Ch. 1: Thinking Geographically

Introduction & Case Study (p. 2-5)

  1. Contrast globalization and local diversity.
  1. How does McDonalds represent both globalization and local diversity forces?
  1. Differentiate between human and physical geography, and give examples of each.
  1. Study Figure 1-1. Give one (1) meaningful conclusion that can be drawn from comparing the two maps.

Key Issue #1: How Do Geographers Describe Where Things Are? (p. 6-14)

  1. What are the two (2) primary purposes a map serves?
  1. List individuals who have made significant contributions to the study of geography and the science of cartography.
  1. Compare the two maps on p. 8. Identify areas of the world that are similar and areas that are different. Hypothesize why certain areas might be vastly different or relatively similar between the maps.
  1. What is scale and in what ways is it expressed?
  1. Identify each as larger scale (L) or smaller scale (S):

a. 1/10,000 / e. less detail
b. 1/5,000,000 / f. less distortion
c. greater distortion / g. more area
d. less area / h. more detail
  1. In what ways can map projections be distorted?
  1. Complete the following chart using the text on p. 9-10 and the maps on p. 6-7, 19, & 31:

PROJECTION / POSITIVES / NEGATIVES/DISTORTION
Relative sizes are proportional, minimizes shape distortion except near poles
Robinson projection
Area is very distorted near the poles, high latitude areas appear much larger than actual

Read p. 502-507 for additional information about scale and map projections. Key ideas are listed below:

**scale representations, large vs. small scale

**conic, cylindrical, planar/azimuthal, & oval projection classes

**properties that may be preserved or distorted on a map projection

**Mercator, gnomonic, Goode’s homolosine (equal-area), Robinson projections

**rhumb line & Great Circle Route

  1. Describe the U.S. Land Ordinance of 1785’s system of dividing land. How has it left its mark on the current landscape of the U.S.?
  1. How does the use of layers in GIS improve geographers’ abilities to interpret map data?
  1. How are the uses of satellites different in remote sensing and GPS?
  1. Read p. 13, Computer Mapping Services. What is a mash-up in computer mapping and how might it be used?

Key Issue #2: Why Is Each Point on Earth Unique? (p. 14-30)

  1. What is the primary difference between the concepts of place and region?
  1. What is “sense of place?”
  1. What are toponyms? What things might they represent and why might they change over time?
  1. Read p. 15, Navigation Devices from Hand-Drawn to Electronic. How is ground truthing used in modern navigation systems?
  1. List several important site factors, and describe how they might play a role in choosing locations for settlements.
  1. What is situation and why is it useful for indicating location?
  1. Mark each as either latitude (Lat.) or longitude (Long.):

a. also called meridians / f. equidistant circles
b. also called parallels / g. measured0-180°east & west
c. 0°line called equator / h. measured0-90°north and south
d. 0°line called prime meridian / i. useful in determining time
e. arcs drawn from north to south pole / j. 0°line drawn through Greenwich, England
  1. How can latitude and longitude be used to determine a specific location on Earth’s surface?
  1. How and why were time zones set?
  1. Describe Carl Sauer’s concept of cultural landscape.
  1. Describe the three (3) types of regions and give examples of each.
  1. Describe cultural examples of what people care for AND what people care about.

FOR –

ABOUT –

  1. What are MDCs & LDCs? What world regions are considered MDC and which are considered LDC?
  1. Contrast environmental determinism and possibilism.
  1. Study the climate map on p. 26. How might climate influence human culture, activities, & settlement?
  1. How do humans impact vegetation and soil?
  1. How does topography influence human settlement and activities?
  1. Describe how the Dutch have modified the environment of the Netherlands with the polder & dike system.
  1. Describe how residents of the barrier islands of the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico have impacted the environment.
  1. How has Florida harmed the Everglades?

Key Issue #3: Why Are Different Places Similar? (p. 30-40)

  1. How do transnational or multinational corporations represent globalization of the economy?
  1. What advances have facilitated globalization?
  1. Give at least three (3) examples of globalization of culture.
  1. How has globalization led to conflict in different parts of the world?
  1. Differentiate how historians and geographers organize and view the world.
  1. Describe the three (3) main types of density.
  1. Explain the difference in concentration and density.
  1. Give examples of types of patterns.
  1. How do gender, ethnicity, and sexual orientation create spatial patterns?
  1. What is space-time compression and why is it increasing today?
  1. What type of relationship exists between distance and interaction?
  1. Explain the terms hearth and diffusion.
  1. How does relocation diffusion occur? Give examples.
  1. Describe the three (3) types of expansion diffusion. Give examples of each.
  1. Which world regions are considered “core” and which are considered “periphery?” What has happened to the gap between the core and periphery due to globalization?