“Charles Jackson is the best
high school basketball player
in the country.”
Can you believe this statement?
Source: Says who?
We must consider the source when evaluating.
Is the source…
-knowledgeable?
-biased?
Does the source’s point of view influence them?
“Charles Jackson is the best high school
basketball player in the country.”
-Says Charles’ girlfriend in the school newspaper
-Says Charles’ coach in a letter to State University
-Says Nike at a press conference announcing Charles’
$100million endorsement contract
-Says a poll of 100 sports writers for ESPN
What does this have to do with
GEOGRAPHY?
• “We’re working with maps. Maps are facts,
not just opinions. Bias doesn’t come into it.”
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•
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When making maps, choices must be made
Choosing facts to present allows for bias
POV may limit choices available
May be conscious or unconscious
http://geog.hkbu.edu.hk/GEOG1150/Chinese/Catalog/am31_map1.htm
The Da Ming Hun Yi Tu (Great Ming Dynasty Map), painted on silk in AD 1389, it is the
oldest surviving Chinese world map.
The Kangnido is a map of the world made in Korea in 1402
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kangnido
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:GeneralMapOfDistancesAndHistoricCapitals.jpg
1402 copy made for Japan. This version of the Kangnido shows more correct size of Japan.
That’s ancient history!
We know what the world looks like now.
… or do we?
The Equal Area Map
What else can we argue about?
Name that Sea!
Japan says: “Sea of Japan”
Korea says: “The East Sea”
Let’s think about this…
This map shows how far
every place in the world
is from the middle of
the USA.
1- What is this map
good for?
2- What is this map bad
for?
3- Who is this map
made for?
4- Who would not like
this map? Why?
www.odtmaps.com/detail.asp_Q_product_id_E_Denver.Tabloid
TODALSIG
• A handy method for map analysis (if the
information is given)
– Title: name of the map
– Orientation: where is the compass rose pointing?
– Date: when was it made or published?
– Author: who made it?
– Legend: what is it trying to show you?
– Surrounding places: what is/should be around?
– Index: very handy, if given
– Grid system: latitude/longitude, alpha-numeric