What makes a good Map?

DOGSTAILSDate

Orientation

Grid

Scale

Title

Author

Index

Legend

Source

DATE

• Tells when the map was made

Orientation

• Refers to the cardinal directions (north, south, east, west) and is shown by an arrow or compass rose

Grid

• A set of intersecting lines that provides a way of determining absolute location

– Latitude – grid lines going east, west

– Longitude – lines going north, south

– Absolute location - describes a place using a specific address or

latitude and longitude coordinates eg. 96 S. Zuni

– Relative location – describes a place by what it is near or what is

around it eg. Across the street from King Soopers

Scale

• Shows the relationship of map distances to actual distances on the earth’s surfaces

Title

• Describes what the map shows

Author

• Identifies the individual or institution that created the map

Index

• Presents an alphabetical list of places on the map & gives the grid location of each place

Legend (Key)

• Defines the map’s symbols

Source

• Identifies the institution or resource from which the information on the map was compiled