SYLLABUS Thematic Cartography GEOG 332 Instructor Teaching Assistant Dr. Andrew G. Klein Office: O&M 707D Email: [email protected] Tel: 979-845-5219 Office Hours Tuesday and Thursday 2:00 – 3:30 pm or by appointment Mr. Hoonchong Yi Office: O&M 803D Email: [email protected] Tel: Office Hours Monday and Wednesday 2:00 – 3:30 pm or by appointment Course Description This class is an introduction to the science and art of map production. The course covers the principles of thematic map compilation and design; history of thematic mapping; map projections; data management and symbolization; common types and styles of thematic maps. Meeting Times and Location Lecture Tuesday and Thursday 11:10-12:25 Labs 501 M 11:30-1:20, 502 T 3:00-5:00 and 503 R 12:45-2:45 CSA 303 Teague B009C Text and Software Dent, B.D., Torguson, J.S. and Holder, T.W. 2009. Cartography: Thematic Map Design. 6th ed. Boston: McGraw Hill Higher Education. 336 pp. With Additional Readings from other sources including Berggren, J.L. and Jones, A. 2000. Ptolemy’s Geography: An Annotated Translation of the Theoretical Chapters. Princeton. Princeton University Press. Monmonier, M. 1996. How to Lie with Maps. Chicago. The University of Chicago Press. Sobel, D. 1995. Longitude. New York. Penguin Books And Cartographic Production Accomplished using ArcGIS™, Adobe Illustrator® and InkScape -1- Grading Your grade in this class will be based on the following: A. 2 Midterm Exams 15% each See course schedule for dates B. 1 Final Project 20% See course schedule for final due date C. 13 projects of which the 12 best will be counted towards your grade 50% D. Map of the Day 1% extra credit E. Attend a GIS Day Event 1% extra credit In addition to the twelve projects, each student can select and evaluate one map you have encountered this semester in a newspaper, online, in a book etc. that you find exceptionally good or bad for 1% extra credit. You should evaluate the map with regards to good cartographic design. In one or two paragraphs, create a list (1, 2, 3…) of good and poor design characteristics and clear and concisely state why you felt the map was a good map or not. For example, if there is good use of color in separating out information say something like Good use of color - the colors were effective is separating out different layers of information. At the start of most class periods, one of these student maps will be presented in class for evaluation and discussion. The intent of this activity is to engage the class in discussions of what maps good and bad maps. Map of the Days are due by December 4th. An additional 1% extra credit can be earned for attending a GIS day event and providing evidence of attendance. Evidence of GIS Attendance must be provided by November 27th. Makeups for the Exam will be allowed only for excused absences. Excused absences are covered in section 7 of the Texas A&M University Student Rules (http://student-rules.tamu.edu) Grades will be assigned according to the following scale: A B C D F 90+ % 80-89% 70-79% 60-69% < 60% 2 Class web site There is an extensive website associated with this class. Updates to the syllabus as well as other laboratory and course materials will be made available on the course website and companion eCampus site http://geography.tamu.edu/class/aklein/geog332 Class Attendance The university views class attendance as the responsibility of the individual student. However, as stated in the student rules (http://student-rules.tamu.edu/rule07), Students are expected to attend class and to complete all assignments. It has been my experience that failure to attend class, especially labs, is a major cause of poor performance in the class. Cellular Telephones As a courtesy to the instructor and other students please turn off all cellular telephones and two-way pagers before the class begins. I find it extremely impolite to be interrupted by a cellular telephone when I am lecturing. Email All Texas A&M students should use their university-associated email accounts when emailing the instructor and teaching assistants. I may also send out class announcements via the university’s email system as well. It is your responsibility to check your email account regularly. Copyright and Plagiarism Policy All materials used in this class are copyrighted. These materials include but are not limited to syllabi, quizzes, exams, lab problems, in-class materials, review sheets, and additional problem sets. Because these materials are copyrighted, you do not have the right to copy the handouts, unless permission is expressly granted. As commonly defined, plagiarism consists of passing off as one's own the ideas, words, writings, etc., which belong to another. In accordance with this definition, you are committing plagiarism if you copy the work of another person and turn it in as your own, even if you should have the permission of that person. Plagiarism is one of the worst academic sins, for the plagiarist destroys the trust among colleagues without which research cannot be safely communicated. If you have any questions regarding plagiarism, please consult the latest issue of the Texas A&M University Student Rules: http://student-rules.tamu.edu/, under the section "Scholastic Dishonesty." 3 Aggie Honor Code The Honor Code, based on the long-standing affirmation that An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal or tolerate those who do, is fundamental to the value of the A&M experience. Know the Aggie Code of Honor: “Aggies don’t lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate those that do” http://www.tamu.edu/aggiehonor/ Student Support The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact Disability Services, in Cain Hall, Room B118, or call 845-1637. For additional information visit http://disability.tamu.edu Services for Students with Disabilities Room B118 of Cain Hall, 845-1637 or on the web at http://disability.tamu.edu/ There are numerous other student support organizations on campus including Student Counseling Service Henderson Hall, 845-4427 or on the web at www.scs.tamu.edu Please do not hesitate to ask me if you have any problems or if you are having any trouble in the class, see me before it becomes a problem. 4 Learning Objectives This course aligns its content with learning objectives in the Geographic Information Science & Technology Body of Knowledge (BOK) that was produced by the University Consortium for Geographic Information Science (UCGIS) and is published by the Association of American Geographers (AAG). In particular, it meets many of the objectives in the Cartography and Visualization (CV) BOK Knowledge Area. The course also integrates new ideas about spatial thinking as discussed in the NRC report entitled Learning to Think Spatially and the importance of spatial thinking in well-rounded individuals as postulated by Dr. Michael Goodchild and others. The overarching learning objective of the course can be summarized as follows: 1) Students will be able to describe to a general audience what is meant by the term spatial thinking and why spatial thinking skills are important to being a well-rounded citizen. 2) Students will be able to correctly describe what map scales and select an appropriate map scale for a particular map. 3) Students will be able to explain the data scales employed by geographers and use them appropriately in symbolizing maps. 4) Students will be able to describe the map projection process by which the spherical earth is projected into a Cartesian coordinate system and will be able to select the appropriate map projection that suits the purpose of a particular map. 5) Students will be able to select an appropriate map type for a particular application and will employ correct symbolization and data classification to correctly portray the information being mapped. 6) Students will correctly use color and typography and employ correct map design principles in production of maps. 7) Students will be able to integrate and apply the scientific and artistic concepts underpinning cartography to produce high quality maps that employ correct cartographic conventions and are appropriate to and intuitively understandable to the intended audience. 8) Students will be able to use standard online web mapping tools to meaningful cartographic products 5 Course Schedule Required Readings Additional readings will be posted on website Week Lecture Topic 1 September 2 & 4 An Introduction to the Class and Thematic Cartography Dent et al. Chapter 1 Introduction to the Geography Computer Network Lab 1. Online Mapping with ArcGIS 2 September 9 & 11 An Introduction to Spatial Thinking Learning to Think Spatially Chapters 1&2 Goodchild M. 2006. The Fourth R? Rethinking GIS education Lab 2. Interpretation of Topographic Maps A brief history of cartography The Mapmakers Chapters 3 & 9 Map Scale and Map Projections Dent et al. Chapters 2 & 3 Map Projections Midterm 1 on October 2nd Dent et al. Chapter 3 3 September 16 & 18 4 September 23 & 25 5 September 30 & Oct 2 Lab Topic Lab 3. Plane Table Mapping Lab 4. GPS Mapping Lab 5. An Introduction to Map Projections using ArcGIS Dent et al. Chapters 12 6 October 7 & 9 7 October 14 & 16 8 October 21 & 23 Map Design and Organization Geographic Measurement Scales and Map Symbolization Color and Typography Lab 6. Statistics and Graphing using Stop Thinking Like a Cartographer Microsoft Excel™ http://video.esri.com/watch/1902/st op-thinking-like-a-cartographer Dent et al. Chapters 4 & 5 Lab 7. Map Design using graphic design Chapter 17 is optional but useful software Dent et al. Chapters 13 & 14 6 Lab 8. Map Lettering Week Lecture Topic Required Readings Additional readings will be posted on website 9 October 28 & 30 Choroplethic Mapping Dent et al. Chapter 6 10 November 4 & 6 Dot and Proportional Symbol Mapping Dent et al. Chapters 7 & 8 Lab 10. Proportional Symbol Mapping 11 November 11 & 13 Isoarthimatic maps and continuous surface mapping Midterm 2 on November 13th Dent et al. Chapter 9 Lab 11. Mapping Continuous Surfaces 12 November 18 & 20 Cartograms and flow maps Dent et al. Chapters 10 & 11 13 November 25 14 December 2 & 4 15 December 9 Final Project Journalistic Mapping and How to lie with maps Web mapping and other Future Trends in Cartography Class wrap up and course evaluations Lab Topic Lab 9. Choropleth Mapping Lab 12. Cartograms Chapter 7 in How to Lie with Maps Lab 13. Journalistic Mapping  No Lab  Dent et al. Chapter 16  No Lab  th DUE Friday December 12 5 pm I reserve the right to make changes to the course schedule at any time 7