Cabrillo College

Geography 3A - Map Reading

Map Reading Assignment Outline

This course will help you to learn how to read USGS topographic maps and world maps emphasizing fundamental place name locations. The course is divided into two parts, which may be completed in any order, or even alternated. Part 1 is a four lesson video series with work sheets and maps. Part 2 is a series of lessons to be taken on the PC computers in the Library. There is a test when you finish each Part (1 and 2). Each test is worth 50% of the final grade. I will assign grades of A, B, CR, or NCR. You may indicate a preference for a letter grade only. To do so please write grade only on the Atlas Test Parscore form next to your name.

Time requirements:

The course is designed to be self-paced. If you already have some map skills, and have used atlas materials before, you may finish faster than others who do not. You may come to the Library at any time it is open and work on the material on a facility (video or computer) available basis.

How to get started:

Go to the Swenson Library Circulation Desk (large desk on your left as you enter the library). The staff will have information and materials (as well as copies of this form) for you to use. Please return materials when you finish. If you have any problems with the equipment ask at the Circulation Desk for assistance, if you have problems with the lesson material please contact me by telephone or drop in during my office hour.

Part 1. USGS Topographic Maps (Video)

Check out a video lesson, map board, and exercise sheet for each of the four lessons.

	1. Watch the video.
	2. Fill out the exercise form.
	3. Check the answer key (available at the loan desk) to be sure that you understand the material.
	4. Do this for each of the lessons.
	5. When you are ready, take the 50 question test. You will need a #2 pencil. You will need to purchase a Parscore (Large Orange) answer form at the Library or Bookstore. Be sure to fill out both sides of the Parscore Form completely.

	Lesson 1: Orientation
	Lesson 2: Land Surveys, Cartographic Notation
	Lesson 3: Topography and Elevation
	Lesson 4: Terrain Profiles

Test on Part 1 You can find your grade by asking at the library Reference Desk. You may also find out which questions you missed.

Part II. Fundamental Place Name Geography Exercises.

(Using the PC Computers in the Library)

A.	Go to the Circulation Desk, ask for instruction on which computers are to be used for The Atlas exercises. A Goodes World Atlas may be checked out for the exercises, or you may use your own, or any of the World Atlas’ in the Library. If you have problems, you can ask the library staff, or consult with me during my office hours. You can work at any time that a computer is available.

B.	The lessons are in the form of Puzzles:
	In each lesson, you have several choices of difficulty. The mouse based puzzles are for drill on locations of places. You may use a timer to see how rapidly you can do a puzzle. When you are feeling confident in your knowledge of a region, try again without the boundary lines, Don’t forget to drill on capitals if offered. Use a book atlas to look up places if you need to.
	1. The World. Continents, World Features
	2. Anglo America. Including states and provinces of the U. S. and Canada.
	3. Latin and South America. Location of states.
	4. Europe. Locations of States
	5. Asia. States and relative locations.
	6. Middle East. States and relative locations.
	7. Africa. States and relative locations.
	8. Australia/ Oceania. States and Island locations
	Be sure to use the Contents and the Index of the atlas as well as the maps when you are doing the assignments.
	A student who has had little or no geographical background will naturally take longer to complete the series than one who has had extensive training. There is no recommended time to complete a lesson. The computer is ready to work at your pace; this is an advantage of computer-assisted instruction.

C.	Test on Part II - Open Atlas Exam.
	The test will be given as a machine scored exam. You will need a #2 pencil, and a Parscore form. The questions are each worth one point. Most of the questions will be taken directly from the Lessons of Part II. Questions that require you to use the atlas will be deemed more important than those that do not. You may only take the test once. Be sure to indicate which form of the exam you are given on the Parscore Form in the middle on the top under Form. Be sure to fill out both sides of the Parscore Form completely.
	When you have completed Exams I and II you will have completed the course assignments. You can find your grade by asking at the library Reference Desk. You may also find out which questions you missed.

Part III. Suggestions for using the maps in Maps that Teach:

Each continent's Map Puzzle teaches the name and location of the countries and capitals. A country appears on the screen, with its name, and the student places it in the correct position on a map of the continent. In a similar game, the capital has to be placed in the correct country. A separate game has students place major mountain ranges (Andes, Himalayas, Alps), rivers, deserts and jungles on a map of the world. Learned this way, a basic knowledge of where features are becomes a permanent mental picture. Yet another map teaches the location and significance of major world monuments.

The United States map puzzle shows a state with its name, to be placed in the correct location. The capitals are then placed (in a separate game) within their state. Students can learn the location of the physical features-mountains, rivers, lakes, etc.-and their location in relation to the state boundaries, to form an enduring mental picture of the U.S.

Thank you for taking Geography 3A

Instructor David Balogh Office 432B; Phone 479-6346

world map

Link to Department Page

Cabrillo College, 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA 95003, phone: 831-479-6100