220
CRiTiQUe OF MaPs
percentage of Americans this is not the case. Therefore, postal abbreviations for the
states have been added.
mAkeoVeR 6
Figure 12.9 is a map designed for a 6th-grade social studies workbook. It is for a
section on world ecoregions and shows the combined climates of ice cap and tundra,
and tropical and subtropical desert. Each section of the workbook has a map for the
subject and a series of questions to aid students in learning to read maps. These ques-
tions often involve size and distance comparisons as well as cardinal directions.
Critique
•
•
. The “before” map is drawn on a Mercator projection. Despite reso-
lutions against the use of cylindrical maps in school textbooks, and the well-known
criticisms of the Mercator in particular, a surprising number of school workbooks
continue to use rectangular projections, most often the Mercator. In addition, the
before map contains an elaborate compass rose that is unnecessary on this projec-
tion.
Interestingly, this is one of the most difficult maps to make over because such
workbooks must conform to state and national standards and these standards for
maps often seem to run counter to good cartographic practice.
Makeover: Figure 12.10
•
•
. Replacing the Mercator projection is the most obvious
improvement. Although it might be desirable to use an equal-area projection, many
of these compress the polar regions too much. The Robinson
projection was selected
because it is a “compromise” projection that has a good appearance and doesn’t have
Percent
of Labor Force
9.5%
or higher
8.0% to 9.4%
6.5% to 7.9%
5.0% to 6.4%
4.9%
or lower
U.S.
UNEMPLOYMENT RATES
FEBRUARY 2009
U.S. Rate = 8.1
Percent
Source:
Bureau of Labor
Statistics 3/27/2009
N
