Skill Development Lab 2 – Mapping US Population

In Module 2, you learned about the difference between thematic and reference maps. In your first skill development lab, you made a rough reference map, specifically a political map, showing country and state boundaries. In this module we will focus on the different types of thematic maps you learned about in Module 2 and how to make them in QGIS. Additionally, in this module, you learned about the importance of matching the visual hierarchy to the intellectual hierarchy and will have the opportunity to put that into practice in this lab.

As you implement the skills you learned about in Module 2, we will also be answering a geographic question, specifically:

How is population geographically distributed across the United States?

In this lab, you’ll create a series of thematic maps (a dot density map, a choropleth map, and a proportional symbol map) to answer that question. As you do, think about the underlying structure of each type of map and consider how the type of map affects the argument that the map can make. This lab should take approximately 2-2.5 hours to complete. This lab is worth 40 points.

Submit two mixed symbols maps made using QGIS. (Required – 40 points)
Contribute to the lab discussion. (Opportunity to earn Discussion Board Points – 15 points)

OBJECTIVES

Choose symbolization strategies that align with the argument the map is making
Match the visual hierarchies on the map with the intellectual hierarchies of the map’s argument.

Preparations

The following resources will need to be downloaded:

Lab 2 Data folder (compressed as a .zip file)
Skill Development Lab 2 - Instructions.docx

1. Deliverable (Required)

This lab has two deliverables, two mixed symbols maps that you’ll make by following the instructions below. Please submit your maps to the Skill Development Lab 2 Submission Portal.

2. Contribute to Lab Discussion (Opportunity to earn Discussion Board Points)

Like with all "Skill Development Labs" this forum is also your discussion board for the lab. You are encouraged to help each other; share resources, ask questions, answer your peers’ questions, give peer feedback, etc. If you get stuck in the lab, this is a great place to post your questions or look for tips.

You are also welcome to reflect on the lab. In particular, consider the strengths and weaknesses of the different types of thematic maps you make in terms of their ability to communicate information about how the US population is distributed. Reflect on the differences and similarities between them and on how changing the scale of the data (states vs. counties) affects the story the map communicates.

If you want feedback on your map before you submit it for a grade, you are highly encouraged to post it to the discussion board. Not only does this give you a chance to get advice on how to improve your map, but it also gives your peers an opportunity to earn discussion board points by providing feedback.

On that note, this is an opportunity for you to earn discussion board points in the course (these are separate from the points you'll earn for completing the lab). Remember that over the course of the quarter, you can earn up to 200 pts. by posting contributions to the discussion boards. You can earn up to 15 pts. for your contributions to this discussion board. Please use the following hashtags to contribute to the discussion board.

Discussion Rubric.png

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