Reflection paper - Maps Explain the World
It should be very clear to you at this point in the course that maps are valuable tools for visually displaying information. They are the primary way that geographers tell a story about some geographic phenomenon, whether it is cultural patterns, population changes, environmental processes, settlement patterns, the variety of subjects that can be displayed on a map are practically limitless. It is now your turn to show off your map interpretation skills! In this reflection, you will explore the wealth of information available to you online from credible news organizations and other sources of visual information, and locate a map that you think is particularly interesting and relevant to human geography. Include the following content in your reflection.
A title for your reflection, followed by a properly formatted citation that includes the name of the map, a link to the map, and its source.
Describe the map and it's subject matter/data in your own words. Be sure to identify all of the relevant details, including any or all of the following:
the map's title and type,
the setting (that is, the location),
the data involved, that is, is it descriptive (qualitative), quantitative, human/cultural, physical,
how the data is presented, and
How the map topic is geographical in nature, given your understanding of the geographic perspective that we discuss in Lesson 1 and in Chapter 1 of your textbook.
Critique the map's design. In your critique, tell if it is easy to read, visually appealing and interesting and why or why not. Give one way the data could be presented differently or improved. In addressing this, be sure to make clear and specific connections with and references to the course material. In this part, it should be obvious to your instructor that you have read the material and gained knowledge--in this case, knowledge of maps and a geographic perspective.
Conclude your response by discussing how this map is useful for representing and explaining the geographic phenomena (and data, or geographic information) that is its topic. Consider what we see on the map that might be more difficult to represent in writing or in some other visual form (for example, a chart). In this last part, you should draw a conclusion to your writing while sharing your thoughts and reflections.