AP Human Geography Notes

AP Human Geography Course Content

  • Unit 1: Thinking Geographically
  • Unit 2: Population and Migration Patterns and Processes
  • Unit 3: Cultural Patterns and Processes
  • Unit 4: Political Patterns and Processes
  • Unit 5: Agriculture and Rural Land-Use Patterns and Processes
  • Unit 6: Cities and Urban Land-Use Patterns and Processes
  • Unit 7: Industrial and Economic Development Patterns and Processes

AP Exam Format

  • Exam Time: 2 hours & 15 minutes
  • Section I: Multiple Choice
    • 60 Questions
    • 60 Minutes
    • 50% of Exam Score
    • Includes individual and set-based questions.
    • Approximately 30-40% of questions reference stimulus material (maps, tables, charts, graphs, images, infographics, landscapes).
    • Stimulus material is roughly evenly divided between quantitative and qualitative sources.
  • Section II: Free Response
    • 3 Questions
    • 75 minutes
    • 50% of Exam Score
    • Each question presents an authentic geographic situation and assesses the ability to describe, explain, and apply geographic concepts, processes, or models.
    • At least two questions assess the ability to analyze across geographic scales.
    • Question 1: No stimuli.
    • Question 2: One stimulus (data, image, or map).
    • Question 3: Two stimuli (data, images, and/or maps).

What Students Need to do to Succeed

  • Begin working on vocabulary assignments early.
  • Read the book & complete practice questions.
  • Ask questions & interact with the content.
  • Review vocabulary throughout the Fall & Spring Semester
  • Attend tutorial sessions in the Spring
  • Use review resources like test prep books
  • Believe in yourself!

Supplies

  • Binder
  • Dividers
  • Looseleaf Paper
  • Pens (Blue or Black)
  • Pencils (#2 for Exam)
  • Colored Pencils
  • Highlighters
  • Test Prep Books (any):
    • AMSCO
    • 5 Steps to a 5
    • iScore5 (app)
    • Princeton Review
    • Barron’s

1.1.1 Introduction to Maps

  • Objective: Identify types of maps, the types of information presented in maps, and different kinds of spatial patterns and relationships portrayed in maps.
  • Types of maps include reference maps and thematic maps.
  • Types of spatial patterns represented on maps include absolute and relative distance and direction, clustering, dispersal, and elevation.
  • All maps are selective in information; map projections inevitably distort spatial relationships in shape, area, distance, and direction.

1.1.1 Types of Maps

  • Reference Maps: General information/navigation/location.
    • Political: States/countries/capitals.
    • Physical: Natural features.
    • Road: Highways, streets, etc.
  • Thematic Maps: Communicate information about a place.
    • Spatial aspects - what is it like there?
    • Types:
      • Choropleth
      • Dot-Density
      • Graduated/Proportional Symbol
      • Cartogram
      • Isoline & Topographic

1.1.1 Types of Maps - Thematic Maps

  • Choropleth Maps:
    • Use various colors, shades of one color, or patterns to show the location and distribution of spatial data.
  • Dot-Density:
    • Each dot represents a specified quantity of a spatial characteristic.
  • Graduated/ Proportional Symbol:
    • Use symbols of different sizes to indicate different amounts of a variable.
  • Cartogram:
    • The sizes of countries are shown according to a specific variable. Area is distorted to show a variable.
  • Isoline:
    • Use lines that connect points of equal value to depict variations in the data across space.
    • Used for weather and elevation.

1.1.2 Types Spatial Patterns on Maps

  • Objective: Identify types of maps, the types of information presented in maps, and different kinds of spatial patterns and relationships portrayed in maps.
  • Types of maps include reference maps and thematic maps.
  • Types of spatial patterns represented on maps include absolute and relative distance and direction, clustering, dispersal, and elevation.
  • All maps are selective in information; map projections inevitably distort spatial relationships in shape, area, distance, and direction.

Spatial Patterns

  • Absolute Location:
    • EXACT, PRECISE.
    • Address, Latitude & Longitude.
    • Example: Rio de Janeiro is located at 23°S, 43°W.
  • Relative Location:
    • Relationship to another place.
    • Example: Next to my house, Between Werk & Lawrence
  • Absolute Distance:
    • EXACT, PRECISE.
    • Miles/Kilometers/Feet.
    • Example: Downtown Atlanta is 26 miles from KMHS.
    • Map Scale.
  • Relative Distance:
    • Spatial Interaction: Connections, contacts, movement, and flow of things between places.
    • Example: Amazon has drastically decreased relative distance between consumers and products. I can order anything on Prime and have it delivered to my house in two days!
  • Absolute Direction:
    • EXACT, PRECISE.
    • Cardinal Directions: NSEW.
  • Relative Direction:
    • Remember, relative- relationships.
    • Example: Turn left at the Target, then right at the second stop-sign.
  • Clustering:
    • Close together.
    • Density - The # of something in a defined area.
  • Dispersal/Distribution
    • Far apart.
    • Distribution - The way something is spread out over an area.
  • Patterns & Spatial Associations
    • Indication that two (or more) phenomena may be related, associated, or correlated with one another.

1.1.3 Map Projections & Distortions

  • Objective: Identify types of maps, the types of information presented in maps, and different kinds of spatial patterns and relationships portrayed in maps.
  • Types of maps include reference maps and thematic maps.
  • Types of spatial patterns represented on maps include absolute and relative distance and direction, clustering, dispersal, and elevation.
  • All maps are selective in information; map projections inevitably distort spatial relationships in shape, area, distance, and direction.
  • Map projections distort spatial relationships in shape, area, distance and direction.
  • Map Projection: The process of a cartographer (map maker) showing the curved surface of the earth on a flat surface (map).
  • Maps are selective in what they portray - different projections are used for different purposes.
  • Map projections are…S.A.D.D, because they distort:
    • S-Shape
    • A-Area
    • D- Distance
    • D- Direction

Map Projections

  • Mercator (1569)
    • Advantages:
      • Direction
      • Shape
      • Purpose: Navigation
      • Preserves right angles of latitude and longitude.
    • Disadvantages:
      • Area distorted near the poles
      • Increases size of high latitude areas.
  • Peters Equal Area
    • Advantages:
      • Area of landmassess are accurate.
      • Repositions many countries to their rightful size.
    • Disadvantages
      • Shapes are inaccurate near the poles.
      • Vertically stretched near the equator.
  • Robinson
    • Advantages:
      • No major distortions
      • Purpose- Compromise
    • Disadvantages
      • All aspects are slightly distorted.
  • Others:
    • Conic
    • Azimuthal
    • Fuller
  • What is the point?
    • All maps are selective and distort the earth. The world is a cat playing with Australia.