Introduction to AP Human Geography Mr Stepek What

Introduction to AP Human Geography Mr. Stepek

What is “Geography”? What will we be studying? • the word “geography” is from the Greek • “geo” = Earth • “graph” = to write or describe • geography = “to write about or describe the Earth” • physical vs. “human” geography • physical geography focuses on land/water forms, climate, ecosystems, biomes, terrain • human geo studies how human activities vary across space • Incl. analysis of reasons for and a comparison between regions of • • population trends (where do people live, how fast is that pop. growing) human movement (“migration”) cultural traits (language, religion, folk and popular culture) identity (race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality) politics (how is space governed, divided, global strategy etc. ) economic activities (agriculture, industry, services and development) urban and rural patterns (urban planning, gentrification, etc. )

How do geographers tackle such a broad array of topics? • “regionalization” • Geographers organize things across space • Allows grouping based on commonalities • Allows comparison between regions • while historians organize over time • Periodization vs. regionalization • Middle Ages, Modern Era, Jim Crow Era etc. • Periods of time grouped by common characteristics • Shortly we will be dividing the world into standard regions used by the College Board for analysis purposes. • Please print a hard copy of this file (also available on my website under Unit 1) for use next week

Introduction to AP Human Geography “Scale and Analysis”

Map scale (relationship of distance on a map to that in reality) • Expressed in terms of words, fraction, ratio, or bar scale • “size of scale” relates to the size of the fraction • which is larger? 1 inch = 3 miles or 1 inch = 30 miles A B • LARGE(R) SCALE • Does a larger scale cover a larger or smaller area in reality? • Large scale = small area • Large scale = more detail • Small scale = large area • Small scale = less detail

Scale (“level of analysis”) • Over what “scale” would these problems be analyzed? • Garbage, landfill, recycling, etc. • LOCAL • Phosphorus run-off from farming into the Great Lakes • SUBNATIONAL, STATE, (US REGIONAL) • Immigration policy • NATIONAL • NATO military spending • MULTINATIONAL (REGIONAL) • Climate change • GLOBAL

“level of aggregation”/ “generalization” (over what “spatial unit” are you analyzing a phenomenon)

“level of aggregation”/ “generalization” (over what “spatial unit” are you analyzing a phenomenon) Through what spatial unit is population density aggregated in this map?

“level of aggregation”/ “generalization” (over what “spatial unit” are you analyzing a phenomenon) Through what spatial unit is population density aggregated in this map?

“level of aggregation”/ “generalization” (over what “spatial unit” are you analyzing a phenomenon) Which is the more appropriate level of aggregation over which to generalize and display population density data? Why?

Models: Abstract generalization to help explain a common pattern. Spatial models show commonalities in the patterns on landscapes Non-spatial models show a pattern on other than a map. Qualitative vs. Quantitative analysis • “qualitative” refers to information about subjective characteristics (softness, beauty, feelings); info that can't actually be measured. • “quantitative” refers to data that can be measured and written down with numbers.