Feeling like a freshman
Today in Human Geography discussion, we were given a blank map of the U.S. (it had state boundary lines) and a marker to draw where we think the U.S. Southwest is. We all drew on the same paper, and the idea was to have 25 different outlines showing the perspectives of 25 different people. So after the paper made its way around the room, the T.A. took it back to look at.
“You guys, it looks like you all copied off the person next to you. Why does it look like that only one person drew an outline even though all 25 of you were supposed to draw something? Why did everyone draw along the state boundaries? Let’s start over.”
He passed around a new map and we all re-drew our outlines.
“This looks the same. This is not how the other class’s map looked when they were done with it. Okay you didn’t all draw on the exact same line this time, but you all drew around state boundary lines! That’s not the point! So you guys consider northern Nevada to be in the Southwest, even though it’s all pretty and green up there?”
Everyone was staring at the table, so I answered, “Well, if I were driving through there, I wouldn’t consider northern Nevada to be the Southwest, but if someone was talking about Nevada as a whole, then I would consider it the Southwest.”
“So why didn’t you draw a line around where you think the Southwest stops in Nevada?”
“Um… because it looks prettier to follow state boundaries.”
“Because it looks prettier. Does everyone here agree with this?”
Everyone stared at the table.
One guy looked up and proffered, “I’m anal retentive, that’s why I did it.”
6 Comments »
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI
With a name like Human Geography, I would expect maps drawn on your arm or something.
I agree with you; the first map looks prettier. The pink map looks leprous.
In my human Geo class last year we were asked to label as many nations as we could… I knew a lot of them.
Shealy: lol! I’m glad you see things my way!
Aaron: I could probably name all the big ones… it’s those little ones that get me.
Simple solution here: don’t give the students maps with state lines. If I were given this same assignment I would’ve been tempted to follow the lines as well.
That is easy. Hopefully they’ll do that for next semester, and stop confusing poor freshmen like me.
Too funny! I don’t think I ever would have said the word anal outloud in class in college, but that’s just me. Hope all is well in Tucson! Email me…I have some more clothes to give away. : )