February 2010                     FEEDBACK TO: xx

FEEDBACK Geog3600 – Geography of Utah

HW A03 – Atlas for Utah School – Chapter 3 – Transportation Corridors.

 

COMMENTS TO EVERYONE:

Logistics… here’s what I looked for

Files make sense … they’re easy to access, the logic is clear.

 

EXPECTATIONS for this assignment about migration, transportation corridors and your county…

(a)   Information… presentation of facts… foundational knowledge.

Someone familiar with the county would recognize and agree with what you’ve written.

(b)   Analysis of why the corridors are where they are.

Demonstrated understanding of concepts of GEOG3600-Geography of Utah, specifically, themes of geography, and demonstrated understanding of geographic concepts of migration.

 

 

Map Files                   _____ of  10

Map files show major transportation routes at different scales:

State.

County.

Other of your choice

Map files are consistent, meaning they are the basis of your analysis.

Google Earth: you seem be working okay with it.

You’re using diverse geographic resources.

Your cover page indicates which maps are in the chapter’s folder, gives a brief description, and, generally, explains how the map relates to the topic or is important.

 

Terrific (10 – 12) = your maps tell a story… display information with clarity… for example, they show contrasts of desolate, relatively unpopulated areas contrasting with populous areas; or they show how transportation corridors avoid mountain ranges; or they show railroad routes for transport of goods or people.

Good (8-10) = maps display geographic information about migration and transportation corridors of importance to your county and / or school.

Adequate (7-9) = three maps show transportation routes at state, county, and another scale; minimal discussion of what the map files are or why included in the chapter folder. Also, the source of maps should be indicated, meaning the primary source where possible.

Not quite adequate = insufficient information to understand migration patterns or transpiration corridors. Maps could be contradictory or simply have so little information shown that analysis is not possible.

Trouble = Maps and discussion are inconsistent.

 

Cover sheet                _____ of 30.

Three general assessment areas that overlap… each of the sections is about 10 points.

(a)   Observations … factual information.

Information… facts / observations… foundational knowledge

At least 3 observations…

Key information about transportation to, from, and across “your” county presented.

Location… a theme of geography… is part of the discussion.

Terrific = use of geographic terms for location; Good / Adequate = discussion of location and major transportation routes; Trouble = location is not discussed.

 

 

(b)   Application of geographic thought: practical thoughts… statements of obvious patterns.  

Spatial patterns recognized and described. Where are the transportation corridors with respect to other important cultural and physical features? Is it obvious why some transportation corridors are where they are… or why some areas of a county have very limited connections via transportation?

Terrific = recognition of spatial relationships … quantity and quality, meaning, obvious, subtle.

Adequate = recognition and discussion of patterns and spatial connections.

 

 

(c)    Recognition and discussion of concepts of migration, a major theme of geography. .

WHY are the transportation corridors of your county where they are?

Concepts from the lecture include:

Factors that push and pull movement of people and goods… desire lines… the desire for social connectedness such as to other population centers; politics; the need of the USA for an interstate system of roads (and why was that/); economic factors such as a rail route to a mines or manufacturing centers; historical reasons… the route has been a corridor for hundreds of years because it was a great corridor;

Factors that are barriers: most mountains, some rivers, and most lakes are barriers. They force transportation into some corridors and out of others.

The concept of migration streams: Utah’s highway 50 / 6 helped move goods and services east west across our great country. So do the major rail routes.

Reasons for types of transportation: some transportation is for recreation, other is for agriculture, other for trucking.

Terrific = insightful… recognition of webs of relationships among people, places, and environments. Discussion of human geography (social and behavioral sciences … for example, explicit discussion of anthropological, sociological, political… etc factors). Discussion of physical geography (five subsystems of Earth systems).

Good = considerable analysis (a couple paragraphs); discussion of push, pull, and barriers.

Not quite = little discussion or analysis.

Trouble = inconsistent with the maps of your presentation.

 

 

 

ASSIGNMENT A03-                        TOTAL _______ of 40.