Writing an AP Human Writing an AP Human Geography FRQ or Free Geography FRQ or Free

Response QuestionResponse Question

Tips and Suggestions as you Tips and Suggestions as you embark on your first FRQsembark on your first FRQs

The AP Human Geo The AP Human Geo test has two sections:test has two sections:

50% Multiple Choice - 75 questions in 60 50% Multiple Choice - 75 questions in 60 min.min.50% FRQ – 3 questions, must answer all 3 50% FRQ – 3 questions, must answer all 3 in in

75 minutes75 minutes–48 seconds per multiple choice question48 seconds per multiple choice question–25 minutes per FRQ (each FRQ is 1/625 minutes per FRQ (each FRQ is 1/6thth of AP of AP grade)grade)

The FRQ is The FRQ is differentdifferent than an than an essay!essay!

Answer the free response question that you Answer the free response question that you know you know for sure FIRST!know you know for sure FIRST!Underline all required parts of the prompt.Underline all required parts of the prompt.

–If it says If it says definedefine, just , just definedefine the term the term–If is says define and explain – you need to do both to If is says define and explain – you need to do both to receive points.receive points.–There is no need for a thesis statement!There is no need for a thesis statement!–Don’t overdo it by adding extraneous information or Don’t overdo it by adding extraneous information or facts that don’t directly apply to answering the facts that don’t directly apply to answering the questions.questions.

Some FRQs rely on knowledge of specific Some FRQs rely on knowledge of specific vocabulary (Cornell notes can be very helpful for vocabulary (Cornell notes can be very helpful for preparation)preparation)

–You need to know your vocabulary.You need to know your vocabulary.–Vocabulary is crucial for scoring highly on FRQsVocabulary is crucial for scoring highly on FRQs

AP Grading RubricsAP Grading Rubrics

Identify and define points are usually Identify and define points are usually worth 1 point.  Clear cut.worth 1 point.  Clear cut.

Discuss, explain, analyze elements of Discuss, explain, analyze elements of questions questions sometimessometimes have 2 points have 2 points associated with these words.  This allows associated with these words.  This allows the scorer to differentiate a more in depth the scorer to differentiate a more in depth (2 pts) versus limited discussion (1 pt) of (2 pts) versus limited discussion (1 pt) of the topic. the topic.

So, a question might have 4 or 5 points as So, a question might have 4 or 5 points as the high scorethe high score

Outline Format for FRQsOutline Format for FRQs

1. The South region of the United States, it is argued, 1. The South region of the United States, it is argued, persists as a region which is different from other persists as a region which is different from other U.S. regions.  U.S. regions.  

a. Identify some of the material and a. Identify some of the material and nonmaterial cultural attributes nonmaterial cultural attributes

associated with this region. associated with this region.   

b.Discuss possible boundaries of the b.Discuss possible boundaries of the region and what you would use to region and what you would use to

establish the boundaries.   establish the boundaries.  

c. In your opinion, is the South c. In your opinion, is the South becoming more or less like the rest of becoming more or less like the rest of

the country?  Give evidence for the country?  Give evidence for your your opinion. opinion.

Outline Format for FRQsOutline Format for FRQs1. 1. a. Examples of material culture in the South a. Examples of material culture in the South include include

BBQ, football stadiums, line dancing, country music, deep fried BBQ, football stadiums, line dancing, country music, deep fried pickles. Examples of non-material culture pickles. Examples of non-material culture in the South include in the South include Friday Night Lights football, Baptists, Catholics, and a mild Friday Night Lights football, Baptists, Catholics, and a mild climate.climate.

  b. I believe that the boundaries of the South as a region should b. I believe that the boundaries of the South as a region should include all states that fought for the South during the Civil War. include all states that fought for the South during the Civil War. Therefore, all states that are South of the Mason-Dixon line Therefore, all states that are South of the Mason-Dixon line should be considered to be part of the South. Regions have should be considered to be part of the South. Regions have things in common, and the food, religion, history and physical things in common, and the food, religion, history and physical climate of these southern states all help to unite them as The climate of these southern states all help to unite them as The South.South.

c. In my opinion, the South is becoming more like the rest of the c. In my opinion, the South is becoming more like the rest of the country due to internal migration of Americans from the colder country due to internal migration of Americans from the colder Northern states to the warmer Southern states in search of Northern states to the warmer Southern states in search of better jobs. Also, globalization has eroded some of the better jobs. Also, globalization has eroded some of the traditional folk culture of the South, like Appalachian music in the traditional folk culture of the South, like Appalachian music in the Smoky Mountains and storytelling where elders pass along Smoky Mountains and storytelling where elders pass along traditional stories from one generation to the next. Now, popular traditional stories from one generation to the next. Now, popular music is diffused on the radio or on MTV to young people and folk music is diffused on the radio or on MTV to young people and folk culture is dying out.culture is dying out.

Free Response QuestionsFree Response Questions

You must write in complete sentences, You must write in complete sentences, but it does not need to be a formal but it does not need to be a formal essay.essay.

If you are given three parts to a If you are given three parts to a question (A,B,C…) organize your question (A,B,C…) organize your answers in the same wayanswers in the same way

You may NOT bullet your answers… You may NOT bullet your answers… even if they ask to “list”. even if they ask to “list”.

Practice FRQ: 2010Practice FRQ: 2010

The population pyramids above represent two countries at different stages of the The population pyramids above represent two countries at different stages of the demographic transition demographic transition and economic development. and economic development. Part A (2 points) Part A (2 points) Explain the demographic characteristics of each country above with respect to the Explain the demographic characteristics of each country above with respect to the demographic demographic transition model. transition model. • • Must mention Stage 2 (second or early expanding stage) AND elaborate briefly about its Must mention Stage 2 (second or early expanding stage) AND elaborate briefly about its characteristics, such as high birth rate, falling death rate, youthful population, developing characteristics, such as high birth rate, falling death rate, youthful population, developing country. country. Country A Country A • • It is not acceptable to suggest Stages 1 or 3 for Country A. It is not acceptable to suggest Stages 1 or 3 for Country A. • • Must mention Stage 4 (fourth, final, or low stationary stage) AND elaborate briefly about its Must mention Stage 4 (fourth, final, or low stationary stage) AND elaborate briefly about its characteristics, such as low birth rate, low death rate, aging population, developed country. characteristics, such as low birth rate, low death rate, aging population, developed country. Country B Country B • • It is acceptable to mention a possible Stage 5 (fifth stage) for Country B. It is acceptable to mention a possible Stage 5 (fifth stage) for Country B.

Part B (2 points) Part B (2 points) Discuss ONE positive impact of EACH country’s population structure Discuss ONE positive impact of EACH country’s population structure on its economic development. on its economic development. Country A Country A • • Expanding or large workforce Expanding or large workforce (1 point) (1 point) • • Youthful population, which can spark creativity, receptivity to Youthful population, which can spark creativity, receptivity to change, etc. change, etc. • • Less need for immigrant labor Less need for immigrant labor • • Less need for elder social safety net (e.g., Social Security) Less need for elder social safety net (e.g., Social Security) Country B Country B • • Educated (skilled, experienced, etc.) workforce Educated (skilled, experienced, etc.) workforce (1 point) (1 point) • • Low youth dependency ratio Low youth dependency ratio • • More women in the compensated workforce More women in the compensated workforce • • Tendency to spend discretionary income on needs other than Tendency to spend discretionary income on needs other than education education • • Might need immigrant labor, which would allow citizens to take Might need immigrant labor, which would allow citizens to take higher-order jobs higher-order jobs

Part C (2 points) Part C (2 points) Discuss ONE negative impact of EACH country’s population structure on its Discuss ONE negative impact of EACH country’s population structure on its economic development. economic development. Country A Country A • • High youth dependency ratio High youth dependency ratio (1 point) (1 point) • • Strain on resources, the environment or society owing to rapid population Strain on resources, the environment or society owing to rapid population growth growth • • Low literacy rate for women Low literacy rate for women • • Fewer women in the compensated workforce Fewer women in the compensated workforce

Country B Country B • • High elder dependency ratio High elder dependency ratio (1 point) (1 point) • • Possible future labor shortage Possible future labor shortage • • Greater need to fund elder social safety net (e.g., Social Security) Greater need to fund elder social safety net (e.g., Social Security)

Exam ScoresExam Scores

How to score highlyHow to score highly

Bulleted responses are discouraged - Bulleted responses are discouraged - they may get some credit but: they may get some credit but: – A bulleted response has never received A bulleted response has never received

full credit on the exam. full credit on the exam.  Put your answer in outline form which Put your answer in outline form which

follows the format of the questionfollows the format of the question Answers should be in narrative Answers should be in narrative

format.format.

Think on your feet!Think on your feet!You can still score points on the FRQs, You can still score points on the FRQs, even if you don’t know a even if you don’t know a tonton about the about the questionquestion

–Stay calmStay calm–Think through itThink through it–Read the entire question for cluesRead the entire question for clues

- You can only add to your score on an FRQ – - You can only add to your score on an FRQ – no points will be subtracted.no points will be subtracted.