Reflection

In this unit exploring the intersection of choropleth mapping and population distribution, I gained a comprehensive understanding of how varying color intensities and hue gradients can transform complex demographic data into an easily digestible visual format. However, the drafting phase served as a critical learning period where several technical and cartographic oversights became apparent. One primary takeaway involved the mathematical logic of data classification; I realized that my population ranges lacked the necessary precision required for professional mapping. Specifically, by failing to apply the "-1" deduction (for example, setting a bracket as 30,000,000–33,999,999 rather than stopping exactly at 34,000,000), I created potential overlaps that could confuse the data interpretation. My choice of artistic media also provided a significant lesson in visual hierarchy. By using a eclectic mix of pens, highlighters, and varied colors like orange and green, I inadvertently sacrificed the clarity that a monochromatic gradient best achieved through the soft layering of colored pencils—would have offered.

Furthermore, I recognized that a map is only as effective as the context provided by its creator. My submission leaned too heavily on raw calculations, missing the deeper written analysis and word-based explanations required to fully unpack the "why" behind the population trends. This lack of detail extended to the cartographic essentials, as the omission of Taiwanese city labels made the map less accessible to those unfamiliar with the region's geography. I also navigated a significant technical error regarding data aggregation; by failing to combine the populations of Taipei and New Taipei City as instructed, I inadvertently shifted the data ranges for the entire map, which altered the final visual distribution. Despite these challenges, I feel confident in the core competencies I displayed: my initial population calculations were accurate, the legend was intuitively structured, and I successfully applied the correct shades to their respective counties. This experience has ultimately provided me with a grounded, practical foundation in spatial visualization and a much keener eye for the meticulous details required in geographic reporting.

Work & Study Habits

Despite the time consuming nature of manual calculations and some initial confusion following the teacher’s brief introduction, I did not struggle during the mapping process. If I were to redo the project, I would prioritize the visual polish and color scheme over the mathematical work. Should I encounter future difficulties, I would proactively seek help through email, online research, or direct consultation with my teacher. Overall, I navigated every step of the assignment without getting stuck. 

Feedbacks

During the peer feedback session, I collaborated with Youichi and James to review our maps. Youichi noted that while my explanations and shading were clear, the excessive variety of colors was visually distracting and unappealing. Unfortunately, because I used permanent ink, I was unable to implement his suggestions for color refinement. James, conversely, found the map clear and easy to understand. While I did not draw direct inspiration from my peers' work, the session highlighted a key omission in my own project: the geographic labeling that my classmates had successfully included. 

Country Map Reflection

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Prompt 2 

The thing I didn't improve were the coloring and also neatness.I used a pencil to shade the regions. However, I found it difficult to achieve the distinct gradients and consistent textures needed to clearly differentiate between the various population densities. To improve this, I want to switch to colored pens or markers next time. Using pens will allow me to make a clear, making the map much easier to read and visually distinct. Because I was working with pencil and trying to fix shading mistakes, I ended up using a lot of correction tape. This makes the map look very messy, layered, and uneven. My goal for the next project is to focus on precision from the very start. By planning out my color choices on a separate scrap piece of paper first, I can minimize mistakes and avoid the need for correction tape entirely, and make a better looking map. 

Promt 3 

For this project, I first found the populations of the smallest and largest regions. Then, I subtracted the smallest population from the largest one to find the range. After that, I rounded this number to make it easier to work with, and used it to give a tier number to every region. Looking back, I truly understood how to find the range and choose the final tier numbers by myself. However, I adjust the steps from the Taiwan example when I had to round the range.After the rounding step, I had to slow down a lot to make sure I did not make a mistake with my math. But once I figured out the tiers, I felt confident again and put each region into the right group. 

Promt 4

I showed my map to my brother, who is not in our class, to see if he could understand it without any help. He looked at it and said he could fully understand that the different light and shadow show which parts of the USA have more people and which parts have fewer people. This means my map successfully communicated exactly what I intended. However, if I could change something to make it even better, I would use colored pens instead of a pencil. This would make the regions look much neater and make the population differences even easier to see right away.