Geographical Sources Exercise

 

 

Directions

 

If possible, work in small groups for this exercise (preferably groups of 2 or 3). Each group should submit one assignment with all names clearly at the top. Make sure your group thoroughly discusses your answers. Answer 5 of the following questions. Give the answer to each question, complete citations for the information found, and any other details about your search, e.g. where you looked unsuccessfully, problems you found with a source, etc. For some of these questions you may find the answer, or parts of the answer in a number of sources. Please note discrepancies between sources. Save time: look for each of these items as you examine a given source.

Members of the group presenting Geographical sources in class do not need to complete this assignment.

Submit your answers via Blackboard. All members of a group should submit this assignment: if you do not submit an assignment, Blackboard will allow me to give you a grade, but not narrative feedback.

 

Questions

  1. After the Iranian revolution, the town of Kermanshah, had a name change. Now it is back to being called Kermanshah, What was the temporary name?

  2. What is the average temperature in January in Glasgow, Scotland?

  3. I just read On the Road, and am inspired to get in my car and drive, but not being of the Beat Generation I’m a bit worried about mileage (gas cost a lot less in 1950!). How far is it from Chapel Hill, NC to Redlands, CA in road miles?

  4. What is a geostrophic wind?

  5. What state is known as the “Bug-eating state”? How did it get that name?

  6. How was the number of Congressional representatives adjusted in Illinois after the results of the 1940 census?

  7. Can you help me find a map that would show the extent of the Asante (or Ashanti) Empire in Africa was from 1770-1880?

  8. I would like to have some information on Mary Henrietta Kingsley and her July 1895 expedition. Where did she go?

  9. What is the latitude and longitude of Barranquilla, Colombia?

  10. What is the gross national product (GDP) and the per capita income of the country of Palau?

  11. I was just at a restaurant with the name Marco Polo. They had food from the countries he visited but I couldn’t quite tell where they were all from. What countries did Marco Polo’s travels cover?

  12. I have an opportunity to travel to Moscow, but I’ve heard there’s a lot of crime there. Is this true? How dangerous would this be?

  13. What will be the phase of the moon for October 12, 2009?

  14. At what time did high tide occur at Cape Fear on October 12, 2005?

  15. For a short paper on economics of world food production, a student needs a map of the world that indicates food growing area and the products from those areas.

  16. How can I find relatively recent figures for the total population of Africa, its largest city, and the area within the African continent with the densest population?

  17. To introduce a new product, a company needs to test the markets in three population centers of 100,000, which are not more than 250 miles apart. What is a useful source to determine where such market centers are?

Grading

 

5 points per question = 25 points total

Your answer to each question will be evaluated according to the following rubric. I will assign one point for each item, per question:

  1. You found the answer to the question.
  2. You found the answer in appropriate sources, and used more than one source.
  3. You discuss the details of the answer you found, including disambiguating any ambiguities in the question.
  4. You discuss the details of the sources you used: features, pros and cons, what the sources included and did not include, appropriate evaluation criteria, etc.
  5. You discuss the details of your searching process, for and within each source.