AP Human Geography
Cheltenham High School
Mr. Tavani
Map Analysis Essay
Maps are often used to communicate spatial data in newspapers and magazines in order to help
a reader understand a particular phenomenon. In this assignment you will find a map printed in a
newspaper or news magazine, or even online. The map should be one of the types of thematic maps
(reference maps will probably not work for this assignment) and one that has a specific purpose in
helping a reader understand a news article or story. In your essay you will analyze the decisions the
cartographer made with regard to type, scale, projection (if applicable — though probably not), symbols, aggregation, and spatial data representation. Here you will want to focus on the advantages and
disadvantages of the different aspects of the map. Explain whether the map effectively communicates
the information the cartographer is trying to get across. Also, include a printout or copy of the map
with your paper and use MLA format (although, you will not have citations, just a works cited page).
Grading
Your essay will be graded using the PA writing rubric with the content section weighted more heavily to ensure the inclusion of your analysis of the aspects of the map mentioned above (type, scale,
projection, symbols/color scheme, aggregation, and spatial data representation). Each of the rubric
categories will count for up to five points, except content, which will count for twenty-five (5 points for
each aspect of the map that you will evaluate). The essay will be worth a total of forty-five points.
Content
Type _______/5
Scale _______/5
Symbols/color scheme _______/5
Aggregation _______/5
SDR _______/5
Total _______/25
Total Score _______/45