Application

Cultural Regions

Sketch Map

In this topic, you learned how culture can influence a map. Similarly, your knowledge and experience help you construct mental maps. A mental map is a map you create in your mind using your own understanding and perceptions. You use a mental map whenever you give directions, discuss world events, or complete various other activities. Your ability to create a well-developed mental map improves over time, based on new experiences.

For this assignment, you will create a sketch map of the state of Virginia. When drawing a sketch map, use your own observations and knowledge as a reference, instead of exact measurements. The image above depicts an example of a sketch map of the world. Notice in the example that the map is not a precise representation. Similarly, your sketch map should be a representation of how you see Virginia, not how a published resource like an atlas would represent it. There are multiple ways to develop your mental map.

When completing your sketch map, describe the location of Virginia using at least three examples of each the following:

• reference points (examples: North of the Equator, South of Maryland);
• geographic features (examples: East of the Mississippi River, East of the Appalachian Mountains); and
• human characteristics (examples: language, types of housing, dress, recreation, customs and traditions).

Once you have completed your sketch map, compare it to a map of Virginia from an atlas or other accurate resource. Then, in a six-to-eight sentence paragraph, answer the following questions based on your comparison:

1. Were your reference points accurate? Did you include enough reference points for the map to feel helpful if someone else examined it? Explain why or why not.
2. Did you describe correct geographic features and landforms? Explain why or why not?
3. How did you know the human characteristics of Virginia? Did your descriptions come from what you have observed in your community or what you already knew about other locations in Virginia?

Before you begin, access the Sketch Map Checklist to be sure you include all items required for full credit. You may need to use resources outside of this course to complete this assignment. If so, please submit a Works Cited document. If you need assistance, visit the Student Resources section for information on citing any resources that you used.

 

After completing this assignment, please submit your work to the dropbox.