AP Human Geography Summer Assignment
Mrs. Paulus
[email protected]
www.parklandsd.org/web/paulus
Due: Tuesday 9/2
Welcome to AP Human Geography. This course is yearlong and is designed to meet the
requirements of a college-level human geography course. The course focuses on the
distribution, processes, and effects of human populations on the planet.
The purpose of this summer assignment is to prepare you for the course in the fall, to get you
thinking geographically, and to give you an overview of what you will be studying in the course.
There are three parts to the assignment. Please read all directions clearly and complete as
indicate; if you have any questions please email me. You need a ring binder or folder for the
summer assignment. Clearly label this and your assignments and bring them to class on the
first day.
A.
Assignment: Geography terms
1. Read and take notes on chapter 1 of the textbook: The Cultural Landscape, James
Rubenstein (copies of the chapter are available in the library)
2. Using the vocabulary terms located on pages 38-41 create working definitions
a. They need to be typed, printed and placed in your folder.
i. Terms should be as follows:
1. Term: Definition
a. In your definition include what they are and why they are
important. Also include an example of the term wherever
you feel it is important.
B.
Assignment: Map Packet
1. Label the outline maps provided
a. Continent/World Map: Seven Continents, Five Oceans, Equator, Tropic of
Cancer, Tropic of Capricorn
b. The continents of North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Southeast Asia,
Africa, and Southwest Asia/North Africa (Middle East).
i. Label each country, capital city, major cities, physical features (main
rivers, deserts, mountain ranges etc…). *** Pay attention to smaller
countries that may be missed.
2. Map packets are available in the library (1 per student)
a. If you need extra maps they can be printed online at worldatlas.com or Arizona
Geography Alliance (http://alliance.la.asu.edu/maps/maps.htm)
3. Follow the following guidelines to earn full credit
i. All lettering of Countries and Capitals must be in BLACK ink
ii. All lettering of Capitals and Major Cities must be complete in RED ink
1. Capitals should be shown with a RED STAR symbol
2. Major cities should be shown with a BLACK DOT symbol
iii. All lettering of Rives and Bodies of Water must be completed in BLUE ink
iv. Rivers and Bodies of Water should be shaded blue (Oceans do not need
to be colored)
v. All lettering of Mountains and Landforms must be completed in BLACK
ink
vi.
vii.
viii.
ix.
x.
xi.
xii.
1. Mountains should be shown with a BROWN TRIANGLE symbol
and shaded BROWN
Deserts should be shaded YELLOW
Plains should be shaded LIGHT GREEN
Peninsulas do not need to be shaded a specific color
Place all items as close to their actual location as possible
Countries need to be neatly shaded
1. No TWO touching countries should be the same color
a. DO NOT use BLUE (represents water)
b. Colors should be light enough to read the lettering
Maps must include a key of all colors and symbols used
You may use the following abbreviations
1. W-West
E-East N-North
S-South
2. Place names longer than NINE letters may be shortened.
Maps will be graded based on the following:
 Correct location of all items (see World Atlas Assignment)
 Neat presentation of all lettering and coloring
 Completion of the assignment
*These are to be hand printed maps not pre-printed.
C.
Assignment: Country Profile and Current Events
1. Chose TWO countries (Not the U.S) that you are interested in. Your two countries must
be from different geographical regions/continents.
a. You must email me your chosen countries ([email protected])
i. Countries will be assigned on a first come, first serve basis. Your choice
of countries is not final until you receive an email confirmation from me
b. A section of your binder/folder should be designated for your “Country Portfolio”.
You need two separate sections for each country
2. Your country portfolio will consist of the country profile page from the CIA World
Factbook (for both countries); you need to print this and place it in your folder. This is
about 10 pages and can be found here: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/theworld-factbook/
3. Over the summer locate, read, and print 3 news articles pertaining to each of your
chosen countries that demonstrate the importance of Geography to each country’s
development and current situation. (They should connect to the terms from chapter
one). The number of potential geographical topics are endless, for example:
o Agriculture
o Natural resources
o Economic development (jobs, stock market etc...)
o Relations & disputes with neighboring countries or within the country
o Cultural heritage
o Migration and refugees
o Natural disasters
o Populations issues
4. Write a 2 paragraph summary for each article; the first paragraph needs to be a
summary of the article, the second paragraph should explain how the article illustrates
the importance of geography.
a. Be sure to proof read for spelling, grammar, and punctuation
b. Articles should be distributed throughout the summer (aim for June, July and
August)