Course Syllabus

• Concepts and Processes: Analyze geographic theories, approaches, concepts, processes, or models in theoretical and applied contexts
• Spatial Relationships: Analyze geographic patterns, relationships, and outcomes in applied contexts
• Data Analysis: Analyze and interpret quantitative geographic data represented in maps, tables, charts, graphs, satellite images, and infographics
• Source Analysis: Analyze and interpret qualitative geographic information represented in maps, images (e.g., satellite, photographs, cartoons), and landscapes
• Scale Analysis: Analyze geographic theories, approaches, concepts, processes, and models across geographic scales to explain spatial relationships

About the AP Exam:

The AP exam is administered by the College Board and is not accounted for in the gradebook. This means your quarter / final grade will not reflect performance on the AP exam.

AP exam results are delivered in early July each summer. Earning a score of 3 or above on the 1-5 scoring scale will result in college credit in the subject area. So, most colleges will provide 3 credit hours in humanities / human geography for the AP Human Geography AP credit.

The AP exam is administered digitally. Students can take the exam on a personal laptop or school computer.

The exam is made of two sections:

Section 1: Multiple Choice (60 Questions timed to 60 minutes)

Section 2: Free Response (3 Questions timed to 75 minutes)

Breakdown of Course Content:

Thinking Geographically

Population and Migration Patterns and Processes

Cultural Patterns and Processes

Political Patterns and Processes

Agriculture and Rural Land-Use Patterns and Processes

Cities and Urban Land-Use Patterns and Processes

Industrial and Economic Development Patterns and Processes

In this class, we will utilize a combination of platforms to best meet the needs of all students. Use of our class TEAMS portal as well as AP Classroom is mandatory and will be incorporated into classwork and participation grades.

Grade Recovery

You are encouraged to resubmit any assignment for which you receive a grade that is less than satisfactory. Grade recovery is offered for up to 80% of the total grade. Grade recovery is not accepted for test grades. Parent signatures are required on FRQs that are submitted for grade recovery.

The original assignment should always be submitted along with the updated assignment. Do not throw away the original assignment.

Grade recovery is available for:

• FRQs
• Quizzes
• Classwork Assignments
• Notebook Checks

In the case of a group project, each student must resubmit the assignment separately to receive grade recovery credit.

Late Work Policy

• All assignments are due by the date posted in focus. Request for extensions must be made in writing via email at least 24 hours before the due date.
• All late work must be submitted via the same method the original assignment was intended to be submitted, either via hard copy or on Teams. Never via email!
• All late work must be submitted with a late work form. This is a digital form that includes several additional questions and vocabulary review. This must be done digitally and must be submitted for every assignment submitted late. I will not review your late work until this form is submitted.
• Students have one class period following an excused absence to make up the assigned work without penalty. A late work form must still be submitted, but you can answer all questions by stating “excused absence .” If submitted after the one-class grace period, the excused absence forgiveness no longer applies.
• Late work that is turned in after an approved extension or excused absence will receive full credit in line with the late work policy, so long as the assignment is turned in by the agreed upon extension date.
• Any assignment submitted late is subject to a 20% grade deduction.
• All late work must be submitted by the late work deadline, which is a week prior to the end of the quarter. These dates are posted in the classroom. No assignments are accepted after this deadline.

Extra Credit

Extra credit opportunities arise throughout the quarter. No late submissions are accepted for extra credit. Once an extra credit deadline is passed, it is closed.

Completing the progress check on AP Classroom before the unit exam results in +5 points in the test category of your grade. This is the most consistent extra credit opportunity available.

Throughout each quarter, you will be rewarded Thrillshare Points on our class Rooms account. These points equate to everything from outstanding performance in class, great participation in a project, or even random acts of kindness. At the end of each quarter, you will have the option to “cash in” your Thrillshare Points for extra credit. These can only be redeemed at the end of each quarter. Thrillshare Points can roll over to the next quarter.

REGARDING CELL PHONES IN CLASS:Cell phones are only permitted in class in situations where it has been clearly stated that students may use their phones. If I ask for the phone to be put away, it must be put away immediately.

REGARDING AP EXAM EXPECTATIONS:If a student drops an IB or AP class after the ordering of tests (November 15th), does not sit for the test, or sits – yet does not fully attempt to pass the test (signing in and putting their head down, or not answering the questions/essays/projects), they will be responsible for the cost of the exam. Cost: IB – $125 and AP $100. If not paid, the amount will be added to their senior obligations, preventing them from walking at senior commencement.

Gradebook Categories:

• Unit Tests: 20% of Quarterly Grade
• Classwork: 40% of Quarterly Grade
• FRQs: 20% of Quarterly Grade
• Quizzes: 10% of Quarterly Grade
• Class Notebook: 10% of Quarterly Grade

Extra Help / Tutoring

I am available during all 3 lunches during every B day to offer support with classwork assignments and content questions. You are also permitted to use this time to simply work on your homework in my room. If you know you need to talk to me about an assignment, please tell me during class to ensure that I am available to give you my undivided attention during lunch that day.

(Please note: Extra help for AP Hug is during B days only. A days are reserved for IB students & Yearbook questions).

Additional Reading:

In addition to our course textbook, we will read Prisoners of Geography : 10 Maps to Understand the World. Please contact Mrs. Fessenden with any questions about this text, which will be read in class, and only in excerpts.

Class Notebook & Daily Homework

Every AP course requires an extensive time commitment outside of the classroom. In this course, we follow a semi-flipped structure. This means that the majority of your homework will be in the form of notes & reading assignments. At the beginning of each unit you will be provided with a schedule that you are expected to follow. Your homework will not be checked daily. Your homework will be graded as a notebook check at the end of each unit. This is worth 10% of your quarterly grade.

Please Note: Typed / computer-printed notes are not accepted. Since the notes are provided digitally, I require all notes to be submitted handwritten to ensure that they were not copied and pasted.

You must maintain a notebook that is exclusive for this class. As long as your notebook is managed neatly, in an organized fashion, students have the discretion to select what type of notebook they use.

Suggestions include:

• A 3-ring binder with 8 dividers
• Multiple composition notebooks
• An accordion folder

Academic Dishonesty

Situations of academic dishonesty are dealt with on a case-by-case basis. Most instances of suspected academic dishonesty will be reported via student honor integrity referral. I, the teacher, reserve the right to extend personal discretion and to deal with situations of academic dishonesty in an individualized fashion. In cases of academic dishonesty, grade recovery is not permitted.