AP Human Geography Course Syllabus 2011-2012

Teacher: Mr. Benjamin J. VanVleet

Teacher Contact Information: E-mail: benjamin.vanvleet@dmps.k12.ia.us Phone: 515-242-7300 Classroom: #1110

Teacher’s Educational Background: University of Northern Iowa: Master of Arts in Social Science 2011 University of Northern Iowa: Bachelor of Arts in History 2005 Des Moines Public Schools Graduate: (Pleasant Hill, Amos Hiatt & East High 2000) 7th Year Teaching (5 years Collins-Maxwell CSD 2nd year Hoover High School)

Teacher Office Hours: Teacher Office Hours are before school (7:25-7:40), the last 15 minutes of lunch

(M,T,TH,F) 11:10-11:25, afterschool (2:35-3:10). Appointments outside of the listed times are at the discretion of the teacher. Students who need access to teachers before 7:25 and during lunch must have a pass

from the teacher Planning Period: 4th Block 1:05-2:35 both Gold and Green

It is the policy of Hoover High School to return parent communication within 24 hours during the work week, post grades in Infinite Campus Every Thursday by 3:00, communicate with parents when grades fall into the D or F range, and post major assignments in Infinite Campus when assigned. To facilitate this, it is the expectation of Hoover High School that families will maintain current contact information (phone, address, e-mail). To update contact information, please call 242-7302. Parents can learn how to access the Infinite Campus Parent Portal in the parent handbook distributed at Registration and available on the Hoover website.

Course Description: Year Long Course, 1 credit; ElectiveAP Human Geography will emphasize the distribution, creations, and impacts of human populations around the globe. The course encompasses several units of study including population, culture, language, religion, political and urban geography, agriculture, industry, and economic development and change. Students will gain a working knowledge of many geographic models and concepts and be able to apply them to real-life situations both globally and locally. The ability to ask geographic questions, provide analysis, and draw conclusions are paramount in the course. AP Human Geography is a yearlong course designed to be similar to an introductory one-semester college course. The College Boards official description is at: http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap-human-geography-course-description.pdf

Major Course Objectives:

Use and think about maps and spatial data. AP Human Geography teaches the use of spatial concepts and landscape analysis to examine human organization of space. The course teaches students how to use and interpret maps, data sets, and geographic model. GIS, aerial photographs, and satellite images, though not required, can be used effectively in the course.

Understand and interpret the implications of associations among phenomena in places. AP Human Geography introduces students to the systematic study of patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of Earth’s surface.

Recognize and interpret at different scales the relationships among patterns and processes. AP Human Geography teaches spatial relationships at different scales ranging from the local to the global.

Define regions and evaluate the regionalization processes. AP Human Geography teaches students to use the methods of geographers, especially including observation, mapmaking, data gathering and reporting, and technical writing.

Characterize and analyze changing interconnections among places. AP Human Geography develops a geographic perspective with which to view the landscape and understand current events. Employing spatial concepts, geographic vocabulary, and landscape interpretation to a variety of locations and situations around the globe and in local areas.

Units of Study

Unit 1: Geography: Its Nature and Perspectives > 5-10% of Exam > 4 weeks

Unit 2: Population > 13-17% of Exam > 5 weeks

Unit 3: Cultural Patterns and Processes > 13-17% of Exam > 6 weeks

Unit 4: Political Organization and Space > 13-17% of Exam > 5 weeks

Unit 5: Agricultural and Rural Land Use > 13-17% of Exam> 4 weeks

Unit 6: Industrial and Economic Development > 13-17% of Exam > 4 weeks

Unit 7: Cities and Urban Land Use > 13-17% of Exam > 4 weeks

AP National Exam Friday May 18, 2012. AP SCORE QUALIFICATION (AP Exam Scores Equivalency: 5 is equivalent to an A in a college course, 4 A- to B, 3 B- to C. No credit for exam score of 2 or below)

5 Extremely well qualified, 4 Well Qualified, 3 Qualified, 2 Possibly Qualified, 1 No Recommendation

Behavior and Attendance:

All students are expected to follow the established building and district behavior, attendance and tardy policy outlined in the student handbook.

Regular attendance and being on time to class is key to success in this classroom.

Classroom Procedures: 1. Respect- Treat other students and guests with respect. Follow the simple rule; Treat

others how you want to be treated2. Completing Tasks/Participation- Come prepared to class. Make sure you have

materials necessary to complete your work. Participation is essential.3. Have Fun! Do not come to class dreading your time in here, come with a positive

attitude and openness to new ideas. Everyone’s opinion and feelings will be respected in my classroom.

4. Remember- AP Human Geography is a college level course, with an exam at the end of the year that I highly advise you take. The grade and exam have nothing to do with each other directly. This class is weighted (“B” grade counts as 4.0) and the rigor is very high. Your success in this class largely will depend on your work ethic, but I will be there to coach you all along the way!

Academic Dishonesty:Plagiarism is the practice of taking someone else's work or ideas and passing them off as one's own. Students submitting plagiarized work will be assigned to re-do the work or complete an additional and/or alternative assignment for a reduction in grade. Instances of plagiarism become part of a student’s permanent disciplinary record. Students who plagiarize multiple times are subject to disciplinary action under level III or IV of the DMPS Code of conduct for students. Common examples of plagiarism include:

1. Copying and pasting information from the internet into a paper2. Using someone else’s words without referencing the source or including quotations3. Using someone else’s ideas without referencing the source

Grading and Feedback Policy:

Definition of Student Achievement: Student achievement in social studies is measured in proficiency in all course objectives as demonstrated through summative assessments, daily work, and final semester assessments.

Required Study Skills and Work Habits for Success in Social Studies: Come to class every day with materials and ready to engage in learning Keep a planner with important assignment due dates Ask questions frequently Take advantage of tutoring ( lunch and after school) and teacher “office hours” 7:25-7:40

& 2:35-3:10 Keep track of grades and work completion through Infinite Campus and/or the sheets

posted weekly in the room Work well individually and in groups Develop skills in reading for understanding and informative and evaluative writing

Grading Scale & Indicators:

Proficiency in Course Standards

LetterGrade

Description Scale

Exemplary A

Student is proficient in all standards and consistently demonstrates the following levels of intellectual work – Remembering, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, and Creation

90-100%

Mastery B

Student is proficient in all standards and consistently demonstrates the following levels of intellectual work – Remembering, Understanding, Application and Analysis

80-89%

Proficient C

Student is proficient in all standards and consistently demonstrates the following levels of intellectual work – Remembering and Understanding

70-79%

Not Proficient, but making progress D

Not proficient in all course standards, making progress towards proficiency in remaining standards. Demonstrates the following levels of intellectual work – Remembering and Understanding. Progress is defined as making repeated attempts with increasing levels of performance in the standard.

60-69%

Not Proficient F

NO CREDIT AWARDED - Not proficient in all course standards AND not making progress - unable to fully evaluate levels of intellectual work. Progress is defined as making repeated attempts with increasing levels of performance in the standard.

ORThe student withdraws / drops a class after the deadline (7 weeks).

0-59%

Failing Due to Attendance F / A

Student is receiving an F in the course AND has more than 7 absences to that course. Students do not automatically receive an F when they reach 7 absences; however, this grade is intended to communicate that low performance was due to on-going attendance issues.

0-59%

Grading Categories, Descriptions and Weighting:

Category Assessments May Include WeightingSummative Assessments Unit tests and quizzes (FRQ’s) 60%

Formative Assessments

Final Assessments

Projects

Entry/exit activitiesQuick writesDocument based questionsPrimary source analysesHomeworkSimulationsWritten reflections

Semester Exam/Project/Essay

30%

10%

Improving Subject Proficiency:

Make-Up WorkStudents will be given 2 days for each day missed to make up work. Make up time may not exceed 6 school days following the student’s return. The time allowed for make up work may be extended at the teacher’s discretion. Full credit will be given for schoolwork made up because of absences.Missing & Late WorkLate work will be accepted at a maximum of 70% of the original graded score. Late work may be turned in within 2 weeks of the end of the instructional unit in which it was given; after this two week period students may not make up any missing work.RetakesSummative assessment retakes may be completed before/after school, during study hall, or during lunch, within 2 weeks of the end of the instructional unit for full credit.

Feedback Processes and Timelines: Learning objectives will be posted on the board or via PowerPoint each day. Formative assessments will be returned by the next class. Summative assessments will be returned within 1 week. Major projects will include a timeline for completion of steps.

o Each item on the timeline will be returned by the next class.o The completed project will be returned within 1 week.

The building policy sets parameters for the establishment of all department policies.

Course Assignments and Activities

Activities:

Various strategies will be used in class to assist students in developing factual knowledge. Lectures, discussions, debates, and various small group collaborative activities will be used to deepen students’ understanding of concepts gained through the required overnight readings. Relevant excerpts from documentaries and movies will be used to help enhance students understanding of the key concepts and locations addressed in the course. A proper study of Human Geography cannot exist without studying the locations being analyzed throughout the various units of the course. Therefore, an assortment of activities will incorporate the use of various map projections, globes, atlases, and dry-erase laminated map sets. Internet based maps/images will also be incorporated into the course as necessary.

Readings: Students will have required readings that will come primarily from The Cultural Landscape (Rubenstein) with additional excerpts/selections from the supplemental course texts, periodicals, and websites. Students will need to be prepared for a reading quiz or other assessment covering the readings. Students are encouraged to take notes.

Free Response Questions: AP Human Geography will help students to develop the skills necessary to present a cogent argument based upon critical analysis of the prompted question and their understanding of geography. Students will be presented with a multi-component prompt which will generally require defining terms relative to geographic studies in an in-depth manner and then analyzing the terms within in the context of specific world regions or case studies.

Tests: At the conclusion of each unit of study, students will be a given a unit test. These unit tests are comprehensive and will include material previous covered within the course. Unit tests will be given in two parts: 1) free response and 2) multiple choice. The essay and multiple choice components of each unit test are designed to mimic the format of the AP Exam. The National AP Exam is optional but strongly recommended as the focus of this class is to develop those skills necessary for success on this exam.

Assignments and Major Projects: Various in-class written assignments will be used so as to facilitate students in a deeper interaction with AP Human Geography curricular content. Such assignments will include analyzing information in various printed and electronic (Internet) resources as well as evaluating maps, graphs, charts, and other statistical information relative to the interaction among Earth and its various human populations.