlas/
http://beep.browardschools.com/ssoPortal/index.html
http://www.triviaplaza.com/
AP Practice tests--http://www.quia.com/quiz/1031353.html?AP_rand=1434947337
HG Everything -- http://www.quia.com/pages/mrsbellaphg.html
Power of Place Series -- http://www.learner.org/resources/series180.html
Map Practice -- http://www.yourchildlearns.com/mappuzzle/europe-puzzle.html
Testing Sites: Sample Free Response
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/humangeo/samp.html?humangeo
Cracking the Exam -- http://books.google.com/books?id=CfzQwhPYePcC&pg=PA78&lpg=PA78&dq=quiz+on+maps+scale+space+and+place&source=bl&ots=hczb58EcUV&sig=NVnV-vZROsAM1Ztws8T-YtTL_2M&hl=en&ei=kaEmTO3XEIS0lQegz5CUAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CBsQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false
youtube.com

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