Due date: February 11, 2010

Mapping Global Inequality Project

The purpose of this map is for you to be able to see some of the social and economic differences in the world, and offer some hypotheses about why that may be.

Step One:

1.  Create a hand-drawn map of the world that is larger than 8.5 X 11 inches.  You may trace a world map or draw it free-hand; you may not hand in print outs.  For world atlases see:http://plasma.nationalgeographic.com/mapmachine/ or http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/world.html.

2. Label the following continents: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, and South America.

3. Label the following: Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean and Arctic Ocean.

4. Label the following: Red Sea, Persian Gulf, Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea and Caspian Sea.

5. Label any five countries in each of the continents on your map (that means thirty countries in all).

6. Choose one social indicator on the attached handout from the State of the World Atlas (life expectancy, Gross National Income, literacy rate, education or undernourished people) or from the World Health Organization website: http://www.who.int/whosis/en/ (Deaths due to HIV/AIDS, access to improved drinking water, neonatal mortality rates).

Once you select the social indicator that you want to use, find the social indicator statistic for the 30 countries.  Then put the statistic on the map.  Use a symbol to represent the social indicator. You may use a color code or a symbol system. For example, a country that has a literacy rate of 90% might be represented by 9 books and a country with a 20% literacy rate might be represented by two books.  The map and the map key should be colorful (so that the differences across the globe can be seen easily on your map).

7. Give the map a title related to your social indicator.  Indicate where the facts come from and what year the statistics come from.

Step Two:  Now, the hard part…

1. Write a two-page typed paper that explains your map.  The paper should be based on research.  The paper should explain:

a. What are the factors that contribute to your social indicator?  For example, what factors might lead to high or low life expectancy in a country?

b. Why are some countries better off and some countries worse off?  Discuss specifically the countries you selected.  What explains the differences between different countries and regions?

c. Include a bibliography of your sources.