Summer Assignment Directions and Parent Letter

AP Human Geography

Summer Assignment Directions and Parent Letter

Dear Students and Parents:

I am excited that you have decided to accept the challenge of taking an Advanced Placement class, which is a university-level course taught in high school. I promise that you will strengthen your academic, intellectual, observation, and discussion skills. I am revved up to teach this class again next year and I am dedicated to providing a challenging and rewarding academic experience. Intrinsic in any AP course is an increased workload and some time for “field study” and review outside of class. I will provide advanced notices for these dates and times.

This course is a web enhanced course and consequently students will use e-mail, the course website, and various other computer programs such as Google documents to enhance their learning opportunities. This creates a very rich academic environment where students will take tests online, participate in online discussions, and have the capacity to communicate and learn outside of the traditional class time. The course web site is located at www.schoology.com and will be fully available after August 1st however, the summer assignment is already loaded on the site, and there is other information that is being placed on it regularly, including the updated course syllabus. Over the summer, I will begin to add assignments for each of our course units. In order to enroll, students should use the following access code to register: NKMFF-TW97Z. Once they register, they should be able to see the AP Human Geography files.

Part of entering an AP class is an assumption of a certain level of background knowledge and skills. With this in mind, the course requires the completion of a summer assignment. Your summer assignment has two parts: a book study and a series of maps that you need to complete. You must complete both parts of the assignment. Both parts are due on the first day of classes. Please review and be prepared to take an assessment during the first two weeks of school relating to the map portion of your assignment. The assessment will be mastery based which means you can take the assessment multiple times, but must attain 80% or above to pass. The assessment will be primarily a matching/identifying assessment – do not worry about spelling for this assessment. Don’t stress out about this, but do some review and familiarize yourself with the information in the summer assignment. Think of this knowledge as the ABC’s and 1, 2, 3’s of geography. If you need a place to practice, you can use: www.sheppardsoftware.com/Geography.htm. Additionally, I want to warn each of you that the summer assignment has been designed to preclude students leaving the assignment until the last few days of summer break. So, begin now and do a little each day. You will finish with plenty of summer break remaining.

During my summer break, I am always available to help students via email. Students, and parents, may feel free to email me at: . Regardless of where I am in the summer, I always have access to this email. I will almost always respond within 24 hours of receiving your email. If you email, please be specific about who you are and what exactly you need help with. I am looking forward to meeting you in August!

Sincerely,

Colin M. Ramsay

I.  AP Human Geography Book Study Guide

Book Review/Analysis Writing

Pick any one of the books on the list provided below. Read the book and then complete all parts of this guide. This assignment should be typed, single-spaced with a double space between parts. Each of the books is designed to deepen your understanding of the world and make connections to your own background information. The assignment should help you to gain a sense of understanding of locations and places and why these places are important. Many of the books are available at public libraries or can be purchased online or at bookstores. You may read in any format, including Kindle.

Part I – Summary

Summarize the thesis or central point of the author in your own words. In other words what does the author believe and wants to prove/show. Identify three specific examples from three different chapters of the book that clearly support the thesis. Use specific examples from the text that the author uses to make his point. - This is not your opinion, I want to know what the author believes and show it with evidence. Hint the thesis is usually found in the first and last chapters of text.

Part II – Dialectic Journal - passages from text / describe and connect

Pick five significant passages from the text that resonate (evokes emotion) or that you can make connections to your current knowledge. Attempt to identify quotes that relate to the following concepts:

• Sense of place – Describes what is it like in a certain location (physical and/or cultural)

• Geographic Patterns – What are the geographic patterns that exist in the world or region being discussed?

• Why There? – Why are the patterns or processes being discussed in the book occurring in the locations being described?

• Impacts / Effects – What are the impacts and effects of the patterns and processes being discussed in the book?

Part III – Reaction Paper (2 typed pages, single-spaced, 12 font)

Do you agree or disagree with the author’s thesis? Explain why and support with details? We want your opinion but support it with details and examples.

Part IV – Map

Create an original map that accurately portrays one or more of the following:

• the author's thesis (main point or generalization)

• the author's perspective of the world (or region)

• the author's main points in a specific chapter

• Key locations and places that are discussed in the text- create symbols to indicate the importance to the book.

• Map data that relates to the text – ie. overall health of US states, countries with most internet connections – just explain how the data relates to the book and why you are mapping the information.

• You can use a world, regional or national map to show your information. Your map needs clear, clean designs that include several types of data and information. Map should include a title, a legend with symbols and colors you use, and a compass rose. Different cartographic (map making) techniques you might use to show spatial patterns across the surface of the earth include:

• different colors to show percentages or ratios ( ex. percent literate, unemployed, etc.) - light to dark shades of the same color or warm vs. cool colors

• different width arrows to show movement (ideas, migration, trade, etc.) wider arrows indicate larger amounts or quantities

• symbols to show differences and similarities between countries or regions (ex. religious symbols, different dollar signs to show Gross Domestic Product, etc.)

• other cartographic techniques you observe from other maps.

• locating outline maps: this site has lots of maps that can be downloaded and printed.

http://www.eduplace.com/ss/maps/index.html

Part V - Venn Diagram or Double Bubble Thinking Map

Throughout the books, the authors make many comparisons that lend themselves to comparative analysis. Choose one of these comparisons and create a Venn diagram or double-bubble thinking map that illustrates the differences and similarities. Being able to identify patterns that reoccur is an essential skill for academic success. In order to do this activity you will need to identify two people, regions, ideas, beliefs, or groups of people that are discussed in the book. Look for similarities and differences and write them down in the diagram. Identify a minimum of four similarities and differences. Some comparisons can be simple but don’t be afraid to be brilliant.

Book Choices: You are to select one of the following books

A Long Way Gone – Ishmael Beah

City of Joy – Dominique Lapierre

Crossing Over: A Mexican Family on the Migrant Train – Anna Kendall

Cry the Beloved Country – Alan Paton

Dreams of Joy – Lisa See

Factory Girls: From village to City in Changing China – Leslie T. Chang

God Grew Tired of Us – Jon Bul Dau and Michael Sweeney

How Soccer Explains the World – Franklin Foer

Mao’s Last Dancer – Li Cunxin

Nectar in a Sieve – Karmala Markandaya

Pearl of China – Anchee Min

Ship Breaker – Paolo Baciqalupi

Sold – Patricia McCormick

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope – William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer

The Breadwinner – Deborah Ellis

The Red Scarf Girl – Ji-li Jiang

Things Fall Apart – Chinua Achebe

Three Cups of Tea – Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin

Where Am I Eating: An Adventure through the Global Food Economy – Kelsey Timmerman

Where Am I Wearing: A Global Tour to the Countries, Factories, and People that Make Our Clothes – Kelsey Timmerman

II.  Map Assignment

Goal: To identify and label important locations and physical features throughout the world in order to make pertinent spatial location connections.

Materials: Outline map and a list of important countries, cities, and physical

features. You will also need a pencil or pen, and colored pencils to assist in

labeling and coloring the given features.

Directions: Using the list provided identify and label all physical features on the physical map

and all locations (countries and cities) on the political map. Additionally, create a map key that

shows a symbol of your choice for the following items: capitals, cities, oceans, rivers, mountain

ranges, and deserts. Use color to differentiate bodies of water (oceans, rivers & lakes, etc),

mountain ranges, deserts, etc. Please carefully select the colors you use to reflect the natural

landscape. Draw all features to scale.

Assignment Value: 100 points. – Failure to do the assignment will result in removal from the course!

Due Date: All maps are due on the first day of class.

Directions:

1. I would suggest making some copies of your maps in case of a major goof-up (however,

white-out can be your friend as long as it’s not used extensively!) Feel free to make larger copies of your maps if you want to.

2. Please take notice of the rubric included. This is how you will be graded!

3. This website: www.worldatlas.com/webimage/testmaps/maps.htm OR www.eduplace.com

4. Maps needed are: Americas – Europe – Africa – Asia – Australia.

5. YOU WILL NEED TWO MAPS EACH of those listed.

6. USE OUTLINE MAPS and make sure the map covers the whole page. On the left side the webpage you see the continents. Click on the continent and then scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the bottom left of the page to print a full page map.

7. For Lines of Latitude & Longitude & “other”, use a world (continent borders only) map.

8. You will have five political maps when finished and six physical maps.

9. Be mindful that this assignment was not meant to be completed in a day (or at 2 AM the day before school starts). You should work progressively on this throughout the summer.

10. Study these maps this summer. You will be tested on these locations throughout the year through announced and unannounced quizzes.

11. Take this seriously, and look on the bright side, you can take pride in the fact that you are no longer on the geographically deficient dark side. ☺

AP Human Geography Summer Assignment: Political Maps Place Location List

The Americas

Countries

United States

Cuba

Haiti

Dominican Republic

Puerto Rico

Mexico

El Salvador

Belize

French Guiana

Jamaica

Canada

Honduras

Nicaragua

Costa Rica

Panama

Brazil

Venezuela

Guyana

Suriname

Guatemala

Colombia

Ecuador

Peru

Bolivia

Paraguay

Uruguay

Argentina

Chile

Bahamas

Cities

New York City

Chicago

Atlanta

Seattle

Havana

Mexico City

Sao Paulo

Houston

Washington D.C.

Los Angeles

Santiago (Chile)

Buenos Aires

Montevideo

Norfolk

Montreal

Quebec City

Toronto

Vancouver

Rio de Janeiro

Caracas

Lima

Bogota

Europe

Countries

France

Germany

Italy

Belgium

Netherlands

Luxembourg

United Kingdom

Ireland

Denmark

Greenland

Greece

Spain

Portugal

Austria

Finland

Sweden

Norway

Switzerland

Iceland

Cyprus

Poland

Czech Republic

Slovakia

Hungary

Romania

Bulgaria

Yugoslavia

Bosnia-Herzegovina

Croatia

Macedonia

Slovenia

Albania

Russia (European side)

Estonia

Latvia

Lithuania

Belarus

Ukraine

Moldova

Cities

London

Edinburgh

Belfast

Dublin

Paris

Madrid

Gibraltar

Bucharest

Budapest

Naples

Belgrade

Rome

Geneva

Brussels

Amsterdam

Copenhagen

Stockholm

Oslo

Helsinki

Minsk

Prague

Zaghreb

Warsaw

Berlin

Lisbon

Vienna

Athens

Moscow

St. Petersburg

Kiev

Sofia

Africa

Countries

Egypt

Libya

Tunisia

Algeria

Morocco

Ethiopia

Eritrea

Sudan

Congo (Dem. Republic)

Uganda

Kenya

Tanzania

Rwanda

Burundi

Congo (People’s Republic)

Somalia

Mozambique

Madagascar

Senegal

Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)

Mauritania

Central African Republic

Niger

Benin

Chad

Angola

Zimbabwe

Djibouti

Namibia

Nigeria

Ghana

Burkina Faso

Sierra Leone

Mali

Liberia

Guinea

Malawi

Cameroon

Gabon

Botswana

Lesotho

Swaziland

South Africa

Zambia

Western Sahara

Seychelles

Cape Verde

Guinea-Bissau

Togo

Gambia

Cities

Cairo

Khartoum

Johannesburg

Kinshasa

Lusaka

Mogadishu

Abidjan

Cape Town

Dakar

Lagos

Abuja

Casablanca

Rabat

Luanda

Brazzaville

Nairobi

Dar es Salaam

Addis Ababa

Algiers

Tripoli

Tunis

Conakry

Asia

Countries

China

Taiwan

Japan

North Korea

South Korea

Indonesia

Malaysia

Singapore

Philippines

Armenia

Pakistan

Bangladesh

Sri Lanka

Israel

Yemen

Cambodia

Vietnam

Thailand

Myanmar (Burma)

Laos

India

Azerbaijan

Kazakhstan

Uzbekistan

Turkmenistan

Tajikistan

Kyrgyzstan

Afghanistan

Russia (Asian side)

Mongolia

Jordan

Lebanon

Palestine

Maldives

East Timor

Turkey

Nepal

Bhutan

Georgia

Singapore

Iraq

Iran

Kuwait

United Arab Emirates

Syria

Oman

Qatar