Assignment 16 - Making a Mental Map All individuals have their own understandings of particular places. We carry individualized maps in our heads, based around the particular landmarks that are important to our conceptualization of place. These impressions of place are referred to as “mental maps” by geographers and other social scientists. These mental maps may be influenced to some extent by our gender, race, background, etc. On an 8 ½′′ by 11′′ sheet of paper, draw a mental map of your neighborhood or current living location. Make sure to indicate where you live, along with many other relevant landmarks for you. Label the general location of the map clearly. Take some time and care in preparing your mental map. Do not worry if the map does not coincide with a “real” cartographic map (You will not be graded on accuracy). Do not consult with a cartographic map in producing your mental map, because your individualized version of place will prove more interesting to analyze. After completing your map, analyze the document in a short paper. Write up your findings and include a picture or scan of your map. Answer whichever questions you like below within your analysis, but do not put the questions themselves into your short paper. Consider the following questions: What do you personally consider the most important features on your map? Why? Does the map show interesting facts about your life? Are there blank areas on your map? If so, why? What do you guess is in these areas? How long have you lived in the area depicted on the map? How has this affected your mental map? What form(s) of transportation do you use? How has the kind of transportation you use affected the map? Do you think your map is affected by your gender or race? If so, in what ways? Would an on-looker reading your map come to the same conclusion? Why or why not