AP Human Geography 2016-2017
Introduction Letter
Welcome to Advanced Placement Human Geography! The most common question asked is “What is
AP?” An AP class is taught as a college course, but taken in high school. Unlike an honors or gifted class
the textbook and materials are college level and require college level work, effort, maturity, and
discipline.
Human Geography is not a history class or a physical geography class. It is a class that covers population
trends, culture, politics, agriculture, industry and urbanization. Academic expectations are high.
Assignments are meant to be challenging, and many of the in-class writing and tests are timed in order
for students to become accustomed to the conditions of the AP exam. The textbook is written at a
significantly higher reading level than most high school social studies textbooks. It may take longer to
read the text and there may be words that students do not recognize. In this case students would need
to look up the definitions. Students are expected to read daily in preparation for the class.
PRECAUTIONARY WARNING: Students who are used to earning A’s in middle school with little
outside reading and studying will HAVE to read and study diligently outside of class or risk
getting C’s or below.
While expectations for this class are high, students will be supported as they transition to high
school and AP classes. They will be challenged but guided as they build a solid base to further
their academic career especially in Social Studies. This will be a great year if students put forth
the required effort to be successful.
Completion of the summer assignment will be an indication that students are serious about the
course and are will-suited for the class. You may contact me with questions over the summer
via e-mail [email protected]
Note to Parents and Guardians:
The freshman year is an important transitional year for students. Many students will have a smooth
transition while others may struggle. One of the biggest struggles freshman students have is that many
have not had to study in past years to earn high scores. As a result, some students experience lower
grades than they have historically earned. It is important for students to develop good study habits early
on in the freshman year. Sometimes students will feel overwhelmed or incapable because they are used
to being able to excel without putting in daily effort. Please be aware of how your particular student is
transitioning and any emotional concerns that may arise.
Expectations of an APHG Student:
*Be a great reader, the textbook and materials are college-level.
*Be a great writer, a high level of writing is expected from ALL students and needed for success on the
AP exam
*Note taking in class and at home
*Self-motivated; most assignments will have to be completed outside of class
*Be an independent worker and able to manage time; an hour a night of reading, and studying is
standard to be successful in this class.
*Participation in class discussions and presentations
*Ability to think globally and relate global trends to local areas
*Be mature, discussions include interesting, controversial subjects.
SUMMER ASSIGNMENT- DUE FIRST DAY OF CLASS
If you have any questions or concerns about this assignment email me,
[email protected]
Define each of the following key terms.
Use each term in an original sentence that includes an appropriate example of the
term.
Highlight each key term in the sentence.
Key Terms:
1. Absolute distance
2. Absoltue location
3. Accessibility
4. Aggregation
5. Anthropogenic
6. Azimuthal projection
7. Breaking point
8. Cartograms
9. Cartography
10.Choropleth map
11.Cognitive map
12.Complementarity
13.Connectivity
14.Contagious diffusion
15.Coordinate system cultural ecology cultural landscape
16.Distance decay effect
17.Dot maps
18.Earth system science
19.Environmental geography
20.Eratosthenes
21.Expansion diffusion
22.Fertile Crescent
23.Formal region
24.Friction of distance
25.Fuller projection
26.Functional region
27.Geographic Information System (GIS)
28.Geographic scale
29.Geoid
30.Global Positioning System (GPS)
31.Gravity model
32.Hierarchical diffusion
33.Human geography
34.Idiographic
35.International dateline
36.Intervening opportunity
37.Isoline
38.Large scale
39.Latitude
40.Law of retail gravitation
41.Location charts Longitude
42.Map projection
43.Map scale
44.Geogre Perkins Marsh
45.Mercator projection
46.Meridian
47.Natural landscape Nature society
48.Nomothetic
49.Parallel
50.W.D. Pattison
51.Perceptual region
52.Peter’s projection
53.Physical geography
54.Preference map
55.Prime Meridian
56.Projection
57.Proportional symbols map
58.Ptolemy
59.Qualitative data
60.Quantitative data
61.Quantitative revolution
62.Reference map
63.Region
64.Regional geography
65.Relative distance
66.Relative location
67.Relocation diffusion
68.Remote sensing
69.Resolution
70.Robinson projection
71.Carl Sauer
72.Sense of place
73.Site Situation
74.Small scale
75.Spatial diffusion
76.Spatial perspective
77.Sustainability
78.Thematic layers
79.Thematic map
80.Time space convergence
81.Topographic maps
82.Topological space
83.Transferability
84.Visualization
Vocabulary is the language of Human Geography and important to understanding
material covered. There will be a key terms test the first day of
class so BE PREPARED.
The second part of the summer assignment consists of selecting a map from a
newspaper, magazine, the Internet, or another source (the map or a photocopy of
it must be turned in with the essay). You should examine the map carefully and
think about the choices the cartographer made. Consider the map’s projection,
colors, symbols, data classification, scale, and overall design. In a five paragraph
essay evaluate (stressing both advantages and limitations) the map’s usefulness.
Be sure to use appropriate key terms in your essay. WRITING MUST BE ORIGINALDO NOT COPY!!
The map and essay are DUE THE FIRST DAY OF CLASS!