Geography 360 : Principles of Cartography
Five-Minute Essay Make-up – Which Will Probably Take about 30 or More Minutes
Sustainability Indicators and Choropleth Map Design
Worth 10 Points and a wealth of insight for the lab assignment

This assignment will get you to consider the link between the concepts presented in lecture and the methods you are using in the lab assignment about how choropleth map design is an important part of  geographic representation of sustainability indicators. If you so choose, the essay you write as part of this activity can be used to help you prepare the write-up for the lab assignment.  This assignment is due the day that follows the respective in-class discussion.

1. Consider the following three questions and ask yourself if you understand what is being asked.  If not, refer to your notes or to your book.

a. What information do we gain by classifying attribute data, although the attribute data might be measured at a ratio level?  How does data classification simultaneously create and destroy the opportunity to gain information?

b. Which of the four data classification techniques is the better technique to use for a map of the human development index (or one of its components)?  Why?

c. Visual constrast, visual balance, and figure-ground are all important aspects of choropleth map design.  How can they be used to express a visual hierarchy for a choropleth map of the human development index (or one of its components)? How is the visual hierarchy on the HDI map related to your intellectual hierarchy on the map?

2. Type a 10 minute essay – about one-half page to answer each of the three questions.  Please repeat the questions at the beginning of each answer .

3. Turn in your essay.  As mentioned above, this essay should help you think through and respond to the questions in Lab Assignment. We will hand back the essays as soon as possible after you turn them in for grading.

Find below the rubric your instructors will use to evaluate your essays (10 points).
0 : unacceptable – no show, and no medical excuse or other form of absence not approved in advance
2 : low acceptability – participate in discussion aboout choropleth map design
4: low-medium acceptability – elucidate concepts underlying choropleth map design
6: medium acceptability – elucidate concepts underlying  choropleth map design and provide an example
8: medium-high acceptability – elucidate concepts & evidence underlying choropleth map design; provide example
10: high acceptability – elucidate concepts, constraints and evidence about choropleth map design; provide examples