Overview of Introduction to Human Geography

     This week we got a basic introduction to Human Geography from Mr. Schick. We learned that Geography is the study of where things are found on the Earth's surface and the reasons for their locations. A map is a two-dimensional model of Earth's surface, or a portion of it. Cartography is the science/ art of making maps. The first maps were made in 276-194 BC, and was later improved by Ptolemy. Most improvements were made by Islamic and Chinese cartographers. Map scale is the relationship to an item's size on a map to its actual size on Earth. Map scale can be represented by a ratio or a fraction scale. Projection is the scientific method of transferring locations to a flat map. Earth's shape causes distortions, and there are four types of it. Shape, distance, relative size, and direction between points are all types of distortions. As you can see when learned a great deal so far.

Blog on Human Geography Spet. 27th

     Today we took a few notes on GMT. Greenwich Mean Time is located at 0º longitude. The international date line is 180º longitude. For the remainder of the class we labeled places on three different maps. We labeled the oceans, continents, the equator, the tropic of cancer, the international date line, the tropic of Capricorn, the prime meridian, and the country where our ancestors came from. We labeled these on the Robinson Projection map, the Mercator Projection map, and Peter's Projection map. We also talked about a possible orange party, and I suggested we take some of the babies from the hospital and give them so oranges. I see nothing wrong with this suggestion.

Notes on The Earth

       The scientific method of transferring locations on Earth is called projection. Earth's spherical shape causes distortions when flattening it out to make a map. There are four types of distortions shape of an area, distances between points, relative size, and direction. The geographic grid is a system of imaginary areas drawn in a grid pattern. Points on Earth's surface can be communicated by referencing points of latitude and longitude that intersect. The Earth is a sphere that is divided into 360º of longitude. When you divide the longitude of the Earth by 24 you get the different time zones, and each time zone equals about 15º.

West Wing Cartography Key Points

     I think that the cartographers have an interesting point when they say that the old map has created an ethnic bias towards third world countries. They also mention how the map was a tool for navigation in the 1500's, which I believe to be accurate. I agree with the point that they make about how the relative size of countries is distorted because of the way the map was made flat. I don't agree with the cartographers when they say nothing is where you believe it is, because the maps aren't too different that the actual location of countries. They say that when third world countries are misrepresented they are thought to have lesser value to first world countries, but I don't think anyone really cares if Africa is bigger than the United States.

Notes on Geography

    On Thursday, we learned more about how Christopher Columbus was actually an evil man. We discussed how this wasn't being taught in any schools, but some states were either getting rid of the holiday or changing its name. We learned that Geographers use latitude and longitude to describe where things are, and that some places on opposite sides of the Earth have similar weather, when they are on the same latitude. Mr. Shick let us know that we will be studying the role of map scale, the difference between old and new maps, and how latitude and longitude are used to locate points on Earth. Geography is the study of where things are found on the planet. Human Geographers ask where people are found on Earth. They also ask why people are found where they are on the globe. A map is a two dimensional or flat scale model of Earth's surface.

Enlightenment on the Map

       In today's class we learned about a more accurate map of our world. Our enlightenment started with a few scenes from the show West Wing. The scenes portrayed a group trying to convince the president's advisors to switch to the more accurate map, and to make it standard in all public schools. We didn't find out if the president actually did this in the show, but we can only hope that he did. The more accurate map makes Greenland much smaller, and Africa much larger than it is in the other map. We learned that the old map was helpful for people crossing the ocean, but that was about it. The correct map is called Peter's Projection map and was created in the mid 1800's. I hope that all of the schools in every country switch to this map, instead of teaching with an outdated map. Maybe one day all of our textbooks will use the Peter's Projection map, until that day we can inform people on its existence.

Test on Excellence

      Today we took a test on excellence. The test was overall a good difficulty, the questions weren't too hard, but they weren't too easy. The part of the test that I thought was odd was the requirement to write two essays. I feel like we should have gotten a choice to do either one essay or the other. It surprised me that each question was worth four points, but what shocked me was how the essays added up to forty points. I think I did a pretty good job on the essays, and I believe that I got all the multiple choice questions right. When I finished the test I wish that I could have used my computer since the person behind me had already finished. I don't think it would have been much of a distraction anyway. I am glad that I was allowed to go to my locker though. So far this was a pretty good first test of the year in Honors Human Geography.

Today's Class Thoughts

      In today's class Mr. Schick had some difficulties signing in to his google account. Probably because of our negative vibes towards google that day. We were supposed to present information from a PowerPoint for an oral grade, but that wasn't possible. Instead of a presentation we had a Q&A session with Mr. Schick about school policies. We also had a brief review about the content of the test. I hope that the test isn't too hard, and that everybody does well. We also went over a future quiz and reviewed for it. Our class was cut short by ten minutes because of the school mass. 

Thoughts on Today's Class Discussion

           In today's class, we talked about Socrates, and his trial. Socrates was put on trial for corrupting the youth, and for not believing in the Greek Gods. We discussed whether or not we thought he was guilty thinking like ancient Greeks, and students in a classroom. As an ancient Greek the charges against Socrates were highly punishable, and his defense was relatively bad. When the class voted on whether we thought he was guilty or not as Greeks it was six for innocence and thirteen for guilty. As students in a modern class we found the charges against him to be unimportant and not illegal with today's laws. The voted was unanimous for him to be innocent. Apparently our class thought like the Greeks with the first vote, because Socrates was sentenced to death. When it came time for Socrates to be killed, he bravely drank the poison hemlock and suffered a horrible death.

Notes on Arete

         Today we took notes on some of the Greek's ideas and Socrates. One Greek idea/place is the agora which is a gathering place, market place, or a center for athletics, arts, and spirituality where anyone could express their opinion. Another Greek thing is polis, which is the root of politics and is the name for a city state. Socrates was a stones-man who fought in the Peloponnesian War, and his experience changed the world. Socrates is known for the Socratic Method which is asking questions to determine someone's beliefs. The Socratic Method also led to the development of the scientific method. One important date is 508 BC because that was the first time anyone had risen up against their rulers in order to govern themselves. This event created the first Democracy, and the Greeks were the first people to govern themselves. Athens was a popular city where people shared their knowledge on many important topics. Some of these ideas were contrary to traditional teachings, like the sun being a chariot instead of a star.

Powerpoint on Excellence Blog post

         A Message to Garcia was published in 1899, and it was used to motivate workers. It was made into two movies in 1916 and 1936. These movies made A Message to Garcia into a popular saying meaning taking initiative and is still used in the military today. Rowan was a real person and he was a Army officer at West Point class of 1881. President McKinley was assassinated by an anarchist six months into his second term. The mountain named after him was renamed in 2015 to Denali. Slipshod means being careless, slapdash, and remiss. A missive is a letter especially a long official one. Arate is the Greek work for excellence of any kind. Arate means moral virtue, fulfillment of one's purpose or function, and the act of living up to one's full potential. All human abilities are derived from knowledge, and the highest form of knowledge is about knowledge itself.

A Message to Garcia

         I though that A Message to Garcia was relatively confusing. I don't understand why a soldier delivering a message is something to erect statues for. All the soldier did was his job, but I suppose this is what the author is trying to say. Hubbard is obsessed with people doing their jobs blindly without asking "idiotic questions", but I think asking questions is important in getting a job done right. If the soldier asked where Garcia was he definitely could have found him faster. People are supposed to ask questions, if we didn't we wouldn't know anything. Elbert also says that nobody succeeds unless they are a thief or bribes others, but I disagree. There are plenty of people that are successful that haven't stolen or used bribery to get into their position. For example, Bill Gates is extremely famous and well respected and hasn't gotten to where he is today by ill means. One good point that A Message to Garcia brings up is that in every factory there is a weeding out process going on. I think that all factories already do this or should. A factory should constantly be analyzing it's employees and seeing if they are fit for the job. A Message to Garcia has some good ideas, but also some pretty odd ideas that probably wouldn't work.

Freshman John Carroll School Experience

        So far my freshman school year is going wonderfully. My fellow freshman and the upperclassmen are helpful and respectful, which makes me feel welcome here. The teachers seem to truly care about me as a person and as a student. I'm glad that all of my teachers are willing to let people ask questions and get help after class. I am grateful that a lot of my teachers have textbooks in their classrooms so that I don't have to bring my own. All throughout middle school I had to carry all of my textbooks to my classes, so this is a welcome change. The lockers are bigger than the ones I had during my time at Saint Margaret Middle School, except I have trouble opening mine sometimes. I like how we get off mods so that we can do homework or just relax in school. There are a bunch of great clubs and sports to participate in, and I can't wait to be part of them. Overall, this is shaping up to be a great freshman year.