Assignment Paper

Geog 100
Map Assignment 1
Value: 10%
Due Date: 12/15, early submissions welcome

Purpose: While geographers do more than just memorize locations of different things, we do place special value on spatial location. Knowing where things are – borders between countries, important landmarks, and cities – helps us to understand deeper geographic concepts without having to remind ourselves of the background information. The location of places provides important context for the other discussions we have in this course. Additionally, because spatial information is so important to geographers, we are keenly aware not just of the facts of the maps (i.e., where places are depicted) but how those places are depicted. The subfield of cartography focuses on how map design – graphic design choices applied to a map – affect our interpretation of a map and the information it conveys.

Task: Using the map packet available on Canvas, you are responsible for labeling the various locations listed on maps provided. You should keep cartographic principles in mind (i.e., label everything within a single category with the same color, labels are legible and adjacent or otherwise clearly tied to the feature they are labeling). How you go about doing this is largely up to you. You may simply print the maps and use a set of colored pencils or pens to neatly write the labels. You might digitally alter the blank maps in a software you are familiar with. If you are familiar with google maps, google earth, or other mapping software, you might opt to abandon the provided maps all together in favor of a purely digital format.

Map List – Use the corresponding map packet for blank maps and the lists of features that must be labeled

1. World
2. North and Central America
3. South America
4. Africa
5. Europe…
6. …and the Former Soviet Union
7. Southwest Asia
8. South and East Asia
9. Australia, New Zealand and Oceania
10. Political Entities of the Pacific

Rubric
Your grade will be determined using the following guidelines:

• 10 maps, listed above, graded on the following guidelines:
o Each map must be labeled with the entirety of its corresponding list
o Labels are neat/legible
o Labels clearly correspond to its given feature
o Labels should correctly identify the feature of note
• Timely submission of a single file containing all ten maps
o If printed, scans/photographs of maps for submission must be clearly taken and combined into a single file
• Particularly well-crafted/well designed/creative maps may earn a small bonus (1%) added to the final grade for the course

*Note: the map packet references quizzes. This is an artefact. There are no map quizzes in this course.