Welcome to AP Human Geography

GuidanceMr. Andrade

December 3, 2014

Prep and Pre-AP World Geography

Welcome!

Today’s Agenda:

• About Me

• Class Expectations/Focus

• About the AP Human Geography Exam

About Mr. Andrade

Andrade: Ahn-drah-day

• Teach Prep and Pre-AP World Geography

• Education: BA in Geography from the University of Oklahoma, MA in Geography from Indiana University

• AP Human Geography exam reader for 2 years; taught Introduction to Human Geography in college

• Attended Westside HS; Mrs. Stephens was my Human Geography teacher

• I have a little brother who’s also a freshman at Westside

Class Expectations/Focus

• This is a mutual respect zone. I will respect you as I respect my students, and you will respect me as you would respect your teacher.

• Arrive on time with writing utensils and supplies, wear your ID at all times, and come with an open mind.

• I expect you to come prepared with questions you may have from your readings/regular class instruction; I want to help you succeed but YOU are ultimately in control of what you gain from this period.

• Main focus is to learn test-taking strategies and how to write Free Response Questions (FRQs) in preparation for the AP Human Geography exam.

About the AP Human Geography Exam

• Date: 8 AM on Friday, May 15, 2015

• Cost varies depending on financial need; you’ll find out more about this next semester

• AP Readings are typically held in early June; you’d get your results in the mail late July/early August• High school teachers and college professors met in Cincinnati, OH

to read over 100,000 AP Human Geography FRQs this summer

What is the test like?

• The exam is approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes long, split into two parts• Multiple Choice: 50%; 75 questions lasting 1 hour

• Free Response (FRQ): 50%; 3 questions lasting 1 hour and 15 minutes

• Multiple Choice section is holistic (includes all concepts covered throughout the year)

• Total scores on the multiple choice section are based on the number of questions answered correctly• Points aren’t deduced for incorrect answers and no points are awarded for

unanswered questions

Free Response Questions

• 3 questions to be answered within 1 hour and 15 minutes• You will be given all three questions at the same time, but you should try to

spend no more than 25 minutes on each question

• FRQs are similar to essays; the more you write about the topic, the greater the chance you’ll earn more points towards your score

• The main focus is for you to understand the task required, the number of steps required in the answer, the region or concept you’re writing about, and the difference between identify, describe, and explain

Identify, Describe, and Explain

• To identify is to establish or indicate who or what something is

• Describe and Explain are very similar, however:• To describe is to list properties or features of a

thing/process/event/etc.

• To explain is to relate the thing/process/event/etc. to a larger context

Identify/Describe/Explain Practice(3 minutes)

Language

Identify Describe Explain

Identify/Describe/Explain PracticeLanguage

Identify Describe Explain

Language is a method of human communication.

Language can involve the use of verbal and/or nonverbal methods.

Some examples of the most common verbal or spoken languages include Mandarin Chinese, English, and Spanish. We sometimes use various hand signals to communicate nonverbally.

Practice with FRQ Prompts

For each prompt, tell me which word(s) indicate the task(s) to be performed in your response.

1. Identify two reasons why businesses would choose to locate their call centers in small southern towns.

2. Choose either activity X or activity Y and apply the underlying principles of von Thunen’s agricultural land-use model to explain the location of the activity.

3. Define and discuss the key features of the new international division of labor (also known as global division of labor).

Contact Me

• Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have; I’m here to help!

• Tutorials: Tuesdays and Wednesdays during B lunch• Let me know in advance if you plan to come during my tutorial

times via e-mail or in person

• E-mail: jandrad2@houstonisd.org