AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY Name: Taylor Lora
Using the information from class, our videos and your reading of your textbook, answer the following
prompts in detail. Make sure to reference all parts of the prompt if you wish to be eligible for full credit.
The more detail, the better your performance on your unit and AP exam will be.
Unit 1: Thinking Geographically
Success Criteria:
Topic 1.1: Introduction to Maps
● Identify types of maps, the information presented in maps, and different kinds of spatial patterns
and relationships portrayed in maps.
Reference Map: Definition: Shows geographic locals on Earth's surface
VERY BROAD; Has many sub-maps and can be used to show a lot of different things
You know it’s a reference map if it shows geographic features. This would be things like state
borders, mountains, elevation, roads, cities, etc.
Some examples of a sub type of reference map: Topographic map, which features three-
dimensional configurations of Earth’s surface, which fall under the category of geographic features.
Isoline map, which is basically a map that shows any variables with equal values by using a line that
connects to different places. Elevation, among the others, is a geographic feature, so that map could be
described as a reference map.
On a reference map, the spatial patterns would be the geographic features that the map
features. On an Isoline map, for example, elevation is the featured geographic trait, so that is the spatial
pattern for that reference map. The point is, spatial patterns can vary depending on the specific type of
map, because as I’ve already said, reference maps are a very broad category so spatial patterns will
vary from map to map.
Isoline Map: Definition: A map that uses a line(s) to connect places that share a variable with equal
value.
This is a more specific type of reference map, which means it shows geographic features.
This map is used to show variables with equal values, which means this map shows spatial
patterns of variables in which a specific quantity or measurement of something is equal.
An example of this would be elevation, elevation on a map is an isoline map because it shows
where the lines connect at points of equal elevation. An example of equal measurement.
Topographic Maps: Definition: A graphic representation of the three dimensional configuration of Earth
surface.
This is a map that’s really good at depicting a three dimensional object on Earth on a two
dimensional map. This map goes for realism, showing all the small details that a normal map wouldn’t.
This is a reference map, the three dimensional object it’s showing is always a geographical
feature of Earth's surface which automatically classifies it as such.
Thematic Map: Definition: A map that focuses on showing data and statistics, emphasizing spatial
patterns.
This is another VERY BROAD map type. Has many sub maps used to show specific data or
statistics using spatial patterns and other elements to get across whatever the map is trying to show.
These maps use almost eye-catching devices such as bright colors and abnormal shapes or
marks to create spatial patterns that show a specific set of data. This is what sets them apart from
reference maps, which only show or reference geological features. Thematic maps don’t just show
these features, but they also use the maps to connect them to a geographic data set. Thematic maps
are only themselves with data.
, A very simple example of a thematic map is a sub map called a political map. Now, some of the
maps are named after the features or devices that said map uses to show the data, but this map is
named after the data it represents. Political data. It uses colors to separate the red states from the blue
states, clearly showing which ones lean more towards republican and democrat. This use of data and
devices is exactly what makes it a very basic and easily identifiable thematic map.
Choropleth Map: Definition: A map that often uses colors and shading to show data in a specific
geographic area.
This map, being a thematic map, shows a set of data specific to a certain region. Its main
devices are colors and shading to represent the values of data. It can use different symbols, but
generally this map uses color exclusively.
Cartogram: Definition: A map that distorts the shape of landforms in order to give them an accurate
size variable.
Another thematic map, this map completely ignores the shape of states to more accurately
represent size. The variables used for accuracy can vary, but they all have to do with the size or
quantity of something. Although variables vary, you will usually see some patterns throughout, such as
China or India having the largest mass, and some of the smallest islands being even smaller and not
growing that much. This is because these places generally have larger or smaller populations and
areas of land which impacts many other variables. An example, if one wanted a cartogram of the
number of shoes sold in a state, China and India have much larger populations than other states so
you’d expect that they’d be the largest because there’s a higher demand for shoes in those states.
Proportional or Graduated Circles Map: Definition: A thematic map that uses symbols like circles or
dots of varied sizes to show a numerical value.
This map is used to measure numerical values. For example it could measure something like
population, and it would use its most common device, circles and dots, to show the numerical value of
the populations in each area.
Dot density map: A map that uses dots to represent numerical values.
This map may seem very similar to the last, but there are some distinct differences. For one,
this map only uses dots, and no circles. A less obvious one, the dots on the dot density map usually
have less numerical value then the circles and dots on the graduated circles map. For example, a
graduated circles map would use circles to represent large quantities or people (population), while the
dot density map uses dots to represent only a couple thousand acres of land on one dot. The dot
density map usually uses large clusters of dots, adding absolute location to show where those acres
are and how many are packed together, while a graduated circles map does show the absolute location
of things like populations, they use larger circles to represent large quantities of variables.
Topic 1.2: Geographic Data
● Identify the different methods of geographic data collection.
Census: An official survey of a given population, the data collected is often very specific yet used for a
wide variety of purposes.
Fieldwork: Research and learning that takes place outside the classroom or the lab; first-hand
experiences.
Methods of fieldwork: Interviews, surveys, questionnaires, information from already existing fieldwork
data.
Note: Fieldwork is usually done locally because with first-hand experiences, researchers have
limitations on where they can be (can’t be everywhere at once).
GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGIES:
Using the information from class, our videos and your reading of your textbook, answer the following
prompts in detail. Make sure to reference all parts of the prompt if you wish to be eligible for full credit.
The more detail, the better your performance on your unit and AP exam will be.
Unit 1: Thinking Geographically
Success Criteria:
Topic 1.1: Introduction to Maps
● Identify types of maps, the information presented in maps, and different kinds of spatial patterns
and relationships portrayed in maps.
Reference Map: Definition: Shows geographic locals on Earth's surface
VERY BROAD; Has many sub-maps and can be used to show a lot of different things
You know it’s a reference map if it shows geographic features. This would be things like state
borders, mountains, elevation, roads, cities, etc.
Some examples of a sub type of reference map: Topographic map, which features three-
dimensional configurations of Earth’s surface, which fall under the category of geographic features.
Isoline map, which is basically a map that shows any variables with equal values by using a line that
connects to different places. Elevation, among the others, is a geographic feature, so that map could be
described as a reference map.
On a reference map, the spatial patterns would be the geographic features that the map
features. On an Isoline map, for example, elevation is the featured geographic trait, so that is the spatial
pattern for that reference map. The point is, spatial patterns can vary depending on the specific type of
map, because as I’ve already said, reference maps are a very broad category so spatial patterns will
vary from map to map.
Isoline Map: Definition: A map that uses a line(s) to connect places that share a variable with equal
value.
This is a more specific type of reference map, which means it shows geographic features.
This map is used to show variables with equal values, which means this map shows spatial
patterns of variables in which a specific quantity or measurement of something is equal.
An example of this would be elevation, elevation on a map is an isoline map because it shows
where the lines connect at points of equal elevation. An example of equal measurement.
Topographic Maps: Definition: A graphic representation of the three dimensional configuration of Earth
surface.
This is a map that’s really good at depicting a three dimensional object on Earth on a two
dimensional map. This map goes for realism, showing all the small details that a normal map wouldn’t.
This is a reference map, the three dimensional object it’s showing is always a geographical
feature of Earth's surface which automatically classifies it as such.
Thematic Map: Definition: A map that focuses on showing data and statistics, emphasizing spatial
patterns.
This is another VERY BROAD map type. Has many sub maps used to show specific data or
statistics using spatial patterns and other elements to get across whatever the map is trying to show.
These maps use almost eye-catching devices such as bright colors and abnormal shapes or
marks to create spatial patterns that show a specific set of data. This is what sets them apart from
reference maps, which only show or reference geological features. Thematic maps don’t just show
these features, but they also use the maps to connect them to a geographic data set. Thematic maps
are only themselves with data.
, A very simple example of a thematic map is a sub map called a political map. Now, some of the
maps are named after the features or devices that said map uses to show the data, but this map is
named after the data it represents. Political data. It uses colors to separate the red states from the blue
states, clearly showing which ones lean more towards republican and democrat. This use of data and
devices is exactly what makes it a very basic and easily identifiable thematic map.
Choropleth Map: Definition: A map that often uses colors and shading to show data in a specific
geographic area.
This map, being a thematic map, shows a set of data specific to a certain region. Its main
devices are colors and shading to represent the values of data. It can use different symbols, but
generally this map uses color exclusively.
Cartogram: Definition: A map that distorts the shape of landforms in order to give them an accurate
size variable.
Another thematic map, this map completely ignores the shape of states to more accurately
represent size. The variables used for accuracy can vary, but they all have to do with the size or
quantity of something. Although variables vary, you will usually see some patterns throughout, such as
China or India having the largest mass, and some of the smallest islands being even smaller and not
growing that much. This is because these places generally have larger or smaller populations and
areas of land which impacts many other variables. An example, if one wanted a cartogram of the
number of shoes sold in a state, China and India have much larger populations than other states so
you’d expect that they’d be the largest because there’s a higher demand for shoes in those states.
Proportional or Graduated Circles Map: Definition: A thematic map that uses symbols like circles or
dots of varied sizes to show a numerical value.
This map is used to measure numerical values. For example it could measure something like
population, and it would use its most common device, circles and dots, to show the numerical value of
the populations in each area.
Dot density map: A map that uses dots to represent numerical values.
This map may seem very similar to the last, but there are some distinct differences. For one,
this map only uses dots, and no circles. A less obvious one, the dots on the dot density map usually
have less numerical value then the circles and dots on the graduated circles map. For example, a
graduated circles map would use circles to represent large quantities or people (population), while the
dot density map uses dots to represent only a couple thousand acres of land on one dot. The dot
density map usually uses large clusters of dots, adding absolute location to show where those acres
are and how many are packed together, while a graduated circles map does show the absolute location
of things like populations, they use larger circles to represent large quantities of variables.
Topic 1.2: Geographic Data
● Identify the different methods of geographic data collection.
Census: An official survey of a given population, the data collected is often very specific yet used for a
wide variety of purposes.
Fieldwork: Research and learning that takes place outside the classroom or the lab; first-hand
experiences.
Methods of fieldwork: Interviews, surveys, questionnaires, information from already existing fieldwork
data.
Note: Fieldwork is usually done locally because with first-hand experiences, researchers have
limitations on where they can be (can’t be everywhere at once).
GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGIES:
