Robert Roth, PhD | [email protected] Office: 375 Science Hall Office Hours: Tuesday/Thursday 4:00-5:00p, or by appointment Brian Davidson | [email protected] Chelsea Nestel | [email protected] Office Hours: TBD, held in Science Hall M376 Tuesday/Thursday 11:00a-12:15p Section 301: Wednesday 10:00-11:45a (Brian) Section 302: Tuesday 9:00-10:45a (Chelsea) Section 303: Thursday 9:00-10:45a (Cheslea) Section 304: Tuesday 12:30-2:15p (Brian) Geography 370 (G370) provides a general introduction to Cartography, broadly defined as the art, science, and ethics of mapmaking and map use. G370—and the UW Cartography curriculum generally—focuses upon the design of maps, drawing from research and practice on graphic design, information visualization, and semiotics, perspectives that you are unlikely to receive in other GIS courses. Specifically, G370 emphasizes mapmaking over map use (compared to G170) and print mapping over web-based or interactive mapping (compared to G572 and G575, respectively). G370 is divided into two components: lectures and labs. The lecture component of the course covers the cartographic theories, best practices, and success stories that are essential for thinking critically about map design. Lecture material is presented as a series of cartographic guidelines—developed through both scientific inquiry and time-tested convention—andassociated examples illustrating the range of potential design solutions. Lectures are discriminated by topics that traditionally fall under reference mapping (Weeks #1-5) and topics that traditionally fall under thematic mapping (Weeks #6-12), although, as you will see, this is an imperfect distinction. As an introductory course, you are tested on your knowledge of and conformance to the cartographic guidelines discussed in lecture; however, by the end of the course, you will have an understanding about when these rules should be followed directly and when you can bend (or even break) these rules to improve your map. The laboratory component of the course emphasizes the practical skills needed to make maps. Each lab assignment requires you to grapple with a topic previously discussed in lecture, with the final map deliverable representing your critical understanding about the topic. The labs leverage the ArcGIS and Adobe Illustrator software packages; by the end of the course, it is expected that you will have operational-to-proficient knowledge of both packages, as applied for map design, and that you can indicate such on a résumé. Following the series of lab assignments, you are required to design a final project map on a topic of your choosing. Creativity and ingenuity are strongly encouraged in the conceptualization and execution of the final project. The final project is submitted as the closing entry in a larger map portfolio, which also contains your labs, revised according to our feedback; the overarching goal of the map portfolio is to assist in securing employment following your university studies. *UW-Madison encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities; contact Rob at the outset of the course if you need any type of accommodation. G370 assumes no prior knowledge of or experience in Cartography or related fields; there are no course prerequisites (sophomore standing is required). Readings from the Slocum text are not required, but are highly recommended for students that are pursuing a career in Cartography. The reading excerpts associated with each lecture are noted in the composite schedule and posted lecture notes. Thematic Cartography and Geographic Visualization, Third Edition (2009) by Terry A. Slocum, Robert B. McMaster, Fritz C. Kessler, and Hugh H. Howard. (on course reserve in the Geography Library) Adobe Illustrator CS6 (available through DoIT at a discount)Each evaluated item represents a percentage of the total course weight; final grades are assigned according the composite grade distribution of the course. Exam #1 15% 75-minute midterm (true/false & multiple choice questions) 10/10 Exam #2 15% 75-minute final (true/false & multiple choice questions) 11/26 Quizzes 10% 8-10 in-class quizzes covering topics from the previous lecture throughout Lab Assignments 30% Five mapping assignments throughout Final Project 20% Individual mapping project (no group projects allowed) 12/17 (noon) Map Portfolio 10% Compilation of lab assignments and final project 12/17 (noon) Your understanding of the lecture material is evaluated through administration of a pair of exams and a series of quizzes. Exams constitute the majority of the lecture points and include a combination of true/false and multiple choice questions. The exams are closed book/closed notes and must be completed within 75 minutes. The exams are not cumulative. While group studying is encouraged, cheating during the exam is not tolerated and results in a zero for the exam and disclosure of the impropriety to the Department and University. Make-up exams require a doctor's note or, in the event of planned travel, must be rescheduled 4 weeks in advance. Make-up exams are in an essay format. In non-exam weeks, quizzes will be proctored at the beginning of lecture covering material from the prior lecture. In-class quizzes are designed to promote active learning and attentive note-taking, as well as class attendance. Quizzes are open book/open notes and must be completed within 5 minutes. Make-up quizzes require a doctor's note or, in the event of planned travel, must be rescheduled 4 weeks in advance; you may not completethe quiz following class if you arrive late. Lecture notes for the week will be posted only after the weekly quiz is administered. - October 10th: Exam #1 (in Chemistry 1351) - November 26th: Exam #2 (in Chemistry 1351) Your ability to apply the mapping principles learned in lecture is evaluated through a series of five lab assignments. Each assignment represents a mapping 'challenge', in which you need to design a map for a specific mapping purpose. Each lab assignment builds on the last, meaning that you are responsible for properly applying previously learned