ADVANCED PLACEMENT HUMAN GEOGRAPHY

UNIT I STUDY GUIDE: THINKING GEOGRAPHICALLY: NATURE AND PERSPECTIVES

✓ BIG IDEA 1: PATTERMS AND SPATIAL ORGANIZATION

• Why do geographers study relationships and patterns among and between places?
✓ BIG IDEA 2: IMPACTS AND INTERACTIONS
• How do geographers use maps to help them discover patterns and relationships in the world?
✓ BIG IDEA 3: SPATIAL PROCESSES AND SOCIETAL CHANGE
• How do geographers use spatial perspective to analyze complex issues and relationships?

TOPIC 1.1: INTRODUCTION TO MAPS

✓ Learning Objective
• Identify types of maps, the types of information presented in maps, and different kinds of spatial
patterns and relationships portrayed in maps.
✓ Essential Knowledge
• 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 projects inevitably distort spatial relationships in shape, area,
distance, and direction.

Complete the chart below about the Five Themes of Geography.

THEME DEFINITION REAL-WORLD EXAMPLE(S)

Location (Absolute and Relative)

Place

Region

Movement

Human-Environment Interaction

Explain the role scale plays in the study of Geography. Include explanations about the differences between physical
and geographic scale.
For each of the maps below, identify the type of map or projection and why/how it is used. If you can, give an
example of how geographers today would use that type of map.
For each of the maps below, identify the type of map or projection and why/how it is used. If you can, give an
example of how geographers today would use that type of map.
For each of the maps below, identify the type of map or projection and why/how it is used. If you can, give an
example of how geographers today would use that type of map.
TOPIC 1.2: GEOGRAPHIC DATA
✓ Learning Objective
• Identify different methods of geographic data collection.
✓ Essential Knowledge
• Data may be gathered in the field by organizations or by individuals.
• Geospatial technologies include geographic information systems (GIS), satellite navigation systems,
remote sensing, and online mapping and visualization.
• Spatial information can come from written accounts in the form of field observations, media reports,
travel narratives, policy documents, personal interviews, landscape analysis, and photographic
interpretation.

Complete the chart below and provide the proper information and examples.

GEOGRAPHIC TOOL DEFINITION REAL-WORLD APPPLICATION(S)

Remote Sensing

Global Positioning System (GPS)

Geographic Information Science

(GIS)
TOPIC 1.3: THE POWER OF GEOGRAPHIC DATA
✓ Learning Objective
• Explain the geographical effects of decisions made using geographical information.
✓ Essential Knowledge
• Geospatial and geographical data, including census data and satellite imagery, are used at all scales for
personal, business and organizational, and governmental decision-making purposes.

What role does the census play in the type of information geographers gather and study?

Is the census a good way to gather demographic information about a place or country? Explain why or why not.

Explain what governments do with census information, or how it can be beneficial for a government to keep track
of this data.

Draw pictures below to demonstrate how GPS and GIS work to gather and make information useful to geographers.
TOPIC 1.4: SPATIAL CONCEPTS
✓ Learning Objective
• Define major geographic concepts that illustrate spatial relationships.
✓ Essential Knowledge
• Spatial concepts include absolute and relative location, space, place, flows, distance decay, time-space
compression, and pattern.

Complete the chart below as completely as possible.

TERM DEFINITION REAL-WORLD EXAMPLE(S)

Absolute Location (Site)

Relative Location (Situation)

Space

Flows

Distance-Decay

Space-Time Compression

Pattern
TOPIC 1.5: HUMAN-ENVIRONMENTAL INTERACTION
✓ Learning Objective
• Explain how major geographic concepts illustrate spatial relationships.
✓ Essential Knowledge
• Concepts of nature and society include sustainability, natural resources, and land use.
• Theories regarding the interaction of the natural environment with human societies have evolved from
environmental determinism to possibilism.
Explain how the environment can impact and influence how people and societies live?

Explain how people modify the environment and the impact that has on resources and the environment as a whole.

Is the photo below a product of environmental determinism or possibilism? Explain why.

TOPIC 1.6: SCALES OF ANALYSIS
✓ Learning Objective
• Define scales of analysis used by geographers.
✓ Essential Knowledge
• Scales of analysis include global, regional, national, and local.
✓ Learning Objective
• Explain what scales of analysis reveal.
✓ Essential Knowledge
• Patterns and processes at different scales reveal variations in, and different interpretations of, data.
Complete the following chart with the definition for each level of scale and two examples of events or problems that
impact people or the world at that particular scale.

TERM OF SCALE DEFINITION EXAMPLE #1 EXAMPLE #2

Local

Regional

National

Global

Explain why it is important to know the correct scale for an issue or event going on in the world.
TOPIC 1.7: REGIONAL ANALYSIS
✓ Learning Objective
• Describe different ways that geographers define regions
✓ Essential Knowledge
• Regions are defined on the basis of one or more unifying characteristics or on patterns of activity.
• Types of regions include formal, functional, and perceptual/vernacular.
• Regional boundaries are transitional and often contested and overlapping.
• Geographers apply regional analysis at local, national, and global scales.
Explain the purpose of defining and studying regions rather than a larger area as a whole.

Including a Key/Legend, complete each of the following maps according to the type of region based on the type in
its title. Include a brief description of why the map you drew demonstrates that particular type of region.
FORMAL REGION
Including a Key/Legend, complete each of the following maps according to the type of region based on the type in
its title. Include a brief description of why the map you drew demonstrates that particular type of region.
FUNCTIONAL REGION

Including a Key/Legend, complete each of the following maps according to the type of region based on the type in
its title. Include a brief description of why the map you drew demonstrates that particular type of region.
PERCEPTUAL/VERNACULAR REGION