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  • Grace Period After the AP Exam

    • Students will receive a grace period after the AP exam and final exam.
    • Historically, a week has been allowed for submission of notes and notebooks.
    • Key Reminder: Stay up to date with assignments for optimal learning.

  • AP Exam Awareness

    • Teachers are frustrated by parents who are unaware of the AP exam requirements.
    • This indicates a lack of communication between educators and families.
    • It is noted that historically, a few students each year inform their parents about the AP tests only at the last minute.
    • Emotional Impact: Frustration caused when parents email regarding their child's lack of knowledge about the AP exam.

  • Focus on Important FRQs (Free Response Questions)

    • Emphasis on preparing for specific FRQs in the course.
    • The slides do not include all prompts; students should find them through Google.
    • Two stimulus FRQs are highlighted, with one being previously graded as particularly challenging.
    • Notable focus on Northern Ireland compared to Korea in FRQs.

  • Concepts on Political Geography:

    • Key terms include territoriality and sovereignty; students need to have a grasp on these.
    • Discussion on political polarization as a significant global trend.
    • Electoral geography is relevant not just in the United States but in representative democracies worldwide.
    • Important Notes to Cover:
    • Voting preferences, behaviors, party affiliations, and coalition formations.
    • Reapportionment of voting districts based on census data.

  • Devolution Definition and Issues

    • Devolution involves transferring power from central governments to administrative divisions.
    • Stress on the importance of articulating the definition clearly, emphasizing underlying pressures and government responses.
    • Cultural and linguistic differences complicate governance leading to demands for autonomy.
    • Economic disparities impact political desires and government effectiveness.

  • Political Boundaries and Relations

    • Borders are defined as planes extending vertically and horizontally meaning they involve air and subsoil.
    • Recognition of borders varies in international law, with significant examples being Iraq and Kuwait regarding oil.
    • The evolution of airspace regulation began with historical conventions leading to today's aviation standards.
    • Understanding of Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) is crucial due to its geopolitical implications, notably in the South China Sea.

  • Relation of Borders to Politics

    • Geometric Borders: Straight lines defining territory, often arbitrary.
    • Subsequent vs. Consequent Boundaries:
    • Subsequent defined by the result of cultural or political changes.
    • Consequent defined by existing ethnic or cultural differences rather than external intervention.

  • Historical Context and Case Studies

    • The fall of the Soviet Union and consequential impacts on borders and political structures in Europe.
    • Examples of border changes due to nationalism include reunification of Germany and the partition of India and Pakistan.
    • Tracking changing dynamics of borders in relation to political movements and historical events.

  • Test Preparation Strategies

    • Emphasis on understanding the influences of nationalism and supranationalism on borders.
    • Skills needed include the ability to analyze and compare the historical and current implications of borders in a geopolitical context.