The map project is designed to give you insight into the thinking processes and procedures necessary ...
The map project is designed to give you insight into the thinking processes and procedures necessary to put together the many different types of maps that are used in the textbook and presented to you in class. This is not a course in cartography, however. Thus we will not discuss many important concepts and rules of map construction. Think of this as a beginning step that may carry you toward a richer and deeper understanding of what distribution maps are capable and not capable of explaining and showing. In the future, other college or job related projects may benefit and be enhanced by the presence of a display of data on a map. Thus, after completing your project you should rightly feel more competent at tackling such a presentation for your college professor or your boss. OBJECTIVES The map project that you are about to begin has several intended objectives. 1. One purpose of geography is to understand the character of places. The where and the why. This project is but one way to achieve that purpose. 2. Analysis of spatial distributions is highly important in geographic study. This distribution map project is one of the means to develop your analytical tool use ability and spatial perspective. 3. Today American education is emphasizing a number of different goals. This map project should improve your: a) critical thinking ability b) creative development processes c) scientific comprehension d) statistical procedure ability and understanding e) your place-name recognition abilities Statistical Data This is your map and if you can utilize this project for another course also, then do so and more power to you. Therefore, pick a subject or topic that may be helpful or at the very least interesting to you (if you select the first statistical data you come across for your project you will probably not enjoy the project and it will become a chore to work on as opposed to if you selected a topic you find enjoyable or interesting. In other words if you work on a topic you like the time will fly by faster). Once you have your topic you will then need to find the pertinent statistical data, tabulated by county, or state. Your mission is to first create a distribution map utilizing the discovered data. Second, develop a complete project information support package (Remember this is college and the entire finished project package must be constructed to look as professional as possible. Where to Start -- 1. At Home? Ask your family or friends, they are a real source of information and always have an answer for everything. Not necessarily the right answer but always an answer. 2. Magazines? They are a much better source and they often publish lists of data by states, regions, or nations. Examples: Time, Money, Forbes, Fortune, U.S. News, etc. 3. Brochures? Hard to find but can be quite worthwhile. Examples: Associations and Corporations, Real Estate, Insurance and Health Companies; National Conference of State Legislatures, and U.S. Travel Data Center. 4. Newspapers? Often a good source of a variety of data over time. Beware of inaccuracies! Examples: USA Today, New York Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Wall Street Journal, etc. 5. Reference Books at the Library. There is a wide range of statistical resources available in the Library that may be of use to you. 6. Internet? There is a wide range of material available on the Internet. Use caution when selecting this material though! Anyone can post anything on the Internet. This does not mean that it is valid information. Check your source out (No Wikipedia!). PROJECT COMPONENTS The entire project package must be comprised minimally of the following separate items. 1. Title Page - page one Include the following information: a. Title of the finished map prominently displayed. b. Student's name - bottom center. c. Course title, number, and section below student's name. d. Date below course title, number, and section. 2. County or State Statistical Data pages(s) - numbered. List the counties or states alphabetically in a column with the statistical data opposite them also in a straight column(s). 3. Category Data page(s) - numbered. This page(s) contains all of the same information contained on the "County or State Statistical Data" sheet. What is new, however, is that you have arranged and divided the statistics into logical, well thought out categories. Each of these categories must contain significant and meaningful groups of data based on numbers of similar size. For example, the usual number of categories found in the textbook maps are three to six. Why? When these categories are placed on a map, recognizable and useful patterns should emerge. If not, it shall be necessary to rearrange the data into modified or new categories until you think the best pattern comes into focus. When in doubt, seek your instructor's advise and comments. 4. Category Rationale page(s) - numbered. Write out your rationale/reasons for establishing the various categories you have formulated and used on the map. The creation and development of these categories is clearly the most important and hardest part of the project. Thus, it shall be necessary for you to carefully organize and think this all out in your mind in order to reach the best possible conclusion. Try bouncing your ideas off fellow students and/or your instructor whenever you need a fresh approach or idea. The Map page(s) - numbered. a. Title the map clearly and neatly in the top margin. Be sure to include all pertinent ideas, names and/or dates so the reader knows exactly what they they are viewing. b. Create a Legend Box to explain the categories and colors used on the map. Place it in the margins; along the bottom or side. Can people understand it? Ask a friend what they think it is trying to convey. c. Place a North Arrow along the margins to indicate direction. d. Place the Source along the bottom margin of your map. By source what is meant is who constructed the map and when. e. Use colored pencils or felt-tip, wide line ink pens (please, no crayons) to fill-in each county or state on the map according to your category divisions or you may construct your map on the computer. NOTE: Colors are important to the viewer's understanding and attraction to the map, so choose carefully. There are two generally accepted beginning approaches in the use of color: 1) INTENSITY Approach - The top category should be given the most powerful color/highest intensity in order to make it catch the viewer's eye quickly. The other categories should be given progressively weaker colors to the bottom category. RAINBOW Approach - Colors are arranged according to the visible light spectrum, Red to Violet. You are not limited to these two approaches. Just make sure that your finished map is easy to read and understand. Lastly, is it pleasing to the eye of the viewer? Description - Interpretation page(s) - numbered. A. What Does the Map Show? Briefly describe what the viewer sees when first looking at the map with regard to patterns. B. What Does the Map Tell Us? Attempt to analyze the patterns and dispersion features. For example, can you explain why certain states group together both statistically and spatially? What factors do they share which may account for their similar statistics or locations? How does the map help you and the reader understand the statistical data? What are the cultural, social, political, economic, or environmental implications? What else can be learned from this map? What new questions arise? For this portion of the project it will require some extra research into your topic to help explain the patterns found on your map. 7. Works Cited page(s) - numbered. Make sure to include the source of your data and any other materials which you might have used in the construction or interpretation of your map. In addition, be sure to use the proper form when citing sources. The instructor may wish to take a look at the original publications.
