SYLLABUS Thematic Cartography GEOG 332

SYLLABUS
Thematic Cartography
GEOG 332
Instructor
Teaching Assistant
Dr. Andrew G. Klein
Office: O&M 707D
Email: klein@tamu.edu
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: yihcsnu@tamu.edu
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
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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%
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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."
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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.
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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
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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
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Lab 8. Map Lettering
Week
Lecture Topic
Required Readings
Additional readings will be posted
on website
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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
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