Labeling on maps

[Josh]

I am looking for some guidance on the proper way to handle the labeling for maps. Please see the map attached. I know that I need to label all of the states in the two main areas of interest that are shown in the key. Do I need to label the states/territories in yellow also? What about the bodies of water (Pacific Ocean and Gulf of Mexico)? If I don't need to label the bodies of water, do I still need to texture the water area?

We have noticed a trend in some of the recent graphics we've seen in which only the areas of interest (colored or arrows going through them) are labeled. The surrounding states, bodies of water, etc. are not labeled at all. When I was trained by a graphics specialist several years ago, I was told that I should include the surrounding areas also (as long as it didn't get too cluttered) to get the student acquainted with the entire area under discussion. It was also to help "teach by repetition".

Please tell me the proper way to label maps according to the standards as you know them.

Thank you.

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[dspence]

Hi Toby...very interesting question...here is what I would do:

Draw the map with the peachy colored area as one texture with no state boundaries. Then I'd show the orangy colored area as another texture with no state boundaries. I would include the state boundaries for the yellow areas with the state abbreviation labels in each state and abbreviate the Nebraska Territory (nt), Indian Territory (it), and New Mexico Territory (nm) as nt, it, and nm on the map. I would also put a light texture for the water and include it in the key. So the key would look something like this:

,'Key:

**** Slaveholding areas affected by ... Proclamation (States included in this area MO, TN, KY, WV, MD)

^^^^ Slaveholding areas not affected by ... Proclamation (States included in this area TX, AR, LA, MS, AL, GA, FL, SC, NC, VA)

#### Water

it Indian Territory
nm New Mexico Territory
nt Nebraska,'

Draw the map with the yellow areas labeled with state boundaries, the orange area one texture (no state boundaries), the peach area another texture (no state boundaries) and then a light texture for the water. You cannot of course label the bodies of water because those labels are not shown in print.

Done this way, you are communicating which states are included in each area. I don't know what the surrounding text is for this map but I would imagine the concept being taught is which states were affected by the Emancipation Proclamation. The exercise is NOT to teach state identification or location or relation to one another. There are plenty of other opportunities for them to learn state location in a social studies book.

Diane

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