cleaning up the blogs

Yesterday and today we all played catch-up: students finished up their maps and blogs, and I was able to look more closely at the specifics of your blogs and offer some suggestions. Next week we will pick up where we left with mapping, including information on GPS, toponyms, sites, and regions.

In the meantime, have a good weekend, and I will see you next week!

do-it-yourself mapping

Today, the Honors section played catch-up to the other two sections, covering material on map scale, latitude and longitude, and time zones.

Section 101 raced ahead and began labeling maps with the following features:

• the equator
• Prime Meridian
• the nation of your origin
• all seven continents
• all five oceans
• the International Date Line
• the Tropic of Capricorn
• the Tropic of Cancer
• the John Carroll School

Monday's classwork

I will not be in class on Monday since I will be taking my Television Production students on a field trip to the Newseum in Washington, DC. Here is the work you will need to do in class today.

I'm sure you can recall the presentation and class discussion we had on the Mercator map and the Peters Projection map. You also remember the video we watched on this topic, taken from The West Wing.

I want you to re-watch the video (found here) individually in class, using your earbuds, please. Keeping in mind what we have learned about these maps since watching it the first time, pay close attention to the points the "Organization of Cartographers for Social Equality" are making. Feel free to stop-and-start the video as you watch on your laptops so you don't miss anything.

In your blog, describe the points made by the cartographers.  Are they valid points? You may wish to explain whether you agree or disagree with these points, and why.

This blog is worth 10 points, and, as always, it is due by midnight tonight.

no map is perfect (but the Peters is close)

I am simply amazed at the reactions from all of you! I have never seen students get so outraged by a Mercator map. And the unbridled joy you have shown the Peters Projection map has been inspiring.

Please... keep up the enthusiasm, and the energy, and the great work!

mapping out the next unit

As we begin the next unit, these are the key issues we will be considering:

• How do geographers describe where things are?
• Why is each point on Earth unique?
• Why are different places similar?
• Why are some human actions not sustainable?

Also, the Honors section asked a question about how the Peters map was constructed. I don't know how higher mathematics works, but if you do, then this explanation should make a lot of sense.

"The projection is conventionally defined as:

${\displaystyle {\begin{aligned}x&={\frac {R\pi \lambda \cos 45^{\circ }}{180^{\circ }}}={\frac {R\pi \lambda }{180^{\circ }{\sqrt {2}}}}\\y&={\frac {R\sin \varphi }{\cos 45^{\circ }}}=R{\sqrt {2}}\sin \varphi \end{aligned}}}$

where λ is the longitude from the central meridian in degrees, φ is the latitude, and R is the radius of the globe used as the model of the earth for projection. For longitude given in radians, remove the π/180°factors.

The various specializations of the cylindric equal-area projection differ only in the ratio of the vertical to horizontal axis. This ratio determines the standard parallel of the projection, which is the parallel at which there is no distortion and along which distances match the stated scale. There are always two standard parallels on the cylindric equal-area projection, each at the same distance north and south of the equator. The standard parallels of the Gall–Peters are 45° N and 45° S."

Source: Snyder, John P. (1989). An Album of Map Projections p. 19. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1453. (Mathematical properties of the Gall–Peters and related projections.)

Got it?

on to the next unit!

Today the famous Section 101 took their tests. This signals the end of our first unit (Excellence) and the beginning of the next unit (Why is Geography a Science?)

We begin this unit with a close look at maps and cartography. Section 102 got started today, and everyone else will jump in tomorrow.

Wednesday also begins Shadow season! I'm sure everyone will do what they can to make our guests feel at home when they visit our classrooms.

feeling good about the test?

Sections 102 and Honors have taken their first test of the year. Student feedback seemed to indicate some good results, and most thought the test seemed fair. Section 101 will take it tomorrow. Let's see if they feel the same way!

Up next: some basic concepts to help us build a solid foundation in geography, beginning with the study of maps. You excited? Me too!

first test - here it comes!

The first test of the quarter will be given on Monday, September 17 (for Honors and Section 102), or on Tuesday, September 18 (for Section 101).

The 100-point test will cover Elbert Hubbard, A Message to Garcia, the ancient Greeks, Socrates, and the concept of excellence that we have been discussing in class.

The format will be multiple choice questions, short answers, and one essay. The essay prompt will focus on Socrates' famous words, "The unexamined life is not worth living."

the short trip from ancient Greece to John Carroll

Section 102 and the Honors group met today, and we worked our way through more of the Excellence Google SlideShow. I'm hoping you are detecting the progression between the ancient Greeks' approach to excellence and their invention of democracy, between Hubbard's essay on initiative and the beginning of your high school career.

Don't forget to post to your blog tonight, whether it's just a transcription of your notes or your impression of the class discussion.

Is a pattern developing?

I hope you are enjoying class so far. Perhaps some of you are starting to recognize the theme that is developing. First you wrote about your early experiences at JC. Then you were presented with Elbert Hubbard's essay on excellence and initiative. This segued into the ancient Greek concept of excellence called arete. Along the way we did some work with maps (Cuba's location), history (the Spanish-American War and the assassination of President McKinley), forms of government (democracy, anarchism), and philosophy (those Greeks again).

Do you think I am trying to teach you the importance of developing a strong work ethic and sense of initiative as you start your high school careers?

Absolutely.

Your blogs tonight may reflect the notes you took in class. If you are feeling more adventurous, and receptive to the message, you can describe what the lesson means to you personally. Any time you don't get a specific writing prompt from me, your blog should reflect what you learned in class that day.

more on excellence

Overall, I think our Human Geo classes are off to a terrific start. The majority of you have set up your blogs and sent me the pertinent information. Most of you have written two good posts - the first one describing your first days at JC, the second one giving me your impressions of the essay A Message to Garcia.

A few of you have emailed me some questions, which I will address here:

• Every day you meet for Human Geography, you post to your blog. If the class does not meet, you do not need to post.
• You do not need to email me every time you post a new blog. If you see your name listed to the right of this post, I can see ALL of your postings, and you are good to go.
• If you were not in class or had to leave early, you can find out what you missed by reading my blog. Also, I recommend making a friend in class (a "study buddy") with whom you can check in to get even more details about class activities, homework, etc.
• Lastly, if you do NOT see your name listed to the right in your section, it means you have NOT successfully sent me the URL for your blog. If I can't see your blog, I can't grade it. I will have to enter zeros for your grades until I CAN see your blog. It is your responsibility to email me your URL.

Like I said, we are off to a great start. Keep it up!

A Message to... you?

Elbert Hubbard wrote A Message to Garcia in 1899, but parts of it could be considered timely and topical even today. In this essay, he ranted about people who don't work hard, and raved about people who do. In short, he ranted about excellence.

Section 102, you were presented with some background information on Hubbard in class today. Your blog assignment for tonight is to write your own essay in which you describe your interpretation of A Message to Garcia. Perhaps you may address some of the following themes: taking initiative, incompetence, excellence, and inspiration. Consider how (or if) this essay speaks to you as you begin your high school career. Write a good, thorough, descriptive essay, and proofread it well before you publish it. This assignment is due before midnight tonight for Section 102, and the essay can be found to the right of this post under "Links That Don't Stink."

Section 101 and honors - you will get your turn tomorrow.

Let's get started.

Welcome to Human Geography. You and I are going to spend a lot of time blogging in this class. Here is a good way for you to become familiar with my blog, plus instructions on how to create your blog.

• First of all, add my blog to your Favorites/Bookmarks.
• Set up your class blog through blogger.com.
• After you have created your blog, email the URL to me at rschick@johncarroll.org.
• Write your first blog post. In at least 150-200 words, describe the experience of your first few days attending classes at John Carroll. Take your time; write well; proofread, rewrite as necessary. Impress me with this first example of your writing ability. 
• This post is due before midnight tonight (Wednesday, September 5 for Honors and Section 102; Thursday, September 6 for Section 101). It's worth 20 points.
• Carefully read my Class Syllabus, found under "Links That Don't Stink" just to the right of this post. Be ready to ask or answer questions about the syllabus in class tomorrow.

I'm looking forward to reading your posts, checking your HW, answering your questions, and getting this class underway! Let's go!