SCALE, SCALE MODELS,AND SKELETONS

CopelandAPHG

2010-11

SCALE:a comparison of distances on a map to distances on

the earth

METHODS OF PORTRAYING SCALE ON A MAP:

• Graphic Scale = scale bar

• Verbal Scale = written statement

• Fractional Scale = representative fraction

What kind of scale?

“One inch to 5 miles”

Verbal scale

What kind of scale?

1:316,800 or 1/316,800

Fractional Scale

What kind of scale?

Graphic Scale

Scale: One of the “map essentials”!

When scale is not shown on a map – Beware!

The Week Magazine, July 4-11, 2008

These mushroom spores are too small to see, so we put them under a MICROSCOPE.

When we can see them, we can study them.

This planet is too big to see,so we put it under a MACROSCOPE.

When we can see it, we can study it.

“Some things are very tiny, and we must use complex electric and optical means (e.g., a microscope) to enlarge them so as to understand their configuration and structural relationships. In contrast, geographical things are so extensive that we must somehow reduce them to bring them into view.”

- Arthur Robinson, cartographer

We need to use our . . .

MAPS as MACROSCOPES. . .

to help us think critically about problems and “problem spots” on the world stage.

Scale is Critical to Critical Thinking• Using reason to decide what to believe or

do. • Assessing the authenticity, accuracy, or

worth of knowledge claims and arguments.

• Applying careful, precise, persistent and objective analysis of any knowledge claim or belief to judge its validity.

Scale and its Two Meanings• First: Scale is the distance on a map compared to the distance on

the Earth*Large scale maps are enlarged maps to show cities and sometimes small

towns (zoomed in). Small scale maps are maps shrunken down only to show countries and continents (zoomed out). The town might be on a scale of 1:10,000 and the world map might be on a scale of 1:100,000,000

• Second: Territorial extent of something* We use the second of the two meanings quite often in this class. By

observing scale, we can study a single phenomena across different scales in order to see how what is happening at the global scale affects the localities and how what is happening locally affects the globe.

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Format of Many pre-1914 German School Atlases

Comparative Size of Germany and USA in 1914

ETHNIC CONFLICT AND THE CONCEPT OF SCALE

Ethnic conflicts abound on the world political map. To understand them, we use a set of concepts:

• minorities • majorities

We count and we quantify. Because we quantify we think our analysis is objective.Because we are objective, we reach unbiased conclusions.

What is a minority?“the smaller in number of two groups constituting a whole”

- Merriam-Webster OnLine

SERENDIB

CEYLON

SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka

Formerly Ceylon, now an island Republic in the Indian Ocean just southeast of India

A British colony since 1796 became independent in 1948

Marked by hostility among its ethnic groups

With about three-quarters of the population, what ethnic group in Sri Lanka is in the majority?

A. Moors

B. Sinhalese

C. Tamils

D. Burghers

SINHALESELanguage =

Religion =

Sinhala

Buddhist

With about one-fifth of the population, what ethnic group in Sri Lanka comprises the largest minority?

A. Moors

B. Sinhalese

C. Tamils

D. Burghers

TAMILSLanguage =

Religion =

Tamil

Hindu

Lion – Kingdom of KandySinhalese

Green – MuslimOrange - Tamil

Leaves from Pipul treeare Buddhist symbols

Sri Lanka: 4 million TamilsSri Lanka: 15 million Sinhalese

Ethnic comes from the Greek word ethnos meaning “nation” or “life way.” Yet, in our current lexicon we use it not as a synonym for national, but almost as an affront. Within nations exist ethnic minorities.

Ethnic Geography:Who’s the minority?

Sri Lanka: 4 million TamilsSri Lanka: 15 million Sinhalese

India: 63 million TamilsIndia: no Sinhalese

Pattern Probing Using Scale• If we are close,

Then, we see lots of detail, but may not recognize overall patterns.

• If we are far away, Then we miss lots of detail, but recognize overall patterns.

Which one is the model?