Tasks - There are three parts to this assignment.

1. Map Drawing Activity:

Select a sample of three people and ask them to draw a map of Seattle from memory on a blank, unlined sheet of 8 1/2 by 11" paper. Ask them to draw this map as if they were creating it for a friend who was about to come to the city for the first time. That is, have them draw the map as if they were trying to communicate to their friend what they know about the city in a way that would help their friend understand it. Tell them that when they draw the map, they should assume: (1) that their friend has never visited the city; and (2) that they won't have a chance to sit down and verbally explain the map to their friend.

Do not let your participants look at any other maps of the city to do this exercise. Just ask them to draw the map by themselves (with no help from you, either!) If they are taking a long a long time or seem frustrated, you may want to restrict it to 15 minutes.

NOTE: Let your participants know that you are not concerned with their artistic ability, but rather how they think about and represent the city. Remind them that this is not a test of drawing skills, but a way of sharing what they know about the city.

2. Interview Your Map-Makers:

Once your participant has finished their map, review it with them. Ask each of your three participants to describe their process of drawing the map. Be sure to cover the following questions with each person:

A. Description of the map drawing process:

· How did they go about putting the map together?
· What did they do first?
· How did they decide what to include?
· How did they decide that they were finished with the map?
· Did they change the map while they were drawing it? If yes, how? Why?
· How did they feel while they were drawing the map?
· How did they feel about the map once it was finished?

B. Evaluation of the Map

· In what ways do they think the map would be helpful or unhelpful for your friend?
· Do they think the map they drew fairly represents their knowledge of the city?

3. Comparative Analysis of Maps

In a five page typed analysis, compare the maps of your 3 participants.
· How are they similar or different?
· To what do you attribute these similarities and differences? (Your participants' answers to your post-drawing questions will be a key source of information here.)

Explain how the issues raised about environmental cognition relate to the maps that your participants drew and to the process of creating their maps. Consult your textbook and/or notebook to better explain the results you got from this exercise.

Be sure to include in your report the three maps that your participants drew.