INTRODUCTION TO AP HUMAN
GEOGRAPHY
The Advanced Placement course in geography gives
high-ability students the opportunity to earn college credit in geography
while still in high school. More importantly, the content of an AP Geography course
helps students develop critical thinking skills through the understanding,
application and analysis of the fundamental concepts of geography. Through
AP Geography, students are introduced to the systematic study of patterns
and processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of
the Earth’s surface. Students will employ spatial concepts and landscape
analysis to analyze human social organization and its environmental
consequences. Students will meet the five college-level goals as
determined by the National Geographic Standards. They also learn the
methods and tools geographers use in their science and
practice.
The AP Examination in Human Geography is approximately
two hours long, and consists of a 60-minute multiple-choice section and a
60-minute free-response section. Each portion of the examination will
account for 50% of the student’s final score.
In preparation for
the AP Geography examination, this course will be divided into eight
sections: nature & perspectives, population, culture, politics,
agriculture, urbanization, industrialization, and environmental/social
issues. There will be approximately three to four tests per trimester, as
well as a trimester exam. Grades will be based on test scores, quizzes,
projects, and class participation.
All students enrolled in AP
Human Geography will take a benchmark examination at the beginning of the
year to illustrate how much they will learn throughout the
year.
Required
Text:
HUMAN GEOGRAPHY:
CULTURE, SOCIETY, AND SPACE, 7th ed. H.J. de Blij and Alexander B.
Murphy. John Wiley and Sons, 2003. This text includes a student companion
and study guide.
Supplementary readings (on reserve at the Pine
Crest Library):
Don’t
Know Much About Geography, 2d ed. Kenneth
Davis.
Recommended Study Guides:
Student
Atlas of World Geography, John L. Allen. McGraw Hill College
Div; ISBN 0072285680. 1999.
Geography
Coloring Book, Wynn Kapit. Addison-Wesley Pub Co; ISBN:
0321032810.
1999.
